MINING NEWS. PROSPECTING ON THE WEST COAST. AN INTERESTING STORY. Invercargill, September 21.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 302, 26 September 1888, Page 4

MINING NEWS. PROSPECTING ON THE WEST COAST. AN INTERESTING STORY. Invercargill, September 21.

Captain Henning, of the cutter which has returned from a prospecting tour on the West Coast, extending over a period of nearly two years, states that the party landed at Martin's Bay. The captain put in about six months here, working in a small creek about three miles from the mouth of the Hollyford River. He and his mates afterwards joined Mr Pauling, and the three were engaged for over four months in prospecting. Their intention was fco go to the head waters of the Arawata, but the weather was so bad that they had to stop at the Cascade River on the side of the ranges. The country was very rough, and in many places the travellers had to cut their way through the bush. Both gold and nickel were found in difforent places between Big Bay and the- Cascade, but in no case in payable quantities. Other minerals, including asbestos, were also found. In fact, to quote the Captain, " a little of everything." Captain Henning i.'ives great crodit to Mr Pauling for the determination shown in sticking to the work of prospecting, but he is not sanguine as to tho results. His summing up of the situation is that a man may mako " tucker" by working in the locality of Big Bay or Martin's Bay, but the returns are so small that he would not be able to spend much time in prospecting new ground. There are now nine or ten men working at Big Bay. One party has got a tail race into the foot of the terrace in the hopes that they will strike something good. It has now been carried a distance of about 8 chains, and was, in tho first instance, started by Mr Pauling, and Mr West Graham and party are evidently determinod to leave no stone unturned in proving the nature of the country and arc doing a lot of hard work with that object — much more indeed than private enterprise should bo called upon to bear. It might be thought that the Mines Dopar tment would see its way to assist such undertakings to a moderate extent, but nothing of tho kind is thought of. One heavy item of expense is conveyance of provisions from Dunedin, and if the Depai trnent could be induced to make a conces sion in that direction it would be a gieat encouragement, and cause a good deal moic to be done in tho way of prospecting. A PARADISE FOR THE SPORTSMAN Although not deeply impressed with the West Coast as a gold-bearing locality, Captain Ilenning says it is a veritable paradise for the sportsman. Ducks, pigeons, kakapos, kakas, and kiwis are in abun. dance.

A SEA TREE. As to the scenery, Captain Henning is quite enthusiastic, and declares that a trip by a sailing vessol in summer is one of the most enjoyable things imaginable. All the Sounds can be taken on the way, and if time is not an object, the journey may be broken at most interesting points. There is, in short, a freedom and ease about the affair that constitutes one of the greatest charms of a holiday exem-sion. While in the Sounds, the party caught a number of birds, and afterwards cured and studied them. They form quite a museum — one that would not have been out of place at Melbourne Exhibition. Among the curios obtained is a "sea tree." It is about 4 feet 6 inches in length, and was obtained in about 18 fathoms of water in a break of the sea in the Sounds. The " find " was purely accidental, the tree being bi ought up with an anchor. It has roots, branches, and every other attribute of land timber save that the leaves are of the colour of sea-weed. The wood is very hard, and takes a fine polish. Specimens of the tree have been found before, but not very frequently.