WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 59, 12 May 1866, Page 3

WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS

The terrace workings on the North Beach tire daily increasing in importance, and there has been a large increase to the population there. We saw a prospect taken from one of the claims recently opened, of 3 ozs. to a bucket and a half of dirt, and we are informed by another party that as much as 6 ozs. to the bucket has been obtained. On the celebrated Darkies Terrace the yield of gold continues very rich. In Dufty's old claim a man known as "Mick" and three others are working the ground by meaus of tunnelling, it having taken them upwards of a fortnight to re-slab the drive; and, having had the pleasure of inspecting the interior of the works, I can but say that it -would be difficult to find richer dirt. The much talked of Darkies' claim was re-opened on Monday last after being closed by order of the Warden for a month ; and yesterday, when I was on the ground, the shareholders were as busy as bees making a fresh start, and evidently in the best of spirits, which their prospects certainly gave them reason to be. A new rush has just taken place, which will add further to the attractions of the North Beach. It appears that the discovery was made on Monday by a German known as Tom Wilson and his party, as I am informed, who have been working in the neighborhood without doing much during the past two months. This new ground is situated about 100 yards at the rear of the beach, on the lower terrace near Point Elizabeth, and I am told the dirt yields upwards of two dwts to the dish on an average. Bad news travels fast, some people say, but in the case of gold digging I think good news travels faster, for a few hours after the prospectors had taken out their claim and were on the ground, there was a complete little rush to the place, and v/hen I was there yesterday the scene was a busy one, and I found myself in a diggers encampment. All the ground appears rich and easy to work, the country being pleasant and open as it borders the sea. Ainsworth and party are still working their claim adjoining the Darkies' with most satisfactory results, the second bottom, of the discovery of which I referred in my last letter, having turned out even richer than the first. Last week they got 90 ozs. amongst the three. During the last few days Mr Kynnersley, the Warden at Cobden, has been almost besieged by miners anxious to secure to themselves the privileges of erecting water races, dams, &c, at the lower end of the North Beach, and in one case protection was granted to a party, Dewson and Co., to construct a water race five miles long, to terminate at the Darkies' Terrace. A case of considerable interest as illustrating the value of raining shares in North Beach claims, was heard at the Warden's Court, Cobden, a day or two ago. The claim was bought by Stuart and party v. Perry and party, the former claiming 1,794? for damages alleged to have been sustained by defendants having encroached on plaintiffs claim on the North Beach by tunnelling underneath it. The claim is situated near the "Darkies," and the encroachment' complained of had been carried on for some length of time by the defendants, who, judging by the richness of the stuff they had taken out, had, in the opinion of the plaintiffs, caused them damage fully to the amount claimed. Specimens of smelted gold taken from the

ground in question, were produced in Court, and a vast amount of evidence was taken pro aud con, the case occupying the Court two days, having been adjourned from the first heaving to enable the jury of assessors to inspect the ground. After a very patient hearing, the jury gave a verdict for the plaintiffs for 2671 Us. 2d., together with the costs of the proceedings. Iu the course of the evidence, it transpired that shares in claims on the North Beach had lately changed hands at from 200/ to 4007, and as much a 500/. The hearing of the case evidently created much interest amongst the ruiuiug community, and the Court was crowded duriug the whole time. — Grey River Argus, May 9. Cobden. — A gentleman has informed, us that three prisoners escaped from Cobden Gaol, on Sunday morning last. They did this by cutting through the floor, and then makiugtheir way under the frame of the house. A boat had been evidently in waiting to convey them away. Mr. Kynnersley has offered £100 reward for their reeapture. They are all notorious characters, and have previously suffered various terms of imprisonment. Their names are Robert Stone, John Langton, and James M 'Gavin.