THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

We take the following extracts from the West Coast Times of April 26 :

Lynch Law.—A mild description of lynch law was administered in the Okarita district last week, a well-known storekeeper named Sol Solomon being the victim. It appears that on Saturday evening some diggers were drinking in his store, and the party were evidently enjoying themselves, for the fun "waxedfast and furious," when suddenly one of them missed his purse which contained £ll in notes. On the loss being discovered a great outcry was made, and with one accord the whole party taxed the unfortunate Sol with the theft, which he as resolutely denied, and in spite of threats and abuse, persistently maintained his innocence. The diggers, however, seemed fully convinced that he was the guilty party, and as the money was not forthcoming, proceeded to inflict summary justice by binding him hand and feet to a stump, and then left him. There he remained several hours, until some parties hearing his outcry released him. The police, hearing of the occurrence, made inquiries with a view of arresting the guilty parties, but without success, as Solomon refused to give any information respecting them. The Waimea.—Another large water race has been completed in the Waimea district by Holland and party, who have, during the past ten months, been employed in its construction. It seems to have been a most gigantic undertaking, as a large dam had to be thrown across the right hand branch of the Waimea river to convey the water across the different gullies Intersecting the line of race; over two miles of fluming has been erected. The race is constructed at a very high level, much higher, in fact, than any other in the district, and commands a very large extent of auriferous f ountry, and as soon as a terrace near the large dam is sluiced away, the party intend to extend the race in the direction of the Waimea township, as there is a great deal of ground intervening that will pay well for systematic sluicing.' The miners on the Waimea are, generally speaking, doing well, especially Jhose who can command a supply of water. In the outlying gullies, however, there is a great scarcity of that article, and consequently the ground is nearly deserted. But the large race now in course of construction from the Arahura will supply this sec* tion of the district, which will then carry a large population and yield most remuneratively. In the centre of the Waimea township payable ground has been struck, and arrangements having been made with section holders, it is the intention of the miners to work it.

The Baewon Gold Robbert. - With reference to the gold robbery on board the Barwon, the Sydney Empire of the 16th says; This'case is adjourned until Friday next, as will be seen in another column. The magistrates who are adjudicating upon the matter are Messrs Pinhey and Day. They went on Saturday to examine the vessel, and the cabin in which the gold was placed. The steward, acting steward, and stewardess were given into custody, be it remembered, by the captain of the Barwon. No evidence has yet been given that makes it conclusive as to who was the robber. The captain appears to treat the matter very lightly. Tlie real parties who will have to make good the gold are in Scotland. The bank is insured. Indeed, we believe the agent of the owner of the vessel in Melbourne telegraphed on Saturday that he would pay for the loss sustained This appears to have been in consequence of an attachment by the bank interested against the vessel. The case is altogether very singular. It is not improbable that some one else on' board the vessel may be required before the case is concluded.

OKARITA. The following extracts are taken from the Okarita- Times, of April 21 : The WEATKER.-Afterafortnight's drenching we have had at last two fine days, and the good effects are visible in all directions. The swamps.in the back streets are greatly dried up, and business is considerably brisker in the main streets. During the rainy and windy weather many of the tentholders suffered severely, both through leakage and the insecurity of their frail tenements. It is to be hoped'that the favourable change we enjoy at the time of writing may continue. Customs.—A change in the Customs department here lias taken place. Mr. Atkinson, the former resident official, has been transferred to Hokitika, and Mr. Tizard, lately sub-collector at the Grey, has succeeded him in Okarita. As this will very shortly be declared a port of entry, it has been found necessary to erect something more imposing in the shape of a custom-house than a 6 x 8 framed tent, and the latter "Government building" is to be superseded by a weatherboard structure, though what the' dimensions of the embryo office will be has yet to be ascertained.

Weekly Mail.—Captain Heron, harbourmaster, has returned from Hokitika, where he had been on business, on Tuesday last in the Bruce. In reference to what passed between him and the Hokitika postmaster, as to the postal communication, he explains-that he. did not: condemn the overland route, but recommended that a weekly mail should be forwarded to Hokiitika and the Grey and back, and that a steamer should be subsidised for the purpose. There cannot be a doubt that this would be an excellent scheme, but the expense, we fear. ! would be too great for the-Canterbury Government. Could it be carried out the public would cordully endorse the idea, but if it cannot, we must still hope for an overland mail service.

; The Bruce Bat Rcsn.-The whole of the sad consequences of the Bruce Bay rush are, ,we'fear;-nor yet ascertained, and the list of those who went there to miserably perish will probably never be known. We are continur. ally hearing of something or other that proves the real truth of this, and repeatedly some yestige of humanity turns up without giving the smallest trace to whom it belonged. A few days ago a party of miners on their way back, about four miles from Cook's river, found the bones of n man's font on the beach. The foot had been separated at the Ms.le,janiL.tJie_bones were quite denuded of flesh,pr skin, though, singularly enough, the najtpf tlje great toe was still adherent. At Bruce Bay, about the same time, the jaw and' ! 'art of, the skull of. a human being; were ound, though whether the remains were those of'the same poraonaf course could not be ascertained, - It is known that numbers penetrated into the bush'in the neighbourhood of Biuce Bay, but very poorly provided,and there js, a sad, probability that all who did .so vyilhney.eri return, and to search,.if.'any ar«' missing, is under the circumstances impossible. I Capture of a Whale.—On Thursday las't the bdatmen on the' Waiho, nbout eigiit miles from here, Becnred a prize, iiv the shape nf a calf whrtle,'as Is' alleged, of the spent species.; It seems that, the juvenile mounter by some meant got into the surf on the beach, there grounded, and in,spite,of the most tjremendouß efforts cotlld hot get to sea again. TlieT crtptoi 1 * got ropes and tackle, and managed'to : haul the' : flsh; whilst still alive,; Ijigti'and'dry'on'thebeach. Ifis about 16 or 17 feet ill length, add its estimated ivoiglit.is from 30'cwt. to two tons, Tile'owners ante in to town on' Thursday evening, and' tried todispoieof their priztf.'.but. no one was indlined to speculate, unless it was brought up I ljere. Whether it could be towed; up or not

is doubtful, und nven lf.it could getjn safety to the bar, it migH«'y«y It'rnight, however, U put'#board a smnll crlffl und we should pay the o, ratty, to bring it in ctiworltsWadieß'sale for meltihgVrposes, a good inan'y'shilling's by exhibiting it,' Falling t 0 get it up',' any other way, it wU be cut'up and brought in piecemeal; It it is a sperm it will be a valuable oatoli, but of this there is some doubt. In any case it will well pay the men, and the question arises, whether or not there not more whales off the coast, if any one took the trouble to look for them, and whether or not if such be the case, it fishery on the West Const might not pay as well as gold digging, and ald another item to our industrial resources,

t The Fiye-,Mile,—The necessity for establishing a police-statiou at the Five-mile, and keeping in check the rowdyism that is rampant there, is every day exemplified. The peaceably-disposed are almost driven away from the district by the conduct of a few. There is no redress whatever; the offenders set law, order, and even decency at defiance. A week or two ago a woman complained of the outrageous conduct of a man, and the magistrate bound him over to keep the pence, as well as inflicting a fine. The woman and her husband were quiet, industrious people •, but the fact of wishing to live at peace gave such offence to some of the persons in question that, not satisfied with smashing windows and destroying property, they persecuted the unfortunate people to that extent that they were obliged to leave the place. This is a pretty state of things, and the police authorities at Hokitika are greatly to blame for the indifference they have shown in the matter. Had Mr. Inspector Broham thought fit to represent the matter to his superiors in Christchurch, we have no doubt a station would, before this, have been formed there, As it is now, there are from 1500 to 2000 people cut off, except at certain times of tide, from all protection, and even if the tide were always available they would require to walk five miles and back again to seek a constable. The evil is becoming serious, and as it is clear that the Hokitika authorities will not interfere it 18 intended, we hear, to memorialise the Superintendent or head of police in Christchurch, and if that fails appeal to the General Government. A very mysterious robbery w&§ committed at Brennan and Byrne's store, Five Mile Beach, Okarita, on the night of the 21st instant. It appears that during the afternoon a miner named M'Carthy placed a bag containing £IBO worth of gold in the hands of Mr. Slatterly, the storeman, for safe keeping, and the latter, on going to bed, placed it in his trouaer's pocket, which he left lying close to the side of the tent. On awakening in the morning he missed the garment, and on looking round discovered that the tent had been cut into and the trousers abstracted. He immediately rushed outside, and there found them on the ground, but minus the £IBO worth of gold. The police were at once apprised of the fact, but no trace of the rogues who committed the robbery has been discovered.

MiNisa NEws.-The mining news since our last issue is of a very meagre character, and we have nothing of importance to report. As has been the case for some weeks great anxiety is felt in reference to the future prospects of the Lake district, but up to the time the accounts have been most conflicting. Some have come down disheartened, and others have come iu only to buy provisions and then return. One man came down on Wednesday after, having got a very decent prospect at the Forks, bringing with him about an ounce of coarse gold. After laying that out in "tucker" and tools, he went up again. Molloy and party sold a small quantity of gold on Thursday, and also went back to the Lake. There is no doubt that the district will have a thorough trial, for several experienced parties are now up there, and many of themare most sanguine of ultimate success. At present everything is uncertainty, it is only to be hoped that successes will attend'the efforts now being made. Connor, the contractor for the track, came down yesterday, and reports the work finished, or to be finished to-day. He is sanguine that good wages diggings will be opened in the terraces on both sides the track, and if a proof of his sincerity were needed, it would be found in the fact that he purposes 'setting in at once himself. The ranges are still a mystery, and nothing new from them has turned up. Some excellent accounts reached here yesterday from Gillespie's beach. There are now 1500 people there, four stores and a slaughter-yard. The diggings are not confined to the beach, but extend some distance inland.