LATEST FROM THE WEST COAST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1331, 15 December 1864, Page 3 (Supplement)

LATEST FROM THE WEST COAST.

THE GEEENSTONE CBEEE. November 30th, 1864. [PEOM OUR OW COBBESP.OJttXENT.] Things are improving here slowly but surely. The population is on the increase notwithstanding the numerous departures both by sea and land, and I think it most probable that in three months time we shall see our mining population doubled. The majority of the people who arrived here in the first steamers were completely bewildered by the density of the bush, the numerous rivers, and the difficulties connected with travelling. They have however now become somewhat acquainted with the country; most of them have an idea of what province they are living in; and have a general idea not only what point to look at when they want to go to the north, but are obtaining some obscure idea of the general geography of the coast.

On the whole we have been favoured with & fine season in comparison to the last spring's unceasing rain, but still complaints are in every person's mouth about the quantity of rain that falls here. Prospecting parties are gone to the south, and should fine weather continue there is no doubt but that more gold will be found and in payable quantities. We may expect fine weather in a few weeks, and unless general expectation is considerably deceived news of importance will speedily nave to be communicated.

The Greenstone Creek is, however, the most important place yet found. Gold has been discovered in payable quantities in the terraces, and many parties are earning from £10 to £15 per week per man. It is going to be a diggings for years to come, and presents now a more flourishing and animated appearance than it has ever done since it was opened. It is not going to be worked out and abandoned as speedily as was anticipated, and will support more miners than are now even employed on the creek.

" The Three Mile" is also receiving an addition to its numbers, and rumour reports that another tributary of the Hohonu will be opened in a few days. Stores and storekeepers are speedily multiplying, if this may evidence any sign of prosperity. The banks of New Zealand and New South "Wales have sent persons here to report on the place, and have determined, I believe, to establish agencies here. The gold that is sent by the Nelson is not an average of the yield of the place, as many of my own personal acquaintances have not sold a dwt. of gold since they have been on the coast, preferring rather to take it with them to some other place where they can obtain a higher price. Some 50 horses are readily employed packing provisions on the beach, and up the Greenstone, while a couple of waggons and two or three bullock drays find similar occupation.

A boat, somewhat similar to a sealing boat has been built at the junction of the Teremakau and the Hohonu, that will carry 5 or 6 tons of cargo, which some hardy and enterprising men intend to work between the Grey and the Totara, and further South if required, and thereby reduce the price of provisions along the cost.

A considerable number of men are still at work on the Kapatea making small wages, which number will certainly be increased as the fine weather sets in.

The Totara has not yet had a chance of being proved in its bed, so that nothing further is known about its stability than when I wrote last. The ground is hard to work and difficult to prospect, so that when a rush takes place, a month or two must elapse before anything certain can be stated about its gold producing qualities. The Hopeakoa is deserted altogether.

The experiment of bringing sheep from the other side of the range to the Greenstone Creek has now been tried pretty fairly, and found, I believe, by any person competent to judge, to be a failure. The first mutton sold on the Greenstone was sold for Is. 9d. per lb. ; while the price at present asked for the miserable and attenuated carcases—or skeletons—of sheep is now only Is. per lb. There is absolutely nothing for them to eat in the neighbourhood, and by the time they are killed on the Greenstone they resemble sheep killed in Victoria by shepherds for. their dogs. Some 20 hea.d of cattle are on the road between the plain and Lakeßrunner and the junction of the Hohonu. How the cattle experiment will answer remains yet to be proved. There is no doubt that they are better enabled to stand the hardships of the journey than sheep; but the next month will be dangerous on account of the widespreading, and then blossoming, tutn. The miners here, as at present conducting themselves, form quite a model population. Peace and order are found to prevail universally, but how long a body of men 600 or 700 in number, will so continue, remains to be seen. It seems almost impossible to consider that such a state of things will continue . for long, and so render the presence of a resident magistrate unnecessary. For my own part, should any serious case occur, I am at loss to know what the police could do with their prisoners. How could offenders or witnesses be brought to Christchurch ? Is nothing ever to be done to the roads, here B Are they always to remain the impassable bogs that they are ; or are we to pay import and export duties settle the country ourselves, eut our own roads, make our own bridges, and then advertise for some patriotic or benevolent individuals to come and form something in the shape of laws for the guidance of our population ? It has been often mooted that this portion of the province of Canterbury should be given tc Southland, or Nelson, to help them out of their financial troubles; while the Maori people suggest that it should be given to the disaffected natives of the North, and allow Win. King here to erect his standard and try bis hand at the government of a colony. The great objection to the latter proposition, however, is that if they once obtained possession the difficulty would be found in ousting them when the proper season was supposed to have arrived. In my lpst letter I had to report that three lives had been sacrificed on the Teremakau r through the badly-defined track. This time I have to report the death of a man, named Charles Shillingford, a butcher, from Nelson, formerly on the Sfyotover, who vva® drowned at the mouth of the same river oni Tuesday, the 22nd of November. He had. only arrived on the 20th, and going on horseback up the river, missed, we Suppose; theford, and was foutid by the natives dead some fifteen feet of water. [Had the track from the beach to the river been passable torn a horse this accident also would not have happened.