THE GREY GOLDFIELDS.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 42, 8 December 1864, Page 3

THE GREY GOLDFIELDS.

A correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times," writing from Totara River, West Coast, says : —

At the present time there is no inducement for any man to leave remunerative employment to come here. The fact of all the goods being landed on the Grey, and having a long, expensive land carriage will ronder comparatively worthless any discoveries that may take place further south. The bars at the mouths of the Teremakau, the J-lokitika, and the Wanganui, so constantly shifting, precludes the idea of ports being made available to the south. The only plan that could be adopted would be to let a vessel lay at anchor some distance from the shore, and use surf boats for the purpose of landing cargo, as at Oamaru.

You will have heard from other sources of the accident that occurred at the first crossing of the Teremakau after leaving the plain at Like Brunner. Three men were drowned out of the party that attempted to cioss the river. Were the track made more plain over the terrace that Mr Drake cut, tbe lower fords would be avoided, and people could travel with a greater amount of safety, '''his portion of the road is tbe worst in the river, and requiies only the outlay of a small mini to render it safe It will be also a great blessing when the piece of road some miles in length around the Lake is also completed.

The schooner Mary was chattered in Nelson to land goods at the Teremakau. After a long passage she aritvod off tbe Oicy, and without even attempting to land at the Teicmakau, tiled, like the G) psy, to erosy the bar of the Grey at low water. The vessel got aground, ami the master and men, it appears, abandoned her. Some men on shore, observing the vessel to be abandoned, went on board, ami when the tide began to flow, managed to get her off and brought her in, in safety, v, hen the master of the vessel came again on 1 oai'il and took possesion of her. At the picscnt time I hear they are busy discharging her. It is a singular all'.ur altogether, and weais ad only aspect. The nvn who succeeded in getting her off claim LSO salvage money, which claim, 1 hear, is di-puted. 1 low a vessel charteied for the Teremakau should enter the Grey "without c\en trying the place for which she was chaitered, is a thing I do not understand, not being conversant with nautical affairs. I heai the vessel was insured as well as c.ugo.

We have had very bad weather heie lately— rain almo«t every day It promises, however, now to change for the better.

Finally, the prospects here are slightly itnpioved, and only slightly There is nothing found heie to warrant a rush, and all the repoits that may have readied you b\ the last steamer as to the lielnics-. of tins new goldfield aie as absurd as untiue. toiekeepeis will be far better paid than miners.