WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 62, 16 May 1866, Page 3

WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

•wardens' report. Under date 21 st ultimo, Mr. Warden Schaw reports of the Kanieri district as follows : — "Since my last report two more steamengines have arrived for the Kanieri : one to be placed on Commissioner's Flat and the other on Shenandoah Flat, the latter spot being situated about a quarter of a mile west of the Kanieri Terrace, on tne north road to Hokitika. The spirited company, krfown as the Pioneer, have commenced to extend their water-race to the Kanieri river. The undertaking will be a very expensive and difficult one, as the ground is rough and broken. It is computed that a further call on the shareholders of £1000 will be required to complete the work. The lead has been followed to the second paddock at the Ho Ho, and good prospects obtained (about ldwt. to the tin dish of wash-dirt). The run at present points to Tucker Flat, and I am firmly impressed with the idea that ere long the Kanieri and Ho Ho diggings will be one continuous line of workings extending for six or seven miles.* The sinking is one hundred feet and upwards, and little water to contend with. I should advise the marking off of a township on the new 'diggings immediately, the open ground being well adapted for building purposes. Thirteen stores have been erected within the last fortnight, and there appears an evident rush to that locality. Estimated population — miners 3000, persons otherwise employed 500.'' "From Ross, Totara, Mr. Warden Aylmer, thus reports: — "Owing to the continued fine weather and the return of a number of miners from the Bruce Bay rush, the yield of gold in the district is better than usual. A quartz reef is being prospected in Donelly's Creek, about three miles from the township of Ross. I 'liave seen some of the stone, but could discern no gold in ifc ; gold is found in the caseings in small quantities. The miners on Jones's Flat are doing exceedingly well ; as an instance, Brodyand party are obtaining from £20 to £30 per week per man, at a depth of 45 feet. In another claim one man's share for one week was £170. Frora £12 to £16 is about the average weekly return. At Donoghues ; mining matters seem to be in a healthy state, in fact some of the richest claims in the district are to be found inthat neighborhood. Estimated population — miners 3QOO, persons otherwise employed 500." From the Grey district Mr. Warden Revell reports as follows : — " Several hundred miners have returned from the Little Grey rush to the various fields in this district. Fresh ground is being opened up in the country lying between the Saltwater Creek and the Teremakau, some •distauce from the sea beach; and fche accounts from the Arnold show an improvement in thnt locality. A rush has lately taken place of two or three hundred men to a new terrace east of the lagoon and south of Saltwater Creek, Estimated population— employed in mining and other pursuits, from 5000 to 6000." OKAJIIITA. As a proof of the general excellent yield of the Okarita gold-field we can state, that from January 22nd to April 19th the gold brought up by the p.s. Bruce, amounted to no less than 25,817 ozs. 6 dwts. 12 grs., cf which 10,150 ozs. were consigned to the Bank of New South Wales, 12,384 ozs. 6 dwts. 12 grs. to the Bank of New Zealand, and the rest, 3,283 ozs., to private hands f these amounts are, of course, exclusive o any sent overland or by other boats. We are also informed that the revenue derived from the sale of licenses, fees, aud fines, paid to the Government for the month, amounted to over 1,200/.— W. C. Times.