THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 370, 23 April 1866, Page 1

THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

The West Coast Times of the 31st ult. has the following letter from its correspondent:—• Bruce Bay, March 28. On Monday morning all the miners camped here were up at the first streak of dawn, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the prospector of the new gold-field, Mr Hunt. •No superfluous baggage was taken by any, the majority of the miners starting with only a blanket and a couple of johnny cakes. As each hour passed away, every one became impatient, hut still no tidings were heard of Hunt. At length it begin to be whispered that Hunt was at the second river, north of Bruce Bay, but that the miners there waiting to be ferried over objected to Hunt going across until they were put over. Twelve o’clock came, and then all hands immediately set to work to prepare dinner, and after that very necessary affair was concluded, and whilst the post-prandial pipe was being smoked, the cry of Hunt has arrived,” at once brought all bauds to their feet. Mr Hunt had indeed arrived with a very formidable body guard. He was immediately surrounded by every one in the * place, and with some difficulty managed to get to the late Mr Scheruikow’s store where he purchased same provisions. As it was now between two and three o’clock, a long and animated discussion took place as to the advisability of starting that evening. Mr Hunt expressed his desk* to abide by the majority. At length, notwithstanding the energetic remonstrances of some latelyarrived shanty-keepers, who expected to do “ a stroke” by keeping the population in town, it was determined to start forthwith. The decision was hailed with a loud cheer, and at once the entire population started for the bluff at the south of Bruce Bay, No horse can pass it at low tide, so all the “ tucker” for the new rush will have to be “ swagged” over the rocks. The passage over this bluff was most difficult, owing to the great number pressing to get first; each rock had its occupant iu the person of a stalwart digger, and I am astonished that no serious accidents occurred, the rush was so great. The bluff having at length been rounded and all hands thoroughly exhausted, a halt was made at a spring, where Water pure as diamond spark, In a stone basin fell. The evening being now considerably advanced, another start was made, when ail bauds had refreshed themselves at the spring. After travelling along the beach for some miles, a river, the “ Papiriki” was reached, which stopped some of the foremost for a time; but on Hunt running up and stating that it should be crossed, the whole of the miners rushed iu and forded it in capital style. It being now sundown, after much discussion it was resolved to camp for the night, and immediately the lurid glare of three hundred fires cast tueir gleam upon the moonlit waves. Tne next morning, as it was evident the foremost would stand the best chance, the majority of the miners took the precaution of leaving everything behind them in care of one of tneir mates. Breakfust beiug taken, a start was made, and the whole of the miners imagined the track was along the course of the Pukiriki mvr; but on 11 nut turning suddenly aside imo the bush, tlu.-i'c ensued a scene that bailies ail description. A rush was at once made towards Hunt’s track, but owing to the

presence of the scrub and supplejacks, hundreds came to grief; nothing could be seen but boots sticking up out of a net of supplejacks, their owners struggling helplessly to extricate themselves, whilst yells, shouts, and execrations on supplejacks rent the air. The entire track through the bush for five miles was of the same character, and the pace was so tremendous that many a stalwart man was obliged to fall down exhausted. After three or four miles travelling, the miners came on the camp of the well-known Bill Fox, who was out looking for Hunt’s rush. Here a short lull was made whilst each miner had a drink. Soon again the multitude started, and heavy rain commenced ; nevertheless, the speed kept up was tremendous. Two miles having been travelled over, a halt was made, as every one was thoroughly exhausted ; but the race was soon resumed. After travelling a few hundred yards a creek full of granite boulders was reached, when suddenly arose the cry. Hunt is gone. Hunt has bolted.” All were at once brought to a standstill in the soaking rain, and no one knew what to do, whilst a dense cloud of steam arose from the smoking bodies and clothes of the exhausted miners. Curses loud aud deep were vented on Hunt, and threats of future vengeance. A great many imagined Hunt had gone away with some of bis “ chummies,” and others believed he would come back when he missed the mob; but hour passed after hour, and at length all determined to camp, as it was raining very heavily. This was no easy matter, as a great many had no tents or blankets. However, the majority managed to get a shake-down with their friends. There was a great many who had to brave the storm and heavy rain of the night, and in the morning curses and threats of vengeance on Hunt were heard in all directions. The majority of the miners being without tucker, sent some of their mates back to Bruce Bay for provisions, determined to find Hunt out and take his claim from him if he could not satisfactorily account for his disappearance yesterday. My opinion is that Hunt has lost himself, or that he does not wish parties to find him out at once, as it would only cause numerous fights if parties came into the gully in a mob. I am inclined to believe that Hunt means well, because some short time before he was missed, I conversed with him, aud he told me that he did not wish the miners to go into the gully in a bunch, but separately, if possible; and be farther added, that a short time before he came to the gully, he would go first, in order to give every one a chance. I have just come into Bruce Bay, but intend going out to the rush to-morrow, as I have no doubt Hunt will very soon be found. Stores and shanties are in abundancce now, and business appears very brisk, but a week will decide whether it will be permanent. 10 p.m. I have just seen some friends arrived from the Granite Creek, where Hunt was missed. They report that Hunt had come back with some fifty followers, he having been lost in the bush, and that he started again with all the miners to find out the place where he procured the good prospects. The same paper of the 2nd April has the following;— By the arrival of the s.s. Kennedy, from Bruce Bay, we are placed in possession of the latest intelligence from that district, which is, we are sorry to say, of the most unsatisfactory nature. Up to the time of her departure on Saturday evening, ail attempts to discover the ground indicated by Hunt has resulted in an utter failure; and the consequence was that the miners assembled in aud around the township had set law and order and order at defiance, and had resorted to the most disgraceful outrages, plundering the different stores there indiscriminately, and destroying an immense amount of property. The details of these humiliating occurrences have been supplied us by a gentleman who arrived last night by the above steamer. He informs us that the disturbances commenced on Friday evening when a party of men went into the store of Mr Ecclesfield under the pretence of purchasing goods, when suddenly a mob of ras cals rushed in and commenced a wholesale plunder of its contents. They were evidently not driven to such a course by hunger, as their seizures were confined to the liquor the establishment contained, every drop of which they abstracted, and handed to the larger mob collected outside. Emboldened b}' their success, no opposition, save mere remonstrance, being offered, they next proceeded to several smaller stoles and shanties, which they served in a similar manner. By this

time, their appetities having been doubtless excited by the stimulants imbibed on the cheap, they, on arriving at Brennan and Byrne’s store, which was very largely stocked with provisions of all kinds, made free with the preserved aud dried meats, besides clearing it of every kind of liquor. This store was reduced to a complete wreck, the side being burst in, and its contents strewed about under foot, and everything of value carried off, including two small bags containing forty ounces of gold-dust, which had been “ planted” between two hogsheads. Crossing the street, the crowd, that by this time had increased to nearly 1,500 men, next attacked Beattie’s store, which they completely demolished, and swept off its contents, and then proceeded to the store formerly kept by the late Mr Schernikow, but the proprietor being now aware of what was going on armed himself with a double barrelled gun, and with the help of about forty of his friends kept the herd of rioters at bay, aud compelled them to depart elsewhere. The tenement owned by Mr T. Smith, the proprietor of the Shakespeare Theatre in Hokitika, who bad only just started in business at the Bay, next attracted their attention, and short work was made of its contents, everything they could lay hands on being carried off, or demolished on the spot. During the whole of Friday night, the most disgraceful orgies were carried on, the town presenting a scene of drunkenness, dissipation, and rioting that baffles description, and was utterly scandalous, Pandemonium was for a time let loose, and men were converted into fiends. On the following morning, a repetition of the last night’s scene was anticipated ; but Mr Warden Price bad, in the meantime, taken such active means to restore order, by swearing in a number of special constables, that the plundering scoundrels were kept at bay, and further depredations prevented. We are utterly at a loss for a reason to account for this sudden outbreak—this most unseemly and disreputable proceeding on the part of men from whom we expected better things, and can only imagine they must have been driven to desperation through not being able to track Hunt. That individual has escaped a second time from the crowd, and this time has so effectually concealed himself that not the slightest trace of him has been discovered. By some it is feared he was drowned whilst attempting to swim an inlet of the sea, whilst many imagine he is merely hiding, waiting for the crowd to disperse, when he will again make his appearance aud lead on a favored few to the golden, though mysterious, locality indicated by him. We, however, are inclined to believe that Hunt’s first assertion*is correct, and that the ground, is not only poor but exceedingly limited in extent. But Lis present wherabouts is a matter of pure speculation, and we have no doubt that he will keep close until he can make his appearance in safety. Our informant further stated that the "rush” was rapidly breaking up, several hundreds having started overland for Okarita, and that in the course of a week there is every probability that the place will subside into its former state of inactivity and dullness.