WESTLAND GOLD FIELDS.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 792, 18 November 1865, Page 2

WESTLAND GOLD FIELDS.

We are in receipt of Hokitika papers to the 11th instant, but they do not contain any mining intelligence of special interest. The latest accounts from Bruce Bay appear to be mere favorable, but the rugged nature of the neighboring country renders prospecting hazardous and difficult. The correspondent of the We t Coast Tines says : “ The principal, 1 may say only, locality where gold is being obtained, is the Nine Mile Peach toward Hokitika, from Discovery Point in Bruce Bay. the read to and from which is good. The gold is usually 7 found in layers of black sand, at times on the surface, midway down, and on to the bottom ; there is no rule to go by 7, it is of the finest description, and they complain of being unable to save more than twothirus of it. As yet the working is limited to half a mile, but is gradually extending, and pay 7 able ground has been found a mile distant ; also, one and a-half miles farther a rush took place a few days since. Five and a-half miles north several payable claims have been found ; timber for making cradles has been carried from Bruce Bay 7 to it, eo the value of the new discovery will be known in a few days_. As instances of success i would state that; Nixon and party 7 washed out 73 oss., and Hughes and party 7 43 ozs. last week ; Bracken, 2 ozs. per clay ; Hunt’s, with one craule, 2 to 2h ozs, and several others from i 4 to 2 h ozs. per diem. It will thus be seen that many still have no cause to regret their trip to this locality. In nearly every instance the miners are compelled to carry their wash dirt on hand-barrows to the nearest

and most convenient water in the bush ; as the sea is too unsettled and boisterous for washing purposes. Although gold is to be had as I before mentioned, yet many are returning ; some dislike the fineness of the gold ; and the high price of cradles, £6, is also a check to their setting in to work ; while others are of opinion that by prospecting on the beach track gold might be struck. This has led many Hokitikawards Ido not think that this place will be again deserted, for independent of any find in in the interior, the sea beach will always have a certain amount of folio ivers. Provisions are very scarce, especially bacon and ham. Fresh meat we hardly look for. Two or three of our merchants left here for Hokitika, to return with goods, and they are looked for with anxiety. Copper-plates and quicksilver would sell rea lily, a 3 the best means of saving the gold ; those who have tried them here speak highly of the plan. Altogether this place has a more prosperous appearance than it presented a few weeks since, and when an adequate supply of provisions are to be had, I think it will become settled and prosperous. THE GREY. (From the Nelson Examiner, 7th hist.) The steamer Wallaby arrived from the Grey last evening wit the rich freight of 10,616 ozs. of gold. The accounts we have received inform us the diggings are spreading in every direction. On the Beach, near Oobden, a prospecting claim had given gold to the value of £ll O for a week's washing, and directly behind the flagstaff, a man stripped a piece of ground,_ and with a borrowed cradle, got twenty-seven ounces of gold in one night. A flood in the Grey, on Friday last, washed away tlie bank on which the Murray had grounded, and this fine schooner, owned by the Messrs Paul, of Nelson, was got oft' uninjured, save the loss of her rudder, carried away when she took the bar on her arrival, and the original cause of the accident. All the cargo of the Murray was saved- The Undine, which was on shore alongside the Murray, was also washed off by the flood, but was carried away, and thrown up a -wreck alongside the Nelson.