THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 666, 6 May 1865, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES.

We subjoin extracts from our files received by Egmont and Airedale : —

Thb West Coast Diggings. — The Wallaby and Storm Bird arrived yesterday afternoon from the Hokitika. She brings 15 passengers, nearly all storekeepers, and no gold, as, having to call at the Buller, it was decided by tho bankers that

tho gold should be sent by the Jlaid of the Yarra, which loft at tho samo timo as tbe Wallaby. The Maid has on board 2000 ounces for the Union Bank of Australia. This, with the gold which arrived by the Omeo, on Monday last, will make 12,000 received in Nelson from Hokitika this week, value £44,000.

The Wanganui Rivor, which is 40 miles south of the Hokitika, and was mentioned in our last issue as having attracted attention, is now drawing large numbers to its banks. Wo learn that some schooners chartering, and about to start for* that river. Considerable numbers of diggers have gone along the coast to Wanganui, and' the opinion prevails that gold exists all along the country south to Jackson's Bay. Storekeepers are proceeding to the Wanganui, and preparing the way for diggers by taking supplies to the spot. It is very probable that the report of the Maori chief narrated in our columns the other weok, respecting the gold-boai'ing character of this region, will meet with verification, and it should be recollected that the Maoris wore among the first discoverers of gold in Collingwood, and that they also were the first to make known that gold existed in the Buller district. The men are spreading themselves well over the country, and the absence of returned diggers by these steamers, offers a fairer augury of succoss than by previous reports was apparent. Returned Diggers. — Tho Canterbury Press of the 20th instant, thus notices the return of numerous diggers to Christchurch from the West, Coast : — " During the last few days a considerable number of men have been congregated about the Government offices seeking employment, most of whom represented themselves to be unfortunates from the West Coast. In the absence of public works being earned on, on which the men might be employed, the Government has decided to furnish applicants with sufficient rations to carry them into the province of Otago, from which the men say they have come. The plan adopted is to give each appicant four days' rations, each ration consisted of lib. of bread, lib. of meat, lib. of potatoes, half-an-ounce of tea, 2ozs. of sugar, and quarter of an ounce of salt. On Saturday 400 ration orders were issued, and yesterday the number was 720. Injustice to the applicants, we may state that a considerable number had refused to take rations, preferring to stay in Canterbury than return to the various provinces from which they had come. However, during conversation yesterday with the men we were surprised to learn that many expected this Government to place at their disposal passages back to Otago and elsewhere. We also heard an offer made to furnish employment to ten men at £1 per week and rations, to go to Kaiapoi Island and dig potatoes. This offer was refused by those who had just previously been asking rations to carry them to other colonies."