OUR WEST COAST LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 17

OUR WEST COAST LETTER.

REEFTON, September 21, FACTS ABOUT OKARITO. Okarito, and the ports further south of thafi beautiful isolation, are in trouble again. Its solitary ocean-going visitor, the oil-motored Hercules, having got in there, cannot be got out, but its folk are not so badly off now, as the auxiliary landed a full cargo of supplies, only she will have to remain inside under the lea of Mt. Cook till Boreas has blown out his western belch. All the Government allocation for widening the Main. South road has been expended, so that until another vote has been made the 15 miles between Mount Hercules and the township will remain uncompleted for vehicular traffic, and the itinerant co-operative will enjoy his longed-for " loaf," varying his pet doles far niente by expletives in the vernacular against " Dick Seddon," who finds them work; the storekeeper, who iinda them food on slender promises to pay ; and the pubs, whose " darned pisons " mix their coarse humours. Of gold mining in Okarito and district, consisting of beach-combing, dredging, and prospecting, I have little to say further than that hopes continue large and. nuggets very small and seldom, and that " great expectations " arc still alive — very much — in connection with the Waiho Gold Mining Company, for when the tunnel is through shareholders confidently anticipate making eternal piles. ROSS RATIONALS. Since the publication of the general Govern* ment's offer of £10,000 subsidy to any company willing to put up =£20,000, indelibly earmarked, for draining and working the Ross Flat, a company in London has cabled its willingnoss to deposit the necessary in the local Bank of New Zealand and do all that is required provided the Government will hand over a lease of 100 acres of tho best ground to them. Almost immediately after the arrival of the under-sea message Messrs Wilson and Richards, chief inspector and assistant of tho Mines department, went to Ross, and, assisted by Mr Joseph Grinimond, the London company s representative, marked off 100 acres of the "jeweller's shop," amid the general satisfaction of the local populace, who, although still chary, —they have been humbugged so frequently— at last began to realise that the treasure perdu may now soon become transmogrified into a treasuro trove. Indeed, I am informed upon. tho very bDst authority that- the enormous wealth of these auriferous deposits will ba developed forthwith, the modus operandi being something like the f ollowing : — An adequate reservoir is to be constructed by the gorge of tho Mikonui River, and a powerful dyimmo placed at a point some seven miles from Ross for the transmission of electric power, wlncn. ig to be used for pumping and hauling. The estimated cost of plant and transmission has been carefully set down at £1 0,000, and I do not apprehond that this sun? is underestimated* This work completed, the present company, whose offer has been accepted by the Government, will use one shaft exclusively for pumping, and, as they will drain the whole of the flat, they will be allowed to claim royalties upon gold obtained by neighbouring companies enabled to mine adjoining areas. What we all like about this is that the Government will allow no combination to hold more than 100 acres, so that the immense tract of auriferous lands may become profitably mined by many companies rather than simply held by one monopoly. RIMU RATTLERS. Rimu, a mining township consisting of 10 pubs and three churches, two schools, and a boxing club, a barber's shop and three stores, and diggers from all parts, sits upon a plateau overlooking tho Hokitika River hundreds of feet below, in full view of all the noted alpine sierras, Mount Met» and the Camelback below, with. Gentl© Annie and Constitution ogling each other from either side of the river. Being also on the. Rosa and Hokitika road, through which the mail coach runs twice, daily, we hear of all the "finds," and there are aome really good ones. For instance, one paity — they -would not lifie their names known — set in some months

..go and struck it rich shortly afterwards. Another party of young fellows are said to be each earning £18 a week. Encore! One old chap down on hia luck set in recently to an abandoned tunnel, and struck the golden cement in a few feet of extension. With reference to the general fieldeis, they are afflicted with the ancient but ever-present epidemic — no water — echoing the ever-recurring cry of " Give us an adequate supply, and we'll cure if "