HUNT'S BEACH AND SOUTHERN DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 816, 9 March 1871, Page 3

HUNT'S BEACH AND SOUTHERN DIGGINGS.

[from otjb own correspondent.] Hunt's Beach, Feb. 27. Here I am after a trip to the southern portion of the Westland Gold Fields. Previous to my going south I had heard a good deal of it, and now that I have seen it, I can't say I like it, or think much of it ; but of all the places I have been to on the West Coast, this Hunt's Beach beats all. The population is between thirty and forty, and supports two stores, two butchers, one baker, and one, if not two public-houses. The business people, men, women, and children, number about fifteen, and the diggers a little over twenty. A stranger coming in would imagine that there must be a lot of gold getting, and still such is not the case. I j know for a fact that there is very little gold getting on Hunt's Beach, and still the puzzle is, how do all the business people j live ? I don't know ; but live they do, and seem quite contented. At Bruce Bay there are only a few Europeans at work, and they appear to be old hands there, and all satisfied if they can knock out a living, in preference to swagging about the Coast. Some three or four men have squatted at the Paringa, growing vegetables and fishing. They cure the fish, of which there is abundance to be got in the southern waters, and send them to Hokitika. On the Haast there are ten diggers at work. A party of six are bringing in a water-race here. They have been over four montha at it now, and I believe it will take them as long again, although they think themselves to have water on the beach in about two months. They will have to work pretty smart if they do, and even if they do get the water on the beach in that time, they will require to extend their fluming up and down the beach. One comfort is, when their race is finished, I believe they will have plenty of water even in the driest season, and it is thought by many men who have worked on the Haast, and know the ground well, that it only requires water to pay handsomely. Mr Marks has opened a well- stocked store on the Waitoto, and provisions, &c, are as cheap there as in Okarito. I hear he is about moving to Jackson's Bay, as he is too far from any other inhabitants. He intends boating provisions to the Haast and other places instead of packing them as heretofore. Mueller and party (four) have just completed their water-race on the beach, south of Jackson's River ; it is about two miles long, and is brought from a creek at the point of Jackson's Bluff. They have been about four months at it, and had some very bad cutting, but, unfortunately, owing to the long spell of dry weather, they are short of water, and have no chance of proving their ground until rain ceases. A parly of three are working in Jackson's Bay. They intend working the beach, but have no water at present, so they are also waiting for rain, and in the meantime are cutting a race on to their ground. Jenkins and hi 3 mates (three) passed down from Gillespie's Beach on their way to Smoothwater, where they intend to set in. There are a few scattered about farther south, but what they are doing I had no opportunity of learning. Two or three parties started from the Haast a short time since over to Otago, and Kinnard and his mate are about leaving for Cook's River. The entire population from Bruce Bay to Smoothwater is twenty-one. The last time the steamer was down Bhe was subsidised by the General Government to take down the sub-enumerator taking the census. I hear the subsidy was LSO. He was left in Jackson's Bay, and on her next trip the Waipara is to pick him up ; it will be pretty costly taking census of the 21 men down south.