WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 55, 8 May 1866, Page 2

WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS

OKARITA. To judge by the following paragraph, we should imagine that serious doubts are entertained of the safety of the Okarita Township. A Maori tradition backed by a bucket or two of salt water, has induced our Okarita contemporary to pen the following : — " It is confidently asserted hy the Maoris that where the Strand now is, and indeed the ground on which nearly all the houses in Okarita are built, was quite recently covered with water, and some of their people go so far as to say, that in their memory on these spots it has been deep enough to float a vessel. Many people suppose that the north spit will wash away completely, if a south-wester blows for some days, and a fresh in the river occurs at the same time. The tide of last Sunday was almost enough to induce belief in the ultimate submersion of the town, for it rose to an alarming extent, and one huge wave even found its way into Palmerston-street. The sea broke completely over the north spit, and washed any quantity of sand away from the other side. Though by no means, expecting that Maori predictions will be verified, we do hope that some change will soon take place, whereby their prophecies will have less chance of fulfilment." Most disastrous results seem to have attended the late heavy gales and sea in the Okarita district. Our southern contemporary informs us that at the Five-mile the late high tides have done a vast amount of mischief. The beach is completely levelled from the Three to the Five-mile, and the claims at the northern end may be said to be obliterated. The whole of them were washed into one. the paddocks were filled up, and heaps of washdirt, which their owners had calculated on obtaining hundreds of ounces from, have been lost. — Dispatch, May 3.