SOUTHERN TRIP Ol<' THE S.S. WAIPARA.

West Coast Times, Issue 1327, 23 December 1869, Page 2

SOUTHERN TRIP OF THE S.S. WAIPARA.

Underneath we publish the trip of the Waipara to the southward. The news she brings is not very important, yet it leaves some little hope that things down south are not in such a poor state as some people imagine. There are yet some thirty persons, men, women, and children, located about the various rivers and bays, and although they do not say they are doing anything extensive, yet they are getting gold in payable quantities. The Waipara brought up G2ozs, and this quantity was sold by only a few parties, some of the men bein£, it is reported, too idle to work for more than the necessaries of life. Williamson, who may be called the prospector of the far south, is still sanguine that he will get gold, and intended when the steamer left to push further into the interior. Of the Waipara's passage, Captain Bascands reports : — The s.s. Waipara left this port on the 16th instant at 9.15 p.m., and steamed slowly down to Okarito, experiencing fine weather. Crossed Okarito bar next morning, the 17th, at 8.30 a.n.. ; landed a full cargo of general merchandise, and left again on the evening's tide at 8 p.m., finding the bar very shallow at high water ; steamed southward, and arrived at Bruce Bay on Saturday, the 18th, at 2.30 a.m., and anchored. At 6 p.m. commenced to land cargo, and at 10 a.m., after landing 15 tons, proceeded to the Paringa River, arrival!? there at 11 a.m. Supplied the diggers with provisions, and left at 1.30 p.m., arriving off the Haast at 5 p.m., crossing the bar at 7.30 p.m., and anchored for the night. On the morning of the 19th, the weather being very threatening and squally, steamed up to the site of the old township, atid made fast to the bank of the river in case a fresh should come down. The weather was very bad all that day, Taining and blowing heavily. On Monday, the 20th, ac 4 a.m., distributed provisions to the diggers, and bought what gold they had. After furnishing everything that was required, and having landed -four passengers and the inhabitants who had come on board, left the Haast at 11 a.m., finding a rough sea on the bar, but plenty of water, and pioceeded south, arriving at Onvny Cove at 2 p.m. Took on board Williamson and mate, with their tools, and left at 4 p.m., arriving off the Gorge River at 7.30 p.m. Laudtd Williamson and his mute, tool j , and two months' provisions, and left again at 8.15 p.m., bound north, and arrived of Okarito at 12.30 p.m.

ye-terday. Found the channel much worse and not navigable. Anchored off the bar with the intention of effecting a landing with the boat, there being about twenty wishing to come up. This morning at 4 am. steamed close in to the beach, but * found the sea too hea«-y for a boat. At 5 a.m., finding it useless to stay longer, left for Hokitika, and arrived alongside^jthe wharf at noon.