WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 76, 2 June 1866, Page 2

WEST COAST GOLD-FIELDS.

By the Kennedy steamer we have Westland files, but they contain very little matter of interest. THE GREY. The Grey River Argus of the 29th instant thus reports a case of attempted highway after the style so much in fashion in. New South Wales. Mr Johnson was on his way to town (from the Little Grey) with 55 ozs. of gold in his possession, when, in a lonely part of the road, he was attacked by two men with masked or blackened faces. A severe struggle ensued, and whilst the robbers had Mr. Johnson on. the ground, face downwards, he contrived to slip the snicall bag of gold into a hole he scratched in the soil. He was ultimately overpowered and searched, and the thieves, . f after taking from him what money ho had, ? tied him to an adjoining tree. After they had bound him they searched about and found the string of the bag projecting from tho

ground, and soon got the bag itself and made off, leaving Mr. Johnson, as they thought, firm and fast. He contrived however to release himself, and at once returned back to the store, and procured assistance. The party, consisting of himself, his partner, and three men; ono of whom is known as the "Novice," set off in search, and after some careful tracking, it being dark at the time, they found the men camping in a gully not far from the scene of the outrage. They were soon captured, bound, and taken prisoner to the store, where they were kept all night. In the morning the gold was found near their camp. The men were then tied and sent down to the Ahaura in charge of one of the captors, bufc on the road they effected their escape, greatly to the disgust of their escort, aud equally so to all who have anything to lose by the depredations of the band of thieves which infests the district.