WEST COAST INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 435, 5 November 1866, Page 3

WEST COAST INTELLIGENCE.

NEW EU3H NEAE THE BTJLLEE. [Nelson Examinfcr, 30th Oct.] Oar files of papers from the West Coast, received withiu the last few days make mention of several new rushes, some of which promise well, and among these, in particular, are the newly-discovered Pakihi diggings, a little south of the Buller. The Pakihi appears, as far as we can learn, to be about thirteen miles south of the Buller, and may be reached from the beach. Very small vessels, in favorable weather, may enter the river, and provisions may be obtained from them at moderate rates. The principal diggings are on a plain up the stream, and separated from the beach by about 200 yards of bush. * Many of the claims are stated to be yielding a pennyweight of gold to the shovelfull, and all at work there were doing well;" It is thought the field will turn but a large and rich one, and a great number of diggers were on their way there. Accounts are also favorable from the Inangahua, where several fresh gullies have been opened up with satisfactory results. Rumors had likewise reached Greymouth of good prospects in the Maruia, the valley next above the Inangahua and there was a general feeling that, with the advance of summer, a large population would settle down on the Buller and its tributaries. Of other new rushes spoken of, one at the New River is tne most promising. These are better known, perhaps, as the Saltwater diggings, and are also in the Grey district, but we believe on the Canterbury side of the river. From several of the districts about Hokitika, a great deal of gold is being got; and Okarita, at the south, contributes largely to the export of gold which is taking place. The export of gold from Greymouth, for the fourteen months, amounts to 277,387 ounces. The quantity exported from Hokitika, daring the same period, we are unable to state. A company has been formed at Greymouth for the purchase of a steam-tug for the Grey, and measures taken to procure a suitable vessel from Melbourne. The first rail of the Hokitika and Greymouth horse railway was to be laid on Saturday last. A flood at Hokitika lately submerged the Totver‘portions of ‘the' town. Cobb’s coach* on ft recent journey from Christchurch, was

swept down the Teremakau'; the ring bolt snapped, and the hinder part of the vehicle became detached, and was carried down by the current and stranded on a sand bank. One female-passenger had a-narrow escape, and was only rescued from drowning by the gallantry of Captain Smith, of Christchurch, who pulled her out of the coach, and swam ashore with her. The mail and passengers’ luggage went down stream with the coach. The driver, wlio managed to remain on the forepart of the coach, was luckily able to save himself and horses. The road has suffered extensive damages in many places by the last floods. The remains of the coach were afterwards rescued, but the mails were washed away.