MOKIHINUI.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 140, 11 January 1868, Page 2

MOKIHINUI.

(FEOM OUR OWN COKBESPONDENT.) Two months ago the township of Mokihinui had the appearance of being an important place, and had the weather been at all favorable those who were unable to get claims on the Terrace would have been in a position to prosecute a search on other terraces. The bulk of them had no money, consequently they were compelled to leave the place disgusted. There is no doubt but rich claims are on the north, south, and middle terraces, which are now yielding well, although some are not paying more than tucker. Business people are complaining bitterly of the stagnation that has taken place in such a short period, but they have still good hopes and faith that it will improve soon. Daniel and party have been prospecting the terrace north of Mokihinui since the last seven or eight weeks. They drove a tunnel of 104 feet into the terrace, in which they got little gold. In about two feet of wash they are now making preparations, and sawing timber for a tramway. Their claim is about two miles from Mokihinui. Few claims have been pegged during the latter end of last week. This terrace extends a long distance, and should payable gold be found, a reaction in business in Mokihinui will be the consequence. Few parties are working at the landing up Mokihinui, a distance of about fifteen miles from here. One party showed me a beautiful coarse lump of about 2oz. they found in the crevices of the rocks for their twenty-one days' labor.

? I They intend to abandon it when their l 8 l*tock of provisions is exhausted. The ,k plumber of boats lost here have been I considerable even since the last ten '? \ weeks. Ten boats were being taken 16 Bp l° a( * e< l w ' tu P ro Vl si & c -> an d, I which were all lost, and this may be' Iwell called Dangerous Point. As the rocks protrude, many of the boats have ' 8 \ come to grief, as it is almost an im- - - »possibility to take a boat up without 8 ' dragging her over the rocks, eight and '- I ten feet high. One or two of the e I most dangerous might be easily re--7 I moved by the outlay of a little 1 [money to blast them, which would 1 fbe a great saving of labor to f ! parties going up prospecting. It 1 IB to be hoped, should payable 3 ! gold be found, that Mr Commissioner ' I Kynnersley will have them properly • I removed. About £3OO worth of goods 1 I have been lost at this particular place. ' [ The mountains present an appearance < of sameness from here to the Gorge— I steep and abrupt, very little soil on : them, one vast dense mass of vegej tation, composed of supplejacks and gays-gays ; and from the scarcity of : ; floii, the roots of the birch and piosj ; (which are the most prominent woe i here) protrudes above the surface, on i that it makes it very difficult travelling. The rock at this point is of a primary formation. The little gold that is getting is in interstices of the rocks, along with a little river wash. i The length of the point where gold has been found is about 150 yards. It has not been found higher up than about 30 feet above the level of the river. As you ascend the hill it gets steep and rugged, so that there is no chance of any gold being found from the entrance of the Gorge, about ten miles. From here to the gorge above Maori Gully (25 miles), all_ points present the same features, with the exception of the point of the Crater (20 miles. A 19oz. nugget was found here. The country away back from the Crater is undulating, and forms two or three terraces, which I imagine to be the most

likely looking places on the river. Agreat deal of labor has been, expended here with no satisfactory result, as the ground is not bottomed. There are -creeks running in on the south side of the river heading from the ranges ; at the mouth there are any amount of slate debris to be seen, which I argue must -come through a slate-country. I have do doubt but they extend a long way in the ranges. It might be worth while for a party well equipped to spend a few . mouths in this dis rict. I Three pedestrian residents in this township were returning on Friday last from the Buller, and upou arriving at the "Waimongaroa, the ferrymen refused to convey them across, as he had no convenience to haul his boat up again, consequently they were compelled to ford it—having their business to attend to here. Had they not offered to pay him before hand he might had some excuse, and it is to be hoped some other person will be allowed to take his place —if he is dissatisfied with it. The steamer Waipara, arrived here last night with cargo, passengers, and 33 sheep. The Miry is loading with coals at Messrs Garvan and Batty's wharf, and will be ready for sea in a few days. The Commissioner is expected from the Buller to-morrow, and in conseq ence of the number of cases to be

disposed of, his time I have no doubt.

will be engaged for some time. There •are some important mining cases to be decided. I believe there are about 45

cases altogether. A sad aceident occurred at the second township on Tuesday last, io a son of "William Clutterbuck, aged 18 months, who was found drowned by the mother in a water hole behind the premises. He strayed out of the house by the back-door, and was only out of sight of the mother for about five minutes. Life was perceptible for about an hour afterwards, and every restoration was ■applied without avail. I have no doubt, had a skilful person been in attendance, his life might have been saved.