The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 369, 6 October 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1868.

It is now many years since the first explorers of the Buller got gold on its banks or in the ground adjacent to its course' The largest and most valuable nuggets ever found in New Zealand, were found at the Lyell, close to its junction with the Buller. As far back as 1864 some of these trophies were exhibited in the window of a jeweller, in Princes street, Dunedin, one of which weighed 530z, or 41bs soz Troy. Ever since that time, in spite of the difficulties attendant on the search, men have been found able and willing to encounter them, and in a very large proportion of cases the river diggers, as they may be termed,have succeeded in realising large amounts of money. At the outset, of course they bad far more to contend with than they had lately, but even now the auriferous resources of the land on either side the Buller is comparatively untouched and untried. Instead of fostering this promising area, a strange indifference seems to have been shown in regard to it. It is true that a track, and what is more, a passable track, has been cut, but a few unfinished spots destroy the utility of the whole. The consequence is that boats alone have been able to supply the diggings, and, as may without difficulty be imagined, the supplies from these sources have been both precarious and expensive. In times of freshes or floods, boats have been detained a fortnight before they could get up, and in the meantime distress has virtually arisen. It has been proved beyond a doubt, thai a most lucrative and most extensive goldfield or succession of goldfields rather, are found up the whole valley of the Buller, and scattered parties far up, to and along the Lyell have done more than well for a length of time. Not a tithe of a tithe of the likely looking country has been prospected nevertheless, and the reasons are obvious. Till the Lyell is reached, there is not a single store; even if there were, the proprietors would not be able to get supplies of goods up, excepting as we have indicated with anything like regularity. In a close country prospectors cannot carry nonre than two or three clays

provisions with thein, when these are expended, whether they strike gold oif not, they have no alternative but to go back where food is to be obtained, and this in a large part of the country we refer to, cannot be got nearer than Westport. The result is that prospecting is rendered almost impossible, and none but the very hardiest miners can ever think of making the attempt. At one part of the route, where the Blackwater empties itself into the Buller, where'there are every indications of gold, and we are assured by a gentleman of experience, on whose veracity we have the most implicit reliance, that he has carefully examined the creeks and tributaries in the neighborhood, and haa washed sand, in all of which, he found at least the " colour" of gold. At the Blackwater there was formerly a ferry, but it is at present abandoned, and miners travelling up and down, have been kept for a week or two before they could cross. Generally it is fordable at from two to three fee* but sometimes when freshes occur, and the Buller backs it up, there are fourteen feet of water to be got over or through. In its vicinity, as we stated before, gold has been got in every creek, but the terraces on the ranges, of which there are an abundance, have been closed up to the present time, or nearly so, from reasons also given. The Blackwater is situated about 22 miles from "Westport, and the track already made is capital travelling till within a short distance of it. Here there is insurmountable obstacle, in the shape of a cliff jutting out into the river almost, and to get round this a five mile detour through bush and mud, and swamp, impracticable to horses, has to be encountered. Once round it there are one or two landslips, where the track has been cut, but none of any serious importance, or rather that would take a large sum to render passable ; from thence the Lyell is easily reached, and if the traveller is so disposed, he can ride on to Nelson. Now at Hawk's Crag, the obstacle refered to, a passage must be blasted, out of the rock ; this, and repairs to the slips that now cut off the track could be effected for £SOO. That so important a district has been in a measure virtually so long shut up for such an amount would appear impossible were it not the case, but it is no doubt attributable chiefly to want of information on the subject. Only a week or two ago a rather celebrated mining character, yclept, " Dublin Jack," came down from this part with a nice little bagfull of pocket pieces in the shape of small nuggets, and there has been a small population for a long time earning steady wages and in some cases saving piles. The ground for the whole length has been proved auriferous, but thanks to the paltry obstacles referred to, it is really not open to the miner, as provisions can only be obtained there at uncertain times, and at such prices as to preclude many from attempting to purchase. If the Buller diggings are properly opened, they will prove as profitable to the miners, as they will do to the business men of this town. All that hinders is the sum of £SOO or thereabouts, and with this a pack track could be completed, and the district given a fair chance of proving its richness. A sidling at the Crag and reparation at the slips are all the requirements, and the people of the district then have another well tested, but at the same time almost virgin field, open nearly at their doors. Can nothing be done to raise or procure this sum or shall we, as in times past, let matters alone? For our own part we certainly and heartily believe that Heaven helps those who help themselves.