THE LYELL AND BULLER MYERS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 517, 15 June 1869, Page 2

THE LYELL AND BULLER MYERS.

(FROM OUR OWN COTITtESroyDENT.) Several changes have taken place hero since my last was written. Martin and party, eight men iu all, determined on leaving for the Inangab.ua and Grey districts. They brought in about three pounds weight of gold, and houorably settled every claim against them, and went away with the regrets of all who knew them. They were eighteen months iu the district, and had materially assisted in developing its resources by bringing in several large water-races. On the other hand, 1 have met several parties coming from thelnangahua, generally going towards the Upper Buller and the Matakitaki, where Forester and party and Eraser and party have obtained grants for two large races, and intcud groundsluicing extensively as well as letting to other parties several heads of water as soon as their works are completed. Albert and party have finished bringing iu their large race, which, however, has not realised all that was expected of it, the quantity of water brought in not being sufficient on all occasions to work their ground, or at all commensurate for so large a work. Noble aud party have also completed their large race rfter over three months' hard work. They commence stripping a paddock this week, when it is to be hoped that the results will compensate for their labor and strenuous exertions in bringing iu their race.

Mr Coe, Mining Surveyor, has been engaged iu settling water disputes between " Dublin Jack" and IJillow and party, and between Glass and party and Albert and party, as the owners of the second rights to the water were not at all satisfied with the setting or gauging of the boxes used by the holders of the first rights, but in both cases the surveyor amicably arranged matters. Some parties have also left off working on the Lyell last week. The grouud there is very patchy, as it always is in coarse gold districts, and while often suddenly rewarded by a good find, you may be for months working for a few ounces, and this does not at all suit the class of miners here, who are not in general men of large means. Besides, the hardships endured in swagging supplies in a trackless country are so great that only rich claims will tempt any man to encounter them.

On the New Creek, about two miles below the Lyell, a couple of parties have just set in, and speak well of their prospects. I am sorry to inform you that the Westport merchants who assisted the party prospecting the Manuka Flat have "stopped the supplies," having got impatient of the delay in striking gold. However, Ashton and party, the prospectors, are determined to stick to the work, as they have not the slightest idea of yet abandoning the ground. I think myself that they can get as much gold in the tunnel and neighborhood as will keep them going while giving it a further trial. Certainly their exertions deserve a rich reward.

I must draw the attention of yourself and the public- to an almost hitherto unexplored country lying between tbe head of the Mokihinui and Karamea rivers. The country after you ascend the Lyell spurs is flat as far as the eye can reach, and several parties whom I can name have found good coarse gold there, but there being no means of getting provisions they could do little more than walk through it. The distance from the head of the Lyell is only about thirty miles, and between the Karamea and the Mokihinui heads only about three. Here is a country utterly neglected by the Government, which, if rendered accessible by tracks, would be at once prospected, and would, as is well known to many miners on the coast, support a large population. Besides, such an extent of flat country must be easily made available for pastoral and agricultural purposes. It would make a great difference in the trade of Westport if this country were opened up and occupied.