THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1602, 23 September 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1873.

The application for a prospecting claim and the granting of a double area at the Kazorback scarcely elicit remark, but there is some magic about the name of the river ELaast compared with which the magic of Madame Cora may be said: to be an " unconsidered trifle." Ever since Dr Haast crossed from Canterbury to the Coast by the valley and gorges of the river of which he assumed paternity as a pioneer, the name has been somewhat prominently before the public. The sub-' sequent Secretary for the Otasfo Goldfields, and now member for the Wakatip district, Mr "Vincent Fyke, made the name for the second time, and himself not for the last time, famous by making his memorable journey by the Haast, and his graphic journal of its "moving accidents and disastrous chances." Prospectors followed, but found nothing wondeifui but grass country which i 3 . alleged to be Alpine, while ' they were nearly losing what, had they been at sea — which they were in a metaphorical sense — ( would have been described as the number of their mess. A year afterwards " Haste to the Haast" was the word passed in the streets of Hokitika and the "Strand" of Okarito, and, with more hurry than discretion, because ultimately wjth more expenditure than income, the banks of ! the Haast were made the destination of ' much galvanised iron, weather-boarding, calico, and flour, with good things that are potted, aod bad things that are bottled and usually sold in such situations at cent, per cent, et cetet'citwthe ingredients of the omnipotent "nobbier." The Haast did not at all come out of that epoch' of commercial excitement with credit to itself, or with profit to those who hastened thither lyith "drum" or " mill." The experiences of its eager visitors were only a shade less dis-. couraging than what wer.e fety by those who sought Mr Hunt at the Peringa, and : found neither him nor his prospecting \ claim, and themselves without money, . but with Price. Those to whom the Haast and Hunt's, and hundreds o£ trips hither and thither, were as so many har-vest-fields, either went Home or went more largely -into speculations associated with steam. Since then it maybe said pi the Haast that, while it still runs dWj? to the sea, those who run down to see it hags? been few and far between— like the visits, of angels, Superintendents, or subsidised s^e«im,ers / Physically it may have been the same riper at its

source, but metaphorically it has had a much diminished head. The locality, however, does not seem destined to be lost to sight, if it has been to memory " dear." Relics of the rush, in the shape of a few Alexander Selkirks, have remained in the district, dependent for their safety from starvation on the scant bounty of Providence in these parts, the appropriations in " another place," and the providore of the Waipara ; and verily it is said that, thus remainingj and thus sustained, they have at length had what ia not more than their reward — a prospect. On its faith, and on their honor as miners, they have applied for a prospecting claim, but the Warden of the district, Mr Tizard, wisely imitating his predecessor, Mr Price, is said to have gone by sea to see for himself. Hokitika is our present source of information as to the facts, and, of course the scene of enterprise on the part of speculative charterers. The . latter will soon make themselves known ; the former—the facts— so far as they are known, are thus recorded by the -' Register : — A rumor Has been current for a day or two in town that gold Had been found south of Okarito, and we are now glad to be able to confirm it. A prospecting claim was applied for recently by Messrs Marks and Munro, and granted by Mr Tizard, the Warden at Okarito. The prospectors obtained 50 ounces of coarae gold from a creek on the north bank of the Haast river, which is the locality where the prospecting claim is situated. The s.s. Waipara has, we are informed by Captain Turnbull, been chartered by Mr Tizard to proceed from Okarito to the Haast, but for what purpose we are unable to learn. The general opinion of pei sons qualified to judge, is that an extensive and payable field will be shortly opened. We Hear further that the prospectors have applied for the Government reward of £5000. The West Coast Times is more reticent or cautious. Thus : — A rumor has beeu current in Hokitika within the last day or two that a rush is likely to take place some vvh ere about; the Haast, and that Mr Mafchies of this town, wno has been ewttiag a track there, has put some parties on to getting gold. There is. however, nothing very certain known about the matter, ,bv\t as the Waipara, intends going into the Haast River on her trip south, better information will be obtained on her return than is at present to hand.