THE GREY.

West Coast Times, Issue 71, 16 November 1865, Page 2

THE GREY.

(fcEdll OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Greymouth, Nov. 12.

There has been another rush to the" north of the Grey, some good finds' having been reported in that locality^ and I calculate that about three to four hundred persons crossed the river on Thursday and Friday to proceed to tliese diggings. The formation of the 1 ground to the ndrth is similar to that on the south side of the Grey, Save that theplaces now being worked, are situate" abdut half a mile inland from the sea. Beach: Owing to the large accunmtation ot debris, consisting of stumps* toots, &c, thrown" up by the action of the waves* and the large quantity of -vegetable matter; there is more, difficulty in getting at the gold which is here generally found in deeper sinkings than is the case on the diggings situate on the beach be-* tween the Grey ltiver and Saltwater 1 Creek. •

A rush, which promises to turn out first rate if at all equalling the report of the prospector, about thirty miles from the Greymouth, has taken place. The exact position or whereabouts is not known, only that it is about 20 miles above the Arnold ; but I will report further. One of the boatmen resident on the Grey, received information from his mate up there that they were clearing, per man, from LI 8 to L2O per week, and advising him that they were working on an extensive fiat where plenty of ground could be had, and in every hole they had sunk the colour of gold was to be had. The Arnold continues first rate. Accounts from the Twelve-mile, Maori Gully, Red Jack's, Noble's, and the districts outlying continue also very encouraging.

The news from this side the Teremakau is very good, and a party from that place states that, though he cannot complain, he is almost envious of the claim next but one to his own, where they are doing a stroke. There is a large extent of auriferous ground in this district, but on account of the fineness of the gold obtained, it is very requisite to iave the proper appliances, which, so far as I can at present ascertain, consist of a large sized cradle furnished wi.b. a copper plate, kept perfectly clean -with nitiic acid, and coated with mercury which catches all the gold. Mercury is fetching at present 18s per lb. and copper-plates are not obtainable. However, a short time will no doubt remedy that difficulty, and we shall get in a supply. This goldfield is situated on, and near the old Canterbury track, which runs near the sea beach' up to the Greenstone, and which I understand was always thought to be auriferous. If such is the case the sooner we get a network of roads made to the interior, the better, as an extent of auriferous country would be thereby opened up, capable of supporting not thousands but hundreds of thousands.

One great feature of this part of the West Coast is the amount of coal of splendid quality that is to be obtained in the vicinity of the Grey, both on the Canterbury and Nelson sides of the river. This must always be a great advantage partly as an article of export, then of consumption for the inhabitants, and also a great accommodation to the different steamers, or other vessels, trading to or calling at our port. During the week ' a meeting of the residents at Greymouth was called, and held, at Blakemore's Hotel, for the purpose of forming an Improvement Committee which is sadly needed, and the movement was highly successful so far. Mr. Garven occupied the chair, and. Mr. Payne acted as secretary. The first proceeding of the meeting was, to select eight gentlemen, to form a hospital committee, which is to be done without delay, and about which I will report further as early as possible. There is a strong feeling of the necessity that exists for a place of refuge for sickness, both for rich and poor, where when sick they may receive the attentidri not to be obtained in a crowded hotel xior yet in the more humble tent. | It was decidedly the determination of the meeting to. get from the Government all they could by any means, in order to fender any place that m&y be erected as commodious as possible, and not to allow the movement to be retarded by waiting for assistance, but to proceed to business forthwith. For the Improvement Committee twelve gentlemen were elected, six for the Maori township, and six for the Government township. The six elected for the former consisted of Messrs. Garven, Dr. Toppely, M'Lean, Davis; M'Farlan, and Kilgour; andihe six for the Government township, of Messrs. M'Farlan (of Alcorn and Co.), Macfarland, Hamilton, Payne, Scott, and Badger. There is no doubt ample room for a display of energy in getting many improvements at once made, and in bringing forward abuses which at present exist, and require redress ; and I think from the style of gentlemen! elected, and the ready willingness with which they have taken up office, they are prepared to shew what can be done in changing the appearance of Greymouth, and in making the improvements requisite inthe township. For about a week past we had a number of vessels cruising about outside the harbor, and waiting for a favorable wind to assist them in entering the port. On Tuesday last a more accommodating breeze than had been previously experienced set in } and the several vessels gathered together ready for the, ball to shew the signal for a start. Previous to high water the wind, though slight, came from the right quarter, and the different sails and

pheets requisite were brought into uso. In duo time,, however, the signal was given, and off they all went, doming over the bar in really splendid style, without a fear or chance of misfortune. First came the Travellers Bride, closely followed by the Miranda 5 While the s.s. Star of the Evening came inside the bar and glided rapidly up the river to the wharf on the Cobden side to take in coal. There were also entering the river about the same time — tho Kiwi, from Hokianga, with 100 pigs; the Pioneer with general cargo and plant for a paper, the first issue of which will appear here on Wednesday next ; the City of Nelson, from Nelson, with timber and stores for Cobden ; tho Bonnie Lass, for Cobden ; the Mary Jane, from Dunedin, 'with general cargo ; and the Northern Light, from Melbourne.

It was really a beautiful and interesting sight to witness tho arrival of such a fleet of vessels entering our port and crossing the much misrepresented bar of the Grey in such a comfortable and easy manner. The p. 8. Lioness, which had taken its departure from this port for Hokitika, Returned in about nn hour and a half, Winging in with her a prize, namely, the Alliance from Auckland, containing timber, which vessel she safely deposited Sn the still waters of the Grey. Being fully two hours after high water, and the Alliance being heavily laden and drawing over 11 feet of water, shows the present state of our bar. A good speculation for this port would be a vessel similar to the Lioness, with a captain having the same eye to business as the one exhibited in the above affair.