Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/183

Rh drawn from Reuben Waite. As a matter of fact, from information they had they were quite prepared to await the result of a proposed prospecting trip to be carried out by Jimmie Liddle and his mate, Donnelly, who seemed sure that gold was to be found a few miles further south.

This expedition in due course set out, being “tuckered” (supplied with food, etc.) by Messrs. Hudson and Price. During their absence diggers continued to arrive and camped around the store, until there was quite a number of men in the vicinity all waiting for something to turn up. As a result of this influx Hudson and Price did a roaring trade, and much liquor was consumed. Thus three weeks passed. Then at long last the prospectors returned, reporting to the assembled diggers that “no gold had been discovered.” “This news,” states Hudson, in the course of his story, “was a great damper to all, but from a wink I received from Jimmie Liddle I knew all was well. Many of the other men would not accept the report as true, the prospectors appearing too jolly for men returning disappointed.

“In consequence of this every move they made was closely watched. A meal was then prepared for Liddle and in passing through the store to get this he managed to show me a good sized bag of gold. Shortly after this