THE BULLER DIGGINGS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 461, 4 February 1869, Page 2

THE BULLER DIGGINGS.

The rumors afloat last week with reference to a payable prospect having been obtained on the Manuka Flat, up the Buller river, by a party of miners, are entirely without foundation. We have dui"ing the past day or two seen several parties who have visited that locality, and no such prospect as that reported has been obtained. The mining news from the Upper Buller and Lyell districts, however, continues very satisfactory, though no new ground has been opened or any yield obtained to warrant any influx of population. The prospecting party, who are still at work on the Manuka Flat, have driven 150 feet in their second tunnel, and continue perseveringly in the hope of coming upon something payable. Their first tunnel on a higher level was driven 200 feet, but that tunnel they have left. The Warden on his recent visit, though on the Manuka Flat, did not discover the prospectors' claim. The track is reported as being in pretty good order for the greater part of the way. A few hundred pounds expended now by the Government would make the dangerous parts passable by miners on foot, even if laden with swags, but there are a few sidelings requiring levelling, and in other places the taking away of trees and bushes would render the journey more easily accomplished. Since Christmas it is said the population has increased over a hundred, chiefly miners from other districts on the Coast. The gold reported to have reached Nelson from that quarter is said to have been obtained near Newton. Most of the men who have gone up lately have set in to work in new ground, and are very much scattered —all working on the banks of the river. One or two more stores are being erected, and nrovisions are shortly expected to be cheaper. The present population are scattered from the Grainger's Point, which is close to the old diggings, to the Owen river. There are a few parties working on the Marawui and Matukatuka, both tributaries of the Buller river, and others are prospecting at the Karamea, the Mohikinui, and the Wangapeka rivers. All those rivers seem to take their rise about the same point, and several persons are wending their way towards their source. AVith weather such as we have had lately, the journey to the Lyell can be accomplished in a day and-a-half without much difficulty. The opinions formed by those who have visited those digging lately, judging by report, is that any one can find sufficient gold to pay tucker or small wages with the probability of dropping on something more payable. There seems to be a great wish for some one being established at the Lyeli with the power to grant miners' rights, licenses, and protections for water-races, &e-, and a member of the police force would also be a valuable acquisition. A large quantity of goods left town yesterday for the river diggings ; Peter the Greek, Nicholas, and others taking up full loads in their well adapted boats.