LATEST FROM THE WEST COAST.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 21 June 1864, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE WEST COAST.

DISCOVERY OE NEW GOLD COUNTRY.

FRIGHTFUL SUFFERING. MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH*. (From the Wakatip Mail.) About sixteen weeks ago a party of very enterprising aud intelligent miners, consisting of Messrs. A. J. Barington, -Tames Fund, and Antoino Lemoner — two of whom nre Frenchmen — started out on an exploring expedition in the directionof the West Coast. Xo tidings liaving been received from these men, it was presumed that they had made for the Canterbury Province, or had else fallen victims to their daring enterprise. Many of our readers may remember that about the period we have named some excitement prevailed at the head of the Lake about an alleged discovery of gold up the Rees Hiver, and the departure of a party who had come in and obtained some provisions. It may also be remembered that, vague rumours were current, and that we promised at tho time to give the earliest information we could obtain. Nearly four months have elapsed since then, and we now redeem our promise. It is a sad tale of suffering, and yet a noble example of energy, endurance, and self-reliance. From tho few facts placed in our possession, we are not able- to do more at present than give the outlines of an expedition that, in hardship and sulfering, exceeds almost any other recorded account.' The first information of the return of the party was made known through the I'olico Department, and we nre indebted to Mr. Inspector Percy for his promptitude in ouabling us to allay tho anxiety, tliat lias so long been felt concerning these men. The following is a copy of the report addressed to that gentlemen by the police ollicer stationed up the Lake : — j "Constable Winter begs to report, for tho in- ■ formation of his commanding ollicer, that the j three prospectors whose names appear on the I margin, arrived at this Ftution this evening at i o.^o. after an absence of over throe months. Thoy j I aro very much reduced iv flesh; in far i, i heir j I appearance is tbat of living skeletons, covered with j I skin. They are entertained at this y-ifion at the [ expense of Mr. Reid, the overseer, ami as soon as ; they nre in a. aullicicnt state of convalescence to talk, the constable wil! forward another report. "Head ofthe Lake Police Station, "Night of llth Tune, ISr,!," Tliis report arrived in Queenstown yesterday morning, and we immediately set about ascerj taining fuller particulars. We can only find one ! gentleman in Mr. Pees' employ, Mr. Bell, who J I knows anything of them, aud who has held ! j miy conversation with them, lie says the men j were so thoroughly exhausted that, they found it . a great exertion to speak, and that the c-ommuni- | cations they made wero very brief. Mr. Roll ! remembers ' the time they started away on foot, | carrying about fifty pounds of tlour aud a small I supply of salt and sugar. They burdened them- | selves more with tools, implements, ite.. than with provisions, depending upon their dogs and guns for the support of hfe. They state tliat they have explored the whole of ihe tract of country marked on the maps '' unknown," a portion of which Is in this Province, and a portion in tliat of ''Canterbury. They reached Jackson's Bay, and then set back on their homeward journey. The country is generally well timbered, and the. pine and rutti trees are often five-and-twentv feet in diameter. They found gold in payable quantities in several places- -tho furthest, about thirty miles inland from Jackson's Hay ; and at- this spot the)' are confident a payable goldfield exists. They furthor declare that the belt of country between this place and that winch they reached is auriferous nearly throughout. The country, soon after leaving Lake Wakatip, changes. " It becomes less rocky, and tho bills assume the appearance of made hills. Some of them are composed of cement, and tho terraces, which they believe to be auriferous, aro of immense extent. They found innumerable quartz reefs, and gold in several of them. Tliey have some specimens with them. In some of the creeks the gold could bo plainly seen, and every trial proved the existence of gold in them. They were unablo to thoroughly prospect the country, as they desired, having to hunt so much after game, and being very weak. They also found various oilier minerals, and copper in several places. They are satisfied it is as fine a gold country as ever was opened. Tho winter set iv unexpectedly, and they were snowed in thoir tent for nearly threo weeks, and gave up all hopes of reaching the Wakatip alive again. They clirii'tened this place "Linger and Die Lake." They now abandoned their tools, &c., and .made an effort to reach the head of Laio Wakatip, and they were six weeks iv arriving at the place they were rescued from." It was during their return that thoy suffered the unheard-of miseries they endured.. . Wild, dogs followed their course day after day, but always kept put of the reach of their guns, except on one occasion. It seemed as if they were waiting for them to die, before they could muster courage to prey upon them. At one place, whon nearly oxhausted, they came suddenly upon six Kakapo and Kiwi that the wild dogs had killed a minuto or to before. This flat they called " Welcome Flat." During tho homeward journey, Mr. Barrington had to abandon his maps and heavier charts ; and to save the weight, of carrying blankets, made them into cloaks with a hole' through them for their head. Mr. Barrington, before, however, throwing away his maps reduced thera on to a piece of paper, ■which he says is accurate throughout, and he has also succeeded in keeping his journal posted up. Such, in incomplete and broken sentences, is the short' 'history Mr. Bell hits been ablo to extract from these sufferers; Their chief .difficulty, as they say, was hunting* tho gamo ; it took two much of their time. • As soon as they aro recovored, thoy. aro willing to lead the .way. ag-jiin. , In the' mearitiino they intend to' throw themselves upon tlio' generosity "of the ''Otago and Canterbury GovornmeutsY '■'confidents '' that they ■■-have found a rich and new tract of* habitable' country of immense 'extent, possessing lakes, rivers, gold, minerals, . copper, .timber, and last, but not least, agricultural-land. Mr. Bell, who is a friend ofthe party, has seen the map, but he

V not at liberty to name the piace further than he has done, in "which tho. richest : gold' has; beeii discovered. - — ■■■--' - - now Tiirnr .were re^ued., , „ . They -had succeeded in "making- Pigeon Island,a small island about five miles up tho, Dart River. Here they wero discovered by Cap tain' "Elohold, of Mr. Rees"' yacht Pearl, who immediately, returned; to tho head of tho Lake,aud...j»\;o,,.yifo.rina.tiyn, upon which ' Mr. 801 l proceeded in ii boat to their assistance. Thoy had given up all hope, being too weak to swin. the larger branch of tho. river. /Thp r first thing they asked Elcliold was for; a smoke; _ but it made them sick, as did a little bread' aud ' butter they attempted to eat. ■■■ "■-.* ■••.*-■;■ . ■ ■■ .DESORirTtOX OF TEE MSi- * -"AMr. Bell describes thorn as wrecks of humanity. ■ •"■ "No ono, ho says, would, behove, the. human frame could be so reduced. ' Their cheek bones and noses, besidos the ;elbows,,.hipsiahd other bony '* parts, of the body, were protruding; thrOugh tlio ■ skin in places. They aro all skin and bomy andl ; * have no flesh upon them. ; HeYbeliovos thoy have endured far greater hardships than oven Burke and Wills did. He says they .were the pick of -■' tho men of tho Lake whin they left' for thoir ; touiv '; Barrington, ho says, who had tlio best boots, -arid could sometimes keep his'ifoet dry, has suffered tho worst from being frost-bitten, and all tho llcsh _ is eaten froni the top's of liis' locs." "The others', " whoso feet were * teposed to itheYeloinents, ;and? : continually in the snow,, have not suffered, so.. ..- much. A subscription was immediately, set on ' foot amongst tho fow resident's at the head' of the ' , Lake, and°£ls at once collected to relieve tho - necessities of these enterprising nich. ' ■ '