LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 111, 1 May 1863, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

Fire at the Spit.—Yesterday morning, about half past seven, smoke was seen to issue from the premises of Messrs. Stuart & Co., at the Spit. An alarm was immediately given, and on examination it was found to be in the store amongst some “ Yesuvians ” and other ignitable matches. By the aid of buckets and the assistance of those on the spot the fire was soon extinguished. The engine was taken down, but arrived after the fire had been put out. We have not heard any authentic account of the damage. Letter from the Diggings.—The following is an extract from a letter received by a gentleman in Napier from a friend in Otago : Dunedin, April 24th, ’63 Mt Dear —Your letter of the 18th came to hand just as I arrived here. I was very glad to hear from you, and should have liked to have seen you ; but at the same time glad that you had not come, as you would have been disappointed. We find we have made a grand mistake by coming at tins season of the year. We have been up to the Dunstan and beyond, but there is not the least chance in the world of doing anything. There are thousands doing nothing many of them waiting for the river to go down, which there is no certainty of its doing—in fact, it will not godown if the season is at all mild, which it promises to be. We took up a claim—the only piece of ground which seemed worth working the rest being rock—and could not make our grub on it; in fact we only made about 3 pennyweight the whole fortnight we were there. With the r * ver . down we may something, but that is doubtful, for what is now udder 10 or 15 feet of water (for it is that much deeper than it was last winter) we cannot have the least idea of what it will be, and may wait there the whole winter and not see the bottom of it. However we staid as long as we could, * * * the others’ had left a day or two before, with just enough to take them back to Auckland ; for there is no work to be had here of any sort excepting the Government roads, at ss. a day. j£ jj, ero was the least chance of a job here we would take it, but there are hundreds doing nothing, and cannot get anything to do. * * * * We do not know what the Nelson diggings are, but it is a new country, * * so we were wishing to got there and

work for thft Winter and try the diggings Spring, for I hare not the least doubt that there will be splendid chances in either this province or Nelson next Summer; they are prospecting the. West Coast, and will, I think have some new diggings by the time Winter is over. I should not recommend yo üby any means to go to the Dunstan or any of these diggings this Winter, for had there even been a chance of our making our grub we would have staid, .but there was not, and many are even now nearly starving although there is plenty of gold getting, but those who have good claims know how to take care of them. The place is altogether over-rushed, and they are coming in by thousands, hut for all I know there may be chances in Nelson, in fact I have been told that there are, but at any rate a person can get plenty of work there. If you think it worth your while you may have a chance there, and we will be only too glad of your company, but I am glad you did not come to the X)unstan with us, as you would have lost a good deal of money over it, for everything is so dear—bread 3s. 6d. a loaf, and everything m proportion. *** * * On no account come with the intention of going to these diggings, but I do think that there may be chances in Nelson, because we could get work and be on the look-out all the time. lam afraid I shall weary you out with this dry epistle, butdull times make dull minds. Hoping you are in good health, believe me to remain Yours sincerely