MINING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 331, 15 October 1866, Page 6

MINING SUMMARY.

• Our epitome of mining news, published in this summary, embraces apeiiod of six weeks, that time having elapsed since the date of our last issue. It has, we are happy to say, been prolific in events which mark the* steady progress made by the mineis who are settled on the various gold-fields of the district. We use the term " fettled" advisedly, aS there is an uumistakeahty growing des>ire evinced by the wandering tribe to permanently locate themselves upon the different workings which have alieady yielded such splendid returns. Much reason is there for so doing, as the fact Ja notorious, and admitted on all, sides that these workings are not half exhausted, and only require the aid of capita!, and a mo.re scientific system of work to render them almost as reproductive as in their palmiest days. In former summaries, we alluded to the introduction of steam power, which has alieady been attended by the most beneficial results, although not to such an extent as at first was anticipated. This is not so much attributable to the poverty of the ground,as the disappointment that ever attends the indulgence of a too sanguine hope, for which the miners, as "a class, are remarkable, the m»st extravagant estimate being g nerally formed by them df what should be ;he return's from any mining speculation the}' maychance to enter into, Moreover, the few companies which were first formed were hardly worth the name, notwithstanding that each expended a capital which, compared with the aim of the. undertaking, was something enormous. The system adopted was faulty, as it savoured of individualism, instead ot resting on that surest of foundations, co-opera-tive labor umi equal dividends. This was lost sight of in the desire for individual aggrandisement, and that insane dependence on "luck" which* induced men tn rate their particular claims at a value far A abovethose occupied by their neighbors : [1 so thai, although willing to form a general I fund to place an expensive plant on ground I too wet to, be worked by manual labor R only, an overpowering objection wa,s I'

. evinced to share iv common the goM extiacted therefrom. But the fallacy of : such a system became apparent, and engendered a healthier feehng, which has ydreadv been productive of good: as .several bonct /iV/e companies havt been lately formed under the Liinite 1 Liability Act. and the Lscrip issued by then stutuU high iv the I market. Of these the Maori Reserve I Gold-mining Company, and the Cominis- [ sioner.'s Flat Gold-mining C. mpany, are the chief. Both hold ground in the Kunieri district, the former having loused fifty acres of land situated in a native reserve on the south side of the llokitika river. It is a very promising speculation, as a rich lead of geld was traced round the foot of v high spur close to the boundary of the company's ground. But there the, sinking became deep and wet, nnd; although many attempts v\ere made by individual parties Ifo reach the bottom, none succeeded, and jtlie place was abandoned. A party of miners who worked v portion of the rich Aground we have referred to, feeliug confiI dent.that the lead still fan on, entertained land carried into effect the idea of securing | on favorable t; rms a'teasehold of fifty acres from the Mauris, to be worked by the aid of machinery and a tail race to the river. The ground was leased for twenty-one years at an annual rental of LSO ; and the agreement being made, the company at once registered under the Actand published their prospectus. The declared capital is L4OOO. in shares of Ll each, and over 1000 have already been disposed of. The Commissioner's Flat G-ol'diifining Company (limited) have leased, under the Goldlields Act, three acres of ground jm the north bank of the Kanieri river._ They have also registered aud published a prospectus, declaring their 1 capital at LSOOO in 1000 shares of L 5 each. \ As two leaus of gold have'been followed i into the ground, which is too deep and wet to be worked by band, the speculation is

regarded in a very favorable light, and a : good deal 6f scrip has been taken up in ! consequence.' Admitting that a considerable proportion of the fniners'would rather /Settle down on the most promising fields, and follow their ca'ling by taking up ex.tended areas of g»ound, which are rendered available by the liberal provisions of the (iolufiehis *Act y there is still a larger number, who, urged orl by restlessness and a love of adventure, choose rather to push further afield, in the hope of discovering new and more profitable workings In every district on the coast, ban s 'of prospectors have been pushing their researches I far into the bush, aud their enterprise has^ been rewarded by the finding of many rich diggings, which now employ large and j thriving communities. At present, the Waimea district may be cusidered the I most important, so much , new ground having been opened there lately, which has proved so attractive that the population now assembled there is estimated to numberover7ooopersons. Inojylast summary we alluded to the discovery of ano>ther section of that lead of gold which i uns along the coast rangesome'f ur miles from the sea. It was named the " Scandinavian rush," and at that time consisted of two hills only, both however very rich. Sine.'

then the lead has been traced northward into fiveotherhille, all of which are payable, but not to the same extent as those first opened. The names of the different workings iv this most extensive district may well j be termed legion, so numerous are l they, for besides the main leud'.f gold,! which, under the name of the Ho Ho lead and New Kiver and Teremakau rushes, is found in the lyanieri and Grey districts to the south and north— there ai c numerous outlying gullies, creeks, and terraces, which are paying very well indeed. "The Waimea Chronicle," a new and well conducted paper, has published its first report upon the gold workings of that district, from which we extract the following most interesting items :— j '^ The Waimea district is of great extent, comprising the Old Waimea Township, Callaghuu's, the Three-mile, German, It-ilian, and Maori Gullies, Fox's, Ballarat Iliil, Pretty Woman* Guiiy and Terrace, Scandinavian Hill, Stafford Town, and all the places between the Teremakau and Arahura Rivers, and has at present a population of not less than 7000. Mining operations iv this district -were commenced about December, 18G4, when a rush up the left-hand branch of the Waimea Creek took place, and a township was formed about February, 1865. The bed of the left-hand, middle, and right-hand blanches of the creek was then woikcd with more or less prtifit, the claims yielding, on an average L 7 and L 8 a-weel^pev man. The junction of tbeleft-hai-.dandmiddlebrancbes of the Waimea occurs nearly opposite the Camp, and the right-hand branch joins issue a little below the township, from whence down to Stafford Town the bed of the creek has been wrought out ; but

»..*, ly.vv,l» A.1.0 ..,».._.« 11l Mil- 111, UUI, Dllt/ from that point down M> the beach a hole , here and there only has been sunk, as, failing to give a payable prospect, the main portion of the creek has been left undLturbed^ .To arrive at Callaghan's, the Three Mile, German Gully. Maori Gully, and' Italian Guily, the left-hand branch of the creek is followed for some distance, and then tracks branch off to these diggings. Going to Greek's Gullies (Nos. 1 and 2), the road taken is between the middle and right-hand branches of the Waimea. Fox's cMggingo are reached by starting at the righthand branch of the creek, and are" about seven miles distant from the Waimea township. Now that the gold-bearing qualities of the bed of the creek are ex° h. lusted, the terraces about it, for many miles, are worked with success. The ground is patch)', and although great finds are rare, the Jerraces altogether are better than the creek work was, as they give to the workers from L.l to Ll 5 per week a man-. i To obtain a' good supply of water many races have been made at a great outlay of money and labor. There are two flumes of immense span and height across the right-hand branch of the creek ; the first belonging to Boyle and party, and tlie other to Nixon and party, both deriving their supply of water from the 'middle branch. A' third flunv*, belonging to M 'Elaine, King, and Company, is now nearly complete i, and is a gigantic structure, beinjr, or rather will be when finished, 106 feet above the bed of the creek, having a greater height than the second flume by forty feet, and being in span fully a quarter of a mile. At Callaghan's (a part of the Three Mile diggings), >a shaft,"taken down to the depth of 115 feet last year, is now being re-worked, and, as slabbing has been resorted to from the top of the shaft, to the present depth of 140 teef, it is likely that the washdirt will soon he uncovered. A bout fifty (hen are shepherding claims, , patiently waiting to learn the prospects obtained by the men now working. About five miles up the right-hand branch, near M' Masters' dam, eight or nine parties^are at work on the terrace, and obtain good returns. Twi> stores are there — De Wolfs find Thompson's— and several parties are prospering. Two miles further on; at* Fox's, a few frosh arrivals make their appearance every week, and the- population is now about 200. "The big race belonging to M'Bride and party will 'be finished iv three

weeks, and will be of very great service to the miners in that neighborhood ; and this they practically admit by giving their assistance to bring the work to a speedy termiii-itioii. The dam will have twenty beads of water running into it, and as the . main supply will bo froiu, the Ayahura river, a di-tnnce of seven mile*, an h.e.xhsms'itile sour c will have been obtain; d. Fox.-, is aUont ,i milo and a half from the Christchurcfi road, which give< gre.it facility of communication, and causes pro-J visions to be cheap, so that the miners of that place have a good chance of* being j successful in their undertakings. About a i mile below the Wuimea township on a terI race to the left of the. Waimea Creek, a I small rush has lately set in. The prospectftrs, who sunk on the top of the terrace, b .ttomed ut six feet, and obtained one aivd a-half pennyweights to die dish, and those in a line with them are doing well. The claims lower down the hill run to a depth of thirty feet ; and some give au ounce to the load, but others not so much, There about 120 trien " on the ground, which is ail taken up; The terraces on either side of the Waimea Cree.t from miles above the Walmea township down to Stafford Town ure now?", being carefully wrought, anil give fair wages to the workers. On the right hand or southern side of Stafford Town is Ballarat Hill, some parts of which are nearly worked out. Several good claims, howfever, are still in lull w'oik^an'd some yield as much as L7O a week each man. Sever.il parties are, now sinking on Gil'lan's Gully, or southern side of the hiJl, where fa continuation of the old' lead is thought to, be. One hole i.- bottomed, and' shows a pennyweightto the dish. Many claims are .prevented from beingbottomed by reason of the water being too strong for them. In Gillau's Gully, the old claims are paying well. On the flat where tin's gully terminates, several" parties have endeavored to test'the ground, but to the present time have .been unsuccessful, 'owing to the » superabundance of the liquid element. Very favorable opinions as to the qualify of this flat, have been formed by those miners who have worked the ground near it. »Pretty Woman's Gully is now all turned over, and the working nousists in tunneling into the terrace on each side, where some very good ground has been opened. Three or four shafts have also been put down on the terrace, and the _washdirt of one .showed a yield of two penny weights to the dish, but the others are n-.t so fortunate. Several claims are now in working order tl\er"e, and more will btJ known as to its capabilities in. a tVw days. The sinking is from 40 to 60 feet; the ground is wet, and has to be slabbed from top to bottom. A rush took place^about afortnight ago, to a place about a mile from Stafford Town, on tl}e llokitika side of ir: The sinking is shallow, averaging from 1 three toi-five feet, and some very good prospects have been obtained. One man obtained as much as 3 dwts. to a dish of wash-dirt ; and it is pwtty generally known that all the ground throughout this flat would pay. well if sluiced ; but at present there is not a sufficient quantity of water to do thts. As it is, the average yield gives fair wages. At the sea beach, foot of 'the Waimea track,' a good many , parties are 'still at work, but very few have yet succeeded iv arriving, at the wash-dirt. The sinking is from 12 to 25 feet, and a great deal of slabbing is requisite to ensure safety and success it bottoming. The prospectors obtained a quarter of a pennyweight to the dish, and the others who have bottomed obtained fair prospects. From the above it can be seen that the Waimea district is in a very flourishing condition, and promises to support a large I population for many months.

The Kanieri district next claims our*attention, as it adjoin^ the Waimea and contains very extensive' workings. Owing/to the superior attractions of the latter, the Kanieri community have sadly decreased in number dujartfittbe past six weeks, and, ! as a naturalJHKquence, mining jnatters j ate somejriHflmll there. The Ho Ho I lead, howefflMptill employs many miners, lof whom Mm a few are making high ( wages. i\!Hhe same time much of the ■ ground ha^been worked out and ahanJ doned to " fossikeri," who manage to extract therefrom a decent livelihood. This lend was lost within a short distance of Tucker ' Flat, and a great many shafts were sunk in the hope of recovering it. One sMjpeded in- striking gold, but in such afflffljk quantities that, altliWgh at fi^t-aHßjra set in, the place was soon *'ftei'SWra|«t§baiidoned to a persevering *' 1 W '^^Nf^ / their determined energy, seen'i^P^pt 011 '' making" a lead if the old one c<rap|not be found. At Tucker Flat about.^pp|men are at work turning over the oldJj|)iMuid, and sune feA' succeed in earning^S|l wages, say from L7-to LlO per maiTlaf week. The great majority however, ' obtain very small returns. Two mining companies formed and took up extended claims on this , flat with the intention of sinking through the Hist to the second bottom, which lay at a depth of between eighty and ninety feet. They were not successful in !,o doing, as after two months hard work the ground wa* abandoned as unworkable by any ordinary method ; but gold being known to exist there ,the question as to the advisability of introducing steam power to extract it h'ni been very favorably entertained, and will, we have no doubt, be eventually acted upon. The old Five Mile ■ diggings -{Kanieri township) have ; languished sadly of late, ' too much water, and a scarcity of that element (according 1 to tlie # sitw of the workings), being the cause. On tbe Kauieri Flat the Westland and Star steam-pumping companies were at a 'standstill for nearly a month, waiting for the arrival of a ne\v pump, which the iatter company sent for to Melbourne. It leached its destination in due course, and proved a splendid piece of machinery, ou the centrifugal principle, capable of throwing 960 gallons of water per minute, with the engine going a three-quarter speed, and 1-200 gallons at full speed. The pump is simply constructed, without ooxes or other paraphernalia peculiar. Jo the ordinary lift and force pumps, consisting, merely of a circular chamber, to which is atfached a ten-inch discharge pipe above, and a feed pipe of similar dimensions below. Within the chamber is a castiron disc or fan, which revolves uj>ou a spindle with great rapidity, aud throws the water up in a continubjis stream through the discharge- pipe. / The cliam■ber should not be fixed more than twenty^ feet above the bottom of the pump well; out'the extraordinary velocity with which the face revolves supplies sufficient power to lift the water full forty feet above it. The manner, in which the piiiup is placed in reflects the. highest credit on the company and its engineer, Mr Shearer — for a more substantial piece of work of the kind we never before examined. Simultaneously with the re-commencementt of work by the Star Company, the Westland Company set to "pumping, and the two engines found no difficulty in keeping down the water. Renewed activity resulted amongst the different claimholders, who had just got into their grouud again

when the heavy floods of last week swamped them out, so once more the,y ure condemned to a state of idleness, that we (rust, however, will not extend over a day or two. Some of ihe claims in this locality are very rich, and all of them pay high wages. Murphy and party, who are working between the two engines'; obta : ned between 800 and 900 ounces of gold out of a padilock in. size fifty feet by thirty feet. Since then the yield has kept at a minimum through the constant submersion of the gravel constituting the washdirt. A great portion of the claim is utill untouched, but it is not anticipated to turn out so 'well, although supposed tv be extremely rich. Murray and party, who hold the next claim, nre also wdrking rich ground,, in proof whereof a shore in it changed hands for the sum of L 250. On the other side of Murphy's claim^ Shanks and his mutes are doing well, and when in fair work can mak^e on an average from LlO Li 2 per week each man. The shareholders in the^libernian claim, Lyttoltbn street/iiave no reason to complain, as they confess to a weekly dividend of L 9 to Lls per man. The claims above enumerated contain a great thickness of washdirt, and will not he worked put for months. On the river bauk only one claim (the Cumberland) is now in work, and in a few weeks it is expected that this also will he worked out. It is still yielding well, although the payable ground is becoming very circumscribed. The le.ast valuable portions of the claim are let on tribute, but I believe the tesults are not particularly satisfactory. Town-ends claim,' which adjoined'the-Cumberland, is at last .exhausted, and an excellent piece of ground 'it proved itself, for, from first to last, but little lessthan 2000 ounces were extracted from it. x Since the date of my last report, two mining companies on Commissioner's Flat have collapsed, as ( ways and means for the further prosecution of the works could not be devised. The New South \Valts Company was the first to stop work, and their claim and plaint were afterwards sold by auction, realising the ridiculously low sum of LlO4. Thje engine' alone is valued at L-100, besides which there is a circular saw,' pumps, and other appliances for working deep and wet ground. Air Emerson, of Hokitika, was the purchaser, and since then has let the claim on tribute to a party of Cornishmen, who, on consideration that the claim is kept dry for. them, or in other words that pumping expenses are defrayed by the proprietor, have agreed to pay him two-fifths of the gross yield. The new party commenced work a mouth ago, and were lucky enough to strike a cross Vi in- of gold, which pays from L 8 to LlO pei- man per week. The other company alluded to was the United Steam Drainage, which, like the .New South ceased to exist through the pressure of circumstances.' The plant and claim were made over to the Commissioner's Fiat Gold Mining Company, which issued its prospectus the other day. The ground^thus bought is to be paid for in paid-up scrip, the United shareholders prif erring this arrangement to that of selling the plant, &c, by auction. The remaining claims on , this flat are yielding more or less gold. Those dead on the lead pay, on an average, about L 8 per week each shareholder, but the outsiders are much., poorer. The expense of 'working the ground is very heavy, as four entities and two waterwheels are kept constantly going. The forty feet workings^ at the head of the flat have not extended, and may be said to consist of some eight or ten chiiins, which* pay on an average about L 7 per week to each shareholder. The gold is much coarser th<\n that found in the flat, as it is not uncommon to find small nuggets weighing from ldwt. to Gdwts. The sluiccrs on the old terrase have been nearly ruined through scarcity of water. For many weeks they patiently awaited the completion of the Pioneer Company's new race, which, it was asserted, w^mld supply an unlimited quantity. About a week since the sud.len increase of water in the terrace flume showed that the woik was finished, and the next day the terrace presented a scene of activity which contrasted strangely with ihe dull quiet which so long reigned supieme there. Notwithstanding thjs increased supply of water there id still a ciy for more, and we believe that If twice the quantity were available it would be taken up in twelve hours, bo profitable are the terrace workings when the fluke box .is kept constantly going. At the point, of the terrace two parties have been emplo3'ed*in ground-sluicing for several months, and have made on an average from LlO to Ll2 a week each sha; eholder. Shenaudoah Flat is separated from \he Kanieri township by the terrace. There are a few miners at work there, and one associated body. The latter has leased an acre of ground, and erected thereon a water-wheel, and to supply the motive power, they cut a head race nearly two miles long, which in dry weather carries about one head of water. At the beginning of the month a rush set in to some low terrace ground, situated on the banks of the Kanieri River, about fourteen miles above its confluence with the Hokitika. A great many claims were taken up, and the place now carries between 200 and 300 miners, who, sluicing and working long hours, can command a return of between L 3 aud LlO per week. A splendid sample of gold was i found in one of the tributaries of this river, and very naturally excited smguine hopes that heavier patches existed in the neighborhood. The sample we refer 4o consisted of large waier worn pieces, which weighed from 1 dwt. to 16 dwts. each. In -taking leave of the Kanieri we cau truthfully aver, that, although its first bloom has passed away, the district is in a healthy flourishing condition, and will support for years a numerous and thriving community. . ' ■ Our latest advices from the Totara district tell a very satisfactory tale. The 'workings there have extended very considerably during the month, owing to the completion of, several large head races, which have placed an tibtmdant supply of water at the command of the minors. Sluicing is in consequence the favorite mode of working, and much ground which was once deserted as worthless, has again been taken up and found to pay well. The race cut from Donoghue's Creek by the Ross and Totara Water-race Company, iß<the»most extensive work of its .kind in the district, aud keeps a large inumber of miners employed on the range !of terraces which bonier Jones' Creek ou it he east side. In Donoghue's, Swipers, German, and other gullies, sluicing is also carried on with marked success. 'Che wages' made by those diggers who follow this particular branch of mining in the Totara district, may be averaged at from L 4 to LlO a man, weekly. But, whilst admitting the importance of the sluicing interest of the district its rich and exten° sive deep workings must not be lost sight of, as they promise to give permanent employment to hundreds of miners for years. AtDonoghue'sFlat the lead has been struck at a depth of 120 feet by Purcell and party,

who declare themselves Satisfied with the prospects obtained. Between this depth and the srfrface there are two or three payable layers of drift, so that the claim will not be finished fur at least two years. Several parties are ' working on the shal- '■ lower levels. One at 60 feet obtained 100 ozs sof gold for their last week's work. Below I the deepest level a fourth bottom was struck, but as the ground is very wet steam machinery is needed to work it. The ground is wet from the surface, but, is effectually drained by the aid of horse whims. There is more water to contend with in the Ross Flat ; and in consequence the diggers there make but slow progress. - A very .large area of this flat is known to be auriferous, and, as at Donoghue's, the gold is found in several layers of washdirt at different depths. The ground is absolutely unworkable without the aid of steam power, which has acco! dinghy beenj s-ent for to Melbourne. One engine ordered by the Scandinavian Company arrived yesterday, and another sent for by the Prince of Wales Company is expected in the course of a fortnight. 'These, we believe, will prove sufficient to drain that section of the flat now in hand ; but should the workings extend, others will have to be. procured. The Totara miners have shown no disinclination to [explore the country towards the ranges, as we hear that several parties are making good wages "in the' neighborhood of the head waters of Mikonui and Donoghue's C'-eeks. At Black's Gully, about twelve miles from ißoss from 80 to 100 men are at work, who are doing very well. Heavy gold is found there, some of the I nuggets weighing as much as % 3^ ounces. | Fack tracks are in the course of constiuction Ito these diggings, and, when completed, \will give, by cheapening provisions, re\newed impetus to mining operations there. It is believed that much of the adjacent •country will be te-sted, and found no less payable.

During the month nothing has transpired in the Okarita district worthy of comment. .The place is unprecedently dull, owing tp the decline of its one rich beaches. • The' far-famed Five-niile still employe 1 about 800 miners, and some few of the claims in hand there yet yield returns that would have been considered good in the best days of the place. Gillespie's, Hunt's, the Three-mile, and other beaches, carry an exceedingly* spare population, and pay very small wages indeed. At the same time it must not be imagined that the Okarita district is ex,hausted, for there is an immense extent of back country which has never been explored by the white man, and from its position and configuration as seen from a distance, warrantable ' hopes are excited that rich aud extensive fields will be discovered there. "With/ the view of thoroughly testing it, a prospecting association has been got up at O,karita, and LSOO subscribed as a reward for the discovery of a payable goldh'eld in fliat direction. A few miners are still located at Big Bay to the southward of Jacksoh'n'. They are moderately successful in goldgetting, if reports are true., but being bituated so far from Hokitika (120 miles), the information of their doings which reach us' is exceedingly scanty and unreli.able.

Taking a long skip from south to north, across those districts we have already alluded to, and the Grey territory is reached. Its southern boundary rests upon the Teremakau river, close :o which is situated the New River and Teremakau rushes. The former is aa important diggings, and promises to' be permanent, as it carries a population of over 1000 souls, who arc profitably employed in tracing , the lead, which has already /•run forva distance of nearly two- miles. The sinking is rather deep and very wet, so that miners find some difficulty in reaching the washdirt, which, however, in the majority of cases, amply repays for the time and trouble expended. During the month shares have changed bands there at figures varying from' L9O to L2OO, and I many prospects obtained which- may be reckoned by pennywe : ghts to the dish. Several water races have been constructed, and extended claims taken up on the deeper and wetter parts of the lead. Sundry small rushes to ik place in the 'neighborhood of this locality — one to Brighton's Gully, which is clashed among the old Salt Water Creek workings. About 200 men found " remunerative employment there in ground from six to nine feet deep, which yielded prospects of 5 grs and 8 grs to the dish At the Teremakau .rush the lead is exceedingly narrow, but rich in proportion, Several of the cliims averaging -*-oz the dish out of a fair thickness of washdirt. The sinking is from forty to fifty fret deep, aud many suppose that the lead Ss a continuation »f the gold found at the Ho Ho and Scandinavian rushe*. We have not hearS that any new ground bus been opened in the. inland workings of the Grey district during, the month, but very fjiiu returns tire still obtained on the old fields, At "the Arnold diggings -fcluicing ami tunnel* ling is followed with much profit, and a great deal of ground, otherwise unproductive, is mode to pay well by .working it systematically. At Hod Jack's »iul, Maori Gullies (Nos. 1 and 2), sluicing is universally adopted with excellent results, as is proved by the quantity of gold weekly sent down to Greymbuth. A syreut many miners are employed at the Upper Grey diggings, and appear to be snti>nVd with their earnings. Between the Grey and BulLt Rivers is the Pakihi diggings, front which very favorable accounts havo been received lately. The population there is increasing, and was the^ place a little more accessible it is believed that a large extent, of' country would be opened up. " As it is," the difficulty of conveying st«res there acts as an almost insurmountable obstacle to its advancement. N We understand that the Nelson Gomrnment contemplate connecting it with the Buller by a -pack track.

If the miners of Westland have discovered the most indomitable energy' in the pursuit of their avocation, the business people, who compose the other section. of the commu-" nity, are not one whit behind them in this respect. Wherever a dozen miners congregate there is to be found an establishment combining iv itself the characteristics of a shanty and store. As the place, improves more pretentious- buildings are erected, until, in the course of time, a flourishing township stands where, but a few weeks previously, nothing could bo seen or heard but the dense forest and the cry of the kaka and wood pigeons. 'At the New River rush an extensive township has sprung up, whilst a smaller one is struggling into existence at the Teremakau diggings.' In the Waimea district there is one large commercial centre (Stafford Town), and numerous .smaller trade communities , on the different workings. Stafford Town has made wonderful progress during the month, and now contains emporiums where all kinds of wares are vended. It is a thriving place, and what is more, gives' promise of a stability that very few goldfields townships can boast of. Koss is also a nourishing town, and in importance stands next to Greymouth. Au

excellent hospital is established there which reflects the highest credit on the humanity and liberality of the inhabitants. A weekly paper has also started there, which, from the support alieady accorded it, promises to fairly repay the enterprise of the proprietor. The >' Ross Guardian" is a very creditable publication, and seems determined to thoroughly advocate the interests of its constituents and the district.

Great improvements have been made in the Kanieri township, which haa considerably extended of late, and now boasts of two places of worship, a Church of England having been late'y erected there, in addition to the chapel built by the Wesleyans a long time since. Ti e church is a pleasing little building, capable of holding between 200 and 300 people

Our monthly epitome shews that miners in Westland-are enjoying a prosperity not to be found on any other goldfield in the colonies, as the rate of wages made by them rule exceedingly high. The exportation of gold from the province will support this assertion, as within the short term of six weeks 41,160 /Ounces passed through the Custom Houbesof Hokitika alone. This amount does not include the produce of the Grey district which may be estimated at over 30,000 ounces.