CALEDONIAN.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 301, 18 July 1868, Page 2

CALEDONIAN.

July 15th, 186 S. (fro:.i our oavn correspondent). Marshall and party, have six feet, of very rich wash dirt, are in 600 feet, and are making about £3O a week. Bull and party, have struck good payable gold in their claim, they have been at work some months, on the north-east side of the terrace. Hodgson and party, of Ballarat Terrace, ha\ e been making ab out £2O or £3O a week, they have a rich run of wash dirt, and have been some time washing. A sixth share, in this claim, was bought on Wednesday, by Mr Charles Webb for £lO5. Passmore and party, are in 300 feet and have three feet of rich wash dirt. They are making from £lO to £l2 v week per man. Smith and party's claim still continues payiug more than good wages. On Grerman Terrace, south of the Arowaite, Langrish and party, are putting in a tunnel, also Sorenson and party. A good prospect has been obtained on this side of the terrace. Conrad and party, have a fair run of wash dirt, and are making about £lO a week. The machinery for the purpose of crushing in Langrishe's claim, on Grerman Terrace, is just finished, and they will commence working in a few days. I Bastard and party, are still working at their tunnel, but have not as yet struck the run of gold. At Gile's Terrace, work is going on very quickly, the nature of the ground being favourable to tunnelling. Perry and party, —in the fifth claim —have gone in over 300 feet in the last fortnight, but will have to penetrate about 900 feet further.

Davis and party, have not as yet, struck the lead, but are in daily expectation of doing so. On the Bald Hill —between this and Deadman's—some parties are engaged sinking shafts, trying to strike the run of gold. At Deadmans Creek, Simon and party have not as yet struck the lead, but are, every moment expecting to do so. Several new parties are setting' to w'ork on this ground, and the population of the Caledonian District, is

rapidly increasing, and miners ou tbe neighbouring nek's Pro beginning to find out, that, the Caledonian is the best ground, at present, on the West Coast.

On the Bald Hill—between the Caledonian and the Buller —some parties have commenced prospecting, aud are trying to strike the Caledonian lead nearer the town ; should they be successful in their exertions to strike the run of gold here, it is probable, the lead will be picked up again, on the opposite side of the Buller B»iver.

The miners on the Celedonian have been placed in easy circumstances, by the fine yield of their claims, for some months past, in several cases one or two out of each claim are taking a look round prospecting, and we may expect the gold producing qualities of this district, to more fully developed, in a little time. The Amateur Concert and Theatrical Committee, have already sold over one hundred tickets, and as their expenses will be only about six pounds, they hope to be able to hand the "Westport Hospital Committee, about thirty or forty pounds. After a few days, the Caledonian men propose getting up a ball, in aid of the Hospital, by which they hope to realise a nice little sum, for the institution, on behalf of which their subscriptions have been generally the utmost generosity.

Another narrow escape from a disastrous fire occurred on Wednesday night or rather yesteday morning - The night watchman, Mr Fagg, and Constable Neville were, it appears, walking up Gladstone street in the direction of the Camp, when their attention was attracted by a strange light in the house of Mr Tyler, the well-known solicitor. They at once proceeded to the spot, and found flames already creeping out at the eaves, and interior of the drawing-room all ablaze. At this time the inmates of the house were alarmed, and Mr Tyler busily occupied in endeavouring to preserve bis property, whilst the servant girl was calling out fire to the utmost extent of her lungs in the back yard. On gaining admission they found the front room all on fire, and the flame was by this time extending outside the house, where the chimney stood. The constable and the watchman first removed some articles that were in the room, and tben proceeded to extinguish the fire, Captain Leech and others having by this time arrived. Fortunately a good supply of water from tanks in the back yard was available, and by a plentiful, application of this, and tearing down the burning lining the fire was fortunately extinguished without doing further injury. The water however, seriously damaged the furniture, amongst other things, a handsome and valuable piano, and the loss to Mr Tyler will be a serious one. It is well it was no worse however, for if the fire had not been discovered when it was, nothing could have saved that and the adjoining houses. It originated in the fireplace, though the fire was raked up and every precaution taken that would appear to have been necessary or possible. Great credit is due to Messrs Fagg and Neville, and through their watchfulness, without doubt, a serious calamity has been averted. Apropos of this, it is clear that the police are far more on the alert than is generally supposed, and when it is borne in mind that there are really only four constables to do duty in Westport, one of whom is occupied almost wholly in clerical duty, the public have every reason to be abundantly satisfied with their activity. It may not be generally known that the Divorce Act, passed last session of the Assembly, is now in operation in New Zealand. It was reserved for her Majesty's assent, and as this has now been obtained, those who have legitimate grounds for desiring to throw off the matrimonial shackles, can do so at once without a great deal of trouble. The General Government Gazette, of the 29th ult, publishes some statistics of considerable interest in relation to the gold and wool export, and the imports into the colony, for the quarter ending March, 1868. The total quantity of gold shipped during that time was 160,313 ozs., valued at £630,623. Dunedin heads the list with 43,953 ozs., but this it must be remembered is the total yield of all the fields of Otago. Hokitika comes next with 40,352 ozs., and Westport stands third with 29,823 ozs. The total produce of the Nelson province was 39,848 ozs., valued at £160,672. The last quarter will greatly exceed that, and we think that when the returns are made it will be found that the Nelson province will stand at the head of the list. The total exports of the colony for that period were £1,558,4:12. The imports for the same time to £1,311,778.