THE WEST COAST OF THE MIDLED ISLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1908, 15 August 1863, Page 3

THE WEST COAST OF THE MIDLED ISLAND.

[ [From the Cantebbdby Press, August 5.] \ Fob many weeks past reports have been steal- ' ing: into the place respecting the gold on the 'r West Coast, and the prospect of a rush thither I in the spring from other parts in New Zealand and from Australia. It is very difficult to come at the origin or at the truth of such rumours. Specimens of the gold have been brought to us, but we have no means of knowing how far such specimens indicate an abundance of the precious metal ; but it is certain that several persons were on the West Coast in the course of last summer, who were prospecting for parties in Victoria and elsewhere, and who were said to have formed such favorable opinions of the prospect of the country that great numbers of diggers may be expected to resort to it in the spring. We regard it therefore as highly probable that there will be a considerable rush to the whole of the West Coast, from the Nelson Province to Otago, as soon as the breaking up of winter shall render the country habitable. This is a matter of great importance to Canterbury. It is not indeed likely that we shall reap much benefit in the way of trade with the West Coast. No one of course would think of sending all round the island for stores, when they can be procured so much nearer from Wellington or Nelson, and probably even more reasonably from Melbourne ; but indirectly the population of the West Coast must make a great difference to us, because in a gold producing country, at least one where there is anything like the supplies of gold which Victoria and Otago have produced, the wealth created is considerably greater than is required to pay. for the imports. There is in fact a considerable amount of capital saved and realised beyond the cost of producing ths gold. All this capital seeks for investments, and there can be little doubt that a very large part of it will find investment in Canterbury, especially in land, should a ready means be supplied by which it will flow into the settled country this side of the mountains. No one would advocate a dray road, which could only be constructed at an enormous cost ; but we do hope the Council will insist on a bridle road being carried on with the utmost possible expedition, so that the gold may find a free channel into the Chris tohuieh banks. We sh&li never, indeed, see the same state of things which existed in Adelaide on the first breaking out of the gold fields of Vie* toria, but it will make a very wide difference to this Province whether the gold is sent over by escort hither, or sent entirely to Melbourne by sea. The whole fortunes of Adelaide were, changed by the establishment of a gold escort overland from the Melbourne diggings ; and the same effect would be felt here, though in a far less degree. „

A woflian io love with you will easily forgiTe a great indiscretion, but never a small in* delicacy. .