West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1886.

West Coast Times, Issue 6119, 21 January 1886, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1886.

A paragraph that appears elsewhere with reference to the visit of the Minister of Mines to this district gives promise that the southern portion of the County of Westland will at length be known to those who have the direction of affairs in this Colony. If we mistake not, Mr Gisborne is tbe only Minister of the Crown who has been south of Ross, and his visit was probably due to the fact of his representing 1 the constituency. Mr Larnach proposes coming through from Oiago by way of the Haast Pass, and will travel up the coast. It is not known whether he intends visiting the Jackson's Bay | and Big Bay districts, but probably sufficient time will not be at bis disposal. This southern country is 'attracting great attention just now i from the fresh mineral discoveries that have been made. Only recently, a ! party of men "Vfho have obtained, from i the Otago Land Board, a prospecting license covering six squaro miles, left lor Big Bay, from whence they will proceed to the Red Hill, where extensive mineral deposits are kuown to exist. Immediately following on this, several applications for leases for working* nickel, tin, and other minerals iv the Gorge river were granted and the applicants have commenced operations. At yesterday's meeting of the Land Board an application from Mr C. Douglas, one of the moat indefatigable explorers of that country, for a prospecting license over six square miles of country in the Upper Cascade Valley was granted. The country embraced in this application almost faces the ground obtained by Captain Malcolm and bis friends from the Otago Land Board, the one area being in Otago and the 6th< r in Weatland. Mr Douglas has probably , discovered more mineral deposits than soy ©tber man in New Zealand, j

Scattered in the various belt 3of miner a * country he has mapped out are lodes of galena, ironstone, copper and various other minerals. He seems to be animated with the true spirit of an explorer, and cares little about his individual profits as long as he- can make discoveries which will be of service to the country. Many of the lodes mentioned are very rich, and would pay handsomely if any means I for traospor texisted ; in time the Colony will derive great wealth from them. The two great mineral districts are those through which the Cascade and PariDga rivers flow. The Cascade takes its rise iv the mountain chain near the Bed Hill, and after sweeping* many miles to the north, bends round to the west, and falls into tbe ocean a little to the north of Barn Bay. This is supposed to be the river io which the mythical French whaler found the rich quartz reefl In its lower reaches it flows through a flat, swampy country, but in gradually ascending, the designation it has received is found to | illustrate its character. A series of j rapids are passed, until from rapids they become waterfalls, and the river, in a series of these beautiful displays, falls many hundred feet in a few miles. It is in these upper reaches tbat the true mineral couutry is met with, and Mr Douglas has every prospect of meeting with some very valuable lodes. Of the Paringa, a more intimate knowledge has been gained than of the Cascade. The country bas been partially mapped off and the mineral lodes better traced ; they comprise \ several galena, ironstone, quartz and other minerals. In tbe event of a railway coming over the Haast Pass a runnel could be pierced to unite the Haast and Paringa valleys', and the latter would probably be used «o bring the line down. In addition to these valuable mineral deposits, of whose existence Mr Larnach will be made aware immediately on his entrance into Westland, he will hive an opportunity of seeing the valuable timber growing in one vast forest on the flats aud terraces, and the fine blocks of agricultural land. The land at the Big Wanganui is especially fitted for agriculture, and the Minister's sympathies might be enlisted in getting the road from thence to the Waitaha widened to admit of vehicular' traffic. If the Ministry could see the magnificent j estate the Colony possesses in the West Coast of this island they would, we think, trouble less about Samoa and such questions, and devote their attentiou to improving what belongs to the Colony already. It is probable that Mr Ballance will visit this district before long, and if so, efforts should be made to induce him to come with Mr Larnach or else go south from here. It would be singularly appropriate for both the Minister of Mines | and the Minister of Lands to visit the district, for in few places have either such a scope. Mr Rolleston, who held the dual office, frequently expressed a desire to make himself acquainted with • the country south of Ross, and probably, had he remained in office, he would ' have undertaken Mr Larnach's present proposed trip. Whatever the outcome, we hope a thorough inspection of the country may have the effect of attract* i ing attention to this long neglected ! district.

The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, accompanied by Mr TJssher, Resident Engineer, Dunedin, will leave Dunedin for the West Coast, via Haast Pass, early in March. It is possible tbat Mr Ballance may fiad time to join the party in Dunedin. Enquiries have been made as to tbe means of transit and Mr Mueller, Chief Surveyor, will probably meet thorn at tbe Haast. The Ministers will now have an opportunity of seeing how bad the roads are.

Messrs Purncll .and James Bevan, who are prospecting for tbe Kanieri Coal Prospecting Association at Mount Camelback have met with an outcrop of bituminous coal of good qnality 13 miles from town. It is bright and hard aud burns very freely. They arc now trenching on the outcrop to determine the extent and bearing; we hope to be able to give further information in a few days. A sample of the coal can be seen at this office. The Association is offering a reward of £200 for the discovery of a payable coal seam. St. Leon's Circug, nippodrome, and Menagerie will show in Groymouth on Saturday next, and will probably mako its appearance in Hokitika next week. This is the largest thing of its kind that baa ever visited the Coast, tho performers numbering 50, whilst there are 31 horses and ponies, and 30 wild animate. It speaks well for tbe performance when 2000 persons assembled at itg opening night in Westport. The Annual Dis-triot Meeting of .the M.U I 0.0. F. will be held at Kumara on Monday, January 25, when tbe election of district, officers takes plnce. At a meeting of the Hokitika L.idge, held last evening, the following delegates were elected to represent their lodge : P.G.s Greville and Kintr, and N.G. Moss. The First Westland Rifles will parade for inspection by Mijor Webb, district adjutant at 7 o'clock this evening. A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Heinriuh Denker will be held at tbe Supreme Court House t.hi 3 afternoon at three o'clock. The Strasburg cloak, a wonderful and intricate piece of mechanism, has arrived in Hokitika and will shortly he exhibited. The wanderiug cow nuisance ia still caus» ing sorrow and tribulation to the owners of gardens. If theee marauders were satisfied with cropping the grass along the roadside n .thing might be said, unfortunately they have added burglary to their other sins. A ' resident in one of tbo back streets, who prides himself on bis cabbages and hi« pea?, . vows revenge on some bovine foragers who open bis gates at night, fare sumptuously on ! tbe good things going, and let themselves out in the morning. The question is, have they any accomplices ?