WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 33, 12 April 1866, Page 3

WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

HOKITIKA. We are glad to hear that a company has not only been formed at the Auckland rush for the purpose of testing the swamp, but that yesterday operations were commenced. The formula' prescribed in the regulations has also beeu complied with, so there is no doubt the Warden will grant them registration should no valid objections to such a proceeding be offered by others. — //. Times, AprillO. BRUCE BAY. April 1. This morning several hundred miners pulled down their tents, packed up their swags, aud bid farewell to Bruce Bay. Ifc is the intention of all to leave to-morrow, aud prospect the beaches as they travel aloug. No one is going south that I can hear of, as the latest accounts from Jackson's Bay represent mining affairs as very dull. No accounts have been received of Hunt that I consider authentic, although many vague rumours are iv circulation. Some say he has goue to Jackson's Bay : but I am of opinion no person knows where he is ; and if ho is wise, he will keep clear of the miners,

and bid adieu to the gold-fields of the West Coast. The business people are even more exasperated against Hunt than the miners. There is a hope indulged in that, Hunt will turn up, or some of the parties, well provided with tucker at Hunt's last camping place, may strike payable gold in the ranges. One of the miners got swamp fever through the wet and cold he endured the night Hunt disappeared in the bush. He was perfectly helpless, lying at Gianite Creek, but the miners with great difficulty carried the poor fellow through the intricate bush to the beach. As soon as it was known in Bruce Bay the condition he was in, several miners started this morning to fetch him in. This good work was accomplished this evening. The job of carrying the sick man round the rocky bluff, where a person has great difficulty in crawling over the large stones, may be easily imagined. He is now kindly taken care of in the store of Ecclesfield Bros. As it is the opiuiou of many that some unfortunate miners are sick or lost in the bush, our kind-hearted Warden immediately despatched six men to search the bush thoroughly, and has, I believe, guarauteed to pay them if Government will not do so. April 2ud. The rush here is at an end for tlie present. Nearly all hands are packing up their swags, and hundreds have already left. By twelve o'clock very nearly all the miners will be Vm.vvfy.-W, C. Times, April 10. OKARITA. On Saturday last, a party of four, working at the Five- mile, sold to the Bank of New Zealand 110 lbs. weight, or 1,.">20 ozs. gold, the produce of three month's work. In addition to this net result they paid expenses out of the gold they got from time to time. We need not comment on this yield, but may say that there are many parties in the same place who have dove equally as well during the same period. A tender for clearing the Lake track was finally decided on on Saturday night last, and the work will, we have no doubt, be finished within the stipulated three weeks. A large number of persons are waiting for the track to be cut, intending when this is done to give the Lake a thorough trial. Should it prove as valuable as those who have tried it think, a very large extent of country will be available, and there will be room for thousands of men. — Okarita Times. I =