LATEST FROM THE WEST COAST

Southland Times, Issue 728, 25 September 1867, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE WEST COAST

, NEW GOLD-FIELD AT COLLINGWOOD. ; By the arrival of the Lord Ashley we are placed in possession of latest West : Coast advice. The Nelson " Evening Mail" of the 14th ult. has the following , respecting the discovery of a new goldfield;— '< Intelligence arrived yesterday evening, by the Lady Barldy, that very considerable excitement prevailed at Collingwood, 1 in consequence of the discovery of a goldfield of great richness in that district. It 1 appears that the fact was elicited in the following manner: — -A miner, named 1 Thomas M'Grane, met his death last ' week whilst sinking a shaft at a place known as Doctor's Creek, near Washbourne's Flat, about seven miles from 1 Collingwood, by the earth falling in upon him. An inquest having been held upon 1 the body, and a verdict of ' Accidental 1 Death' returned, it was buried on Tuesday last. Some curiosity however having i been excited by the circumstances of ' M'Grane's death, several persons visited the scene of the accident, and to their ■ surprise found that the ground was ex- > ceedingly rich. The news quickly spread, ' and in two days more than half a mile ■ was taken up of ground, and a large number of miners in the district had given up their old claims, and repaired to the new diggings. The gold is described as being coarse, but found at a depth of 70 1 feet, and of marvellous richness. Already two public-houses and a store have been erected on the ground, and diggers are flocking thither in large numbers. The " Nelson Examiner" of the 19th inst. contains further information on the same subject: — The news of the discovery of rich „ ground near Collingwood, reported by us last week, induced a number of persons to hasten to the spot, bo that i there are now between 300 and 400 • men on the ground, A letter from i Dr Turnell, the "Warden at Collingwood, Ik vtm reived on TiiWMlayi bjptfcs-QttW&«

ment, which gave the following particulars- — "The miners have commenced deep sinking on the terraces in several localities. In one instance a rich lead of gold has been struck at a depth of seventyfive feet, and claims have been taken up for a distance of half-a-mile along the supposed run of the lead. The shaft which is being sunk at Appoo's Mat is expected to disclose a similar deposit of the hidden treasure." Prom a week to a fortnight must elapse before anything conclusive will be known of the extent and value of the new field. ,