THE UPPER BULLER.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 39, 15 May 1869, Page 4

THE UPPER BULLER.

[From a correspondent of the Westport Times.] As the prospects of the up-country diggings on the Buller and Lyell rivers are now a source of interest to the inhabitants of-Westport, and as that part of the country ia looked upon as a kind of land of promise, a few notes by an eye-witness of the development of the resources of the country may not be uninteresting. The township of the Lyell now begins to assume some proportions, and consists of four stores for general merchandise, a blacksmith's, shoemaker's, butcher's, and baker's shop, besides several shanties where the indispensable nobbier can be obtained by any lucky individual possessing the needful shilling. The principal novelty in the digging line is the opening of some rich ground on the Maori Terrace, about, seven miles from the township, and as the water-races are now nearly finished, some good yields of gold are soon expected. The other terrace workings between the Lyell and Newton are giving pretty good returns, and thirty-one ounces were, on Sunday last, brought into town by Martin and party, who are working near the famous Dublin Jack's Terrace. The Lyell still gives employment to a limited number of diggers, and good wages are obtained there. One claim iv their last week's washing, got, besides several pieces of coarse gold, a nugget weighing sozs. There ia some talk of a large race company being formed to work the terraces on the Lyell, tho want of water being at preBent the greatest drawback to their development. Tho plan, should it be started, would be to take the water from the creek itself, about four miles from its junction with the Buller, and flumiug it along the terraces to that point. The speculation was a most promising one, as, besides rendering the terraces workable, the creek itself, by the withdrawal of so large a body of water, would be comparatively dry iv fine weather and rendered easily workable, and, from the quantity of nuggety gold taken from the bed of the creek some six years ago, there is every prospect of more of the same sort being obtained. The wet weather prevalent in "Westport for the last few weeks has, unfortunately for the Buller and Lyell diggings, been confined to that township, only one or two wet days having been felt up-country. The want of water is the chief drawback to the district, as the whole banks of the Buller for several miles are only workable by water-races having their supply in Manuka Plat, and as the fall thence is very abrupt, the freshes so soon run down that at least three days' rain a week is a necessary evil to keep up anything like a workable supply. A canoe accident, fortunately attended with no serious result, happened last week on the Buller. A party working on the opposite bank of the Buller to that on which the track runs, were crossing to their claim, when the cauoe capsized. The two men were fortunate enough, however, to cling to a snag aud reached shore in safety. On the following morning they, liaviug recovered the canoe some distance down the river, essayed to take her up the river again, but the tow rope parted in a fall, and she again went down, and is probably lost. The rivers Matukatuka and Marawheia give employment to a limited number of diggers, and in both good wages are obtainable, but in this district, as in the others, the want of water will be a drawback to the settlement of any large number of miners. The population on the river Buller and its tributaries is from six hundred to seven hundred, most of whom are getting from "tucker*" to, say, £10 per week per mau. The meat market is well supplied from Nelson, and beef and mutton range in price from 9d, to Is. per lb. Bread is selling at 2s. the 41b. loaf; flour, 3os. the SOlbs. Other necessaries are at fair prices cousidering the price of freight from the Buller, and the cost of living will be from twenty-one shillings to thirty shillings per man per week. The want of direct postal communication is keenly felt, for, although Mr. Adank receives and despatches the letters for miners, the receipt of them from Westport is only casual, aud depends on the courtesy of the boatmen plying on the river. Roman Catholic Provincial Council of Australia. — Tho Argus informs us that, on Sunday, tho 18th April, " tho opening of tho Provricinl Council of Australia, composed of tho Roman Catholic prelates and such of the clergy as aro entitled to a canonical part in tho Synod, took place at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne Tho event was by fur tho most important thut has yet taken place in connection with tho Roman Catholic Church since its establishment in Australia, and was celebrated witli suitably magnificent religious ceremonies An array of sewn Bishops, and their Primate, assembling to porfonn the normal functions of (ho Church in Australia, is a remarkable sign of the times, and exhibits an advanced stage of organization. Otic such Council hue been hold before — twenty-three years ago, in Sydney — but then only two Bishops — those of Itobart Town aud Adolaido — were assembled with tho Primate. There aro many questions for the Council to consider, especinlly the operation of the laws relating lo marriage, education, and tho establishment of churches, besides affairs of discipline. Tho opening services wore us splendid as the resources of tho Roman Catholic Church in Melbourne could make them. The magnificent interior of St. Patrick's was crowded to excess, although admission to tho body of tho chureli was by five-shilling tickets, nnd tho spectacle of so large a body of well-dressed persons, assembled under such circumstances, was ono not soon to bo forgotten. Tho high altar appeared in its fullest magnificence, nnd in front were ranged the thrones for tho Archbishop and Bishops, tho former canopied and covered with purple velvet. There was noservieo at tltonltars in the side chapels, .•which were densely crowded by persons admitted at a lower rato of foe. Under tho western window a temporary gallery was erected for tho choi"', which •was of umisunl dimensions ; for there were present tho choir of St. Francis's, with their conductor, Mr. G-. R. Or. Pringle, nnd a number of tho leading instrumental musicians of Melbourne, including Mr. King (leader), Ilerr Siede, Horr Lundbcrg, and Mr. Chapman. Tho solo vocalists wero Mrs. Fox, Mrs. Sehaw, Mr. Coles, and Mr. Furlong. At ten o'clock tho ' synodical procession,' consisting of the leading prelates and clergy of tUo cUuveU, including the Archbishop of Sydney, and the Bishops of Melbourne, Adelaide, Ilobart Town, Brisbane, Goulburn, Bnthurpt, andMaitltvnd, proceeded from tho Bishop's palaco to tho cathedral, where they wore enthroned at tho high altar. High umbb wus then performed

to the music of Haydn's 'Imperial Mass,' which was rendered by the large band of musicians and the choir. Other religious ceremonies woro also observed, and the opening of the Council formally inaugurated." The Boundary between Victoria and South Austealia.— " Wound," says the Mount Gambier Standard, " the question of the true boundary-line between this colony and Victoria is beginning to attract some attention. It is stated that that which is now regarded as the border is really two to two and a-half miles within tho province of South Australia, and that consequently the mouth of the Glenelg River is really in South Australia. The question has been settled tolerably well between New South Wales and our Government, but the matter has yet io bo considered by the Victorian authorities. In the event of the present boundary proving to be erroneous, it will bo an interesting point to ascertain what proposal Victoria will make in reference to revenues she has received from this territory." The Austealian Wild Hoese. — "Tho wild horse of Australia," says the Avoca Mail, "will unquestionably at no distant date, like the mustang ol' the South American pampas, occupy in vast numbers the almost boundless plains of the interior. On the South Australian border in Victoria, where some few years ago wild horses wore comparatively few in number, large herds are now to be found. During periods of continued drought these herds travel immense distance in the search of pasture, and on some stations detract considerably from the value of the runs to the north-west. Tho neighbourhood of tho Malice Scrub at tho present season appears to be a favourite resort for wild horses. Feeding on the plains in mobs of from fifteen to thirty mares with foals at foot, the sire, a stallion whoso progeny are usually of ono colouv, is most careful of his family, on tho slightest alarm loading his charge al full speed under shelter of tho almost impenetrable scrub. Several successful musterings of these steeds of the plain have been made of late, we are informed, and some of the colts broken and sent to market, but, from tho cheapness of horseflesh all over the colony tho speculation has not paid. Many hundreds have been shot on the various stations, but apparently without reducing their numbers. Wild cattle in tho neighbourhood of the Malleo Scrub have also become a complete nuisance On tho sheepstations beef of excellent quality is supplied all the year round as rations to the men employed. The wild cattle aro hunted like tho buffalo of the North American plains, and are said to be gradually increasing in numbers and spreading towards tho Fur North. The most astonishing circumstance attaching to these wild herds of cattle and horses is that, notwithstanding on the 1 stations near their haunts sheep and other stock are dying very fast from tho effects of tho drought, these denizens of the plain uppcar in excellent health, and sleek as moles. A mosL beautiful sight it is to see a largo mob of wild horses startled on the plains, galloping at full speed, their unkempt manes floating in tho wind, the speed of which they seem to equal ; their tails sweeping' the ground— they present to the eye a perfect embodimont of beauty and freedom." The Afeican Gold-melds. — Tho schooner St. Kilda has arrired afc Melbourne from Natal with dates to the 9fcli of March. She brings back a number of diggers who went by her to try the African gold-fields, and a cargo of sugar. The Argus, of the 27th ultimo, states that " the news from tho diggings is of tho scantiest. Tho distance from DUrban, indeed, is so great that the absence of news is scarcely to bo wondered at. A prospecting party from DUrban had sent in an official report, which \ms to ihe purport thai they had worked the Urntwalumi gold-field for threo months, sinking shafts from six to thirty feet deep, and in that time obtained only twelve specks of gold. #A Government party of whites and Kaffirs, on the same field, had cut about lour miles of sluice, and had only got from a quarter to half an ounce of gold. At the Umzinto gold-field tho same parf.y had been unable to obtain a speck of gold. Better prospects have been got at Umblanga, but the supplies having run short, the prospectors had been obliged to leave it beibro they had fairly tested it. One of Ibis party — Mr. George H. Watson — was an old Australian digger. A native, who had arrived in DUrban from tho Tatin gold-field, after a journey of twenty-seven clays' duration, reported that the diggers had all left that field and gone northwards into the territory of tho chief Moscna. They had been received in a kindly manner, and had commenced to work quartz reefs, which showed gold. A company of twentyone men, among whom there were several old diggers, and who called themselves the Glasgow and Liuipolo Company, had started from Potchefstrooin for the diggings, accompanied by a party who styled themselves the Australian and New Zealand Company. To this we may add, that from Messrs. Crook and Salmon, who are passengers by the St. Kil'la, we learn that three districts on the Rivers Umgheni, Tugeli, and Umturaloomi had been well prospected, and the ground thoroughly tested by several independent parties, and that only the colour of gold had been obtained. Quartz abounds, and a quantity, about 1.0001b5., was shipped to England for analysis. A test of quartz from the same lot, however, was made by a practical chemist afc Pietermaritzburg, but he failed to discover tho remotest trace of gold in it. Altogether, the miners who have returned speak strongly against tho South African gold-fields."