WEST COAST.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 229, 16 March 1866, Page 4 (Supplement)

WEST COAST.

The correspondent of the Lyttelton Thnes writing from Hokitika, under the date Pebruan L9th, says, " I will commence this letter as, if . remember rightly, I did my last, namely — with a few sentences about Okarita and the south. Tht. rumoured rich ground has been proved a myth, uothing having been found inland worth speaking of, if we except a small terrace a short distance to the rear of the township, which promises to iieep a limited number of miners at work for a jionth or two. I have heard it on pretty goon authority that one prospect obtained in this ..ocali ty was very good," as much as from one to lwo penny-weights having been washed to the shovel-full. This may or may not be an exaggeration, but whether or no, the terrace ground auv< opened has nothing wliatever to uo wiili tlio .•eported inland discoveries of a fortnight back. Of these last nothing has since been heard. Tho terraces extend some distance along the beach, and about fifty or a hundred yards distance from the line of the old claims. It seems not improbable that further prospecting may lead to the opening up of a much larger extent of ground. Meanwhile people here snap up with great avidity the least scrap of information from the south, and in too many instances the story often passing through several hands assumes an importance to which it is by no means entitled." The Otago Provincial Government Gazette of Wednesday contains new rules and regulations to be in force only at " Blacks, No. 3," being part of the Dunstan Goldfield. In substance they are as follow : — '' Each holder of a miner's right may hold a claim extending thirty feet along the course of the lead, by a width not exceeding one hundred and fifty feet. A block claim to consist of not more than four single claims, and shall measure one hundred and twenty feet along the course of the lead by one hundred and fifty feet wide. Not more than three block claims are allowed to amalgamate, and when such amalgamation has been sanctioned, it is required that a notice shall be posted and maintained on a conspicuous part of each block claim, containing the names of the shareholders, the number and date of their miners' rights, and the number of the certificate of registration. Claimholders desiring to amalgamate must post a notice to that effect on each block claim, and obtain the written sanction of the majority of the claim holders. The Warden is then directed to issue to the applicants a certificate of registration. The party last striking payable wash dirt in their claim, shall immediately hoist a flag, i ndicating the p sition of the gutter. As soon as payable wash dirt has been struck in any claim, the next three parties ahead shall proceed to sink within three clear days afterwards, or their claims are liable to be declared forfeited. The remaining clauses provide for registration, fees to the Mining Registrar. Survey of block claims, and that all claims registered on the lead shall be represented by actual shareholders, or their hired substitutes. These regulations are not to apply to any portion of the lead, when the sinking is less than sixty feet.