THE WEST COAST.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 60, 25 November 1863, Page 6

THE WEST COAST.

NOTES FROM THE LOG OF A PROSPECTING PARTY.

(Abridged from the Invercargill Times.)

On June 13th, with a nasty sea, we got abreast of the River Awarua, and as it was so rough, and we could not see the river, went to Jackson's Bay, which was reached on Sunday, the 14th. A party to»k boat to look for a creek or river to get the vessel in, as we intended to remain some time. They returned in the evening, having met with some Maories, an old man and three women, who were dreadfully frightened, but reassured by one of the party, who spoke Ma ori # This appeared to be the only part of the West Coast which seemed from its conformation at all likely to be settled. There seemed to be every in. dication of gold. Round the bay the appearance was that of the Wakatip district, the hills being composed of soft blue slate, mica, and an abundance of quartz. The N. W. side of the bay is the only place where a boat can land with safety. We cut a dock in the creek, near the grave of Claude Ollivier, Esq., who died in this bay on board the Ada, on the 27th August, 1860. In digging this dock, we tried several dishes of dirt, and in every instance obtained gold—eight or nine specks to the dish. We were delighted, as we did not expect to get payable gold on the sea coast, and the gold there found was far the best. On the 17th June, we got the Nugget into the dock or channel, having previously landed her cargo. The Maories told us about this time, that there had often been ten vessels in the Bay. On the 24th June we started inland in two parties, three in one and four in the other. On the 29th June we tried several places in the river for gold, but could only obtain a few specks to the dish. On the Ist July we started for the river running east and west, which we called Wild Dog River ; Mr Care's party starting back to try a river which they crossed on the side of Jackson's River. We tried several places for gold at the Wild Dog River without any result. On the 4th we fell in with Care's party again. After undergoing many privations on the return, from wet, hunger, and exhaustion, we reached the cutter again on the 7th. The same day two of the company, Messrs. Leisk and Williamson, returned from a prospecting tour. They had obtained no payable prospect, but the country looked well for gold On Thursday, the 30th, started on a prospecting tour to the Awarua River, some 30 miles distance. On Sunday, the 30th August, we reached the junction of the Clark with the Awarua or Haast. On Tuesday, the Ist September, we divided ourselves for prospecting. Seven miles up, the Bourke joined the Haast. On Wednesday at Dr. Haast's old camp we found a tree with various initials cut upon it. We remained here sinking holes in different parts of the river side; but in no instance could we obtain the color or even get any black sand. On Saturday, the sth September, it snowed all day, and in the evening there was a foot of snow on the ground. On Sunday we started early, and followed up the left side of the Haast. On Monday, the 7th, struck Dr. Haast's track, which was first-rate. On reaching the Wills, we sunk two large holes or paddocks, and got down about five feet, when the water became too strong —although we had two baling at the time. On the 10th we went down to the junction of the Haast and Bourke. We prospected in one of the bars of the Bourke, but did not obtain the color. On Tuesday, the 15th, we started for the Thomas, which we readied on the 16th, and immediately started up. At a distance up the river of seven miles, we sunk seven holes, but although this river appeared to be running level, when five or six miles up was reached, it had just the same appearance as the rest, running right down the mountain. Thursday, 17th, still prospecting, with the usual result, no color. Next day we started back for the vessel. Reached the Maories' camp on the 23rd of September, and camped on the opposite side of the river same night. We reached the vessel about 2 p.m. 25th September, and found that those left behind had cleared about an acre, and planted it with cabages and potatoes. Messrs. Williamson and Leisk had started with a week's provisions for the neighbourhood of Cascade Point. We had just been away two months. On Thursday, the Ist October, Leisk and Williamson returned, bringing with them a few specks of gold, which they had obtained off the surface from a couple of dishes, but owing to bad weather and short provisions they had not been able to get a hole bottomed. The gold they got was much coarser than anything we have hitherto got. On Monday, the sth October, we started, nins of us with a fortnight's provisions for another prospecting tour towards the Awarua. By noon we reached the gully where Leisk and Williamson had obtained the gold. We left two of the party there and the rest of us made for Cascade Point. The ground was very abrupt, and travelling difficult. On Tuesday we reached a river of fair «ze, and on following it down, found our party camped near the sea beach. Here four remained to prospect the river, and the other three proceeded towards the Awarua. On the 7th October five miles up the river, \s e sank five large holes, but on getting to a depth of seven feet were interrupted by the water, which appears to be the greatest drawback in prospecting the West Coast. On next day went up five miles higher, aud tried several places, but could get no bottom. Friday and Saturday we prospected without success. On Sunday went back by Jackson's Bay to the coast —a most perilous route. On our way back we found the two left to prospect the creek; they had met with no success. On Sunday, the 18th inst, the Cascade party returned. They rer ported that they had reached the Cascade the day

after they parted with us, and proceeding up the river 25 miles, tried several holes, some to the depth of 16 feet, but were compelled to desist from the water. .Prospected most of the creeks running into the river, but could not find the color. Then tried to make the Awarua district, but found it impracticable by the sea line; and the bush was so bad that they could not make more than five miles per day; so compelled to return. On Tuesday, the 20th October, four of ns started to give the creek where the best prospect had Deen obtained one more trial. Returned on the 27th, and reported thaton going over a range towards the Cascade river, saw a large lake apparently enclosed by precipitous mountains. The lake bore about east from Barn Bay—distance 10 miles. Sank several more holes in the creek, but did not find gold in sufficient quantities to pay. Oar provisions now failing us, and the prospecting having been so unsuccessful, we got on board the Nugget and beat out of the Bay on the 2nd November. After touching at Dusky Sound, various other points, and Stewart's Island, we arrived at the jetty, Invercargill, at 8 a.m. on the 18th November, having been absent exactly 207 days. It may be observed; in conclusion, that there could not be a better sea boat than the Nugget, and none more suitable for exploration purposes.

♦ A Singudar Spectacle in Battle.—At the battle of Stone River, while the men were lying behind a crest waiting, a brace of frantic wild turkeys, so paralysed with fright that they were incapable of flying, ran between the lines and eudeavored to hide among the men. But the frenzy among the turkeys was not so touching as the exquisite fright of the birds and rabbits. When the roar of battle rusued through the cedar thickets, flocks of little birds fluttered and circled above the field in a state of utter bewilderment, and scores of rabbits fled for protection to our men, lying down in line on the left, nestling under their coats, and creeping under their legs in a state of utter distraction. They hopped over the field like toads, and as perfectly tamed by fright as household pets. Many officers witnessed it, remarking it as one of the most curious spectacles ever seen upon a battle field.—American Paper. How the "New York Tribune" Office was Defended.—The following extract from a letter from New York discloses the preparations that were made for the reception of the mob after their attack upon the office of the Tribune—"We have had a fearful time this week. Such sights as we have witnessed from our windows I never saw before. Monday and Tuesday, the square was filled with most excited men. Tuesday, the Tribune office was thoroughly fortified, the lower office being barricaded with reams of paper well wet down, ar.d the upper storeys stocked with muskets, revolvers, and hand grenades, and garrisoned, while preparations were made to give all comers a hot bath from the steam-boilers. In the Times' office there were two rifled batteries of sixteen guns, each capable of firing twenty-five times a minute, and at the corners were howitzers to sweep the whole square." Hotel Scene in New York.—The colonel came in with his regimental paymaster and called out to the clerk. ' Here, you Sir!' 'I am here,' civilly responded the clerk. ' Just hand over de money dat pelongs to our regiment in your safe; we are off to Washington dis afternoon.' 'There is your bill, colonel,' said the clerk, putting before him an official looking piece of paper. ' Jam de pill; jam all pills,' said the officer, not even deigning to look at the amount. He and his staff had held high carnival with their friends for several days at this hotel; the bill for dinners, champagne, &c., amounted to some 300 dollars. * You must pay this, colonel, or allow me to take the money from the regimental funds, or I cannot return your money.' I decline to report the reply of the colonel. Being interpreted, it was an assurance to the clerk that he would not • bay de pill: that he would see the clerk in the centre of the most tropical region of the next world before he would bay de pill; that the Government might bay de pill or go to the same no latitude. The clerk remained firm under this torrent of German-American-English. The colonel, in his rage sent the paymaster for the sentries at the door, and ordered them to charge upon the clerk, and compel him to deliver the funds. The clerk took a revolver from the desk before him. ' There are four of you,' he said ; 'there are six bullets here. Who wants the first one?' He fixed his eye on the colonel, and it looked as though he would bore a hole through hi.n, without the bullet. ' Fetter bay de pill,' whispered the paymaster to the colonel. The bully in the colonel was cowed, and the paymaster saw that he might act. ' I am de one to bay de pills,' said he. An amicable surrender of the funds, minus the amount of the bill, was soon effected, the clerk keeping his revolver in convenient proximity during the transaction. The colonel and his men withdrew, and the clerk called out cheerfully, ' Here's the key, Grierson. You can have your baggage up, and the chambermaid will do up the room while you are at dinner. I can't answer for the way in which the pigs have left the premises.' Jeremiah took the key. 'Do we go up on the livestock dumbwater ?' he asked. ' Oh, no, that got out of order in a week; everybody goes up the natural way.' 'That's mean. It was part of the attraction here that we were all to levitate.' ' Part of the advertisement you should say. You surely ain't so green as to think we'd keep the thing up, after the house was filled.' ' Well, you ought to be a colonel, anyhow, for the way you managed to get that bill paid.' ' Not colonel of a regiment of German blackguards, I hope,' said the clerk, turning to some new con.ers, as if nothing particular had happened.— All the Year Hound.