TRIP OF THE S.S. WAIPARA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 457, 26 January 1869, Page 2

TRIP OF THE S.S. WAIPARA.

Capt. Turnbull, Harbor Master at Hokitika, has furnished the West Coast Times with particulars of the last trip of the steamer Waipara to Jacksons Bay and the southern diggings. On landing at the Haast beach, Capt. Bascand and Capt. Turnbull met Donald Bell and two mates. They did not report favourably of the place. This was in consequence of floods, which had swamped their claim. They intended proceeding to the Blue River, and make its ascent, if possible, in order to thoroughly prospect the country in that direction. They were to leave at the Haast J. Milson, an old mate of Bell's, and his wife, who having laid in a stock of provisions, mean to stay. Left the Haast River at 10.30 a.m. ; for the Arawatta, arriving there at 12.30 a.m.; tvas unsuccessful in the first attempt to enter the river, but on the second was successful. Found Howard and family and his mates still there, and all in good health. They complained much of the quantity of water on the flat terrace off the beach, which prevented them working the ground. The party purchased some provisions from the steamer, and she sailed at 8.30 p.m. for Big Bay, arriving there at '1 a.m. on the 13th. On communicating with the shore, found the men working there in a very dissatisfied state, not being able to raise " tucker," and the whole party made up their minds to

leave for Barn Bav, and put on board the Waipara their tools and the whole of their working material. M*Glain and party left the vessel here, with all their stores and powder, to blast the boulders. The same paper is informed by a miner who, with his mates, returned from Big Bay in the "Waipara, on her last trip, that the prospects of discovering payable gold at Big Bay, or anywhere in the neighborhood, are very meagre indeed. He was landed there four months ago, from the Waipara, and prospected the country, which surrounds the Bay, in direction, but could not get a prospect that would pay more than one pennyweight to the load. He also tried the paddocks, where Williamson and party had been sinking, with like success. After the top-stripping had been removed, they came upon boulders, so thickly stowed, that to get underneath them, without blasting, was an impossibility. He says that it is almost impossible for any one to starve at Big Bay, as crayfish and lobsters abound, and there are also plenty of fish in the Bay, whilst the bush is full of birds. At Barn Bay they picked up a quantity of powder and fishhooks and lines, and, in one hut, about 301bs of salt; so that it would appear impossible that the men whom Williamson described as being in a state of starvation, could have been so, had they taken the trouble to catch the fish, which were in such numbers, that he has often taken crayfish without hook or line. He describes Howard's party as beach surfacing, at Jackson's, merely washing the black sand after being hove up by the tide. As soon as one patch is worked out, they go to another and so on, until the whole is finished. They then have to wait for a fresh deposit. He is, however, of opinion that gold will yet be discovered in the back country, between the Haast and Jackson's.