PROSPECTING ON THE EAST COAST.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 750, 15 December 1870, Page 2

PROSPECTING ON THE EAST COAST.

It is reported by the " Otago Daily Times " that, on Tuesday the 25th ult., two men, named William Campbell and James Baxter, started from Waikawa for the purpose of prospecting the beaches between that place and Catliu's river. They found the bush almost impenetrable, nnd had to to cut their way through the greater part of it. They prospected all the beaches they could get to with safety, and found gold in all. On one in particular, about eighteen miles from Waikawa, they obtained a splendid prospect, but could not work there, as their means would uot allow of their taking a stock of provisions to the spot. Stores would have to be taken to that point by sea, and at present no boat is available. On the beach at the Tautuku River, they discovered a boat's sternboard, painted white, and the name on which in black letters was nearly obliterated, but, as near as they could make it out, it read

" Fiugal." On the same beach was a quantity of wreck, and peas were growing thickly above high-water mark. On the other side of the river they found two graves, seemingly those of Europeans. On the 2nd hist, they discovered part of a human skeleton above high-water mark, on the further bank of a branch of the Catliu's Elver, about 5 miles below the sawmills, and about one mile from the sea beach. The upper portion of the skull was in a perfect state of preservation, also the ribs, arms and breast bone. The remainder of the skeleton could not be found. The forehead was a very'high one, and none of the teeth were missing. No clothes or other clue by which the remains might be identified could be found near the spot. The men could not tell whether the remains had beeu swept up there by the tide ; but they consider that the tide must have been unusually high to wash the remains to that height, noc could they say how long the remains had apparently been there. They removed the remains higher up. They reached Cathn's River on the 3rd instant, and returned to Waikawain a direct line in three days, by Mr Brock's and the Lower Wyndham stations. From the men's statements it may be concluded that gold in payable quantities may be obtained on nearly all the beaches between YVaikawa and Catliu's River, if properly prospected for; but without a boat and more money than the diggers at Waikawacan afford, nothing can be done.