The West Coast Goldfields are making a fresh start. Some attempt is being made both by Government and private persons to open up survey tracks through the dense bush, which will enable the miners to prospect the country without risk of being lost in the bush. Several new finds of more thau average importance have lately been announced, and there are evident signs that a further large influx of population will shortly arrive from Australia, The roads and tracks be tween East and West keep open, and the traffic has been comparatively undisturbed by the winter. Large and increasing numbers of cattle and sheep are weekly driven over the several routes. The live stock thus disposed of by the eastern farmers has reached a rate of not much less than half a million a year. It may fairly be stated that the opportune opening up of this market saved a large number of sheep farmers from the ruin in which the heavy fall in the price of sheep which occurred two years ago would inevitably have involved them. The population on the "West Coast is of uncertain amount, and has been variously estimated at from 25,000 to 30,000. Throughout the winter it has gone on quietly increasing, and it is probable that during the next three months another 10,000 will be added to it. This is a conclusive proof of the productive character of the goldfield.
