CANTERBURY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 241, 20 March 1865, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

LATEST FROM THE OKITIKI GOLDFIELDS. (From the Kelion Examiner, March g.) Although the Government of Canterbury has been slow to believe in the existence of a large and rich gold-field on its western sea-board it has awakened to the fact at last, and appears now disposed to act energetically in doing whatever the requirements of t he case demand.

At a densely crowded public meeting held in tlie I’own Hall of Christchurch on the 2nd inst., the I'roviueial Secretary and the Secretary of i’ublic Works,-informed the audience that, preparatory to proclaiming the western district a goldfield, the Superintendent had written to the Government at Wellington, recommending the appointment of a Resident Magistrate and warden at the diggings ; that a body of police had been despatched to the Ok it iki overland; that Mr Dobson had been sent to explore for a road by the iiead of the Waiinakariri, by which, if found to be practicable as was believed to bo the case, the distance to the Teremakau from Christchurch would be shortened considerably, besides the new route having the advantage of more than twothirds of the distance being already fir for a rays to travel. Should Mr Dobson’s report be favorable, this road was to be opened at oner, and tits Pres? is even so sanguine as to think that as an experienced digger named Hunt, who had prospected the valley down which the supposed road on the western side oi the range would lead, had said that it was open grass land, this new desirable road would be open in a few days. (From the LylieUon Times , March 7.) Accounts continue to reach ns of the strong 'movement of people north-westwards and towards the land of promise on the west const of this province. The rush maintains its full foreef and it may be said that men are passing up the North road in heaps. Of these, by far the greater proport ion may be fairly set down as bona fide experienced diggers, worthy of the name. Some few of course are townsmen and inexperienced lads, who have no idea of the hardships they must endure, and whose immediate future accordingly it is not hard to iorsee. If they ever become experienced it will beat the cost of great discomfort, we might say misery. .But many of them, in this rush as in all others that have gone before, will never see their destination at all. In ai! probability they will fail to cross the Teremak»ni saddle, after bringing up on the other side of that point, will return as speedily as they may, and pronounce an adverse and contemptuous Judgment upon the diggitigs at large. The best goldfields have always many such persons to condemn them, who have discovered for their rash venture nothing tint disgust at themselves for their folly in selling out at all. We are looking ahead a little, however, for as yet we hear not. a single returning—in itself no insignificant fact in a new rush. Those who go up seem to possess more than an average amount of supplies, in the shape of the “needfull” and otherwise; and there is little fear that we shall hear of much distress on the road. ’J he journey itself is being shortened by the extension of coach accommodation. The news from Nelson is favorable, and men who have been absent from Christ church only a few weeks have made their appearance handsomely furnished with the p.ccioua metal. Onr shipping columns show a gratifying amount of commercial activity.