THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 378, 21 May 1866, Page 1

THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

THE NORTH BEACH.

(From the special correspondent of the Grey Elver Argus 9th May.)

The old saying that “ no news is good news” is verified on the North Beach With the exception of the population daily daily becoming more numerous, there is little fresh to report upon, which may be regarded as a good sign. All the miners are at work steadily, and from all that I could see and learn, they have every reason to be highly pleased with the result of their labors. On the celebrated Darkies’ Terrace the yield of gold continues very rich. In Dufty’s old claim a man known as “ Mick ” and three others are working the ground by means of tunneling, it having taken them upwards of a fortnight to re-slab the drive ; and having had the pleasure of inspecting the interior of the works, I can but say that it would be difficulty to find richer dirt. The much talked of Darkes’ claim was re-opened on Monday last after being closed by order of the Warden for a month; and yesterday, when I was on the ground, the shareholders were as busy as bees making a fresh start, and evidently in the best of spirits, which their prospects certainly gave them reason to be.

A new rush has just taken place, which will add further to the attractions of the North Beach. It appears that the discovery was made by a German known as Tom Wilson ; and his party, as I am informed, have been working the neighborhood without doing much during the past two months. This new “ Tom Tiddler’s ” ground is situated about 100 yards at the rear of the Beach, on the lower terrace near Point Elizabeth, and I am told the dirt yields upwards of two dwts to the dish on an average. Bad news travels fast, some people say, but in the case of gold digging I think good news travels faster, for a few hours after the prospectors had taken out their claim and were on the ground, there was a complete little rush to the place, and when I was there yesterday the scene was a busy one, and I found myself in a digger’s encampment. All the ground appears rich and easy to work, the country being pleasant and open as it borders the sea.

Ainsworth and party are still working, their claim adjoining the Darkies’ with most satisfactory results, the second bottom, to the discovery of which I referred last letter, having turned out even richer than the first. Last week they got 90 ozs. amongst the three.

During the last few days Mr Kynnersley, the Warden at Cobden, has been almost besieged by miners anxious to secure to themselves the privileges of erecting water races dams, &c., at the North Beach, and in one case protection was granted to a party, Dewson and Co,, to construct a water race five miles long, to terminate at the Darkies’ Terrace.

A case of considerable interest as illustrating tbe value of mining shares in North Beach claims, was heard at the Warden’s Court, Cobham, a day or two ago. The claim was brought by Stuart and party v. Perry and party, the former claiming ,£1794 for damages alleged to have been sustained by defendants having encroached on plaintiffs claim on the North Beach by tunneling underneath it. The claim is situated near the “ Darkies’,” and the encroachment complained of had been carried on for some length of time by the defendants, who judging by the richness of the stuff they had taken out, had, in the opinion of the plaintiffs, caused them damage fully to the amount claimed. Specimens of the smelted gold taken from the ground in question, were produced in Court, and a vast amount of evidence was taken pro and con, the case occupying the Court two days, having been adjourned from the first hearing to enable the jury of assessors to inspect the ground. After a very patient hearing the jury gave a verdict far the plaintiffs for .£2(37 11s 2d, together with the costs of the proceeding. In the course of the evidence, it transpired that shares in claims on the North Beach had lately changed hands at from .£2OO to £4OO, and as much as £SOO. The hearing of the case evidently created much interest amongst the mining community, and the Court was crowded during the whole time. LATEST TELEGRAMS. (By West Coast Telegraph.) Hokitika, 10th May, 4'24 p.m. Arrived. —Wallaby, from Nelson; Bruce, from Okarita. Mining news from Okraita very favorable. Parcel of gold, about 7000 ozs, being smelted in readiness for the Bruce’s next trip.