THE NORTHERN BEACHES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 9, 11 January 1867, Page 2

THE NORTHERN BEACHES.

The Westport Times of the 9th instant publishes an article uuder this head. It says Dr. Hector has made a geographical survey, following the coast line from Collingwood to Westport, where he has just arrived : — Respecting existing diggings, it appears that no gold has ever been got north of the Karamea till reaching the Patarau, where a few miners at one time worked with some success. From Collingwood he thinks thafc auriferous rocks extend to the S.S.W., through the head of the Aorere and Anatoki, in the direction of the upper Karamea, and on to the Lyall. On the Golden Downs, up the Heaphy, on the Slate and Rocky rivers, the Wangauui, the Wangapeka, and the Matiri, gold has already been got. From the Buller northward the goldbearing rocks are more or less completely cut off from the > coast by ranges, nonauriferous mountains composed of granite and sandstone, which are steep and almost inaccessible. The^Karamea and Mokihinui rivers break through these ranges by gorges, and here the vast difficulties that attend mining adventure begin. Ifc is impossible to clamber along the sides of these places with heavy loads, and the current : is so terrific thafc canoes have no chance of

getting through under the most favorable circumstances. Although unquestionably auriferous country is beyond, it is, for the above reason, unusually difficult of access from the westward, aud it is from mining parties being unable to penetrate the rivers high enough, Dr. Hector considers that so many unprofitable expeditions have beeu occasioned. As a possible access to this country, it may be mentioned that there is a pass from the upper Mokihiuui to the Matiri, and a pass is supposed to exist between the upper Mokihinui and the Lyall. On the present beach of the Karamea theie are but few indications of its being very payable, and, in fact, all the beach diggings in that part of the country hold only gold that has been first washed down through the gorges above-mentioned and theu cast up by the sea. If there is gold on the Karamea Flat he considers it will be got behind the big lagoon. He speaks highly of the coal resources of Mount Rochfort, Mokihinui, and the Nakawa but his examination of this district has been a very cursory one so far, though, completed, it cannot fail to be productive of the best results, aud to afford reliable information of the highest value to the miners on the coast. In reference lo the road northward, as so many are now going in this direction, it is not out of the place to give some few particulars which, obtained from such a source, may be relied on. From here to Mokihinui is seven hours good walking, and it should be traversed as far as possible at low water, as there is then good firm sand. At high water the track is without rocks, but over shingle, and consequently harder walking. Prom Mokihinui northwards the beach is rugged, and there are two spurs to be gone over. One of these is 1000 feet high and very steep, and bad ou both sides. Afc Otahu creek, two miles south of the Wanganui, there is good camping ground, at the north side of this steep hill. From the Wauganui to the Karamea it is all sandy beach, but there is a large lagoon that must be crossed at low water, about three miles before reaching the main river. At the latter place there is a house built by the Government on an island, which is going tobo, if it is not already, occupied as a store . and ferry-house. Up the Karamea parties cau readily penetrate some eight miles, an amply sufficient distance to allow all the low-lying land to be prospected. Dr. Hector estimates the time to go from Mokihinui to the Wanganui to be five hours hard walking ; from the latter to the Karamea, two and a half or three hours. North again there is a sandy beach to the Kohaihai ; but in this district there is a saltwater creek, which must be crossed at dead low water. The distance from the Karamea to the Kohaihai is seven miles, and the latter river can be crossed within two hours of low water. A steep hill for the first mile, and a rocky beach for the remainder, brings the traveller to the Heaphy, ten miles. At the Heaphy a good track turns up into the interior, crossing the river nine times, and rising 3000 feet to cross the Golden Downs. The Slate River can be made- in three days from the West Coast, if the weather be favorable. From the Heaphy northward the coast is very rugged, and absolutely dangerous, a portion of it being almost impracticable, over granite boulders. FromAwaruto to Cape Farewell, limestone bluffs and satidy bays again prevail, most of the streams rising in granite till the Paterau is reached. As already mentioned, there were diggings here about a' year ago," but of -.limited extent, being the- only place where gold has been found west cf Walpmarama Ranges. ! As au impression has prevailed that stores are obtainable in West Wauganui, ifc is well for this to be dispelled at once. There is no store there whatever, and when the men employed by the, company come to get out coals they merely bring provisions for themselves, carrying their supplies from Collingwood. The Maoris in the district are wholly without food, pending the digging of their potatoes, excepting shell fish, which are, however, abundant, and easily procured, crayfish, oysters, cockles, and mussels being found in quantity. \ A prospecting party recently started on tour from Collingwood, for the sources of the Aorere, but have not siuce been heard of, and nothing is known as to their suecess or otherwise. In conclusion we may add, Dr, Hectorfs

impression is that where the coast ranges can be passed coarse gold will be got, bufc to do so is difficult if not impossible by any but properly equipped parties. The gold seems to have its matrix in a strip of slate rock trending S.S.W. from Collingwood, and probably continued in a line passing through the upper Karamea, Mokihinui, and bending a little to the S.W. through the district drained by the Lyall and Inangahua Rivers. From the above we may conclude that, while there is every probability of gold existing in paying quantity towards the sources of the streams that drain the north-western district of this province, miners must be prepared to encounter much greater difficulties and hardships for its extraction than they have yet experienced on other parts of the West Coast of New Zealand.