THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1485, 14 September 1865, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

[from our own correspondent,

Hokitika, August 14. I mentioned in my last letter that a steady rush had set in towards the district lying between the Totara and Mikanui Creeks. Some very good finds have been made in that direction during the past week, and, as a natural consequence, the excitement has increased, and from early morning till dusk troops of diggers may be seen wending their way towards the new point of attraction. On Tuesday last I visited the field myself, and though mv stay was necessarily rather short, I saw quite enough to satisfy me that 3 diggings of very great value had been discovered. The road usually taken by travellers from Hokitika to the Totara is straight along the beach to the mouth of the creek, or river, for it deserves that name. Thereareboatsboth at the mouth of the Hokitika and Totara, and after crossing the latter, the track strikes to the east, and lands vou in the centre of the rush, after a tramp of six or seven miles—a great portion of the distance being through mud above the ankle. It is not generally known that there is a far better way of getting to these diggings than the route above indicated. A short distance inside the channel of the Hokitika the stream widens into a lagoon of considerable dimensions, and into its southern extremity a creek runs, easily navigable for whaleboats. "Following this creek up for about five miles you find a beautiful lake,

four miles long by two and a half

broad, with an average depth of ten feet. This lake has to be crossed from north to south, and near its far extremity the traveller lands. A terrace has then to be climbed, and the track leads south-west for a short half-mile, when it emerges from the bush within a few hundred yards of the sea, and about eight or nine miles from the new diggings. Immediately at the back of the sand-hills, which stretch along this part of tho coast, is a lagoon,connected at its southern end with the Totara— its northern end being about a quarter of a mile above where the track leaves the bush. The whole distance, therefore, between the Hckitika and the Totara can be performed by water, with the exception of the half mile after leaving the lake. The navigation of the creek could be much improved by the removal of snags, which are rather more plentiful than pleasant. However, with ordinary care a large whaleboat can get through without difficulty. There are no snaps either in the lake or the lagoon. In a sketch map which I have seen, the lake and river are named Matimapua, and the sheet of water, running northward inside the sand-hills from the Totara, is set down as Paieri lagoon; the extent of the latter is not, however, defined. It is quite possible that a channel may yet he found from Lake Matimapua into the Paieri lagoon, avoiding the terrace, and making the water carriage between Hokitika and the Totara complete. On the banks both of the creek and lake there is a large area of ground admirably adapted for agricultural purposes, though at present covered with a splendid growth of timber, and the facility of communication with the town of Hokitika will doubtless, before long, recommend this spot to those of our population who decide on permanently settling on the West Coast. More beautiful scenery than is to be found in this part of the country no man could wish for. With the lake as a foreground to the picture, the wooded terraces sloping to the water, and closed with a mantle of a thousand hues, and the whole backed by the snow-clad heights of the main range, he must be fastidious who would desire ( more. j

The class of workings on the new field differs in no way from that found at the Waimea or on the terraces of the ICanieri. There are creeks and hills, dry sinking and wet, deep and shallow, and each and all of them yield equally satisfactory returns. Samples of the gold which were shown me were of a coarse, waterworn appearance, some of it with a brown coating, difficult to remove. The bottom, or rather what the miners are at present working on as a bottom, is identical witli the blue clay of the Waimea. There is no sign of the " bed rock," but I see no reason why it should not, when struck, prove as rich as it has at the Kanieri and elsewhere, where a good paying deposit is frequently found on several layers in the same claim, and /lying many feet apart from each other. It would be quite useless for me to attempt to define the limits of the Totara goldfield. The diggers areworking in all directions,and are scattered for miles through the hush. In out-of-the way gullies you come on them suddenly; the smoke °f their camp fires can be seen rising from every terrace; and the hoofs of their lean and long-suffering packhorses are making tracks where never four-footed beast trod before. As for fche numbers on the ground, I can supply you with no very reliable estimate ; but the rush has lasted a fort-

night, the population on the older fields has visibly thinned, and a ferryman at the Tofcara told me that in one day upwards of three hundred and intty had crossed the stream at that point. Perhaps I should not be far wrong in saying that there are three thousand men on the ground, and that of that number there is less than the ordinary proportion of idlers. Up to i the present time no township has been laid out, but already the storekeepers are beginniug to congregate at a spot about four miles up the Totara, and a Government surveyor and party are on the ground, "and will probably accomplish all that is necessary during the next few days. The population is very orderly, but miaing disputes are plentiful—a sure sign that | there is something worth disputing about, for a digger is naturally averse to what he calls a " barney," seldom pugnacious, or desirous of the warden's interference, unless threatened by the prospect of substantial loss. The banks are about to establish agencies on this spot, but the gold hitherto obtained 1

Ie has been, for the most part, sold in : ;o Hobitika, and has gone far to make up * . for any deficiencies caused by the rush to the Grey. Prom this latter district ] h accounts are very conflicting. The '< d Nelson people have certainly secured a < good goldfield, but there are rumours J a that it is already overdone, and I have i met several who have returned without ± a any success whatever, and cursing f t their stupidity in leaving their claims J i on the Canterbury side. A party has v _ been organised for the purpose of y prospecting the Canterbury bank of t i t, . ie . , Gre J> the country in the If vicinity. The men are experienced si " miners. They are at present building " ' a suitable boat, and may start in about si <, a week's time. They propose to take r<

two months provisions. The ICanieri miners are busy, and, as a rule, doing well; but many of the claims are very wet, and there is great j difficulty in getting on to the washdirt, the ground being deep. In some ' claims operations have been suspended in consequence. There are various schemes afloat for draining the flat, and lam sure that such an operation would pay well even though the outlay in its accomplishment were very geat. There will probably be some pumping companies established, and if managed by practical men, they must prove a success. On this point I shall have more to say in the course of a few weeks. Altogether, the prospects of the goldfield are encouraging. Turning to other matters, I find that the first entry in my journal relates to the steamer New Zealand. This vessel attempted to enter the harbour at 10 a.m., on Monday, the 7th instant. She crossed the bar in safety, but was washed on to the north spit, the passengers getting on shore at ■

low water. On Monday night an effort was made to get her off. It succeeded, but by some means or other she ran on to the south spit. She was got off the same'tide, but the Fates had decreed that she should add another to the long list of wrecks which have occurred at this port. After some futile endeavours to get up steam, she took the beach about two hundred yards to the north of where the Oak came to grief some weeks since. It was speedily apparent that nothing further could be done to save her. Her plates gave, and when I saw her on Tuesday morning she was split amidships, and the sea making a clean 1 breach over her. Her foremast was ' broken about nine feet from the deck, and was supported only by the standing rigging, and her port paddle was smashed and bent. Some of her cargo had been removed, and more was rescued (much damaged) later in the day. On Tuesday the wreck was sold by auction, and realised, I believe, some £60, being bought by an enterpris- : ing butcher carrying on business in Hokitika. A large quantity of the

damaged cargo was also brought to the hammer, and disposed of at fair prices. The New Zealand is said to be heavily insured in a Boston office, and her freight and passage money on this, her last voyage, were very large. An inquiry into the cause of the disaster was commenced on Saturday, before the Resident Magistrate and a nautical assessor. There have been rumours afloat that the wrecking of this ship was not altogether accidental; but nothing that has yet transpired tends to show that there was any ground for the suspicion. It seems that she received fatal injury when first she went on shore, and that steam could not be got up in consequence of certain of the pipes being choked with sand.

The New Zealand had been employed, before her voyage to this colony as a ! blockade runner on the American coast; but she was built onthe Clyde, and ran on that river, I believe, for a long time. Judging from her appearance after she was wrecked, I should think she never was a strong boat; but my knowledge in such matters is limited. When I saw her, on Tuesday morning, she looked as though she had been cut in two with a knife, so straight was the line of severance. Two charges have been brought in the Resident Magistate's Court against the' second engineer—the first, for continued disobedience of orders during the passage from Nelson; and the second, for assaulting the captain. For tho disobedience forty-eight hours' imprisonment were awarded, and for the assault fourteen days. There seemed from the evidence to have been but little discipline on board; but the misconduct or the second engineer was in no way connected with the subsequent mishap to the ship. I may say, in conclusion, i that the New Zealand was obviously i

three hundred pounds, is in great danger of being washed/away. It will go, I should think, in two or three more tides ; and the signal-staff, which stands close to it, must share the same fate, if not removed in time. Heavy rain has fallen during last week, but the river has not, as yet, been flooded. The weather, however, is very mild, and a continuance of it will bring down the snow from the mountains, when the Hokitika bar will probably present a better appearance than it has done for months.

There is one other point on which I should like to say a few words before I put down my pen. It is left to the last, but certainly is not least in importance. We are an orderly people here, and a moral; but we are quite as much in want of religious instruction as our brethren on the East Coast. We have had a visit from a Catholic priest; and good and active Mr. Buller has travelled the overland route to look after'the interests of his peculiar flock ; but no Church of England clergyman has put in an appearance, nor has the Bishop, either of Christchurch or Nelson, sent any one to spy out the land, Perhaps this notice, and a few remarks from yourself, might have the desired effect.

The Goldfields Commissioner has called for tenders for the establishment of a ferry over Taipo Kiver; the sue cessful tenderer will have to build an accommodation-house on the spot, and keep supplies of horse-feed. The main road works are progressing, but not so rapidly as could be desired, on account of the great difficulty of obtaining labourers.

August 21. I started on Monday last for the Waimea district, intending to combine pleasure with business by getting a little healthy exercise whilst making notes for your journal. In neither particular was my plan altogether the success I could have wished. It was blowing half a gale, and towards eleven o'clock the rain came down in torrents, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The road was in a fearful state, so that of healthy exercise I had rather more than I wanted; and the weather was such that, my destination being reached, I was glad enough to forego any further exertion for the day. It

too long to enter the Hokitika harbour with safety. ■ The steam-tug Ynrra arrived from Melbourne on Tuesday last. She is a lively little boat of thirty-three horsepower, and has already done good service in towing vessels in and out. She will also be useful to her owners in lightering their large steamers when they pay us a visit. The Una, belonging also to M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co., came into port on Saturday. She is very small—only twelve horse-power I am told—but, nevertheless, there will be remunerative employment for her. I believe I mentioned in my last the mishap to the Lady of the Lake. Active steps have been taken for launching her over the spit into the river. She is already some distance on the way, and a few days will see her again in her right element, having sustained not the slightest damage. The s.s. William Miskin came into port on the 11th inst. She brought a number of passengers and a general cargo. This vessel has very recently changed hands, at a figure that has not transpired. Good fortune has attended her since she was placed in the Hokitika trade, and her freight and pnssage-money on this last occasion amounted to about 561500. A serious charge is pending in the Eesident Magistrate's Court here against the master of the Miskin, Capt. Hepburn. An information was laid against him tor abducting a girl under sixteen years from the care of her mother. A warrant of apprehension was issued, as you are probably aware, shortly after the Miskin sailed" from Hokitika on his last outward trip, and a special messenger was dispatched overland to intercept him on the arrival of the ship at Lyttelton. He was then arrested, but subsequently bailed by the Eesident Magistrate. He is to appear to-day, but the woman has gone to the Grey river, and the girl is with her father m Nelson. It is said that mother and daughter are no better than they should be, and that Captain Hepburn will be able effectually to clear himself. The case will, probably, be further remanded for the appearance of the parties, so that the Miskin will make another trip* before the matter is decided. She sails to-morrow. On Monday (7th) afternoon an inquiry into the wreck of the Montezuma was held before the Eesident Magistrate and a nautical assessor. The proceedings entirely exonerated the captain and crew, but the official report has not yet been made known. The Wallaby sailed on the 10th, for the Buller Eiver and Nelson. She took a few passengers and 11,000 ozs. of gold, of which 1723 ozs. were the produce of the Nelson diggings. It is said that Christchurch clamours for an escort from the West Coast, aud that the Government have lent a willing ear to the request. I fear that the expense will be great, and the benefit to your part of the province nil. Whether or no, it is probable that the West Coast will have to find the money, and people on this side of the range say they would prefer to have the amount spent in roads or in improving the mouth of the harbour; and now I have mentioned the harbour, I may add that the bar is gradually shifting, and that during the last few tides many yards of the north spit have disappeared. A public-house erected on it some time since, and disposed of last week for between two and

was my fortune in the evening to make the acquaintance of a man who had been on the Waimea diggings since their commencement, and I made it my duty to pump from him such items of information as he was possessed of. After all, there was but little in him ; and a warm tumbler of grog, of which refreshment I incautiously invited him to partake, made him talk of his friends and a variety of subjects which interested me in noway whatever. He told me, however, before the rum had rendered him useless as a reservoir of information, that he had already sunk one shaft in the Waimea district to a depth of fifty feet, without getting down to the bedrock, and that it was his intention shortly to sink another. His opinion was, and I am inclined to agree with him, that deep leads are to be found thereabouts, and that the present bottom—the blue clay—contained but a very small portion of the wealth which is yet to be obtained in the district. The rock bottom has paid well where it has been worked at the Kanieri and elsewhere; and there is no reason, so far as I can see, why a like result should not follow in the Waimea. The creek claims are still being actively worked, and many of the miners, who were tempted by the Grey rush have returned to the old places, or to others in the vicinity. One beautiful sample of gold was shown me from a claim which had been deserted for the Grey. There were 37ozs, and the party of men who obtained it had taken up the ground only three days before the -former owners,, returned, weary and foot- sore, from the Nelson El Dorado, having lost much time and much money, and thrown away the substance for the shadow. I could | tell you of several other instances of a similar character which have come under my notice, though, perhaps, the new comers were not quite so fortunate as the men above alluded to. They tend to show, however, the folly of leaving payable claims for the poor chance of getting bettfer ones at a new rush. The track from the beach to the Waimea township is getting worse every day, although the traffic on it is comparatively light to what it will have to bear during riext summer. The inhabitants have petitioned Mr. Sale to expend a sum of money on improving it, and X believe it will be done as soon as possible. About £300 is all that is required, and, seeing that the people have given as much as the Government towards the construction of the portion of the track completed some time since, it seems fair that the Government should complete the work, especially when, we take into consideration the very large revenue which has been and still is, derived from this portion of the goldfield. There is nothing of any great importance to report with regard to AVaimea There is plenty of gold to be had for working, but the locality is certainly not a tempting one. Setting on one side the Wretched state of the road, the town itself is very filthy, and the stores, hotels, and the buildings on the camp reserve have a mouldy, rotten appearance. The court-house is of calico, and I have been told that papers necessarily kept in it become, in a few days, quite mouldy. At night the rats ruu over you in thousands, and suggest the idea that during your sleep you may be eaten, or, at all events, commenced upon by those torments. I forget whether I mentioned it in my last, but a Warden is very much required, and will be absolutely necessary when the spring has brought a large increase to the population. On my return along the beach I observed that some of the telegraph poles recently erected have been placed too near the sea; at high water the waves break round some 01 them. Such was the case when I passed, but it was high water and a springtide. Thewire wasbeingstretched along this portion of the line. In my next I will tell you how the work generally is progressing. Snow fell during my return to town, but it melted off before the afternoon, and since then the weather has been splendid. On Wednesday morning I rode south to the Totara diggings, which I have already described to your readers. The travelling along the beach is heavy, unless at low water, and even then it is not first rate. A good many diggers are still finding their way south, and a few are returning—some of these last for their mates. The population on the field is certainly still increasing, but there is no method of accurately finding the number. The Totara narrows shortly above where it turns off the

beach, and the road goes along the bed. The bad part is afteryou leave the creek. The surveyors have now chained the distance, and a track has been cut by them through the bush at the upper end, and the distance is thereby materially shortened, and some very bad ground avoided. The party has also marked out a diggings' township, and on Saturday this was taken up by the storekeepers and speculators holding business licences. I had not a compass with me on either occasion that I visited the Totara, but I believe the

track up the Totara and the Donelly creek bears considerably further to the north than I at first thought. Those of your readers who are interested can easily satisfy themselves by reference to the map of the West Coast already published. Theroutegoesfirstup the Totara andthen up DoneHy'screek forfour or five miles, and then turns almost west orer some miserable ground. One terrace in particular is by this time almost impassable. The track goes up the face in a zig-zag fashion, i the soil being stiff clay, interspersed

' The inquiry into the wreck of the New Zealand was terminated on Monday last. The decision has not been published in the papers, but it is to the effect that the fault lay with the ship, and not with the captain or crew. The New Zealand was too long and too weak for the Hokitika trade. A good portion of the wreck has been removed, and very little of her is now to i be seen where she went ashore.

The Lady of the Lake has been successfully launched into the river. She was not at all damaged, either by going on shore or by being taken over the spit. The William Miskin attempted to to go out on Tuesday; she went on shore, but was got off again next morning. She will probably get to Lytfcelton almost as soon as the mail which brings you this. She has on board the prisoners to be tried at the Supreme Court sessions at Christchurch; amongst others, the man who is supposed to have made free with the cash box from the Court-house. I trust this will be the last occasion on which witnesses and prisoners for trial will

plentifully with large boulders and roots. It is wonderful how the pack- | horses manage to keep their footing, heavily laden a& they invariably are. On the day that I passed one unfortunate quadruped rolled almost from top to bottom. He took it as a matter of course, apparently, and rose and went at his work again. I was satisfied of two things as I looked at him. First, that he was not injured by the fall; and, secondly, that he had made a poor breakfast, for as he went up the hill a second time, he paused to crop the leaves which hung about his head in all directions. The uew track, which will be ready in a few days, avoids all this bad ground, and runs over the dry sandy bed of a creek. The storekeepers, who had previously erected buildings on the township of their own surveying, were rather dissatisfied when they found that a new site had been selected, although it is ouly some few hundred yards away. The spot is, however, so much better than the old one, and the road to it so much shorter and more easily travelled, that they will soon get reconciled to the change. The town (Georgetown) stands on a. very dry terrace, and is in immediate proximity to the principal diggings. As the surveyor put in the pegs to mark the allotments, he was closely followed by a crowd anxious to secure the best sites. Much dissatisfaction was expressed that the original storekeepers had not a priority of choice, and I must say that the case, was a hard one. No instructions had been issued to give them priority, and I do not think it could be legally done. Mr. "Warden FitzG-erald, who came up on a tour of inspection a few days since, was present at the time, and, no doubt, much quarrelling was in consequence avoided. Many disputes did, however, take place, but in no instance was the Queen's peace actually broken. Felling the timber began at once, and continued all Sunday ; and a very few days will suffice to shift all the business place.') to this new locality. The diggings are progressing. The average yield is good, and some of the claims are remarkably rich, a fact I can vguch for from having seen washdirt tried, and from having seen the results of various claims. All the gullies between the Totara and the Mikonui are gradually being occupied. The sinking is from five up to twenty feet, and on the terraces andtowardsthe beach the depth will be greater. Several miles of the Pokoma Creek are being worked, and parties are, prospecting far up the Totara and Donelly's creek, with what sutcess I did not hear. All the gullies as yet tried have paid. I am told that my estimate of the population is too high, and I admit that I may have been mistaken ; but the difficulty of getting anything like a correct idea of the numbers is very great. The Totara district should have a resident warcSbn as soon as possible. It is too much to ask miners to walk all the distance to Hokitika and back to obtain redress for every little grievance. No doubt this will be seen to before long. Mr. Fitz-G-erald was through the gullies on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and disposed of a multitude of mining disputes. No police have been sent into the field, and though crime is rare, it is necessary that there should be protection. The police force on the West Coast generally is altogegether too small to perform efficiently the duty entrusted to them. The banks have not established agencies, but I hear that one, at least, of them will be represented very soon. There is not money enough on the ground to buy the gold, and the miners are holding largely. Ihis fact of itself will be certain to attract a number of bad characters, and should be guarded agaicst. I went on Saturday to several of the gullies nearer the Mikonui, and found a population of some hundreds scattered here and there, all of whom seemed contented with what they were getting. Everywhere I heard the complaint about "no warden." The price of packing from Hokitika. is £3 per cwt.; but this may get less now that the new track has been cut. The gold at the Totara is generally large, but scaly, but is said to get fine as you get nearer the beach. The sinking in the terraces is through hard gravel, some of it cemented. Holes have been sunk more than twenty feet deep and not bottomed. There is nothing fresh to report on the Kanieri. The claims continue to yield well, and parties are coming back from the G-rey. On some days as many as forty or fifty arrive.

have to be sent round. The expense, both to the Government and to private individuals, must be enormous, and the smallness of the police force makes it very awkward when their presence is required elsewhere. August 28.

An Account op all the Vessels Wrecked and Broken up on the Bab op the HokiTIKA ItIVKR pp TO THE 31ST JULY, 1885. No. Name of Vessel. t^* a Kegistrv, o ' H 1 Sylph, schooner Lyttelton '47 2 Oak, brigantine Melbourne 190 3 Juno, kefuh Lyttelton 60 4 June Williams, cutter Geelong 39 5 .Sir Francis Drake, threemasted schooner London 158 6 Ruby, screw-steamer Dunedin 86 7 Esther, ketch Sydney 70 8 Kosella, schooner Auckland 47 9 Tifania, screw-steamer Launceston 54 10 New Zealand, paddlesteamer Lyttelton 374 Vessels Wrecked, but Repaired and Rendered Sea-worthy. I 11 Mary Ann Christina, sch. Lyttelton 42 Vessels Wrecked and undergoing Repairs. 12 Sarah, ketch Lyttelton 38 Vessels Wrecked on the Coast and Broken up. 13 Uannet, cutter Auckland 27 14 Glasgow, ketch Dunedin(?) 47 15 Wakool, screw-steamer Lyttelton 46 16 Montezuma, brig Melbourne 136 17 Defiance, ketch Dunedin 27 18 Pilot, schooner Lyttelton 27 V£ssels Wrecked on Coast, but undergoing Repairs. 19 Waipara, screw-steamer Belfast 48

I resume my narrative of events at the point I left off at, when the overland mail closed last week. The Lady Darling had just arrived, and it was known she was full of passengers for I this port, but the small steamers had not then brought any of them ashore. The Yarra and Uno quickly got up steam, and went out to discharge her, fc>he had nearly three hundred and fifty passengers, including a great many women and children. For the ensuing two or three days, a little more bustle than usual might perhaps have been perceived in the streets, and then all had either left for the diggings or settled down to some occupation in town. There were no rows, and no loafing about, and the drafting off was effected in a manner which would have astonished the immigration agents in some of the more settled seaport towns on the eastern seaboard. The class to which the new-comers belonged, and their former experience of colonial life, conduced in a measure to this. Being diggers, they were anxious to get to the scene of their labours as quickly as possible; besides which, the town of Hokitika holds out no inducements for idling. There are very few places of amusement, if we except the hall where Thatcher sings, and the bars of the numerous publichouses ; so that, after a couple of turns up and down Revell street, and a walk to the end of the spit for the purpose of looking at the entrance to the harbour, the man with his hands in his pockets feels very much like a fish out of water. Nevertheless, this quick absorption, which always takes place, does shew, I think, that the men who have hitherto come here are of the right sort—that they mean work, and are not altogether without the means to meet preliminary and unavoidable expenses. The Lady Darling sailed south on the morning of the 23rd, and it is intended to take her to Dunedin, and place her again on the berth for this place, when she may be expected to fill up as quickly as before. Her owners must have netted something handsome by her last trip, which was very rapidly performed. I have heard the captain greatly blamed by some of the passengers on account of his inattention to their wants ; but these complaints are very common, and frequently turn out to be ill-founded when fairly investigated. There is, however, a general tendency on the part of captains coming to the "West Coast, to do as little as possible to make the voyage pleasant, and they also require sharply looking after with regard to the numbers they take on board. Now that the Tarra and Uno are stationed here for lightering purposes, steamers of large tonnage will more frequently belaid on from the Australian colonies for Hokitika direct; but the necessity still exists for a really powerful tug, capable of bringing small craft into the river in almost any weather. The captain of the Lady Darling committed a serious breach of the Customs Act whilst here. He landed his cargo and passengers without entering or clearing his vessel. He well knew what his duty was, and the Custom House was, to my own knowledge, pointed out to the purser, who came ashore in one of the tugs. A "wigging" probably awaits him on his return, I see by the papers that Mr. Haughton, a recently elected goldfields member, has moved in the House of Representatives for a return of the number of wrecks which have taken place at Hokitika since the commencement of the West Coast rush. The l\elson Colonist, in alluding to the circumstance, takes occasion to remark that " there must be some reason in addition to the natural dangers of the bar," which tends to cause all these accidents, and proceeds to call in question the manner in which the signal-man here does his duty. My knowledge of the matter enables me to say, that the real danger to vessels entering Hokitika river occurs after the bar has been safely crossed; the channel then runs to the southward, parallel to the shore, and exposed for some distance to the westerly force of the breakers, which tends to drive them on to the spit. The code of signals might, perhaps, be altered with advantage in one or two instances; but to state that the signal man has even shown carelessness or stupidity in the discharge of his duties is altogether untrue. The remarks of the Colunkt are calculated to do very great mischief, by inducing captains to disregard the signals, on the supposition that they are not to be depended on. The Colonist mentions the wreck of the I Titania, and endeavours to show that on that occasion there was lamentable blundering on the part of the signal man, whereas it was clearly proved, in evidence taken by the court of inquiry, that the vessel was peered on to the spit far to the Southward of the channel, and notwithstanding that everything was done on shore to warn the captain that he was going wron°\ The fact is, that the channel had shifted since the last time the Titanm was here, and a close inspection of the marks on shore would have made the [captain aware of it. Other persons besides Mr. Haughton may like to know something about the number of wrecks which have occurred here, and I therefore forward you the following list, kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Patten, the collector of Customs, who has recently compiled it.,

■ You will see by the above that the e number of vessels totally wrecked at e the mouth of the river is tea, the aggregate tonnage being 1121 tons. - The vessels totally wrecked on the 8 coast number six, of an aggregate ton--1 nage of 310 tons. Making in all six--3 teen vessels totally wrecked, and an aggregate tonnage of 1431 tons. The 3 vessels wrecked on the bar and on the 3 coast, which are now repairing, or whose repairs are completed, are three, ■ and their aggregate tonnage 128 tons. There are, besides, a good many vessels, not mentioned in the list; which went on shore but got off again without damage. Amongst these were the steamers Bruce, .Nelson, and the Lady of the Lake. I have tried to form some estimate of the value of the damaged or destroyed cargoes, but have been able, as yet, to come to no reliable conclusion, and I do not care to lay before your readers what I am by no means satisfied with myself. I am still pushing my inquiries and may have something more to say on the | subject in a future letter. The Bill introduced into the Assembly by Mr. J. E. FitzGerald for

3- the purpose of giving the West Coast n community representation in the Pror > vincial Council has not met with the attention from the mercantile community here which its importance e merits. Perhaps it is not very gene--0 rally known that such a measure is a in contemplation, but the principal 7 reason is, probably, that people are too a busily engaged in the fascinating occupation of money-grubbing to allow 3 them to take cognizance of anything 3 not directly relating to the counter. 1 The Bill will find favour in the eyes of 3 the miners ; but they have scarcely had f time to consider the question, and i newspapers are not often to be met i with in the outlying districts. Do not i be alarmed lest no members should be t forthcoming when the franchise is I granted. Men will be found to under- > take the responsibility, though it in- ' eludes tbe passage of the Alps, or a > troublesome and expensive trip by > sea. My only fear is that they will be f regarded in the Council Chamber in • the light ofWesfc Coast gorillas rather 1 than as the representatives of a large and increasing section of the com-

d munity. On one point I trust they a will not be listened to. The Evening h Mail, a little paper started in Hokie tika a short time ago, is of opinion that t "if Mining Boards are established on * the West Coast, they will prove a boon i to all resident here, and will put a stop 5 to much ill-feeling now existing." It I may be that our Goldfields members— > when we get them—will be of the ' same way of thinking; but let me entreat you, and the Provincial Council, and generally all whom it may concern, to take note of the words of a very " old stager," when he records it as his deliberate opinion that Mining Boards are a snare and a delusion. Ii the mining regulations require altering, and I do not say they are perfect, appoint a commission to take evidence on the subject; let a report be drawn up for the guidance of the Council, or the Executive, as the case may be, but beware of the institution known by the name of a Mining Board. It means sham, humbug, bush-law, vanity, and I vexation of spirit. It means a Board

t composed, in too many instances, of ■ men who cannot dig, and are scarcely <■ ashamed to beg. It is a gathering of '* quacks, where he who has the loudest » voice and the greatest stock of impudent assurance will be listened to with most respect. You asked me to write you a letter, and I tear I have been preaching a sermon—a good sound method of imparting instruction, but not much in vogue on the "W" est Coast. Let us get on to something else. The mining news for the week has been, in newspaper parlance, encouraging; that is to say, things are going on as usual, and there is nothing of special importance to chronicle. At the Kanieri I a water-wheel is being constructed in the river, and is to drive pumps for the purpose of draining the deep claims. A second one is being applied for, and the mining surveyor is to visit the ground in the course of next week, and report on the site. Leave will, I suppose, be granted, and when these two undertakings have been completed, the re-

turn of gold may be expected to show a large increase. Men from the Grey continue to coihe in to Kanieri and set in to work. All the old claims are turning out well, and the .flat at the back of the township is being opened up rapidly. I hear that the Government contemplate building the Kanieri Court-house and Warden's residence very shortly —two establishments much called for. Most of the Warden's cases relating to the Kanieri district are now settled in Hokitika, which entails great trouble and loss of time to the parties engaged. The Warden goes on to the ground two or three times a week, and give judgment in minor disputes, but all summonses are to the court in town. At the Waimeathe terrace claims near the camp are doing well, and a great deal of new ground has been prospected, and will be worked as soon as a sufficient and constant supply of waten can be obtained at a convenient level. Too little water is as much dreaded by the digger as a superabundance. A vast amount of labour is being expended in cutting races for diverting the stream higher up its bed, and bringing it along the terraces to the various claims to be sluiced. Most of these works will pay well. Nothing has been done to improve the Waimea track. The population on the Totara diggings is increasing, and all the gullies I have Bpoken of in previous letters are turning out well. There are many parties making from ten up to forty pouqds per week a man. The flat below the old township has been marked out, and sinking is busily proceeding. The depth from the surface to the bottom on which gold has been found is about thirty feet; but in places much more. The ground generally seems to stand well; and if required, there is plenty of timber at hand to slab with. The name of the township, Georgetown, is to be changed to Eoss —a great improvement, every one will admit. The surveyors have marked out more sections, and all but finished clearing the new track. There are a great many disputes to be settled regarding the ownership of the first batch of sections marked out. I think I mentioned this before ; but during the last few. days the number of claimants has increased, and, in one instance, a man was assaulted when commencing to build on land which he considered he had lawful possession of- All these cases will be heard on the ground during this week by Mr. EitzGerald.

A prospecting claim has been granted to four men. The situation of the ground is described by them in ths following terms, which are certainly not easily to be understood. " Situation of claim, thirty miles up a creek, which runs into Saltwater Creek, about one mile from Teremakau. The claim is about fourteen miles from the Arnold, in a S.W. direction, and twelve miles above the junction of the Arnold and the Grey. Then take the surveyor's old track, till they come to trees blazed on the right-hand side, and follow that till they come to the creek. "Washdirt two to three feet in depth, and about two feet stripping on the bank. One grain to the dish; halfday's sluicing yielded 15 dwts." I cannot myself better describe the newly-opened ground, because I have never been in that part of the country; but it is said that several parties have since started to examine the locality, although the prospect is by no means a rich one. Captain Kerley, the harbour master, has gone to the Grey for the purpose of establishing a code of signals for that port, which is every day becoming of more importance. Mr. Saunders, the Superintendent of Nelson, arrived at Hokitika on Monday, 21st, and took his departure in the Wallaby the day following. He came, lam told, to discuss with the Commissioner questions of interest to both provinces.

The Town Improvement Committee have never shown any great amount of vitality. There is a rumour that they now intend to set to work in earnest, and put the streets in better order. There was a meeting of the committee on Thursday evening, and it was resolved " that tenders be at once invited for forming Revell street, Wharf street, and Gibson's Quay." The Commissioner is to be asked to what extent he will subsidise the contributions of the inhabitants. The above works are very urgently called for. There has been heavy rain during the three past days, and a large lake has been formed in Revell street, almost facing the camp. Wharf street, and Gibson's Quay are also in a frightful state of mud.

There has been a fresh in the river, and a part of the north spit has been cut off by the water, and now forms an island—the river running on both sides of it. This division of the stream is, of course, very injurious to the navigation, but a few more tides will settle the question of supremacy between the two channels, one of which will then fill up. The fears so long entertained with to the Lloyd's Herald were, I, happily, without foundation. She was f , touted into the river on the 23rd inst. .Her, voyage from Dunedin to this port cotppienced on the 27th of April, and she arrived off Hokitika on the 13th of May. From the 13th to the 21st she retrained outside, the weather preventing her from entering. On the 21st it blew a hurricane,and she stood out to sea, and anchored in Blind Bay on the 23rd. She repaired damages and left on the 3rd of June, but was compelled to bear up and anchor on the sth at Tongua. She sailed again on the Bth, but had to return on the 10th. She sailed again on the 13fch, and took on the 15th, under •' Farewell Spit. She tried it again on the 16th, and got off Hokitika on the 30th, having experienced very bad weather the whole time. The weather still prevented her froin entering, and curing the whole month of July she was equally unfortunate, once having to go back to Tongua to take in provisions. During the night of the 31st July it blew a fearful gale, and the Lloyd's Herald had a hard time of it. "The concluding portion of this astonishing voyage is thus described by the .AVe&t Coast Times of August 26th.

The facts are taken from the vessel's log:—

The Lloyd's Herald rode to her anchor, hows under, the greater part of the night; her decks were complcjelft, some Sf the deck cltrgo being Cast fihorO led to ie, t jrepqrt th*s shqe had gone; down. One heavjj' (jßft-'jthSi came oh board of her bent the strong iron knees that supported her crab winch, and jammed the captain against it, breaking two of his ribs, at the same time washing one man right over the foresail (which was stowed on the boom) as far aft as the mainmast, which fortunately brought him up or he must have gone overboard. By this time the vessel was in the first lino of breakers, having dragged her anchors about two and a half miles, and the crew gave themselves up for lost, when the wind suddenly shifted more to the southward, which enabled them to slip and reach off shore. The Fates, however, seemed against them, for the chain had hardly left the hawse pipe when they discovered her tiller carried away ; by jamming the rulder amidships the little craft steered herself until daylight, when they managed to remedy the mishap, and then bore up for Nelson to repair damages ; on the 9th reached that port and remained there until the 18th, occupied in repairing and once more placing her on the cradle. On the 18th she again left, and on the 23rd, having been blessed with fine weather in the interim, was safely towed into that port she had so long and so vainly striven to reach.

On Saturday evening, a public meeting was held in the Corinthian Hall, Revell street, "to consider the steps necessary to remove certain defects at present in the Goldfields Regulations." The hall was tolerably well filled, and the meeting rather noisy. 4—L_ j j