PROSPECTING- EXPEDITION TO THE WEST COAST.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1004, 13 September 1872, Page 3

PROSPECTING- EXPEDITION TO THE WEST COAST.

; The schooner Awarua having recently returned to Invercargill after a short trip to the W r est Coast, the following account of the expedition has been published by the Southland 'Xcws': — The expedition, we may | remise, originated as follows : —Soma months KO.Mr Brunton, C.E., and Professor Black, of the Otago University, chanced to meet at Riverton on a [wit, and called together at the resilence of Mr Daniel. Their attention ras attracted by a piece of heavy, lark-colored stone in a collection of ;eological specimens made by Mr )aniel during his long residence in he Colony. What was it—copper, in, or iron ? Opinions differed ; but h Brunton, whose practical experi race was in his favor, declared withit hesitation, that it was tin ore, pparently ef good quality. It was übaequently broken up and tested in he ordinary manner, with the result f proving the accuracy of the opinion. Tie next question was Did Mr )aniel remember where he obtained IP Tes, in one of the Sounds on the Pest Coast, some years, previously, 'hen on a sealing cruise. Could he od the place again ? Not a doubt of i, Thereupon certain negotiations rare entered into, which resulted in pi formation by Mr Brunton of a Offlpany, by which the tight little lier Awarua, Captain Gilroy, was >,red to convey Mr Daniel and a of practical miners to Bligh I. The start was made from ton, where Mr Lyon, by arrangewith the company, took passage ourist, desirous to see for himself of the fiords and mountains so [ visited by travellers. The ner got under weigh on the 29th last, but was met by unfavorable ler outside, and had to put in at William, Steward's Island. After igPprt William (on the Bth July), Qg winds were met with, and even they at length succeeded in ag clear of Stewart's Island they on the 12th) to run for Dusky Before getting so far, when t ten miles to the southward of Solanders, several sperm whales ■i about the ship for hours, to the ite disgust of Captain Gilroy, w whaling instincts were strongly ted. " There's a thousand pounds g a begging for the want of & if crew," he said—and "no doubt," md Mr Lyon saying in his journal, «re was at least that value repress At Dusky Bay thev were

delained uutil tho 12th, when the voyage was resumed, but again interrupted by head winds, compelling them t seek shelter in Thompson's Sound. The entrance of Bligh Sound was not reached until the evening of the 31st, aßd then it was "outboat" to tow in the schooner, which was not accomplished till midnight. The following day at sunrise the vessel had to be worked up to the locality of the reef or outcrop. At this point we may avail ourselves exclusively for a short time of Mr Lyon's journal. He says :- " The Sound to ' Cloudy Pass' is five miles long, and for two or three miles no outlet is to be seen before us. The land gradually closes in until the channel turns at a right augle. After rounding the Pass, Mr Daniel entered the boat to look for the ' Cave,' where he found the tin ore. It is soon discovered—Charlton, one of the miners, and he landed. In a few minutes the boat returns with the cheering news that ' Charlton says it's all right.' We tow the vessel opposite the Cave, and anchor at 1.26 p.m. It was a glorious day, and, together with the good report, put everybody in good spirits. After dinner, Messrs Roberts, Daniel, and two men and I go ashore, taking all the tools with us, and in a short time have a lot of specimens. The men in a few hours drill a hole, and put in a blast, which knocks out several tons of stone. The ' Cave,' so called, is a sort of shelf, overhung by an immense wall of bare granite. The veins of ore are to be seen running in all directions—the stone in some places thoroughly impregnated. The wall runs north and south and the specimens are obtained Borne 40 or 50 feet from the water There is every facility for shipment—a vessel could anchor alongside, and be loaded by means of a shoot without difficulty. August 2.—Heavy rain. After breakfast, go on shore to the cave. It is called Hawea's Cave, after a native tribe that is said to have lived there. Several blasts were put in during the day, and a quantity of stone taken out. Although it is so wet outside, the mining operations are carried on without interruption—the workmen being perfectly sheltered by the overhanging cliff. August 3.—The men are reef-blasting. The measurement by calculation of height and lay of lode, with height of cliff was taken today, as follows:—From water's edge to lode, 60ft.; height of lode from sea level, 50ft. j height of cliff from sea level, 200 ft. ; summit of cliff overhanging, 50ft. The lode being worked is close to the wall of rock, all perfectly bare of scrub, excepting some few feet from the water's edge. The lode runs north and south. August s.—At the cave in the afternoon, where the men had opened a new vein, looking much better than the previous one. Tt is about six feet through and parallel to the first. Some very fine specimens were obtained. Before dark all the remainiug ore, tools, &c, were collected and put together, ready for a stare tomorrow. August 9.—Off Orepuki at 9 a.m., with splendid S.W. breeze. At 1 p.m. arrived at Bluff, and shortly afterwards moon d at the wharf." Excepting at Stewart's Island (Port William), no gold was found in any of the numerous gullies and creeks in which search was made