DR. HECTOR ON THE WEST COAST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 58, 11 March 1867, Page 2

DR. HECTOR ON THE WEST COAST.

The Westport Times gives an account of the result of Dr. Hector's observations on the West Coast. He has visited the Wangapeka and' Batten country, as also Upper Karamea. He then crossed over, followed down the Mohikinui, and then came down to Westport. After this he went to the Pakihi and Fox's, and since his return from these places he has visited the Mohikinui, Mount Rochfort, the Nakawa, the heads of the Lyell creek, and the Papahana Ranges. In the Wangapeka aud the Batten country a few diggers are still at work. It pays them pretty well, although the present places are nearly worked out. There is, however in the district a great deal of country not thoroughly prospected. Up the Karamea and Mokihinui there are, as has been k before stated, a great many deep gorges, and a good deal of slate country; this latter characteristic is found in the Wangapeka and Batten country. The Mohikinui runs through a wild valley, cutting through two distinct granite ranges, with coal formations on the tops of the hills. In the granite there are two bands of slaty rocks, crossing the Mohikinui river, and there three parties of miners are at work. One of these is fourteen miles, and the two others sixteen miles up the river. Thej take up their provisions in canoes, and seem to be satisfied. Apropos of the Mohikinui, it may be well to make known that Dr. Hector found it to be much longer than it is represented on the maps hitherto published, a great portion of it being omitted altogether from those guides. The coal formation extends from the Nakawa to Mount Rochfort, a distance of 16 miles, forming a capping or superficial layer on the tops of the intervening hills, an isolated range running parallel with the coast. There appears to be only one main seam, varying from five to twenty feet in" thickness, all of it splendid coal. Dr. Hector says that he cannot speak too highly of the quality ; if its accessibility was equal it would be almost invaluable. At Nakawa it is easily accessible, but only from a landslip, by which the quality of the coal has deteriorated, though probably not so much as to prevent it being used. There is a probability of coal at a lower level being found between this township and Mount Rochfort, but if so it can only be through a similiar •' fault" or a landslip to tbat at the Nakawa. An enormous coal-field, almost incalculable in extent, is lying at our doors, and possibly the next generation may utilise what the existing generation never will, if we may judge by the past. At Waimangaroa the doctor is- satisfied that the alluvial gold is of local origin, or in other words., that the lode or vein from which it has been detatched is in close proximity to where it is now got. With reference "to the quartz reefs struck already he does not

give any definite opinion, but is convinced that there are auriferous quartz veins in the vicinity, and on the whole, he considers the Waimangaroa as likely a place for an auriferous lode as any he has seen. At the same time, he thinks what are opened already to be only leaders so far as prospected, and not steady decided reefs. The Waimangaroa diggings have no connection with the fine gold leads ofthe coast, the gold being quite distinct in its character. He thinks it quite likely that on the flat open land, a continuation of the Pakihis, between here and Mount Rochfort, fine gold leads exist. He comes to this conclusion chiefly because the Orawaite, where gold has been got, proves to be the original mouth of the Buller, and the old bed runs right into the former river. This has been the case quite in modern times, as there is abundant evidence to prove. These golden flats extend from the beach to the terraces, and the latter are likely to be profitable, though no rule could be laid down for finding how the leads are situated, as the gold bas probably been sorted and sifted many times before it has been finally laid at rest. Dr. Hector has also a very good opinion of the auriferous nature of the ground at the back of Waite's station and round the Bald Hill. He was much pleased with appearance of the Pakihi, and is of opinion that the diggings are situated in an old valley the west side of which has been destroyed by sea, and that the fine gold at both places is obtained from the rewash of a patch of older gold drifts and is not, as some suppose, cast up by the direct action of the sea. Gold is got at the Pakihi from the sea level to a height of 450 feet above. As to the extension of the Pakihi northward he would not express an opinion, as a limestone rnnge runs out towards Cape Foulwind from behind Fox's, and it has not been determined what effect that might have in cutting off the gold. ' At the same time, he believed that the country between Pakihi and Fox's would prove a continuous gold-field. Coal can be traced from the Totara Creek to Fox's.