WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1134, 9 August 1865, Page 5

WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

(P.-om the Canterbury Pros Correspondent) Hokitika, July 31. The past week has not been so pregnant of important events. The rush to the Grey mentioned in my last letter, which bid fair to remove the majority of the miners from the various outlying diggings, has now fairly subsided," and many have returned to their claims on the Kanieri and Totara, and are determined not to leave them in a hurry. Woodstock, on the south bank of the Hokitika, is attracting some attention, the yield of gold being extremely steady; many parties :are making LlO to Llo per week per man. A new and extensive field is opened about twenty-three miles to the southward, and bids fair to eclipse the Grey. I heard last night of one man being in town with three pounds weight of large rough gold from there, obtained in a very short period. The locality is uuder the Alps, between the Totara and the Wanganui. This will be of considerable benefit to Hokitika, as, unlike the Grey, where there is a navigable river, which would render the people independent of this place for supplies, everything would have to come from here. (Kroin the West Coast Times.) Kakikbi Township.—The correspondent of the Times, writing on July 28, says: —The business of this place has these few days greatly improved, and more new j ground has been opened near the Camp Reserve; some parties have obtained firstrate prospects —M'Donald, 1 dwt to the dish. Burts and party average £oz to the load ; another party, whose name lam not acquainted with, have seven feet of payable dirt. The only drawback is the quantity of water they have to contend with, and in the absence of machinery, the only means they have at the present time of heating the water is by hailing with two kegs, which is insufficient, on acconnt of the d?pth, which 13 from 18 to 22 feet. Some of the parties have already cut a tail-race 13 feet in depth, which Ins assisted them in a great measure, and the minera are sanguine that when all the parlies have properly set in, they will be able to master the water. The Tucker Plat diggings and the surrounding terraces are still progressing in a highly satisfactory manner. Parties are making from L 6 to L3O a-week per man, and I have not the slightest doubt but payable gold will be found in all the flats and terraces for miles up the Kauicri River. The hindrance at the present time is the new rushes occurring, where gold is obtained under far more easy circumstances, and which prevents miners from prospecting deep ground, as this neighborhood is remarkable for. Thk Woodstock. —The opinions of the diggers here are that this placa will always command attention, as gold i 3 obtained in remunerative quantities, anil to be hid by sinking anywhere. The population of this place has not diminished much by the new rushes, and nearly everyone appears to be satisfied, and built themselves comfortable quarters for the remainder of the winter. Ingles and party are making £15 per week a man; also, Hammond's and Graham's are doing about the same. The diggings here are not what they term piie ones t but a good eteady wage. The Gkey.—The new site for a township is being rapidly covered wi-h buildings^ Timber a:id iron in great request, not 100 feet of sawn timber to be obtained for any money; the last s^les effected of timber at hand was L 2 10s per 100 fret, but, were a cargo to come in, LS may be obtained at once. Candles were selling at Is each to-day, so scarce are they. The whole of the river frontages are take;i up— some 4000 feet; of this tlie Maoris have sold 1500, at Ll per foot, on a lease for thre<; years. No business licenses are required for parties settling on this land. The pries of carriage for goods is L2O per ton from t!m town to the Twelve-mile Diggings. Parties have returned from there this evening, who report perfect satisfaction among the miners. Mr Walmsley, of the Bank of New South Wales, is buying gold. Mr Preshaw went up to-day. Mr Walmsley is reported to me as being very busy buying. I have seen some very coarse gold brought from there, the largest piece threequarters of an inch long. Miners are still pouring in to Greymouth, on their way to the diggings. I live opposite to the crossing place, hence to the Nelson side, where all the gold is being obtained, and notice a remarkable s:gn of gold diggings—no diggers returning. New leads are being opened up every day, and they extend towards the Grey and Arnold. A range divides the Grey and Arnold. The miners have crossed this, and found good payable gullies on the Arnold side, so that, little doubt exists but the Canterbury side of the river will prove as auriferous as the opposite. In reference to matters near home, this settlement hag been named Greymouth. Mr Surveyor Rochfort has been indefatigable in his endeavors to survey and peg out the allotments (or settlement, and as he adi vances along the surveyed lines people follow and set iv their pegs. Nothing but lack of timber prevents a large town springing up at once. L 2 103 per 100 feet v the price sawyer.-* get for timber, and they cannot cut half enough. A dozen pairs of sawyers more could do well here at once. Great inconvenience is felt at the want of a bridge across the lagoon which divides the new town from the old settlement called Blakcto.vn; but I hear that the Government have set men out on cutting timber for this much needed roadway, for as it i*, a distressing tax is laid on the people by having to pay Is for crossing, or Is 6d for crossing the lagoon and the return trip.