GOLD FIELDS NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 372, 30 April 1866, Page 2

GOLD FIELDS NEWS.

By the s.s. ‘ Star of the South,’ which vessel arrived here on Wednesday night last, we have news from the golden regions of the “ far west ” up to the 19th April. We make as many extracts as the crowded state of our columns will admit of. NEW KUSH AT THE WAIiIEA. The West Coast Times, of the 17th inst., gives the following account of a new rush at the Waimea■ — “We have received information regarding the locality of the new rush which has set in at the Waimca. Xt is at the head of Pretty Woman’s Creek, a distance of about one and a-half miles from a place known as the Half-way. The prospects obtained out of the prospector’s claim are said to be half-au ounce out of two dishes. The first symptoms of a rush showed themselves on Saturday morning last, and there were some five hundred diggers on the ground shortly afterwards. The average dopth of sinking is from twenty-five to thirty-five feet. On the prospector’s claim it is from twelve to fourteen feet. A small shaft at the back of the prospector’s claim has been proved very rich. The washdirt is composed of gravel and black sand, and the samples of gold found are both fine and coarse. The prospectors have been working quietly for several weeks past. Two stores are already erected on the ground, and several stores are going up. This information has been communicated by a person in whom we may place confidence, but our special reporter will visit the locality to-morrow, when a further report will be made.” OKAKITA. Feoji the * West Coast Times,’ 19th April, we copy the foil nving, supplied by its “own correspondent ” at the above place, who writes under date Isth April:— “ During the past ten days the unfortunates allured to Bruce Bay by the never-to-be-forgotteu Hunt’s rush, have been daily arrriving in this township. Many of the poor fellows seemed weary and worn after their long tramp. The majority of the miners had started kora Bruce Bay the moment the startling news arrived of the alleged new goldfield at the Little Grey, intending to start for Greymouth on the arrival of the next steamer should the good news be confirmed. Great was their disappointment when news arrived that the Little Grey was another “ sell.” They remained knocking about for three or four days, but now most have Dispersed—some north and some south. On my journey from Bruce Bay I observed some few parties prospecting at Hunt’s Beach which is situated eight or nine miles from Bruce Bay. This beach is very flat and extends about four miles. I was informed by some old hands on this beach that there was not much chance of new discoveries as it had been well prospected some months since. The next beach I arrived at was Gillespie’s twenty miles from Okarita j there a great number had stopped on their upward journey prospecting, as there were a considerable number of old hands settled down who were making fair wages, I hear favorable, although not brilliant accounts and I have observed within the last few days a a considerable number of miners crossing the Waiho bound for Gillespie’s. Largo numbers of pack horse, heavily laden, have also gone down souih during the last day or two. I observed twelve in one mob, and nine in another, on last Wednesday. From what I can learn from acquaintances I am inclined to believe a very considerable, if not large, population will remain at Gillespie’s for the next two or three months, as the miners are so harrassed running about, and as the weather is now broken, they are glad to set in anywhere almost, where they can be comfortably settled down and make even fair wages during the wet weather. “ At Sand-Fly Beach, situated nine miles from Okarita, there have been a few patches working, and, lam told, making fair wages. A large additon has been made to the population since the return rush from Bruce Bay, several parties having obtained tolerably paying prospects, determined to set in to wark. On this beach, it must be retr e übered, a smaller prospect will pay than on Gillespie's, as on this beach, by going to a little trouble, each claim can obtain water from the lagoon at the back of the beach, whereas on Gillespie’s water cannot be obtained, at least not sufficient, for several sluice hands. 1 ->■■■» “On the beach, immediately - south of the Waiho, seven miles from Okarita, about twenty miners are at work. They are old hands on the beach, and know the run of the ground. Pew, if any, are making more than wages; indeed this beach was never rich,, and it has been nearly all worked. “ Since the complete hoax played by Hunt on the mining community Mr Warden Price has very judiciously determined to grant no prospecting claim in future, without first prospecting the the ground himself, or sending a constable to port open the same,.

“The Fire Mile beach is bow a very, stirring 'place, several parties having settled into'iWork’ in the last few days, on the very outaide of the beach workings. The prospects obtained are encourage ing ; at the same time, i believe the ground will be abandoned, as sinking. is veryheavy, apd thewater met ;with being verydifficult to over-coma^-particularlynt high tide. There have been, some good prospect# obtained oh a third bottom on the Five Mile beach, but from what I could learn from acquaintances to-day,- I consider the discovery to be of little importance. The Five Mile how -rivals Okarita in the number of stores, &o. Tnere are dance rooms, billiard rooms, - and hotels in profusion, and the storekeepers appear to be doing a roaring trade. As for Okarita, every second house is an hoteltruly, selling twopence worth of brandy for a shilling must be a very paying game. “The catalogue of deaths by drowning in the West Coast rivers is becoming truly appalling. Last week another victim was hurried to eternity in the very flower of strength and youth. The deceased, William Whfelsn, was crossing the river where the lagoon, at the rear of the Three Mile, burst through a few days ago, when by some means h? got off the horse, and was swept into the surf; being a strong swimmer, the struggles he made for life even in the breakers, were truly agonising to behold. The deceased was only three months on the coast, and had made many friends by his pleasing manner and obliging disposition. .He was a native of either Carlow or Queen’s County, and was anxiously inquiring for an elder brother of his, called John Whelan, whom he had not seen for many years, and whom, I am informed, was some years ago a member of the Dublin police, and is, I believe, at present up the Grey, “ A meeting was held on Thursday evening last, for the purpose of forming an Improvement Committee. After considerable discussion nine gentlemen were selected to make the necesssary arrangements to have a committee elected. “ Intelligence reached town on Friday that a miner was lying helpless in a tent near Gillespie’s Beach, with a broken leg. Mr Warden Price, at once despatched a trooper, to render any necessary aid. “ Some miners passing up the beach lately informed me that, when passing the Kocky Bluff, immediately north of the Waitemata River—where Schernikow was drowned—the body of a man supposed to be that of the late Mr Schernikow, was seen in the rocks amongst the breakers, without a particle of clothing on. I have since heard the body was cast up on the beach. "The want of an hospital is much felt now, a great many miners being sick and destitute. Many may thank Hunt for their present illnesses, owing to the hardships they went through, following him. Dr Lee has rendered every assistance in his power to the unfortunate sufferers, and has, I believe, signnified his willingness to attend on the siek, should an hospital be established.”