WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 715, 12 August 1865, Page 3

WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

(F/om the Canterbury Press 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 under 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. (From the West Coast Times.) Kaniebi 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 ground has been opened near the Camp Reserve ; some parties have obtained first-

rate prospects— M'Donald, l 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 beating the water is by bailing , with. two kegs, which is insufficient, on acconnt of the d°pth, which is from 18 to 22 feet. Some of the parties have already cut a tail-race 13 feet in depth, which baa assisted them in a great measure, and the miners are sanguine that when all the parties have properly set in, they will be able to master the water. Tne Tucker Flat diggings and the surrounding terraces are still progressing in a highly satisfactory manner. Parties are making from L 6to 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 Kanieri River. The hindrance at the present time is the new rushes occurring, where gold is obtained uuder far more easy circumstances, and which prevents miners from prospecting deep ground, as this neighborhood is remarkable for. The Woodstock.— The opinions of the diggers here are that this place will always command attention, as gold is obtained in remunerative quantities, aul to be had by sinking anywhere. The population of this place has not diminished much by the newrushes, and nearly everyone appears to be satisfied, and built themselves omfortable 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 pile ones, but a good steady wage. The Grey. — The new site for a township is being rapidly covered wirh buildings. Timber aad iron in great request, not 100 feet of sawn timber to be obtained for any money ; the last sales effected of timber at hand was L 2 10s pe<- 100 feet, but, were a cargo to come in, L 3 may be obtained at once. Candles were selling at Is each to-day, so scarce are they. The whole of the river froutages are taken vp — some 4000 feet; of this the Mioris have sold 1500, at Ll per foot, on a lease for three years. No business licenses are required for parties settling on this land. The price of carriage for. goods is L-20 per ton from this town to the Twelve-mile Diggings. Parties have returned from there this evening, wno report perfect satisfaction among the miners. Mr Walmsley, of the Bank of New South "Wales, is buying gold. Mr Preshaw we at up to-day. Mr Walmsley is reported to me as Lein? 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 G-reymouth, 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 sign of goid diggings — ho diggers returning. New leads are being opened up every day, and they extend towards the Grey arid Arnold. A range divides the Grey and Arnold. The miners have crossed this, and found good payable gullies on the Arnold stile, 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 has been named Grej'mouth. Mr Surveyor Rochfort has been indefatigable in his endeavors to survey and peg out the allotments for settlement, a;id as he advances along the surveyed lives people follow and set in their pegs. Nothing but lack of timber prevents a large "town springing up at once. L 2 10s per 100 feet is the price sawyers get for timber, and they cannot cut half enough. A dozen pairs of sawyers more cmld do well here at once. Great inconvenience in felt at the want of a bridge across the hgoon which divides the new town from the old settlement called Blaketown ; but I hear that the Government have set men out on cutting timber for this much needed roadway, for as it is, 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,

Lost and Found. — On Saturday night a respectable man, residing ac California Guliy, picked up a bank note from the footpath in Pall Mall, opposite Francis Brothers. A police constable on the beat saw him take up the money, anl wished it to be handed to him until inquiries were made as to the owner. This suggestion the finder declined to adopt, but stated he would advertise the finding of the money, and in the event of no owner being found, would divide it betwen the hospital and benevolent asylum. A short time after this, a woman carrying a child was observed asking several persons if they had seen any one pick up a L 5 note and three Ll notes, as she had dropped them near Francis Brothers. It is probable the money found belonged to her.— "Bendigo Advertiser," July 31.