WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 24, 2 April 1866, Page 2

WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

DISCOVERT OF A RICH NEW GOLDFIELD AT THE LITTLE GRET. For several days past there have been rumors to the effect that a very important discovery had been made up the Little Grey (Mawhera — iti), and that a number of miners had set in with very excellent prospects. We have taken pains to ascertain such particulars as arc at present available, and we have gathered from various sources what we believe to be reliable information. The short report we gave the other day is substantially true, and there is every reason to believe that one of the richest gold-fields ever opened on the West Coast has been discovered. The locale of the new disco\ery is the country at the head of the Little Grey River, gold, having been found on boih the - Buller and Grey sides of the saddle, is well as on the top of the saddle itself. Ryable gold has also been found in the beds y£ the tributary creeks of the Little Grey, aid in low terraces and old river flats. Al the Maoris who formerly worked on the Grey are there, and already some "pile caims" have been opened. At present only tie beds of the two creeks are being worked, alhough payable gold has been discovered iu many other places, as before stated. j There is very little stripping, aid the

depth of wash-dirt varies from two to ten feet, and a very large proportion of the claims are yielding from two dwts. upwards to the dish. The terraces have not yet been commenced upon, but where prospected lave "been found payable, in one instance one of our informants saw two dwts. to the shovelful. All provisions are packed r from about six miles from the diggings. There is no available track from the Buller, nor can canoes go up the Little Grey to the diggings now opened. About 600 men were there three days ago. The country is for the most part open, with manuka scrub, and marshy plains. The diggings can only he reached by the Little Grey. The prospectors' claim is giving from three to three and a-half dwts. to the dish, and the ground has been proved to be payable for 15 .miles on the Buller side of the saddle, and 6 miles on the Grey side. The Maoris declare it to be the richest and most extensive goldfield ever discovered on the West Coast. The above is the substance of the information we have received, and we have reason for believing it to be truthful. In order however, that we may be in a position to give an authoritative and perfectly reliable account, we intend at once to_despatch a special reporter to the ground. — G.E. Argus.