SUPPOSED DISCOVERY OF ANEW GOLDFIELD, THIRTY MILES SOUTH OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 111, 25 January 1866, Page 2

SUPPOSED DISCOVERY OF ANEW GOLDFIELD, THIRTY MILES SOUTH OF HOKITIKA.

We believe thoro is good reason to suppose that a most important discovery has boon made to tho southward of tho Totara by a party of minera who arrived in town yesterday for the purpose of making application for a prospecting claim. A party to whom they mado certain statements informed us that they had been out in the ranges seeking for somo men who, it was supposed, had found a payable field in tho vicinity of tho Mikonui river. After wandering about the bush some time, they foil across them, but found that rumor had much exaggerated actual facts, as tho gold thoy wero getting was exceedingly meagre. This search, however, resulted favorably to themselves, for during their wanderings they stumbled upon a tract of country comparatively opon, and free from the dense undergrowth of bush and supplejacks so peculiar to other pnrts of tho coast. As it presented indications of an auriferous character they were induced to prospect it closely, and according to their own account found gold iv such quantities as convinced them they had, mado no ordinary discovery. To quote their words, " we believe it will prove as rich ns any gold field yet discovered on tho Coast." Nothing more could bo elicited from thorn, save that the gold was very coarse, and that thoy had also found two large and well defined quartz reefs cropping out of tho surface. Upon making application at tho Camp at a late hour last night our reporter was informed that a party of men had been there, and enquired where they ought to apply for tho grant of a prospecting claim, as they had found gold about thirty miles south of Ilokitika, and ten miles inland from the sea boach. They wero informed the Warden of the Totara district, was tho proper person to apply to, as tho authorities here had nottliepower. We publish this intelligence, believing it to be genuine, and sincerely trust it will not prove to be oiio of those delusions that have led so many astray. At tho same thro avo trust thero will be no headlong rushing for thepresent at least, as in the course of a day f jr two further accounts will bo sure to reach us. But should this discovery prove a "bona fide" one, it can hardly bo over-estimated, and will, should payable quart/, reefs bo discovered, prove of incalculable benefit to Ilokitika, as theso combined with the deep sinking of tho Totara district, will stamp the place with a permanency as desirable, as thus far it has been wanting in Westland.

Tho sittings of tho Supreme Court are rapidly drawing to a close, all the criminal csiFes, with the excoption of that of Stewart having boon disposed of. Yesterday Charles Loar and John Itoid, accused of larceny, wero discharged, the Grown offering no evidence against thorn owing to tho absonco of a material witness. George Itiley, for stealing butter from the Alma sehoonor, was sentenced to hix months' imprisonment, with hard labor. Franois Bowler, for Ntonling from ft dray, was similarly ilonlt with, IW tyiecff prUonov*, nt Op opnoluaUw

of their t ial, and boforo bom,' sontsneed, bogged his Honor to sond them to Lyttellon, and not condemn them to servo their terms of imprisonment in Hokitika. His Honor said he purposed sending them thero, a fao; tliatscomcd to afford them tho utmost satisfaction. Thomas King was found guilty of stealing L 8 from the person of a man named Thomas Jackson, and was consigned to tho Lyttelton Gaol for twelve months. This morning, as wo previously announced, is fixed for tho trial of Stewart, and tlie case is likely to bo a most prolonged bno. Not only a largo r.umbor of witnesses are to be examined, but as a great doal^ of the evidenco is circumstantial, both examinations and cross-oxaminations are likely to extend to a great length. This will conclude the criminal business, and tboro is only^ono civil case set down for hearing. Wo understand that it is doubtful whethor this will bo tried or not, but havo no positivo information on the subject. Vory hoavy Hoods (says tho Daily Times) havo occurred, through tho rising of tho Molynoux and its tributaries, which havo not only causod interruption to mining and destruction to a great of mining plant, but havo laid undor water a vast area of land near to its mouth. Vory hoavy rains foil on Monday and Tuesday, tho Bth and 9th of January, and tho rivor rose five feet above tho groat Hood of July, 1854. Groat damago has been dono to farming produce, but no osti-' mato of tho value of property destroyed has yot boon mado,

Tho business in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday was exceedingly light, only two criminal cases coming before his Worship for judgment . One of them was the charge of larceny of two Crimean shirts, against John Bradley. Mr C. Bullen, tho owner of tho stolen property, deposed to having on tho 11th instant hung them on a fence at tho back of his store to dry, and that the next morning thoy had disappeared. He afterwards saw a man wealing one of them, who said he had bought two suoh shirts for Bs, from a porson living down at tho end of ltevell street. Witness at once proceeded in search of him, accompanied by his informant, and after a long search, found him standing at the bar of a public house. Ho denied all knowledge of the affair, but was arrested on suspicion of having stolen them. W. Hill deposed to having bought tbo shirts produced in Court of tho prisoner, and to afterwards mooting Mr Bullon, the latter part of whose ovidenco lio corroborated. As tho ovidenco of Detective Howard could not bo obtained, in conscquenco of his being engaged at tho Supremo Court, the case was remanded until to-day. Richard James Feltis was charged by Constable Green, of the Auckland police foico, with having embezzled the sum of £21 sterling, tho property of his employer, Mr Homy Hidings, an auctioneer, residing in Auckland. The constable deposed that simultaneously with the discovery of tho loss of tlio money, the accused also was missed, and on enquiry it was found he had loft for Hokitika. Information was at once laid, a warrant issued, and the witness dispatched after him Ho arrived in Hokitika on Tuesday evening, and found tho .accused, whom ho knew well, and at pneo arrestod him. He requested his Worship would remand tho case to Auckland, which was acceded to.