THE BULLER RIVER.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 452, 14 January 1869, Page 2

THE BULLER RIVER.

NOTES OF A PROSPECTING PARTY. On Monday we started from the Buller, and camped at the Old Felrnongery, near which, on Cradle Terrace, a hole was driven some twenty feet in, a few months ago, by passing diggers, who obtained a few pennyweights of gold off the bed-rock, and, finding the reef to dip abandoned it, leaving their cradle behind them, which has given name to the terrace. Since then two other parties have tried the ground, and driven in respectively about fifty and thirty feet, and, not liking the prospect, abandoned the place. We tried a few prospects, and only got a few colors to the shovel, but the terrace has not got a fair trial. However, it is several miles too low down the Buller to be the continuation of the " Great North Lead," from the Caledonian on the North, or Addison's on the South.

The next day, Tuesday, we got as far as the Owiki and camped at Micky French's, using his place as shelter, having our own provisions with us. The track to this, with the exception of some slips and fallen timber, is good. Next day we forded the Owiki, and other streams, reached Hawk's Craig, and, no boat being there, and the five hundred yards of unmade track left by the Government roadmakers being utterly impossible to attempt, we had to go three miles round over the ranges (a severe trial with a heavy swag) to get to the other side of the Crag. The weather being fine, we forded the Blackwater, and camped on the Buller banks, about two miles east of it. This was the heaviest day's work we had to encounter, having to ford the big and little Owiki, and the Blackwater, and cross two ranges of mountains, toiling up a slope often so steep as one foot in three, under a hot sun, and burdened with the indispensible tent, blankets, provisions, &c. as nothing can be had on the road. I understand that Messrs French and Findt, at the Junction Store, have got a grant of the ferries at the Owiki and Blackwater, and free licenses at those places and at the Junction Hotel on condition that they keep the track in repair from Addison's Junction to the Blackwater. This they may do when the Government put it in repair, which it is utterly impossible for them to do on the terms, as the fallen trees are numerous, and some of the slips look very dangerous. It is simply shirking their duties on the part of the Government. In one place the track is about six i aches wide, a perpendicular rock for a hundred feet above you, ditto below you, and the Buller rushing and eddying through a gorge at its base. This is not exaggeration. How is the grant of a free license equivalent to making this place alone safe, or to rebuilding a half overturned bridge across a deep ravine, with perpendicular sides within a mile of this slip, which makes you pause to see if there is no other way of crossing before you put your foot on it, or perhaps in it ? Finding none you are compelled to "chance it." The Government should surely put the place into repair, and then give it over to be kept so. Other daugerous slips occur between here and the Lyell, which every day's ram is making more so, and soon they will become altogether impassable, and will cause such an outcry that the Government must hear it, as every day brings an increase to the population.

The country for about from nine miles from Westport to the old diggings, about five miles below the Inangahua (or twenty-seven miles from Westport) is entirely gorgy, and no prospecting has apparently been attempted. About midway between the Blackwater and the Inangahua the mountains retire on either side, the country assuming a rolling, wooded aspect with occasional large flats, and (as some experienced miners in our party expressed themselves) " the most likely looking terraces for gold you ever lay

your eyes on." We tried a prospect at one place in abandoned ground, and picked nearly a pennyweight of coarse gold out of a crevice in the bed rock. There are about five parties working at the old diggings, making tucker and a little over, shooting and fishing ; kakas, woodhens, and pigeons in tha busli, and eels and white-bait in tha water, affording good sport. As we went along, we tried several shovels-full of wash-dirt from various terraces which we thought likely looking, and could get from one to five or six specs in nearly every place we tested.

The country can hardly be said to be tried yet. We discovered no evidences of prospectiag, unless where men are actually at work. The returns are very variable, as the Buller ground is what miners term " patehy." Some obtain exceedingly good returns, while others make -not much over tucker, but I can hear of none that are not doing that. In my next I shall send you detailed particulars of many of the claims on the Lyell and Buller, as I have not yet had time to ascertain them, and your readers will be better able to judge of the country.