THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2021, 13 June 1867, Page 3

THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Pakihi.— The local paper states that the gold sent away from the Pakihi district has in the aggregate amounted in round numbers to between 28,000 and 30,000 ounces, and the yield is at present averaging above 1900 ounces weekly. KANiEM.-Mr Warden Schaw reports from the Kanieri for the last fortnight as follows: -Quite a stampede has taken place from Woodstock since my last report. I visited the workings on Wednesday, and found that some miners had returned from the Waimea district on Friday night, and informed their mates that a payable terrace had been discovered at the above-named place. That was sufficient to cause a general rush; however, many of the claims have since been taken up by fresh men, and the place now appears more settled. Several parties have made their way up the Hokitika and Kanieri rivers during the last week, and seem in daily expectation' of something new being found in those localities, The track from the Long Ford to the Kanieri Lake,.through the saddle, will be finished in a few days; when completed, I shall visit the Lake and report on the country through which the line passes. The population is estimated at 3000—2500 miners, and 500 otherwise engaged.' During the fortnight ten cases were heard in the Court, and one in the field. Sunday Cbeek.—Very fair reports from the Sunday Creek rush reached fcownlastnight,inasmuchthatthreenew shafts have been bottomed, and with, good results, the yield in each case being from 1 dwt to 1£ dwts to the dish. There are. about ten claims on gold, and against this number may be set down nearly a dozen duffers, that were sunk round the payable claims. Opinions are divided concerning the character of the workings, as not a few miners believe that a patch only has been struck, although the majority hold a contrary opinion, and maintain that a bona fide lead is in hand, and will yet be traced to the Teramakau. Shepherding is carried on to an almost unlimited extent; at the same time many men are sinking, and many scattered through the bush, prospecting the many likely terraces and gullies that abound in.the locality. The new township is rapidly progressing, and for once the Government have taken prompt action, as the formation of the track has absolutely commenced. Nearly fifty packhorses arrived at the township yesterday, all pretty well used up, and begrimed with mud to a greater or less degree.— W. G. Times, June 8. Waimea.—Some splendid ground is in work at the foot of the Waimea track, on the range of low terraces bordering the Auckland swamp on the inland side. Gold was struck on the same line, nearly or quite a mile further north, aboufreighteen months ago, and was traced through six or seven claims, which paid very well. It was then lost, but has since been traced in straggling patches along the terrace southwards to where the claim we allude to is in work. It is held by Griffiths and party, who have steadily worked it during the past three months, and better ground than it has proved no digger need desire to strike a pick into. Several of the paddocks which were stripped yielded from 50 ounces to 150 ounces of gold, and no earlier than last week another was bottomed, and yielded the magnificent return of twelve ounces of gold to the barrow-load of washdirt. This becoming known caused a heavy rush, and the ground was marked out to within a few yards of the Arahura Eirer. The lead—for lead it undoubtedly is—is exceedingly patchy, and therefore not likely to be held in very high estimation by miners, the chances being quite ten to one against a golden hole.— lbid, June 11. Tkack-Cutotg Track-cutting is progressing very favourably in Westland, as is shewn by the several reports lately'sent in'from the out-districts to Mr Eraser, the Chief Surveyor. Mr Muller, the Okarita surveyor, states that the formation of tracks in that district has been commenced by Hacket's party, who are cutting into the country from a point one mile and a quarter south oi the Waiho river. A Government party, under Mr Muller, are also cutting from the Five Mile Beach to the Waiho Gorge, and have already completed twelve miles of the distance. A great many prospectors closely follow the trackmen, and reports are current that several patches of payable ground have been hit upon near localities from which good prospects were obtained last year. Then, however, it was. impossible to work the ground with any profit, the transportation of provisions being attended by a runious waste of time, and necessarily of money; but by the aid of tracks these disadvantages will be overcome, and the desired re-

suite produced. No reports from the Haast district have reached town since the publication of our last article upon tracks;but we hear that Mr Saunders, who is cutting between the I7TV? d Moko,ia ™ er8 > nearly finished a track round the back of Bold Head that will prove an immense convenience to travellers, who have hitherto been compelled to skirfc that headland on its seaward side by a way at all times difficult, and when Me is m exceedingly dangerous to traverse. But the most marked progress has been made by Mr Lord's party who] are working the block of county between the Hokitika and Mikonui rivers. Sixty men are ,employed upon this contract, which has been carried on with such vigour that already 100 mil M 0 f tracks are completed. This part of the country is being intersected by right lines that map it out in blocks according to the strict letter of the specifications attached to all the contracts, but which, so far, is only abided by in this instance, as in the others a departure from it is sanctioned with a view of opening up highways for the diggers into those sections of the country that, from their appearance and position, are rightly considered as the most favourable fields for prospecting researches. Mr Lord has also cut an outside track that connects the Hokitika river with the Hokitika Gorge, and hence thus to Greenland, near Boss, thus enclosing that great basin of low land separating the Hokitika river from the Totara Eanges. This basin is very swampy towards the sea, but inland contains a stretch of low yet well-formed country that should, judging by its appearance, be highly auriferous. Cross tracks will intersect it, to facilitate the progress of prospecting parties. Mr Lord is sanguine that, before the expiration of six weeks, the terms of his contract will have been fulfilled. Messrs Simpson and Son are at present employed in the neighbourhood of Sunday Creek, from which they are cutting a line to the Teramakau, and one more likely to directly benefit the miner could scarcely have been undertaken, intersecting, as it will, a series of terraces, than which none in the district present more striking indications of gold. In the Grey district, Mr Austin is making good headway between the Saltwater diggings and Arnold river.—iSi^.