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Southland Times, Issue 692, 5 July 1867, Page 3

i Some further interesting information has been supplied by the Surrey Department to the W. C. Times relative to the progress being made in trkek cutting along the coast. The formation of tracks in the Okarita district has been commenced by Hacket's party, who are cutting into the country from a point one mile and a quarter south of the Waiho River. A Government party under Mr Muller, are also cutting from the Fivemile Beach to the Waiho Gorge, and have already completed twelve miles of the distance. A great many prospectors closely follow the trackmen, and reports are current that several patches of payable ground have been hit upon near localities from which good prospects were obtained last year. Mr Saundefs, who was cutting between the Wanganui and Mokonui Rivers, has nearly finished a track round the back of Bold Head, that; will prove an immoase souvenience to ravellers, who. ha ce^ hi herto been c iiupeiliivi to «ku\t that headland" on its seaward side by a way at aU times difficult, and when the tide is in exceedingly ! dangerous to travel. But the most marked progress has-been made by Mr Lord's party,' who : are working the block of country between the iHokitika and Mokonui Eivers. Sixty men are employed upon this contract, which has been carried on with such vigour that already one hundred and six miles of tracks have been completed. This part of the country is being intersected by right lines that map it out in iblocki according to the strict letter of the specifications attached to all the contracts, but which so far is only abided .by in this instance, as in the others ; a departure from it is sanctioned with a I view, of opening up highways for the diggers in those sections of the country that, from their appearance and position, are rightly considered as the most fovorable fields for prospecting re- ' searches. Mr Lord has also cut an outside track ; that . connects the Hokitika River T with I the iHokitika Gorge, and hence runs to Greenlandinear Ross, thus enclosing that great basin of low land asperating the Hokitika River ' from" the Totara Ranges. This basin is very swampy tq wards the sea, but inland contains a stretch ■of low yet well formed country that should^ 'judging from its appearance, be highly auriferoes. \ Gross tracks will , intersect it, to facilitate-, the 1 progress of prospecting, parties. Mr Lord 'is sanguine that, before the expiration of six weeks, I- the term, of his contract will have been fulfilled. ; Messrs Simpson and Son are at present employed in the neighbourhood ' of Sunday Creek, from which they are cutting a line' to the Teremakau, and one. more likely to directly benefit the miner could scarcely have been undertaken, intersecting, as it will, a series of terraces, than which none in •the district present more striking -indications of gold. In the Grey district, Mr Austin is making good headway between &c S^vr&ter diggisgs