THE KARAMEA.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1168, 17 April 1874, Page 2

THE KARAMEA.

News from the Karnmea is not of a very cheering character. Mr Castles, who came down yesterday, reports that the only work now doing there is on the beach, where some five or six parties are still making good wages and something more, in working the black sand. Daring the past summer some prospecting has been carried on in many of the little gullies, and with satisfactory results so far as the disco very of traces of gold is concerned, but the utter lack of communication between the various creeks and gullies, except by dint of hard and laborious struggling, has prevented any systematic search for gold leads. The Karamea is at present utterly cut off from the world, steamboats and sailing craft but seldom cad there, and the overland route by the Mokihinui is well nigh impracticable. It is a very great pity that such a promising field for settlement is so wantonly neglected by a sleepy-headed Provincial Government. The land there is good, the climate delightful, the river abounds in fish, the bush in game, and gold is there—on the beach and in creek and ravine. Quartz indications, too, arc abundant, and nothing but a little judicious fostering is required to make the Karamea a thriving settlement. A good portion of the ground there is freehold, but it will neither \wy the owners or strangers to settle thereon until they arc given some slight meaus of com munication with civilised life. There is not the slightest doubt that if the track to the Karamea could be made practicable, or, better still, a subsidy given to a steamer to call there even once a month, the population would rapidly increase, and the district be permanently settled. At present it is utter folly for anyone to think of making a home at the Karamea. An instance of misplaced confidence in this respect is shown by Mr Castle's own experience. Fourteen months ago he took building materials and stores there in the anticipation of doing a quiet little business, and depending to some extent on an implied promise that the Provincial Government would do somewhat to make the Karamea easier of access. The result has been naught but disappointment, the population has month by month drifted away, and the Provincial authorities have done absolutely nothing, and seem to forget that such a place is in exist ence. It is very probable that if something is not soon done the settlement will be abandoned.