THE GREY.

West Coast Times, Issue 202, 12 May 1866, Page 2

THE GREY.

[rilOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] April 17th. Two only of the bodies of the unfortunate victims of the recent accident- >pn the river have been recovered, viz : those of Mr Gregory and the boatman Williams. The inquest was held on Saturday, t»nd a verdict m accordance with the facts already reported was returned. The Jury 'fodded a " rider" censuring the Government for not having removed the snags, and urging that their removal should at once be accomplished. Both hodies were found a considerable distance t^p the north BSich ; in each case the action of the surnjtiad almost entirely destroyed the clothin&glhe body of Williams being quite, deivaped, except of a belt and shoes. Mr Grjdg^ry had a large sum of money on his ]raeson when he started, as he bought gold fopone of the Banks. I hear that he had above £600 on Kirn, but not a vestige 6f his clothing has been recovered except the trowsers. It is supposed that the remaining two bodies will be found still more to the northward, as for some days there has been a heavy northerly current running. The day following the boat accident^ the body of a storekeeper, named Coady, was found in tho river near the Little Grey, and 'it is supposed the deceased ' had perished whilst attempting to ford some creek or stream in the neighborhood. I am glad to be able to state that one result of the rush to the Little Grey has been tho resuscitation of many of tho old and partially deserted diggings up the . Grey, and that a great revival has commenced generally on the up-river diggings. The various fields in question had lost their population, not through any falling off in their productiveness, but owing to the temptations held out by the numerous ' new rushes that have unsettled tho diggers, and induced them to give up good and fairly payable ground for the chance of making a pile elsewhere. The diggers at Duffers' Gully, Noble's Gully, Ahaura, and Maori Gully (Arnold), have commenced a series of permanent ' work for systematic mining, that being now accepted as the only means by which ' the resources of the district can be thoroughly developed. Some of the races that have been constructed by the miners , are monuments, of skill and enterprise, and , it is satisfactory to be able to state that in every instance they have been well rewarded. From what observations I have been able to make, I should think that the West Coast affords as fine a field for , sluicing operations as the most favored parts of Otago. Auriferous ground is , found in so many places, and under so many various conditions, as to lead to the opinion that the whole district is goldbearing. There is this difference, however, between the formation here and in Otago : — In the latter process, the auriferous drift owes, in many cases, to surface agents the disintegration of the gold-bear-ing rocks by atmospheric agency, and the ultimate assortment of the debris by similar means. Here, however, it is quito evident that water has been the agent employed, for the auriferous strata is nearly always assorted sand and shingly, intermixed with boulders, as iri a river bod or beach. Marine shells are not uncommonly met with, and other evidences exist of aqueous action. The fine gold on the beach doubtless owes its origin to the deposit brought down the rivers in violent floods, and cast up by the waves; whose continual action, grinding and pulverising the auriferous particles, has reduced the gold to its fine and almost impalpable state. I have several times examined with some care, the terraces above the beach line, and I am convinced that they have been formerly tide-marks, which the gradual upheaval of the land, which geologists tell us is going on in New Zealand, has elevated to their present position. One evidence in favor of my theory of the origin of the beach gold, is that the rich sand is found invariably near the mouths of rivers, or in depressions in the land, which have probably been river-beds at some former time. The lead or rim of -gold on the beach terraces north of the Grey,' has been found to strike transversely right across the summit of the ridge, and will probably be traced further inland. Some excellent claims have recently been opened up on these terraces, and several parties are engaged in bringing water for sluicing. The beach claims proper, are being gradually "worked out," as thephrase goes ; but in reality are only being abandoned by those whom nothing but large returns will satisfy. I know of several instances in which men are profitably working old ground, that was snpposed to be worked out ; and I have no doubt that at some day not far distant it will be found to pay public companies to take up large areas of the beach, and re-work it on a systematic plan. Garotting appears to be becoming the fashion. On Saturday night a miner was set upon by two men at 11 o'clock, in Boundary-street, and quite near a busy part of the town, and they robbed him of a gold watch and some £30 in money. The watch was a presentation one, and bore the owners name and an inscription on the back. Generally speaking, however, the • Grey district has been free from serious crime for a considerable period— thanks to the vigilance of Mr Inspector James and his men* I am sorry I cannot report any amendment id business. The fact is patent — there are too many traders for anything like a majority to do well. It is a puzzle to me how very many of the publicans manage to make a living. Many don't, and we now and then hear of some quiet ♦'skedaddling" taking place. Still the legitimate trade of the port is sound and healthy, the only drawback being, as I have said before, that there are too many competitors. The schooner Seabird is now ready for launching, and advantage will be taken the ' high tides to get her off seawards, iv the case of the Falcon.

April 20th. A most lamentable occurrence took place yesterday afternoon, by which a woman named Harvey losther life. The circumstances areasfollows : — A'loaded dray and team left the Teremakau in the direction of the Grey, the woman, with a young child, being seated in the dray, and her husband walking alongside. The driver, anxious to spare his horses, kept the dray as near the surf as he considered prudeut, in order to take advantage of the firmer ground ; but owing to the 'heavy southerly swell, and tho high tide, the surf wqs unusually

h°avy, and whilst proceeding on its way, the cart was suddenly overwhelmed by n wave and capsized. The woman was washed away, and all attempts to rescue her were fruitless. Singularly, the child escaped. The police have since diligently searched for the body of the woman, but up to this evening have not been successful. I may also mention that the bodies of two of the victims of .the late disaster on the river, are still unrccovered. In mining matters I have little change to report. There has been a steady accession to the population during the past few days— chiefly returned diggers from Okarita and Bruce Bay. It is reported that some further discoveries have been made at Nelson's Creek, and that a small rush has taken place to the Twelve Mile neighborhood. There have been several small rushes to the terraces on the North Beach, where the miners continue to get large yields. No gold was shipped to-day by the Claud Hamilton, as the Banks prefer to ship direct to Sydney or Melbourne, without transhipping at Nelson. About 7000oz. are waiting shipment here ; and the next steamer will take from 10,000 ox. to 12,0000z. I learn that there is a probability of the extensive seam of coal, oh the Nelson side of the Qrey, being worked on a large scale. A second company is on the tmis, the objects of which are to work that part of the seam lower down the river than the old mine, and to supply gas to Greymouth. It is proposed to construct a tramway along tne Canterbury side of the river, from opposite the mine to the wharf here. The coal will be sent across the river in waggons, which will be lifted up by cranes, and placed on the tramroad, and thence despatched to the place of shipment. The promoters have obtained a lease of 165 acres of the coalfield, and are sanguine of success. Considerable public interest has been excited on the subject, and it is expected the Company, if properly brought out, will receive large support. It is of vast importance to the permanent prosperity of this district that its rich mineral resources should be developed, for the time may come when the Grey will be dependent as much on its coal trade as its gold mining. At present, the clumsy and tedious manner in which the coal is won and conveyed to port, keeps it at a price that will not induce vessels to seek it as a cargo. The projectors of the new company expect to be able to supply coal at Newcastle prices. If they succeed in doing this, there can be little doubt that a large trade will be created, that will materially influence for gcod the whole of Westlund. The steamer Nelson has now completed the repairs of her machinery, and to-mor-row makes a trial trip in the river, after which she proceeds to Nelson. The Sea Bird has not yet been launched, owing to the heavy surf that has prevailed. The ketch Mary Jane had a narrow escape this afternoon, whilst coming in from sea in tow of the Woodpecker. When in the worst part of the surf, the hawser snapped, and it appeared as if nothing could save the little craft ; but by a skilful handling of his sails, the captain got her head round, and managed to hold his own until the steamer got another line attached, and brought her charge safely in. The Leotard troupe aro drawing good houses. To-morrow a new sensation is to be provided,— Mr E. Leotard having undertaken to cross the Grey in a washing tub, drawn by four geese (wind and wea ther emitting, cautiously says the announcement). I fear the adventurous gymnast will find the water too much for him and his geese.