THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS. WARDENS' REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1485, 14 September 1865, Page 3

THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

WARDENS' REPORTS.

—♦ — LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[from our own correspondent.] Hokitika, Sept. 4,1865. The first bit of news which shall be chronicled in this letter is of a very satisfactory character, though calculated, it must be confessed, to excite in the breasts of your readers the cursed lust after gold. During the early part of the week three diggers sold to the Bank of New South Wales, in Hokitika, 12400z. 15dwts. 12grs., or over 100 pounds weight of gold. It was in bars, having been smelted by Mr. Proctor, of this town. The gross weight, previously to the smelting, was 1161bs. Many rumours are afloat concerning the locality in which this haul was made, but none of them are satisfactory. The men left town before the fact of their having sold so much gold became generally known, but it is supposed, from certain remarks made by them, that the claim is near at hand, and also that the time occupied in getting so large a quantity of the precious metal was not more than three months. They stated that, in all probability, they would bring in as much more in a few weeks. Every effort to discover their " whereabouts" has failed, although a great many have started in pursuit. I am of opinion, i for several reasons, which need not be given here, that these men are working by themselves in new ground, and, if that be the case, their secret will assuredly become known to some of the numerous parties who are constantly rambling over the country in search of likely places to set in. The gold had been amalgamated with quicksilver, and was very fine. I do not know any claim on the recognised diggings here in which mercury is used. Apart from the above unusual find, the mining incidents of the week are not in any way remarkable. The rush to the Arnold is steadily progressing, and I have conversed with miners who have claims there, and who give an excellent account of the general prospects of the district. It is attracting a considerable number from the Nelson side of the Grey, and there is room for a much larger population than is at present on the ground. The mining disputes have been few, and of no importance. The principal diggings on the Arnold are said by the miners to be nearly thirty miles from Greymouth, but the real distance is, I think, about sixteen miles, or, at all events, a track to them could be made which should be no longer. A digger's road winds in a very comical manner, and as often as not goes over the worst ground. I do not know that any very large finds have been made on the Arnold, but I was shown 54 oz., which two men got in one week, the claim being then only just opened, and with the appearance that future results would be equally satisfactory. The Kanieri miners, working on the flat at the back of the township, continue to grumble much at the immense quantity of water with which they have to contend. I am sorry to say that some of the claims have been deserted in consequence, although known to be highly auriferous. The ground is deep, and the men say that ordinary pumps are of no use, and that it win not pay to erect expensive machinery for the sake of working claims of the size allowed by the regulations. In these regulations there are. certain provisions for granting larger areas, but no such concession has as yet been made. The whole of the flat is supposed to be very rich, and would undoubtedly yield a handsome dividend to any company prepared to spend a good round sum in

preliminary expenses. The terrace claims on the Kanieri are maintaining their reputation, and the owners appear to be men who know well the value of their money. There is very little idleness or drunkenness to be observed, so that some of the numerous public houses in the township must be a source of loss, rather than profit, to the landlords. So much the better, say I. The diggings to the south are rapidly extending, and the population is on the increase. The new township, Boss— I told you in iny last the name of Georgetown was erased from t!io map —is going a-head. Many stores ;we being erected, and the timber is being felled in all directions. A great many have left the old township, and taken up sites in the new. The short track from the creek was opened to the packers during the week, but much rain has fallen, and the ground has not proved so sound as it was at first supposed it would. A wide ditch is to be cut on the upper side of it, which will make it as good as can be reasonably desired. I am told on good authority that a court-house and quarters for a warden and some police will be immediately erected, and likewise a lock-up for the use of rowdies and criminals. The reserve for these buildings is now being cleared by a gang of men under the surveyor. The flat below the old township has turned out well where holes have been bottomed ; but, as I opined, the sinking becomes deeper the further you go towards the beach. One hole has been sunk fifty-four feet, and no bottom found. A small quantity of gold is obtained from the gravel now beiug raised, and the owners are very sanguine as to result?. There is ! a good deal of water to contend with, but not so much as at the Kanieri. Many of the little gullies are being tried and in one of them a miner told me his claim was yielding two ounces per man per day, and that very few of the men working about there were obtaining less than twenty pounds sterling per week. There are any number of these little gullies, and they appear to pay wherever tried. In Jones's Creek the disputes with regard to water-rights are very numerous, and there is difficulty of no ordinary kind in settling them satisfactorily. I had hoped iu this letter to be able to report that one, at least, of the banks had established a sub-agency at Eoss. Such, however, is not the ease, though I am not aware of the reason. I believe the Totara district will prove one of the best and most permanent diggings yet opened ; and even now the banks would make a good thing of it if they would muster up courage to build office-!, and send down a clerk or two. There are agencies at Waimea, which are not a quarter so much needed. A large quantity of gold is, to my own knowledge, in the hands of the miners in the Totara district, and the accumulation is increasing rather than diminishing.

I enclose the return of gold on which the export duty has been paid at Hokitika during the mouth of August. The total for Nelson and Canterbury is 21,500 oz , or 1024 oz, 10 dwt. less than paid duty in July. Something like 10,000 oz. remain in the banks awaiting shipment, the duty not being paid. There has been one shipping disaster of importance during the week. On Monday the schooner Mount Alexander got on shore, whilst being towed out of the river by the Yarra. She took the ground on the north side of the channel, and has not since been got off. The entrance was in a very dangerous state at the time, and the Lady of the Lake also went on shore, but was got off next day. The Bruce grounded, but got off the same tide. The Gothenburg arrived off the port on Thursday, crowded with passengers, whom she was unable to land in consequence of the wretched state of the bar; she went on to the Grey, and there landed 250, but has still on board 150. The Hokitika bar is now considerably better than it has been for some time past, and there is no doubt one of the small steamers will bring them in to-day.

The following is Mr. Warden Schaw's report from the Kanieri district, dated Aug. 26th. The estimated population on Aug. 26 was 2500, composed of 2100 miners, and 400 persons otherwise engaged. One new , rush is mentioned on a tributary of the Kanieri, near the Kanieri lake

Since my last report there has been a considerable accession to the population, and the increase of business is quite perceptible. Two sites for water-wheels have been applied for on the Kanieri and Hokitika rivers, the pumps in a few weeks will be in full operation; this will have a good effect on the adjacent claims, as many of the miners in the immediate neighbourhood are much troubled with water. T wo or three men in each party are constantly occupied the whole day in pumping, to enable the rest to work. From the large amount of accessible timber, the miners prefer driving and tunnelling. This mode of working is carried on to a great extent, and several parties have tram-roads extending from their claims to the river, the trucks carrying about ten barrow' loads at a' time. There are nearly one hundred business places in the district. Fourteen retail and fiTe wholesale licenses have been granted. Most of the public houses are well-built, and are composed of wood and iron, presenting a substantial appearance. I regret to say that there has been very little in the way of horticulture. On most other goldfields which I am acquainted with, the miners have generally had a small garden; but, I suppose, from the heavily timbered country, they find their time can be more profitably occupied. The weather for the last fortnight has been remarkably fine; clear frosty nights, and bright sunshine through the day.

The following is Mr. Warden Revell's report from the Greymouth, dated Aug. 26: I have the honour to report that during the past fortnight at Greymouth considerable progress has been made in the erection of stores, hotels, and other business premises, principally on Richmond quay and the Maori reserve, fronting the river, which has liow become the great business centre, so much so,, that several of the residents on Packer s quay are removing their places, aqd business sites in that lo&ality are almost unsaleable. The trade with Hokitika is now carried _on by the steamers and small coasters ; pactar.g along the beach is virtually at an end. . Three vessels, with general cargo, arrival at this port direct from other ports of tne colony during the past week, and have r lieved tho market slightly. , There are from 600 to 800 men now located

on the rush which took place up the Arnold about ten days ago, and is situate on the low ranges, from ten to fourteen miles south-west of the Arnold, on the watershed towards the sea. A prospecting claim was granted to William Jenkins and three mates, who report that the ground discovered and opened by them yielded one grain to the dish, and fifteen dwts. for lialf-a-day's sluicing. About the same date some Maoris returned from prospecting in the same neighbourhood, and, the following morning, about thirty Maoris started from this with the prospectors to take up claims. Some of these have already returned for provisions, and brought in about seven ounces of rough Bcaly gold. One Maori, "Paira," washed out 4 ozs. 16 dwts. with a tin dish for half-a-day's work. Some Europeans have also returned, and state that the place is overdone; but the rush still continues, and those that have taken up claims are coming back for provisions. Stores of all kinds are taken up the Arnold in boats as far as the Lake, but this river is very dangerous, being full of enormous boulders and rocks. There have been several mishaps already, by swamping and capsizing, and one canoe was split in two against the rocks. Some of the men who have taken boats up are now afraid to venture back again. A considerable augmentation to the police force in this district is now absolutely necessary, for the present force, which consists of one sergeant and one constable, is utterly unable to cope with or suppress the robberies of all descriptions that are being committed at Greymouth alone, without having to proceed to other parts of the district.