THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Lyttelton Times, Issue 1510, 14 October 1865, Page 2

THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

[PttOM OUR OWN OOIMKBPONDENT Hokitika, Sept. 18, 1805.

I regret to bo obliged to state tha all the efforts of tlio polico to bring t<

justice the men who robbed the bank clerk tho week before last have hitherto proved ineffectual. Mr. Walmsley can give but a vory vague description of their personal appearance ; and it seems their faces were covered with red cloth. I have been told that the Nelson police were shockingly indifferent, and took no steps whatever in the matter, saying that they knew it would be of no use. The crime was committed in the Nelson province, and although our police did not hesitate to render all the aid which lay in their power, it is difficult to see how their activity could exonerate the Nelson officials from joining in tho pursuit. I much fear that the robbers will not be traced, unless, indeed, some one of their number should in his cups give the desired clue. The Nelson diggings and our own township of Greymouth appear to be chosen as the head-quar-ters of the " dangerous class." Robberies, generally of a petty character, aro of daily occurrence, and the evildoers too often contrive to escape. The fact is the police force on the West Coast is altogether too small for the duties they are called on to perform, and the sooner the Canterbury Government remedy an evil which is every day increasing in magnitude, the greater thanks will they deserve and receive at the hands of this commuuity. The week has been singularly bare of mining ne»vs of importance. There is positively nothing of a startling character to lay belore your readers, and yet I am sure that the West Coast goldfield was never in a more prosperous condition than it is at the present moment. There are very few indeed of those who choose to work fairly who do not earn far more than their labour would be worth

in any other part of the Australian colonies. I am speaking seriously when I say that on no diggings, not even excepting the famous old fields of Victoria, in her palmy days, has success been so general. From £10 up to £20 a week is very commonly obtained, and is what is termed here "wajjes." The most attractive part of the goldfield at the present time is undoubtedly theTotara district, where the population is increasing— more rapidly now than it had for a week or two previously. The fiuds in some of the creeks to the south of

Pokorua, and in Pokorua itself, are heavy, three and four pounds weight of the precious metal frequently hilling to the share of one party for their six days' work; and what 1 said above of the general success applies more especially to that locality. There is such an immense extent of terrace ground—uniformly auriferous—that those who are unable

to secure a creek claim to their liking, can certainly find remunerative employment on the banks or further up the hill sides. Distress, such as exists on the Otago fields, is totally unknown here amongst the real workers, though no doubt some hardship is suffered by persons who land here from the other colonies without a penny in their pockets. Even these cases are rare, and the new arrivals who are not in a position to commence a digging campaigr for themselves, generally manage "to get a start" by working for wages for other miners who are already on gold. I should be very sorry to write one word which might tend to deceive your readers, and perhaps cause a rush which would end in misery and disappointment, but notwithstanding that the newspapers both of Canterbury and Odigo, and Australia, have been singularly cautious in giving publicity to -eports fa-

ourable to the West Coast, the truth

has become widely known in a great measure through private letters, and the rush has already set in. It is what I may call a legitimate rush— there is something to be got by coming here, and as I have told you before, the people who arrive are drafted off in a most extraordinary manner.

This is one of the most remarkable points in connection with the West Canterbury goldfield—it supports few idlers. The towns are busy, in the true sense of the word. The streets are not, as has been too often the case elsewhere, crowded with loafers and rowdies. The business done is essentially a healthy one. Speculation, in the Otago signification of the wor d, is unknown; and should any of our traders unfortunately come to grief— and accidents, you know, will happen iu the best-regulated families—l venture to say that his transactions iu this part of the world would bear a close inspection. I may be told that the character of our merchants is so low that they are unable to obtain credit; but allowing that, my argument does not suffer. Every man here can keep his head above water, and many can realize largely by a trade carried on almost entirely by cash payments, and the same cannot be said of any other part of the colouies that I am acquainted with.

The arrivals during the week have been numerous. We have had the ttarwon from Melbourne, the Alham-

bra and Egmont fro in Dunedin, the Wallaby froin NoUon, and the barque Ann Melliah from Sydney. Tlieae vessels brought an increase to our population of nearly 800 souls. Other vessels are daily expected, and it is commonly reported that tnatty hundreds are waiting the first opportunity to secure bertha. I am confident there id room and to spare. Ilokitika has had its first race meeting, which canto off on the 15th inst. The course chosen (it was Hobaon's choice), was the beach to the north of the town, and a very large concourse of people went oui to the fun. 'I he less I suy of the racing the better, md the horses are entirely unknown to lame. f;The Wed Coast Time* of the lfth inst. has the following paragraph,

headed " Murder," but the fncti are very much distorted:—

We have hitherto had occasion coign l * tulato aurselvei on the remarkable absenue or serious felonies in our police reports, ana hoped that tho evil day was far diitant tlwt would see the brand of Cain set upon Hie brow of any one of our co»nniu<«*y» ItHM. however, at last, become our painful Uutv to chronicle the first murder (of wlileh we hft 0 any knowledge) that has been committed since tho opening of tho West Co**' 8 0,{1 " fields. Last night, about ten o clock, we hoard, as a rumour,' tftat Thomas Ball, tho Hokitika milkman, had killed Absalom Brook, and given himself up '0 the authorities at the Camp. On making further inquiries there we found tho distressing intelligence was only too true. We can give no details of the murder further than the unfortunate men had bcon drinking,a quarre; ensued, and in a hasty moment Brooks received a blow on the head that killed him.

In the first place, it was Brooks who killed Ball, and the evidence given at the inquest, which was held before our recently-appointed Coroner, Dr. Bos wick, Bhowea clearly enough that there was no intention to lull, and that only ono blow, and that a very slight ono, was struck. Thomas Ball was suffering from disease of the brain and lungs, and the medical testimony proved that a slight blow would have been quite sufficient to cause his death. Brook has been committed for trial, and bailed. He is known as a respectable man, and the disagreement betweefyjiim atiddeceased was owing to the latter having remained in the town drinking, instead of returning home after his milk was sold. The weather has lately been of the worst, and whilst I write the rain is falling in torrents The bar is in good order, but both the inside channels still remain open. The new one is gradually becoming the larger, and will, I think, take all the water before long. The Yarra, tug, attempted to tow in the Dolphin, schooner, on Saturday afternoon, when, owing to the heavy sea on the bar, she was compelled to cut the tow line, and the unfortunate Dolphin got on shore. She is now high and dry, and will probably not be got off again. The Bishop of Christchurch leaves to-day on his return journey. A committee has been appointed to collect subscriptions to defray the expenses of a clergyman from England. His Lordship preached yesterday to large congregations in the Corinthian Hall. Sept. 25. How far to the southward are the diggings likely to extend ? —is a question asked every day in Hokitika, but to which no satisfactory answer has, as yet, been returned. The gullies of the Totara have proved of more than ordinary richness ; the Mikonui is not without strong claims on our attention; even the country round the Wanganui has been successfully prospected, and is beginning to attract a considerable number of miners ; but men still look towards the south, and amuse themselves with the dreamy uncertainty of an El Dorado they have never seen, rather than rest content with the wealth which lies plainly within their grasp. For some weeks rumour has been busy with regard to the richness of creeks far down the coast, but the exact position of which is not specified Some who went south have returned for their mates, and again retraced their steps, a pretty sure indication that their prospecting has been attended with substantial and satisfactory results. During the last few days a steady flow of population has commenced to the southward from Hokitika and the Totara district. It cannot at present be called a rush, but a very little would cause it to be one. A well-authenticated discovery, and the display of a few ounces of coarse gold, would most effectually do the business—and I do not see that it would be a very deplorable event. The development of the fields already known is sufficiently guaranteed by the numbers] who are, arriving every week from other parts, of, the colony and from Australia, and I am strongly of opinion that a rush to the south would be the means of opening up a very large area of rich ground. To such an extent has this liking for the south spread, that the agents of the Yarra, Bruce, and William Miskin, have determined on sending these steamers down as far as Bruce Bay, into which runs the Mahitahi creek. I believe the three steamers will sail to-morrow, if sufficient inducement offers. It is doubtful whether

they will fill up, but at least one of them will take a full complement of passengers, most of them diggers, with a sprinkling of storekeepers, anxious for an opportunity of exteuding their business. Bruce Bay is said to be some seventy miles south of Hokitika, but it is marked on no map which I have seen. Gold, in small quantities, was obtained, some time since, in

the Mahitahi Creek ; but the majority of those now going Bouth are probably bound on prospecting tours, and do not go on any certain information. There has been no official intelligence, but lam told fiat Mr. Sale will be a passenger by the Bruce, so that in a few day* the public hero will know more about the matter. The steamers will take down a considerable quantity of curgo in the shape of diggers' stores — a most necessary precaution, when we take into account the nature of the country to be prospected. A small cutter, the Advance, has also gone south; she sailed yesterday morning, with six diggers and a quantity of stores. Some account of Bruce Bay was given in the Lyttelton Times in June last, but since that time, unfci very lately, nothing further ha# been said of it. Report speaks of it as a roadstead superior to Timfaru. At the Totara the mining interest is still looking up. Both creek and terrace cluims continue to yield large returns. lam sorry to have to report that the deep ground below the old township, which I have on several occasions alluded to, has not turned

out us well as was expected. Some of the shafts have been suuk over 01) feet, but the depth rapidly increases lrom the foot ot the terrace, and out on the flat no hole has been bottomed. Gold ia found, in Home instances, four or five feet from the surface, ami thence the whole way down ; but it is fine, and

only it* ver y In places it would pay well for sluicing, could a good supply of water bo obtoined. The sinking on the Totara flat is greatly impeded by immense boulders, which are met with very frequently. Olio of thane will sometimes more than cover the bottom of the shaft, and its removal is very difficult, and can only be effected by the uao of gunpowder. Some of the claim* «re also very wet. Most of the miners at the Totara still have a high opinion of the flat, and predict that it will yet bo worked with success; but, in the meantime, much of the ground has been deserted, or in being »hepherdod, the regulations to the contrary notwithstanding. All round the foot of the terrace on which the old township stands, and on the site of the old township, the claims are paying well ; it is only as you advance into tie deeper ground on the flat that operations are at a complete standstill. I do not think any of the holes which have been bottomed have turned out blanks, and gradually no doubt the deep ground will be turned to good account. From the other parts of the Totara district, the intelligence is of a very satisfactory character. I have nothing to add to what I have said on this subject in previous letters. The population is rapidly increasing—there being now about 4,000 men on the grouud, and the workings being extended in a wonderful manner. Complaints of non-success are very rare. The building of the Court-house and Police barracks has commenced—not before they were wanted. Three constables and a sergeant are stationed at Ross, and tents have been erected for their temporary accommodation. The district is in great need of a Resident Warden and clerk. Mr. FitzGerald has had the Totara and the Waimea both to attend to, and is now, I am told, doing duty as E. M. in Hokitika, a pleasing combination of duties, which must leave him very little spare time. The advent of the police at the Totara was very gritifyingto the lovers of peace and quietness. There are several " public houses" in ltoss, not one of which can boast a licence. These places are fitted up with a public bar, and, perhaps, a dancing saloon at the back. Grog has been sold openly, and at night all the noisy spirits iu the district have been accustomed to meet in the " saloons," and keep it up till morning, whilst music was supplied by professors who have at command a variety of the most discordant and heart-rending sounds which it ihas ever been my lot to listen to. One bad fiddler may be a great nuisance to his neighbours, but a medley of fiddlers, cornopean-players, drummers, bassoontorturers, and others, all abominably ignorant of the first principles of harmony, and all anxious to obt»iu a hearing for their instruments, is an infliction which must be experienced before it can be rightly appreciated. A raid will probably be made before long upon the unlicensed publicans, which will have the effect of enabling the orderly inhabitants of the town to get a few hours' rest out of the twentyfour. Some large nuggets have been ' displayed in Hokitika, said to have been obtained in the Totara, but I could hear nothing about them iu the district. The following paragraph on the subject is from the West Coast Times of the 23rd iust.:—

There seems, after all, to be some ground for the rumours constantly in circulation here, of heavy flnds to the southward, we having been informed yesterday, by Mr. Hawkes, of the Ciiristcliurcli store, that a man known to hint, mimed Henry Mason, formerly of Windmill road, Christchureh, and now dicing at the Totara, Imd shown hiin a splendid specimen of nuggetty gold, the smallest piece of which weighed 7 dwts. He also showed Mr. Hawkes a nugget of two pounds weight, and said Unit he had sold another to one of the hanks weighing six pounds. Should this information be confirmed by sutisequeut discoveries, we may expect a rush to the southward rivalling that to the Grey, and the opening of an almost new goldfield.

From the other districts, and especially from the Kauieri, the accounts are most encouraging.

The Hospital Committee have at length come to the determination of handing over to Mr. Sale the amount of the subscrip tions collected by them. It was evident that, without the assistance of the Government, they would bef unable to build and support a public hospital; nnd that assistance biing refused, they have acted wisely in not withholding the funds at their disposal. As the Government refuse to allow subscribers a voice in the management, I am afraid the public will not for the future interest themselves much in the matter. The Hospital is to be commenced very soon, and will be a largo and substautial building. The Wtst Comt Times lias commenced to write in favour of the separation of the West Coast from Canterbury. The people here do not seem to care much about the matter. They would be very well satisfied with the present Government if more money were spent on works really required by the West Coast community. A few thousands expended ou the traeks from the outlying districts would be a very judicious "sw<»etener. M At all events, separation could not possibly be effected for a lo&g time to come. I have made the following estimate of the population now on the West Canterbury goldfield. I do not suppose it is very accurate, and yet it is somewhere about the mark „ oz. Grey I Arnold) 2,000 Greymnuth 6UO Saltwater Creek ... 300 Greenstone Tcrenmkftu i„a llokiiika ::: X 1 «»tara (MM) Further south 2 >ooo 15,900 The population is increasing at the rate of, say, three thousand per month. 1 This week thero have been about seven hundred arrivals, iiicludm" tho,e who have come o\oiiuud. °

Oct. 2. The topic of the week hoi been Brace Buy. Everybody Is talking of it, and many have left tot It by steamer. Some two hundred of the Totara miners hare thrown op their claims and gone south overland. On all the diggings there baa been, and still is, a rattles* feeling caused by the rumours afloat relative to the wealth of the new coantnr. And yet I, who have pushed my Inquiries in alt directions, and have as good opportunities for geiiing information as most men, am unable to lay before you any news from the far south which would, in my opinion, justify anything like an exodus of population in that direction. It would be too much to affirm that no good ground has been opened on the Mahitahl; but I may safely say that, If there has, the public here knows nothing whatever about it, ond that the rush which seems likely to set in, or has already begun, is the result, not of definite and wellauthenticated intelligence, but of the very vaguest rumours—rumours which I have failed in every instance to trace to a satisfactory source. This much I told you in my last letter, and really there is very little to add. There is no doubt that all down the coast, from Hokitika to Bruce Bay, and perhaps beyond, gold, more or less, has been found in the creeks and rivers and on the terraces, but I know of no discoveries of special importance at Bruce Bay, and I am at a loss to understand how men can choose, as they have done on the West Coast, to leave claims giving them fair returns, and undertake a troublesome and expensive journey to a locality about which the majority of them know nothing whatever. In a golden country rushes are ot almost daily occurrence, but whatever may happen afterwards, there is generally at first something substantial to go upon. One large find, at least, will have been mode and published, and men argue naturally enough that the luck which has fallen to one may be another's also. The movement towards Bruce Bay has been caused by no published instances of great success, and if such there have been, the men have guarded their secret with more than ordinary care. It is most likely that, amongst the numerous parties of miners who have gone south with the intention of prospecting, some will be fortunate enough to discover new and rich ground of sufficient extent, perhaps, to give employment to hundreds besides themselves. The rush, therefore, to Bruce Bay may, after all, not prove a failure. It will cause very many places on the coast to be prospected, and if it does nothing more, our knowledge of the country will be materially augmented. The steamer Bruce sailed for Bruce Bay on Wednesday last, with a large number of passengers and some cargo. Mr. Sale, the Commissioner, Mr. Browning, of the Survey Department, and one or two labourers, went in her, partly for the purpose of making a survey of the harbour, and also, should it prove ne-

cessary, to lay out a township at some convenient point on the shores of the bay. The Bruce returned on Friday, after a rapid and

pleasant trip. A gentleman who was in her both going and coming tella me that tents

are to be seen on the shore at intervals all the way down, and that the smoke of fires here and there in the bush gave evidence either of a larger number of travellers or of more permanent inhabitants. 1 here seemed to be more of these teats at the mouths of the various creeks and rivers. The landing was effected at Bruce Bay without the slightest diffi-ulty, the water being quite smooth, and the vessel at anchor in deep water within a very short distance of the shore. Some diggers came on board, asking for provisions, which were supplied them, thus saving them a wearisome tramp up to the Totara or liokitika. My informant could not say what success these men had had. He believed, however, that they were working claims in the neighbourhood, and doing fairly. A great many business sites were marked out by the storekeepers and others, who went down in the Bruce, and it seemed to be the general impression that a large town would quickly spring up, as the bay must of fc necessity be the depot for supplying any diggings within a radius of many miles. On the same day that the Bruce went out the MLskin also made

the attempt, but unfortunately 6tuck on a

bank in the lagoon. She had a large number of passengers for Bruce Bay, who, seeing that the ship would be detained a tide, most of them went on shore. The assistance of the Sampson tug was obtained; but notwithstanding all efforts, it was not till Friday evening that the Miskin again floated. She then went out of the river in fine style, and proceeded on her voyage. She goes first to Bruce Bay, and thence to Dunedin. The Eleanor sailed at the same time for the same place. I forgot to add, when speaking of the prospects of Bruce Bay, that some dishes of earth washed by one of the passengers by the Bruce yielded very well. One dish had as much as 5 dwts. in it The washdirt was obtained in a creek which runs into the bay. The Bruce sailed south again yesterday evening; she will return in about two days, and, no doubt, will bring us a more detailed account of the rush than we have hitherto received.

Notwithstanding that so many of our miners have been induced to leave for the south, the yield of gold still keeps up bravely, or, rather, it is increasing. The following figures are the best evidence that can be given of the prosperity of the West Coast. The amount of gold shipped during the week by the various banks is 19,800 ozs, the duty on which was £2475. The amount for the month ending Sept. 30 was 28,941 ozs. 6 dwt., and the duty £3617 13s 3d for gold, the produce of the province of Canterbury. Of Nelson gold, 15,700 ozs. have passed through the Canterbury collector's hands during the mon h, the duty being £1962 10s. The total amount therefore, of gold which has passed through the collector's hands during the month, is 44,641 oz. 6 dwt. An enormous total, truly, for so short a time, and the comparatively small number employed in getting it. With such figures staring us in the face, we need not be afraid of the future. Let the people Hook to the West Coast in far larger numbers than they have yet done, they will most assuredly not regret coming The import duties collected at the Port of Hokitika, during the month, were £8759 0s 7d—the heaviest item being spirits—the duty paid on which was £553S 4s 6d. The population at Greymouth is rapidly increasing, and the town Is asuming quite a civilized aspect—that is, compared to what it was a few weeks since. Business is tolerably brisk, and the progress of the diggings on the Arnold will keep it so for a long time. The locality whence was obtained tho I cwt. of gold mentioned by mo about three weeks ago has been discovered. There have been a few parties of miners working for months on or near the sea beach, about two miles to the south of the Grey. The sinking is shallow, from four to fifteen feet, through clay and gravel. The wash-dirt is a very fine and heavy black sand, which in, some of the chums, is of surprising richness. It was in this quarter that the great haul was made, anil the tinders are still at work, whether with

like good fortune 1 cannot say. Since it became known that one claim had proved so rich, a good many froth arrivals had set in, b inging tho nuinhera up to about two hundred, all of whom are said to be doing well. I know that many of them are making na mueh as £'20 per man a week, and some a great deal more. Water is scarce, and the stuff has to be carried often five or Bix hundred yards to the creek. There is no reason why a very largo area of good ground should not be opened along the beach between tho Grey and llokitika. Wherever it lma been tried tho low terrace, if it can ho be called, whi h joins the beaeh has paid well, although tho gold is remarkably fine, and the ground more than ordinarily patehy. The miner* at tho Arnold are

"growling ' horribly at the want of a resident warden. Thero would be plenty for him to do. Mr. ltevell has quite enough to occupy his time in and about Greymouth ; indeed, before long, Ids duties as a Resident Magistrate will be h avv,and render it necessary that a warden should be appointed. Another cause of complaint is the state of the track between Grcyinouthand the Arnold diggings. The Government of Canterbury have dono literally nothing to render the communication easier, although tho importance of the field is daily increasing. Comparisons are frequently drawn between the action of tho Nelson Govern-

ment and our ■m sorry to „ay, to t , tr * o£ the latter. In N e | B()n , „ 0 workings opened thaa the t " r themselves the task of niakin ' m " ; < *► to the spot, and, by thin n,," " ij the price of pro*im„ n » k t(] * ducemc.t is held out to J;,, t, "'J'' I*'1*' >n. the ground, a p| H , (! with 'J' 'P *.„], being naturally p rcf(:rml ,***■*,* J can only be reached after u.anv J or perhaps days, of !"%, K',s' 1 '"«■ {- c«."« ri "'ry « kind is ever thought of „ r „j * ''ftho surely come when this neglect wi ,"| ' la / *ni of bitter and lasting regret. ' ;iUl^: from the K&nieri I ieani that it ' temptation to form a | !irg(; '<'« 'v t . for the purpose of working t>„- n , 'K 7 , which has In-en too wet for iwli v j,|,.'- • '>t deal with Hiic<re**fully. Theaff,=, u, ' r - ! '» to nothing, and, under any many months must pany could be properly or Ka , : fairlyu, work. 11,,f ■ 1 would be a preliminary one j t , : whether the projector* eoul.j ol,t''''•> of the ground they have H,., 1 Wf : own part, lam an advocate f or t > ,' r rr 7 tion of companies, and the grant ij,<, „f but an Art is required on tf i( . ?, '• very different character froinVrP',;'.''''* present exist. The Kanirri "*'• well, and not many hare i,.f» f,-, r , ' although there has been any aw!,,,,!' ing about it. " ' ' l < - The Totara district has this ■ supplied with a Warden's (;i#. r * K " bis station on Friday. Me wn| ' to do in issuing miners' right*, preparing the case* of dispute f,, r rh< i!- ,- ' of a warden, whenever that function!--y make his appearance. f; " I J r Very great hardship has been the Totara district, through th* ,V 1 resident warden. The officials at prC,-'- 1 the field are altogether too few to n,'," 1 the business which !klh to be got t',' A warden w wanted for the Arnold for the Waimca, and a third f,- - Totara. I am not sure th.it i \ not to say there is work for a fourth V* • cording to the Otago method of doin-r , new, there would have been, at th> ; C seven or eight wardens here, and in V ; perhaps more. The Commissioner or'f fields has quite enough on his ban i, w ; r doing warden's duty. Mr. Kev-d!, a, I !.!'i before, is, or will be, fully wcupi,-1 .... j; dent Magistrate at Greymonth ; Mr >, J l lff has the Kanieri; and Mr. FitzGeraH j. ; l l7r liesident Magistrate at llokitikn, witi, U: more business to get through dian tii.-r----the Resident Magistratt'.-i Court ei-;...- i n * Christchurch or Duncdin. Tin- To t ri Waimea, Greenstone, Urtice Bay i■. j minor diggings are without warden.-:. I . -.? matters are, no doubt, under consi-kra;:.,. n ' the proper quarter; but in the m people are complaining very lou iiv thr, ; money to pay for the necessary aliirio:., t.>

the staff, and for other purpose.. ■>: < greater importance, is being throw:-. :l r r, ,n the main road between liokitika an i i churcu. It is said lhat Government i o ■». plate constructing a railway as wvl! -- t i between the two places. It woui<! b ;;; to convey to your readers a coacepriu,'. :'„■> deep-seated feeling of disgust wham r- . <..3 among all classes of the* c.r>rr.m':r.:*y • -z the way in which the bulk of the r-.-v. nu Ixa been expended. No liber.il profession* i.v • ; press on the other side of the run„v w. vince people here that the wants of ti:. W Coast will be met either by a nu.i or a way to Christcharch. The univ .:-.;. ,-rv .i that roads should be nude to co:;::.-: outlying districts with the prt, whirh, Iml as it unquestionably is, will always i>- Accessible to vessels of small drauirh:, an.; -.O command a large portion of the imp r: tr. I have to chronicle some more- :•> the shipping frequenting Hokitika, I am sorry to say, of a peculiarly uar'o.-. character. On Friday lust the Samp* n.: :z. wliich only arrived here from Dnnviin a days since, was towing in the Joan I;;, 1. k. when the steamer Bruce attempted to p.ts* her, just as she was entering the ' h . The consequence was that tin- .-ump-Ki ar. i the John Bullock both went on to tue spit, where they still remain. X > h9 - i-j entertained of getting either of tiu-m ti. There is a very heavy fresh in the r.v.-r present, and the Sampson luu. move<i e.r.siderably from her original p»ijwa; m*. I am told the injuries she has sustain .< I a:-.* fatal. On Saturday the Yarn, tug. •••'"> ing in against a strong ebb tide. » : :::e current proving too much for her. ~ i. « washed alongside the Sampson an l ■' Bullock. She may,perhaps, he go: >;'r a; but is damaged considerably abou: her 1: ; works. The funnel has gone by tie ) ' :: the taffrail is smashed to pieces, as a.-' sponson on the port sid.\ The [u it e :: :.se same side was injured, and lus bee 1 unshipped, to prevent further knoeKtag a "a.. I saw these vessels this morning, an t ai;> own opinion is that all tiiree are iu very i' .J case. The Sampson is, I ant toM, uninsured. The John Bullock had '• Hue months, and brings a large qua:;: - timber and a miscellaneous cargo I making no further remarks as to :i.e 11 {which led to these wrecks, as iiuia:r.> aabout to be held iu the regular tnaaa r, it would be unfair to alt parties coiuvrne:prejudge the cases.

This morning there "'as a very heavy: ro in the Hokitika, and the lower pan town seemed at one time in being washed away. The who!;.' of l'> ,vU ,> Quay was under water, so that the moored alongside appeared to be ;l!!l l ' ~ in the middle of the stream. K ' wt!l ' tended some distance up W hart' #tr..v.. ■* backed up considerably in the l'ohee ri>. ■ Some heavy piles to be u<ed in the \ of the wharf were floated up s-r street, when they were dragged u ! )o:! . land. The Leonidas brig-.intuu\ w , :Ul ' a cently got on the spit and was Liu: eaoi • - to the edge of the river, has again " " tunate. It was expected that the w-* •_ Sunday would float her off in w fresh came down the river, and, ov - some mismanagement, she wa> J, washed into the stream hut earnoi -• and put on to the south spit,where -.u hard and fast. She is in a la. position than ever, and 1 ,u ' yet ascertained whether her 1 will again try to get her off. Tho following ««*. l»« aggregate of passengers 0 i; v during the week. The Omeo. " ;11U | eelsior, Airedale, ltangitoto, | Alhambni. Beckon about one i ' r |. uu i the number ot those who have com-. » during the same time, and we na* t -

,100. _ , oil Eight vessels sot into the lire. ■ , h , 'riday last. The Nelson, steunter ; ame day, struck on the spit , (i j irer. She was going « >ut u f ' ■ ..;,<us nderstand that she has 1 , vI . amage, but that the expense ;(J or off would l»> enormous. ■-u ( e insured for the large sum ot t-. •

The West Coast 1 V«« of t!l ;j- th? the following paragraph in re l i recent trip of the Alhambra : From one »it' the (lt -i"'' we have received some fe>* \(0 rA . t ml !" J •age round, Hi»d we nro "orrv to »> v * >y v-r of life an boimt of lu'i*. tin - " 1 '-!' u> ' t .:!' ' !u ' alto oKiicrtiuu't'd. 'flu' Alhun ,r 'V West o«pt\ fell in with » I- , ' K ; , happily for her, was ot "I' ' rt ' height of tlio utorui.a lir.o v sea (|i , washing one of her P :lW "«'' r " '' 1" " li hatchwii., and killing Inn. , ;l< in confuMon—ollii'i'M and mini v 1 *~..1, i>' only know how under sueli emu'' j,,,, i;i • f the hntelies battened down. miug. Whilst #0 employed, « < . | | ) , , i.' ! 1 board, wishing both aide* " u nl ; lv .>!' '"""l! cabin, c rrying ovt»i l»oar«l a ' | 1( ,, m."'-;' paper*, and instrument*. ' (l jir'" ' ' wave immediately following l • ' [S n ,^' the unfortunate second mate. * ' 1 1 ' afterward*. These di.«tiv , « i, ">. ' )• quite a glooin over both cre« '' | t ||1; , ci> ,!l ' | on Tumlnv morning, the V >" ''' "' Jackson'* Hay, tlu» 4M| ,h, "| '' ' And bury Iho unt'-r 1 ,l,u ', |ll; "',U< übove. The n'maim were ,i..." ..vll , - ,:l|!,rr, | '1, with all due Noleninity, «»«' |i|h | more prum-dfd on lier!•<' ; ( without any further i«"- h "i'- (| „ r , h«Hvi*ver, j, :«• : ;t , .faekmih's Hay. !""i"'' . ," v i,,.! Iwere found there. wln» ' 1 l».a» time eujpli>,*t'd ti^tiiij,'t' ll ' lJ

weeded in striking gold, and were onW waitii to the return ot their cutter, which had gone rout Biverton, to leave the place. In B pitc, hoi -rer, ° f ,hP5e discouraging accounts, the ncv 'men.couldnot be induced to alter their dete minatiou. but remained there, and we trust tfai ju ffCB B will wait u P° n th e»r pl*»ckj dotorminatiui Wcliavc had a visit recently from tb Marine Hoard Warden, Captain Johnson. H hag been actively engaged in inspecting th rarious steam vessels employed in this tradt The equipments of the Lady of the Lak tjjjye not met with his approbation, and understand she is forbidden to proceed to set until she has complied with the rules rclatini ♦o ft due number of lamps, &c. She is sau -jjo to l>e unseaworthy. Mr. A. Mackay, Commissioner of Nativ< Reserves, lias been to the Grey making cer tain necessary arrangements with regurd t( Maori lands. He returned yesterday, ant left again the same evening for the south. The Improvement Committee have at length taken some action with regard to s fire brigade- At a meeting of the committee j,eld on the 28th September, the attention of members was called to the great danger the town was exposed to from the ravages of lire, ami it was determined that a public meeting should be called as soon as possible for the purpose of organising a fire brigade, kike other matters that the Improvement Committee have taken in hand, I much fear ♦bat the brigade will not be a success. Very heavy rain, accompanied by thunder w d lightning, fell during the night of Sunday. To-day the sky is clear, with a fresh trestcrlv breeze. Th«rc are several vessels outside' waiting for the sea to moderate before attempt ing an entrance. The services of the wrecked tugs arc very much missed. Oct. 9. It mny raise a smile on the faces of the " Old Identities" of Canterbury to hoar that the people of the West Coast are beginning to talk seriously of the necessity of forming a new province on this side of the main range. ] t i s , of course, perfectly well understood t liat Mich a change could not possibly be effected for some time to come, and that the opposition would be very great; but a strong feeling exists "on the subject, and were the question put to the vote to-morrow in Hokitika and on the diggings, "separation " would carry the day by a large majority. The reason is very simple. Folks fay that the revenue is being badlv expended, and in a manner calculated to do no good whatever to the West Coast, and there is the fear, not, perhaps, altogether unfounded, that the Council will sanction some scheme for the formation of a railway from Christehureh to Hokitika, and thereby impose a heavy burden of debt on the West Coast community, giving them, in return, no substantial equivalent. The West Coast Itmes has published articles oil separation, contain-

in? a great many undeniable statements, which certainly tend to show that the real interests of the West Coast have been neglected. There are people here, and you can class ine amongst the number, who are very strongly opposed to the idea of separation, but all are reluctantly compelled to admit that there has been good ground for complaint, not, certainly. with regard to the amount expended, but the manner of the expenditure. I suppose that the gale ot' laud on the West Coast cannot much longer be delayed. We shall then enter a new phase of our existence ; we shall become, to no inconsiderable extent, an agricultural people; other interests will spring up, j and, instead of being looked on as a j mere crowd of mining and trading adventurers, we shall soon make our voice heard and our influence felt in the legislature of the country! That time vrill surely come, and ,it depends very much ou the action of the Canterbury Government of the present day, how the influence of the West Coast will be brought to bear in the future. It may be that when the West Coast is in a position to claim separation, under the "New Provinces Act," that Act will have been repealed, but I do not think it probable, and I should look on the repealing of the " New Provinces Act" as the first step towards the abolition of Provincial Governments altogether. If the Act continues in force, the West CWt will be able to make out a better case for separation than any other secediny portion of a province has hitherto been able to do. Would it not. therefore, be as well to inquire 'hat are the wants and wishes of the Coast people, as expressed by theru-elvew, and not as Christchurch, seti:i<r through a distorting lens, w oul-i like thein to be? If separation would be regarded as an evil by intern Canterbury—and I imagine it w 'oul<l be bo regarded—might it not be politic to lent] a willing ear to complaints which are every day becoming inore frequent ? We are sadly in want ]! r ," a ' K t0 various diggings outside jwitika, and I am sure that if some j ru were made by the Government l '> meet this want, a great deal c '11 • feeling would at once be removed, if, j n addition, we were permitted to import our beef and mut0.1 1 1 venture to say very little more be heard of separation. Throw Ul f ° '' l(; M ';ile a commission to inquire 111 '' the be«t means of improving the j-'j'traiiei} to the harbour, and he who talked of reparation as a thing to f would be looked on as an • to the commonwealth. The jta sii^r,, M (; k itself to ray mind that at " n |' future time, unless these points j ,n - ■•tiended to, the Superintendent of t| ! !' r ' ,vm,;<; of Hokitika may declare j-' l )rf, vmce of Canterbury an " in(\Hi '""trict under the Diseased tii'o ,'i A<t '" It would be a just, I''" r ' la I )s ex pensive, measure of fj J ll (, °mmence my mining news rfJ j . Ie week with some sentences ; l,1 \e to the diggings within a few Md, U < 'p t ' le Gre y—on the Canterbury in tl t t( '" y° u population r „ ' a '"'-dity is on the increase is no irirt' i' " 1 w ' ,afc musfc he said of every l )l( , | l ' 1( \ West Coast, where gold iri,7' M ,liscovered ; hut the Grey I'fi-ul . ,U at P reßenfc , holds out Tlif. Iu to new comers. \vl„., ' ,ilr,ieH on the beach, amongst 1n,,,,,'. t ' ie lucky finders of the •' W< 8 a eiV vvee ' lß ®' nce > tj,,.' , l n, K earning wages far above vti. v It seems likely that a he ° xte 'it of good ground will i.,,,; jj K ' "P. hut the gold is exceed(Ul(' *:' 10 ordinary mining ap(juit,, < M 'y which it is obtained are Hun k s '| 1 . !,uit . uf) ' e - I Q one or two claims I.:t ( l jj, UHe # d; but tbe men have do lloni l : ° x perience with it, and I Ull k have derived much benefit

! from its application. I am told that r . improved cradles are beimT f. structed in town fn* « ® , ; IS, "Te OT™„0T™„ ° h "V" n ? : h itj S B hiv«L C j l * aQ y B old which may 1 1.1. from "bove. I have my--1 mnLl UP i ed a ,>arty of «»en with a model 0 t a ver; effective little machine 1 Have used with great success in Vics toria, m workings where quicksilver ■ re( iuired, aud I have no aoubt that | when these methods become known, i and generally used, there will be an enormous increase in the yield. The i the very finest description, aud to give you an idea of the unsatisfactory results of dealing with it in the ordinary manner—by the sluicebox or the common cradle—l may state that prospects taken from the tailings have given nearly as much as prospects freshly dug from the claims! And yet enough is saved in sluicing and cradling to pay the men handsomely for working it. The black sand at the Grey closely resembles that which has been, from time to time, obtained on the Moeraki beach, but the latter is found loose on the shore, and the former only lies in layers in the claims. In some places these layers are much thicker than in others, but the average richness of the saud would appear to be the same. I believe men have tried the sand on the open beach, but without success, or I not enough to tempt them to carry their researches farther. There is a very rich field opened on these diggings for any one who thoroughly understands the working of gold in connection with quicksilver. The diggers at the Arnold are doing well, and the township of Q-reymouth is thriving, but crime is on the increase. Petty robberies continue to be of frequent occurrence, in spite of very great vigilance on the part of the police. It is reported that an attempt is being made to get off the steamer Nelson, the mishap to which vessel I mentioned last week. Back allotments at the Grey, on the Maori land, are being leased from the natives at the rate of two pounds per foot per annum. There has been a new rush up the Arnold, no particulars of which have, as yet, reached me.

The population at the Greenstone Creek numbers about four hundred. They are, for the most part, settled for some months, and a few of the parties are going to very considerable preliminary expense to bring in water to their claims. One of these works is a flume, which, when completed, will be more than a mile and a half in length. It will carry nine heads of water for sluicing purposes, and will be delivered on the top ot the terrace. A race is also being brought in, which will contain forty sluice heads of water. The length of this race will be four miles, and from the large supply it will furnish, this really formidable work will give a great impetus to mining in the district. Some of the claims at the Greenstone are of more than ordinary richness. Harrington's party is said to be making thirty or forty pounds per man per week, and others are doing equally well. What are called wages by the miners range from six to ten pounds per week. At the Waimea there are also, as I think I before reported, a good many mining works of considerable magnitude being carried on. The great wint on the terraces is water, aud this is being supplied by races, flumes, and dams. One of the latter, which j is just now in course of construction in the right hand branch of the Waimea creek, about three miles above the Forks township, is worthy more particular notice. This dam is the property of a man named Meechan and his mates. It is forty-six feet high, about seventy feet wide. The material of which it is constructed is timber, well backed up with earth. The embankments are of very great solidity, a feature rendered necessary by the position, which is a narrow gorge, through which, after heavy rains, there is a great rush of water. A long flume will be connected with the dam, and lead the water on to the right-hand terrace, where the claim of the party is situated. They are in great hopes of realising a snug thing by their labour. The only other thing to mention in connection with the Waimea district is the reported discovery of a second bottom m ground which had been once worked successfully and left. A party of men sunk some feet through the blue clay, which is usually taken as the bottom, at the Waimea, and came on other layers of gravel, and, eventually, on waslidirt, which gave remarkably good prospects. Other claims in the vicinity, from which one harvest had already been reaped, were quickly taken up*~~the owners commencing, without delay, to sink'deeper. The affair has caused quite an excitement in the district, and will be the means, very likely, of bringing about a revival. The prospect obtained in the claim which first touched this second bottom, was rather more than five pennyweights to the dish. I have not heard what has been the result in other claims. Tim second bottom is not, after all, the bed rock. Ajs at the Kanieri, and elsewhere, the cold is found on different -layers o clay or soft rock, with many feet, sometimes of gravel, lying between them. The bed rock in the Waimea district 1 believe to be a long way below. discovery shows how very imperfectly the claims have been worked, and how good a chance a fresh arrival has of letting hold of ground in which he may make " a pile." The same km of thing has happened in several instances in the Kanieri district. I knew one party who drove out a claim and made several hundreds a-man. Tbey left, a,id shortly .atarmrda a second party took JSJ g^x:?2£i

the Kanieri district, near the township, came under my notice. For days together a man threw away- a layer of Btuff amongst the rubbish of the claim, which was subsequently shown to be worth about eight shillings to the bucket. The stuff thrown away could not berecovered.aaitwas mixed up with large quantities of refuse, but the remainder of the layer, which had been undisturbed, turned out according to the prospect. There is nothing of special importance to report from the Kanieri district. The Warden's quarters still remain unfinished, and Mr. Schaw holds his court in Hokitika. How long this will last I am unable to say. The Totara is still a favourite diggings. Very few have returned northward, though some have last week made their way further down the coast. The Court-house is being rapidly built, and the contractor, Mr. Moffatt, is doing his work in a very creditable manuer. A policeman was recently bringing a prisoner up from the Totara, when, on nearing an old wreck which lies on the beach, a few miles below Hokitika, his charge made a bolt for it, and succeeded in making good his escape. He was in custody on a charge of robbing a store. He has not since been retaken. Mr. Justice Aylmer, recently appointed a Warden of the West Canterbury goldfields, arrived in Hokitika on Friday night. He proceeds south to-morrow to take charge of the Totara district, and great will be the rejoicing amongst the miners that their long tramps to Hokitika on warden's business are at

length done away with. Mr. Aylrner, I am told, reports the road this side of the range to be in a frightful state— in fact, all but impassable. Another gentleman, who came over the day previous, echoes the same tale. Mr. Sale returned from Bruce Bay in the Bruce on Wednesday last. None of the miners returned in her, although there was no gold getting. Parties of men were prospecting in all directions, but beyond the prospects I mentioned last week, I cannot hear of anything having been done. The men who went down took, most of

them, one month's provisions. They intend to give the country a good trial before they leave. A township was marked out ou the shores of Bruce

Bay, and a good many sections taken up, and the owners began erecting places of business—mostly tents. There was a strong southerly wind blowing when the Bruce was in the Bay, and there was a considerable sea on. At the landing there was comparatively smooth water, but now and then the break was too heavy to be pleasant. A boat was capsized, and the men had rather a narrow shave of drowning. The steersman was washed out of another boat, but beyoud the ducking he was none the worse. It is supposed

that Hunt, the prospector, could tell of good ground in the neighbourhood

if he chose. He has a claim somewhere near the beach, but at the time

the Bruce was in the Bay he was not working it. It is thought to be only a blind, and that he is waiting for the place to be deserted again, when he will make tracks for the spot where he is really at work. If that is the real state of the case, I am much afraid the poor man will be disappointed. Now that Bruce Bay has been rushed he will not be able to keep his secret many dayß to himself, and he will then regret that he did not adopt the proper course of giving the usual notice to the authorities, and thereby secure for himself the extended area of ground allowed by the regulations, There are few items of interest to report in Hokitika or the immediate neighbourhood. A man has been arrested on suspicion of having been concerned in the late robbery of the bank gold from Mr. Walmsley. No evidence was taken, and a remand of seven days was granted, to procure the attendance of Mr. Walmsley, who is at present at the Grey. The prisoner's name is Jonathan Smith. I hear he is known to the police unfavourably. I do not know what evidence will be brought against him. He was arrested when about to leave the port in the Ballarat steamer, and a quantity of gold is said to have been found in his possession. A very stupid paragraph has appeared in one of the newspapers here—the Adoertiser —blaming the police for not having arrested hiin before, he having been stopping for some time in Hokitika at one of the hotels. The innocence of the writer of the paragraph in question is really charming. No doubt the police had excellent reasons for giving the man all the tether they could before arresting hitn. The Improvement Committee are having the aide-walks in Revell street formed and gravelled. The utility of the work will be very great. I have to report further shipping disasters during the week. The Maria, three - masted schooner, from Melbourne, the last of thirteen sailing vessels, twelve of which safely crossed the bar, came ashore on the north spit on Friday. She is a very long boat, and the accident is to be attributed to her not answering her helm sufficiently when in the tide-way. She is quite undamaged, and will probably be carried across the spifc and launched into the river. On Saturday the Lady of the Lake, a very useless Hpecicnen of naval architecture, whilst endeavouring to force her way outwards through a heavy surf, was carried some distance along the north shore by the current of the river. Her engines were reversed after a quarter of an hour's feeble battling with the waves, and she tried to back herself once more into the channel; the heavy seas breaking clean over her decks had, however, almost extinguished her fires, and, not being able to keep steam up, she took the extreme edge of the north spit, close to the signal staff, where she still' lies. Tbe Star of the South also met with disaster on her entering the river. The recent heavy freshes we have had in the Hokitika cut a new channel some twenty yards further to the northward, leaving an island of sand, which has since been almost washed away. At high water it is completely submerged. This was the first

trip of the Star of the South to Hokitika, and, being in ignorance of the obstruction, she steamed on the top of the bank and remained there. She will, probably, have to wait till a fresh, or a high spring tide, adds a few feet of water to the depth of the river, before she can be removed. She is quite uninjured. The inquiry into the stranding of the Leonidas, brigautme, was held during the week. The report is not as yet published. The inquiry into the wreck of the steam tug Sampson was begun on Friday, before Q-. E. FitzGerald, Esq., 8.M., and Capt. Whyte, nautical assessor. A mass of evidence was taken, aud the Court adjourned to Saturday, when further evidence was taken. An adjournment then took place till this morning. The inquiry is causing great interest here, and may be followed, I hear, by actions for damages in the Supreme Court. There are also inquiries pending into the causes of the stranding of the Yarra, steam-tug; the Maria, three-masted schooner, a fine large vessel; and the John Bullock, threemasted schooner, also a fine roomy vessel, and little more than a year old. The John Bullock is a little strained, but I have heard it said that she might be got over the spit, and would be " as good as ever." Freight is reported at £4 10s from Melbourne, but will rise again when the wreck of the Sampson known. There is no news of the Lioness, tug, which is anxiously looked for to supply the place of the Sampson. The passenger arrivals by sea during the week have been approximately as follows:—

Albion, from Melbourne ... 270 Hero, do Dunedin 190 Airedale, do Auckland ... 170 Rangatira, do Dunedin ... 65 Maid of the Yarra, do Nelson 35 Star of the South, do Dunedin 50 Total 780 Outside.—Prince Kegent, Eleanor, Patterson—Unknown. I think, with the last three vessels, and allowing, say, one hundred for the number of overland passengers, the arrivals for the week will be rather more than 1000. I ought to have mentioned in my last letter that on Monday afternoon the wreck of the Sampson was sold on the beach for the sum of £224 ss. The wreck was put up in three lots. The coal and donkey engine brought £63. The hawsers and some loose timber, £1 5s ; and the principal lot, comprising the hull, engines, boilers, rigging, masts, &c., £160. It was a very low figure—though not perhaps as wrecks generally go. The purchaser is rapidly making sure of his bargain by hauling various portions on to the top of the spit.