THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELD.

Evening Post, Issue 25, 8 March 1865, Page 3

THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELD.

The excitement consequent upon the I opening up of a new gold field, and the usual rush thereto, is making itself more apparent in Kaiapoi every clay. Nothing else is talked of. The usual business of the town is at present of a secondary consideration. The crowds of diggers constantly passing through the town, on coach or on foot, is something astonishing. It is computed that not less than a thousand diggers have passed through during the last ten days, en route to the West Coast. This day (Wednesday), up to three o'clock, ten vehicles, three of which belonged to Cobb and Co., loaded with diggers and swags, hare driven through the town, which, added to those who, either by choice or from force of circumstances, have decided upon tramping the distance, will make at least a total of 120 diggers in one day. As yet, we hare not heard of any departures from j Kaiapoi ; but. from 'the intense excitement felt, we expect shortly to have a diminution in the number of our surplus labor, and also of the employed. People are merely waiting for news as to the probable lasting properties of the present gold field.—Lyttel- . ton Times. At a public meeting held at Christ church on the 2nd instant, for the purpose of .urging the Government to establish a gold eicort,raake a road and other necessary works for developing the resources of the West Coast Gold Field, Mr. Revell, addressed •the meeting. He said he had lately returned from the West Coast ; he had left there about a fortnight ago. He confirmed the accounts they had heard from previous speakers, as to the character of the diggings. He knew parties there who were making £50 a week : they were only a few s hut be thought those who would woik were all doing well. The climate was not nearly so bad as had been represented through the newspapers and otherwise. There had been very little rain for the last - four months ; it was true that when it did j-ein it came in torrents, which flooded the rivers and rendered the fords impassable. At these points, however, they had heard that ferry boats would soon be placed, which would at once obviate the danger And inconvenience now experienced from that cause. In answer to a question from a gentleman in the body of the hall, he said, that for sailing vessels the bars were only passable with a fair wind and moderate weather. The steamers Wallaby and Kelson, trading between the West Coast 1 and Nelsou, usually experienced no difficulty in entering the rivers; they were qccasionaily detained, however,- for a short time in bad weather. He believed that the owners of these steamers had agreed to charge £100 for towing any craft over the bar. After commenting on the hardships attending the life of a digger, he sat down. T,hb Okitiki.— Captain Gibson, the Port officer of the province, leaves to-day for Nelson, on his way to the West Coast. He has sent forward by the s.s. Waipara, which left On Saturday, the signal and semaphore gear for the entrance of the Okitiki river ; and he takes with him a proper pilot boat, so that everything which can be foreseen as likely to 'be wanted may be ready in four days afte 'his arrival. The boat taken is that which has been in use at the Sumner bar, and its place will at present be supplied by one of the •harbour boats ; but steps have already been taken to provide a proper life boat for Sum ner. The river Grey will also receive attention. ________