HOKITIKA.

Evening Post, Issue 265, 13 December 1865, Page 2

HOKITIKA.

The Grey River Argus, of 2nd Decem- 1 ber, publishes the following from its correspondent at Hokitika : — There has been a very serious affray at the Okarita, and one which I fear has created such strong antipathies between two parties, with different nationalities, that it will be found necessary to place the district under additional police surveillance until the feeling dies out, or the opposing parties find it more conducive to their individual success by maintaining peace and good order among themselves. About the middle of last week somewhere between fifty and sixty diggers left Bruce Bay for I the Okarita, in consequence of Borne very flaming report which had been brought in respecting the richness of the new claims which had been taken up in this locality. No sooner had the new comers arrived on ! the ground and were about pitching their tent, than they were attacked, front and rear with stones, pieces of broken timber, and other missiles. These came from men who were in occupation of claims which they had been working for some days, and who I may presume, did not want to have any other parties to share in their luck ; but as there was no desire either shown or felt by the new comers to jump their ground or do anything else than prospect about until they had found some likely

place to set into work, the attack was a most unjustifiable one, and was very stoutly and determinedly resisted by those who were. assailed. Then a very savage and bloody fight ensued, and in the melee some seve c wounds inflicted, and two men nearly killed. When the opposite parties came to close quarters the weapons they attacked with were bludgeons, picks, hammers, sluice forks and sheath knives. The affray, before it was quelled, lasted over two hours. There were at the time lam speaking about 500 miners on the ground, hut the numbers have since then been doubled, and I hear that large areas are being worked with great success. The population of Hokitika has considerably decreased during the past week. Great numbers have made their way over to the Grey and the new rush at the Totara ; but the Grey appears just now to be the favorite field. Nevertheless and notwithstanding all, we are making rapid progress. From the 13th to the 18 th instant., or in six days, 20,000 ounces of gold were cleared through the Customs for shipment, about 7000 ounces being left in buyers* hands to the good. The most remarkable commercial event of the last week is the great and sudden fall in timber. Ten days ago kauri pine, grooved and tohgued boards, sold for 35s per 100 feet, since when they have dropped to 235 ; and scantling, which, until lately, has been realising 25s to 275, can novr be obtained for 17s to 19s laid down. I am sorry to report that a great amount of low fever is prevalent in many localities here at present, and that the several members of the medical profession are in requisition at all hours of the day and uigtyt. The Bank of New Zealand on Tuesday morning shipped 10,155 oz of gold by the South Australian for Melbourne. Now the Melbourne journals write that we have collapsed ; that we are done up ; that our gold fields are deserted ; worked out ; over-rushed, and many other such things. When this lit tie instalment reaches Victoria perhaps the journals there may change their opinions respecting us. The set in the tide of popnlation is still Grey ward, and our population is thinning, although not to any perceptible extent. To show that we mean business and enterprise, a prospectus has been issued for a West Coast Steam Towing Company. A powerful provisional committee has been formed, and sliares, I am told, are being taken up very freely. Will the Grey join us in the venture ? I think I can promise that it will turn out a very profitable speculation. The Argus correspondent at the TwelveMile writes that Henry James Taperell, formerly of Wellington and Queenstown, and lately Mr. Montgomery's .storekeeper, is missing, and great anxiety felt for his safety. He" left the Arnold township on Friday morning, the 17th inst., for the Arnold Mouth, informing the ferrymen and others that he would return same day ; he has not since been seen or heard of. Messrs Montgomery and Leith, fearing an accident had occurred, carefully searched the track and adjoining bush to the Arnold, but without success. In its commercial report, the Argus of the Ist inst. says: — "By the arrival of ttie steamers Star of the Evening, from Dunedin, and Thane and Eleanor from Nelson, a not unwelcome adaition has been made to our stocks. Unfortunately none of these vessels brought us much hams or bacon, and these staples, of which the consumption here is necessarily ao great, remain at very high prices. For the former 2s Id is readily obtainable, irrespective of brands, if the article is sound and good, While for the latter 2s is the quotation for Sinclair's, and Is lod co is lid for Brown'aand Ooaey's respectively $ but the market is all but cleared. Flour has a decidedly upward tendency, consequent upon the large increase in value established In the Australian markets, and in the various provinces of this colony. Chilian ia worth* £36 in trade parcels, while for Adelaide £40 is the price asked. Building materials continue in demand, galvanised iron (Scotch), £48 to £50 ; rongn boards and scantling, 30*. Sheet copper, the entire absence of which in the market has been for long so sorely felt by the miners

working on the Beach, has at length been imported to a small extent, and has naturally realised extravagant rates, having been placed in little parcels of from 2 or 3 to 5 cwt. at 11s to 12s 6d per lb, and is being eagerly bought by the consumers a~ 16s. The demand will, however, soon be supplied, and subsequent importers will doubtless have to be contented with smaller profits. Quicksilver still scarce, and worth in quantity 10s. Horse feed is in somewhat better supply ; but the rates are still high. Oats, 12s ; chaff, £30 ; bran, 6s 6d to 7s. Potatoes continue scarce ; £14 is the price for parcels. Butter, 3s to 383 \4 V