THE WEST CANTEBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume II, Issue 65, 12 August 1865, Page 2

THE WEST CANTEBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Our readers will remember that m the telegraphic intelligence m our last issue, we gave a statement of a fresh rush farther south on the West Coast. We now give a full account of the rush and other news, from the p2ii of the correspondent of the Press. Hokitika, July 31. The past week has not been so pregnant of important events. The rush to the Grey, mentioned m 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 arc determined not to leave them again m a hurry. Woodstock, on the south batik of the Hokitika, is attracting some attention, the yield of gold being extremely steady ; many parties are making £10 to £15 per week per man.

A new aud 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 m town with three j>ounda weight of large, rough gold from there, obtained m a very short period. The locality is under the Alps between the Totara and Wanganui.

This will be of considerable benefit to Hokitika, as, unlike tho 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.

Wo have had three wrecks, the Lady Franklin, Mai % y Van A very, and Blue Bell, this week, and one very lamentable boat accident, perhaps as sad a case as has ever come under our notice. Thirteen persons, tired of waiting for the steamer Lytteltou to take them ashore from the Lady

Darling steamship, lying m the roads, put off m a very fine whaleboat to land on the beach, but '>y some unfortunate contretemps got upset just on the edge of the surf, and there nine out of the thirteen sunk before the eyes of faome hundreds >f arsons perfectly unable to aid them. No •>oat fit to live m the surf was available to go to ;hcir rescue. Four managed to reach the beach n a very exhausted state, and the bodies of <ome of the others have been recovered, thrown on the sands to the northward.

It is the opinion of many men here competent co judge that if proper moorings were laid down >ff the beach, about a quarter of a mile out, i system of surf boats might be established, something similar to those m U3e at Taranaki, md do good service m landing cargo and mails.

The road from the bead of the Teremakau saddle is progressing very slowly for want of nands. It appears the wages offered are not sufficient ; if so, why should not a higher rate he given, and the track pushed through. T have it on the authority of a gentleman, very well fitted to judge of such things, that it will be quite practicable as soon as this route is iiiiished, even m its present rough style, to haul goods over from Chrutchurch at about £20 per ton.

We are still unsupplied with a tug, although it has bean stated by people likely to be well informed that there are two on their way from Melbourne. The Titania has been driven over the spit, and has sunk m mid-channel, and until a fresh opening appears m the bar, is a very unsightly and dangerous obstruction to sailing vessels coming m or out.

The jurisdiction of the local Court has been extended to £100, the same as m Christchnrch, and the change has given general satisfaction.