A NEW RUSH.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1215, 3 January 1883, Page 2

A NEW RUSH.

Another "good rush" is taking place in South Africa, where the report (says the Colonies and India) of enormously rich finds of gold being made at the De Daap, in the Transvaal, are engaging the attention of all classes, to the exclusion almost of every other topic. At Spitzk one digger is reported to have been turning out over lOOoz of gold a week ; a neighbor of his has from 20 to 30 men in his employ, all successfully engaged in the all-absorbing search for gold. A third man reports having picked up 1 Jib weight of gold in six weeks by merely turning over the stones. On the banks of the Kaap 60 farmers claim that their lands are gold bearing. But this very fact makes us rather suspicious as to the reality of the assertions for if the land in question was really auriferous it would seem more likely that the fortunate owners would endeavor to keep the matter secret until its wealth had been proved. Undoubtedly, however, gold has been found, and in considerable abundance ; but caution should be exercised by those who meditate the " rush." A shrewed observer remarks that those with money are not so eager to join as those without ; and this indicates that the permanent gold-bearing capacity of this new field has not been absolutely proved as yet. The existence of gold in the Transvaal has long been known, and there are vast stores of other minerals, which, if not so fascinating as gold, will eventually repay working even more thoroughly than the "precious metal " itself. There is always rich that " rushes" of this kind will entail much misery on disappointed speculators and prospectors ; but an accession of fresh population in a naturally l'ich country cannot be regai'ded as otherwise than au advantage in the long run.