THE WEST COAST.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 17 March 1863, Page 2

THE WEST COAST.

(From the Lyttelton Turns, March i.) As considerable interest is very naturally felt about the gold-bearing district lately discovered near the Tcramakau, we are glad to be in a position to satisfy public curiosity as to the procpedings of the Government in opening up the country. About six weeks ago the Government despatched Mr Drake, an experienced surveyor, with a small party of men, overland, to make a preliminary survey of the Teramakau from its source to the coast, with instructions to go as far south along the coast as he was able, and than to return north to the Grey, and after examining the coal deposits ' on that river, to return lo Christchurch, preparatory to commencing another journey, for the purpose of laying out the necessary roads. ■ Mr Drake his accomplished the greater pa) . t i of his work, as will be seen by the following extract from a letter addressed by him to the Chief Surveyor : — "West Coast, Feb 0. "I commenced surveying from Lake Summer on Monday, January 12th, and left it on the next day, reaching the West Coast on Sunday, Ist Feb. " I measured nearly the whole of the way down the Teramakau, the distance being Co miles from the head of Lake Summer to its mouth. • " I intended to have surveyed up the Hohohonu Creek, where the diggers are, but could not get a, canoe. I then procc-rded south to obtain a sight of the Otomo Mountain and Hohohonu Plains, also to survey the coast, and a large river called Hokitaki, which I have done. There is a good harbor there with from one to three and a half fathoms at low water, high spring tides, with a rise and fall of more than eight feet. I went up the river in a small canoe some four or five miles, the flat land seeming to extend to the foot of the mountain range, some fifty or sixty miles back- The natives also report a grass country. The extent of available land must be great, as it strikes back to the Hohinui, Lake Brunner, and the Grey. " My next operation will be to connect the mouth of the Grey River, surveying its mouth and returning back by Lake Brunner, connecting my work with the Teramakau river, also following down the Hokotonu lliver, or any other natural features between the Grey and the Teramakou. •• I could not go further south for want of provisions, and the time allowed being quite inadequate. An expedition on a proper scale would have to land at the Grey with provisions and the necessary plant."