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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1880 Excerpt: ... Descriptive Notice. The Provincial District of Westland occupies the west slope of the Southern Alps, forming a strip 200 miles in length by 30 in average breadth. Its area is 3,045,700 acres, two-thirds being "bush." It was separated from Canterbury, and became an independent county in 1867. In 1874 it was made a Provincial District. The greater part of the flat and undulating land, and the mountain sides, to a great height, are covered with dense forests. When the flats bordering the coast, and those between the outlying hills and the main range, are cleared, they will yield considerable areas of good arable land. Westland may be described as a vast alluvial gold field. Gold was first discovered in 1864, and for several years thereafter the county contained a very large mining population, and exported enormous quantities of the precious metal. The yield, though greatly diminished, is still very considerable, and the diggings will long afford remunerative employment to large numbers of miners. Along nearly all the rivers and streams, and the terraces between them, and in many parts along the beach, gold is found in payable quantities. The great obstacle to the working of the auriferous deposits is the difficulty of obtaining sufficient supplies of water; but this is being overcome by the construction of large and costly water races. Silver ore of excellent quality has been found abundantly at Mount Rangitoto (Totara District). Very valuable seams of coal occur in the Grey Basin, at the junction of the Grey with the Arnould. These beds are now being worked, but the export of coal on a large scale is hindered by the bad harbour at Greymouth, which is closed against large vessels by a shifting bar. It is, however, being improved by the erection of harbour wor...