SPECIAL SETTLEMENT IN SOUTH WESTLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4280, 8 December 1874, Page 3

SPECIAL SETTLEMENT IN SOUTH WESTLAND.

(Prom the Greymoath Evening Star, Nov. 29.) On Friday last, the s.s. Waipara returned to Hokitika from the Southern ports. Reporting the trip, the West Coast Times says : The steamer Waipara left Hokitika on Sunday last, the 22nd November, at 8 a.m., having on board, besides Captain Bascand and the ship's crew, his Honor the Superintendent, Mr. Mueller, Provincial Engineer; Mr. Browning, Chief Surveyor, with a survey party of nine ; and Mr. MeParlane, who has been engaged by the Government to superintend the inauguration of the special settlement. On Tuesday the 21th, this party was lauded at Jackson's Bay, and lost no time in proceeding with the preliminary portion of the surveying work, by talcing a general view of the bearings of the adjacent country. In connection with this scheme, and referring to the new industries which are likely to be developed after a population has fairly set in, Mr. McParlane assures us that large quantities of limestone and sandstone are in abundance close to the Bay, and what is of still greater importance, 'an excellent sample of coal has been discovered by one of the miners working there, though the extent of the seam has not yet been defined, only a mere outcrop beingvisible. Clay for brick-making is also abundant and easily to be obtained. The true herring was also discovered in large numbers close to the coast, in the vicinity of the Bay. Upon the Superintendent lauding at the Haast, the miners who were working there, and who had completed a large water-race, embraced the opportunity of waiting on his Honor with the view of getting him to christen the race, and' to preside at an. impromptu festival in celebration of the event. The race in question is one of the largest on the AVesfc Coast brought in by private hands. It takes its source from the Maori or "Waita river. The length of the race is four miles, with a fall of fourteen-feet to the mile. The flume is 6ft. 2in. broad, and 18in. deep, and is estimated, when fully completed, to carry seventy Government heads of water, from an unlimited source of supply, and the shareholders also reckon on being able to supply 200 men or more with water for mining purposes. On receiving the invitation, the Superintendent replied thanking the miners, and expressing his hope to Eeo the district prosper. He expressed himself gratified at seeing such a work so near its completion, which was a material guarantee of the future of the Haast. He wished the promoters every success in their new and large undei'taking, but regretted that circumstances prevented him from taking part ill the ceremony as desired, his stay being so limited. He would, however, at their request, christen the race, even though he had but, a few minutes to remain, and he accordingly did so, giving it the name of the " Great Southern," which he thought an appropriate term to be given to it, as ho believed it would materially assist in developing the whole of the Southern district. In connection with general mining matters in this district, our contemporary states as follows : That some of the parties who are quietly at work in the southern part of the province are earning more than ordinary wages must be accepted as tolerably evident from the fact that, though for some time past they have been short of provisions, and must have ondured many discomforts and positive hardships during the recent unsettled weather, yet they express no intention of leaving that part of the district. Indeed, all the accounts obtained by the captain and the passengers were to the effect that good wages were being made in many instances, and from the conversation of a few others it might fairly be inferred that something more was being obtained by them. As a proof of this, the stores which were left with the miners were readily paid for in gold dust, several retaining larger parcels than they required to part with. Prom Mr. Marks, at the Haast, Captain Bascand brought up a parcel of 70 ounces of nuggetty gold, four of the pieces being an ounce weight each. This parcel was forwarded to the Union Bank. Besides that parcel, the small lot obtained by the Pox prospecting- party was forwarded to the same establishment, The parcel was only three or four ounces in weight, but is an excellent sample of rough gold, there being several shotty pieces amongst it, from one to three pennyweights in weight. Calary and party, who arc an offshoot of the original prospecting party under the Pox leadership, have been working for some time up Stafford river. Seeing the steamer off the shore they came down Jackson's Bay for supplies. They were not very communicative as to their doings, though Calary said they "had met with something better than sandflies since Fox left them." As a proof of this they paid for the provisions supplied them, taking two or three ounces" of goid from a bag, but retaining the balance of the quantity held by them, though Captain Bascand offered to purchase the remaining portion, with the view of ascertaining what quantity they possessed. They expressed their intention of remaining up Stafford river for five or six months longer. Before the steamer left the party, consisting of four, started on their return for Stafford river, but beyond what is above narrated, no further information was elicited from them.