WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 71, 28 May 1866, Page 3

WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS

OEARITA. The Times mentions that a good deal of coarse gold from the lake and other places inland has come to hand. At the [Five-mile some new ground hag, been opened inland, and excellent; prospects obtained. Friday Evening. The first collection of duty on goods entered for consumption at the port of Okarita was £85 13s. 9d. The shipment of gold from Okarita by the steamer Bruce was on the 13th inst., 3613 ounces. Some parties who were prospecting up •the Waiho lately, have returned. They brought a little coarse gold with them, and they say they believe good payable gold will yet be found in the snowy ranges, if properly looked after by a strong and well equipped party. The country is described as very precipitous, and the brush and scrub very hard to get through. Next year will see splendid discoveries in the ranges, as this year gold is so easily procured on the beaches, men will not penetrate the bush. By next year the beach diggings will mostly be worked out, and the miners will be compelled. Ic prospect the interior^ where no doubt heavier gold will be found. It is the opinion of many parties that there is another layer of payable black sand below the .water level,

on the beaches ; some parties intend, in a month or two, to spare neither time nor expense to test the matter, by procuring 30ft. to 40ft, Californian pumps.