THE OKITIKI RUSH.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 198, 22 March 1865, Page 2

THE OKITIKI RUSH.

The Nelson, Christchurch, and Lyttelton papers are full of particulars concerning the rush, and we make our extracts from them and the Dunedin papers, leaving what we publish to speak for itself. It is, however, evident that a lasting goldfield has been opened up on the West Coast, but by no means of fabulous richness, and it is also evidently a rough and scattered country. What we know of the West Coast, however, justifies us in saying that the whole of the energies of Otago should be devoted to opening up a line of communication by Dr Hector's route.

The 'Daily Times' of the 17th, says:—"By the Gothenburg, which arrived yesterday, we have news from Nelson to the 14th instant, and Canterbury files of the 15 th instant. The Nelson papers to hand contain nothing relative to the West Coast diggings, beyond notices of the continuance of the rush into Nelson, the steamers Bruce and other vessels having arrived there with diggers from Otago and the other provinces. We learn, however, that a few hours before the departure of the Gothenburg, the steamer Nelson previously reported as having put into the Grey river had arrived. She had successfully landed at the Okitiki the passengers by the Claude Hamilton; and had, it is said, brought on to Nelson 1900 ounces of gold; which, if the statement be correct, would be an addition of 800 ounces to the 1100 ounces already referred to as having been received by her at the Grey. In the Canterbury papers there is no further information of the diggings, or of the success of those who had attempted to proceed overland, but there were rumors in Lyttelton that a tew who had penetrated to the ranges, were returning disappointed with the route, and intending to proceed to tbe West Coast by sea. The '[Nelson Examiner' of 11th March, in its summary, reports as follows: —

The progress of the Okitiki gold fields, and the heavy rush to them, since we published our last monthly report, has given a most welcome impetus to business, and, although we cannot report any material increase in the value of goods, prices have been more easily obtained than formerly. Flour being quite exhausted about ten days since, prices advanced from 20l to 281 ; and although heavy arrivals have since come to hand, these have nearly all been placed at the increased rate. With the large population at present on the West Coast, daily increased by arrivals from Dunedin, both coastwise and overland from Christchurch, and the number of men arriving here en route for Okitiki having induced two large steamers to lay on for that place, it is but right to warn captains and owners that the bars at the Okitiki and Grey are of such a character that no steamer drawing more than five feet six to six feet can expect to get into the rivers, whilst it is the height of rashness to attempt to land even passengers through the surf with ordinary boats or life-boats. If this is attempted it will not be long before we have to deplore heavy loss of life on the West Coast. The fields are not only turning out very rich, but they are extending to the north. From the Totara river to the Grey, a distance of thirty miles of coast, the country has been found to be highly auriferous, and we hear of parties working successfully in the Waimataka, five miles north of the Grey, so that thers is reason to believe the auriferous formation extends right through to the Buller, the tributaries of which river, for a distance of forty miles have been quietly worked by small parties during the last two years, with much success. We think, therefore, we may safely assume that these fields will afford profitable employment to a large mining population for some years. The • Press' of the 13th inst says :-»■

The influx of so many intending gold diggers to our city has caused a marked improvement in trade, more especially in those branches connected with digging requisites. Shops that only a week ago had but a sombre appearance, may now be seen doing a good business. Stores have been opened expressly to supply tents, tools, &c. Saddlers reckon their sales of pack saddlers daily by the dozen, and so great is the demand, that they can hardly be made fast enough to supply it. Nor is - this improvement confined to Christchurch alone. Kaiapoi and Woodend reap considerable benefit, as offering the last depots from which supplies can be obtained with certainty. The usual effects on the labor market are now beceming felt. On Saturday, in many instances, employees were demanding higher wages, and in most cases got them. Situations are thrown up, and in too many instances by those whose habits and ordinary employment have done little to prepare them for coping with the dangers and hardships of a digger's life. At Lyttelton seamen are leaving their ships, and lumpers and stevedores refuse to work unless at a considerable increase in wages. Should the next news from the Okitiki prove favorable, hundreds at present wavering will be carried off in the rush. We are indebted to the * OtagoMaiP for the following:— We hear from private sources, says the' Evening Mail/ that almost every vessel in Melbourne is laid on with passengers to Lyttelton, while from the other Australian ports a similar influx may be expected. No doubt some vessels will go direct to the West Coast, but the difficulty of effecting insurances, will deter mo-t owners from such a course. The rush may be considered as only commenced. It is to be hoped that the results will justify this great excitement. There is no doubt, a large extent of auriferous country,

which will now be folly examined by experienced miners, and no doubt large products will be obtliaed; but, on the other hand, there will be great hardships to be endured, the country being possibly the roughest in the world, covered with timber, and a dense undergrowth of shrubs and creepers, while the ground, even on the hills, is in many places wet and spongy. In Christchurch the public houses are crowded with men, who at night contentedly roll up in their blankets and sleep on the floor. The same journal says : Immense excitement was caused at Kaiapoi, at one o'clock to-day by the leturn of Brace's four-horse coach loaded with diggers. From what we could learn, it appears that on the arrival of the various conveyances at the river Ashley, it was found to be so high in consequence of the late heavy rains, that great caution would be needed in crossing it; however, the men determined to make the trial, and we regret to add that the ferry-boat in use at this place, in making the attempt was upset, and all the passengers precipitated into the stream. Three men were nearly drowned—in fact, it was solely owing to the strenuous exertions made by their companions that they were saved. As it was, the poor fellows lost their swags, perhaps their all. The rest of the men, seeing that all attempts at crossing to-day would be useless, took immediate possession of every available shelter in the neighborhood; and stables out-houses, barns, &&, situate between Kaiapoi and the Ashley, including Woodend, were immediately besieged by the houseless wanderers-

The 'Lyttelton Times' says ia its summary:— We have had an opportunity of obtaining private and reliable information. The river?, portions of which have been found auriferous, flow at intervals of from three to eight miles, for some forty mi.es along the coast, southward from the Grey. Every river and stream seems to possess gold; but that which is found close down to the beach is invariably fine, and the real diggings commence a few miles up. There may be from 2,000 to 3,000 men now on the field altogether, and the largest gatheing, at the time of our latest news, was on the Waimea or Six-mile Creek, which falls into the ocean between the rivers Teremakau and Arahura. Parties are spread all about, and it is hard to say to what particular quarter the diggings will belong. On the Arahura and Okitiki, and thence to the Totara, parties are vigilantly prospecting amongst the main hills whence the rivers issue. Last week three new rushes were reported.

Then we find that the gold is trending inland towards us, and that wages are not so high as reported:—

As the various rivers are ascended, the size and vield of gold increases; but the access to the upper part of the rivers has been the difficulty. Almost every river on the coast is gorge-bound at a few miles inland; that is, it descends from the higher ground—which may almost be called a table land—to the lower terraces which border the coast, by an abrupt descent. The gorges are for the most part narrow, steep and deep ; and prospecting is exceedingly difficult, while packing up them is almost impossible. That gold exists in the upper country is a well-known fact, and many eflorts have been made to get at it effectually. The richness of the diggings is a matter of comparison. The information which we have received goes to show that, while they are not so rich as Gabriel's Gully in its first days, they are, nevertheless, almost equally profitable. The reason is that they are so easily worked. The bottom is shallow, the whole topsoil, as a rule, is washdirt, and the operation is easy and very remunerative. Though not so much will be found to the dish as in many rich fields in Otago, it is more easily got at, and therefore, on some claims as good a week's work can be made. The fact is beyond question, that some make a pound weight of gold in the week to the single share. Three ounces a day are known to have been averaged by a few for the last month; and one our.ee is a not uncommon day's work, although the average may be taken as half an ounce. Twelve pounds a week has been paid as wages, but the price now is lower, and may be called a pound a day, wet or dry; and when the rush overland makes itself felt—especially if many arrive without means of immediately setting to Work on their own account—the rate of wages will be lower still, as a matter of course.

The prospects held out are rather precarious, as this experienced writer says:—

From what we have said of the field, it follows that the diggings which are opened up will quickly be worked out as soon as they are found. Some of the large claims allowed hitherto may give six months' work; but, in general, the labor is so light that all the gold can be removed from an ordinary claim in a comparatively short time. On the other hand, the country is extensive, and requires rather laborious prospecting. Every reason exists to believe that the region between the snowy range and the ocean is auriferous for a long distance down the coast, and that many of the watercourses will afford profitable employment On this account a large population may be maintained for a considerable time; and, considering the way the tributaries are turning out, it may be conjectured that 6000 miners would not overdo the field. Some stock had arrived from Canterbury, both sheep and cattle. Meat was Is 2d to Is 6d per lb, and flour was Is; but this last article was sure to go up.

The following is a portion of a debate in the Southland Provincial Council, regarding trie placing a few hundred pounds upon the Estimates to make the road passable to the Mataura diggings :—" Mr M'Nab—But you may have it. Mr Stuart—Well, it can he put down under contingencies head; but I can assure you there will not be a surplus—there cannot be. He we went on to say that since he went into office he had endeavored to make the income meet the expenditure. He had now substituted order where before there was none. It was a Chinese puzzle to him for some time, but he expected to manage it by-and-bye, by reducing the staff of officials, and the salaries of those employed. He wished they were all Scotchmen like himself then there would be economy. (Laughter.) Whenever there was a surplus he assured the House those roads would receive the first and most careful consideration. He opposed the notion, and repeated the hope that he would not be misunderstood in his motives for doing so."