THE BULLER.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 199, 23 April 1867, Page 2

THE BULLER.

(PUOM OUR OWN CORR7JSTOXDJ3T.) NVestpout, April 20. "The signs of the times" here arc difSciili to interpret. Very contradictory reports aw current in town just now, and as I have nol yet visited the diggings myself, 1 cannot give as correct and unbiassed an account of theii progress as I otherwise might have done certain it is that a" number of men are hardai work sinking shafts, "most of them confideui that they will bottom on good gold, judging! by previous experience, the direction of the lead, and having made a mental survey ol the ground. The sinking, excepting for the prospectors and some few others near them, is calculated to be considerably deeper than was at first anticipated. Some of those up the hill it is believed will have to go down upwards of one hundred feet. If this proves to be the case, it is a self-evident fact that unless some new ground is opened on the flat, these will turn out no "poor man's diggings ;" therefore, under existing circumstances, I would strongly advise those who may bethinking of coming up here to "wait a wee" imtil several holes have been bottomed, and the results made known, foi rliere will be plenty of time to rush the place subsequently. I will give you an instance oi the contradictory "reports that came iutc town from the Caledonian Lead. A party came iii with the news that several holes had been bottomed and proved golden ones ; latei in the day another man came in statiiig thai no holes had been bot.tomeil when he left, but one was expected to be in a day or two. So much for reports. It is to be hoped thai something like a practicable track will be eul without delay, as stores have to be "humped' up on men's backs at present, a hardshij that enhances the value of provisions to an enormous extent on the diggings. There has been a heavy fresh in the Bullei river since Wednesday, proving its value as a harbor of refuge in stormy weather, as three steamers, viz., the Huntress,. lN'clson, auiVKcnnedy, that were moored by the wharf, on the river rising, made for the Lagoon 01 the south side, where they lay snuglj ensconced in perfect shelter until the rivei had in a measure subsided and the weathei became calm. Waite's Pakihi is going steadily on, the yield of gold is iit _ "present small, but then sc is the population, and until the excitement of the rush to the Caledonian has worked oi] it cannot be expected to make any great start. Nothing new or startling has come from the Upper Buller of late, some hundred 01 two of men are working quietly 'there, neariv all of them making good wages. A few men are still at work at the Karamea, those on the beach doing fairly, but up the river they are becoming disheartened by the roughness of the country and the absence oi tracks, together with the high price of tucker, which is caused by everything having to be swagged up ; what gold is found there is of a good coarse quality, very similar to that got at the old Wairaea. Numbers of prospectors are oivt^about the Waimangaroa, and in many places a good show of gold is obtained. These old digging are not yet worked out, as on. the old iiehf a hundred or so of men are making small wages, and seem inclined to stick to thS| places. The quartz reefs are likely to have a fair trial now. I bear the company lately formed here intend setting to work* in real earnest. Until now they have, I believe* merely employed a few men to sink a shatt at their leisure; trusting in Providence for the result. Martin's reef appears to grow richer the further it is elevelopeel, and certainly the specimens are leally magnificent. The Southland arrived from Hokitikalast night, bringing an assorted, cargo, and a crowd of passengers, many of -vvhorn. aie making their way out to the rush. A great number of men are waiting in.town for some definite news to come in,. Quite a crowd musters on the wharf and esplanade when a steamer is inside the river. What on earth they all intend eloing it is impossible to say. I am surprised that some of them elo not make tracks for Waite's, as they are nearly sure to be able to make at least wages. Buildings hare become valuable of late. I hear- that Messrs Tonks and Hughes, of the Albion, Greymouth, , have purchased the Maori Hotel, here, for. L9(io. Sever.a.l Hokitikians have setup in business, andl understand' many others h avejjecured : sections, that in. the. 'event of^JHfcushebpiiig good,, they M ax.mj^e.a^stajgg!Pß|pi|s^gv!; c!ifY : - : ; "- '■' '"■'" ■ ' ■'■ .-^j^g^p^aMl^Bk^HZ^Z