HOKITIKA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 290, 20 July 1865, Page 3

HOKITIKA.

ARRIVAL OP THE MAID OP THE YARRA WITH 3,400 OUNCES. LOSS OF FULLY £4OOO BY THE WEECK OF THE SIE FRANCIS DRAKE. THREE MEN DROWNED IN CROSSING THE TEREMAKAU. [From the Nelson Colonist, July 11.] The Maid of the Yarra, Capt. Elmsley, arrived at Nelson, from Hokitika, on Saturday evening. She brought 3,400 ounces of gold and 40 passengers ; 2,400 ounces were for the Bank of New Zealand, and 1000 for the Union Bank of Australia. There is still a considerable quantity of gold in hand. The news from the various parts of the diggings continues good, as regards the finding of gold, but we hear that the storekeepers are departing from their original sound business rule of “ cash terms,” and are indulging in the hazardous game of credit to a large extent.

Captain Elmsley, who left on Friday morning, reports that the stranded steamer Bruce was expected to be safely launched, at latest, on Saturday, and that the efforts of those engaged on the Nelson would meet with a similar success within three days thereafter.

The intelligence reported last by the Dancing Wave, that a new and large channel, with deep water, had been formed on the bar at Hokitika, is contradicted by th e master of the Maid of the Yarra, who informs us that the bar continues in the same state as it was when the Wallaby last left, and the only available entrance is still in the same position. It appears there is not more than nine feet of water on the bar, and the only available entrance is a little further southward than hitherto, but still well to the north, and from the accounts re ;eived, it is far from safe for sailing vessels attempting to get in, except with a N.W. wind, which at present is a rare wind upon the coast, especially as the tide does not affect the river, the waters of which are always running out. We mentioned last week the wreck of the threemasted schooner Sir Francis Drake, and the ketch Esther, Both went quickly to pieces, in fact broke up into splinters, it may be said. The Sir Frands Drake appeared to come in all safe. She was drawing Oft, Gin, and in crossing the bar touched and hung for a few moments, and at last got over, but was driven on the Spit, where she struck and fell over, with her head to the very heavy surf that was rolling in. Shortly afterwards she slewed around, with her deck seward, and speedily burst up, going to pieces, but not before two large holes had been cut in her bilge, and part of the cargo much damaged taken ou t by this means. Nothing remains of the Sir Francis Drake or the Esther. The former was laden with a general cargo, the greater portion of which was got out, but much damaged. The loss is estimated at from £4,000 to £5,000. The schooner, (ship and cargo) was fully insured. Three men were drowned in crossing the Teremakau, on Thursday last. Their names are John Murray, James Pharos, and Alexander Stewart. The river was in high flood at the time and rushing down with great velocity. The men were mounted on three pack horses, and were swept away by the current. Murray who was a splendid swimmer, swam bravely for a long time, and called to several people to send a horse in, but it could not be done, and the poor fellow could not get out of the current, and at last was carried off. None of the bodies have been found. New rushes continue in different directions. Therehasbeen a now rush up Kanieri river, towards the lake of that name and it has been productive of good results, and at another rush between the lake and Kanieri township, a party of miners bottomed a shaft at 18 feet, and took 17 ounces from the bottom. Ten or twelve miles from Kanieri, up one of the left banks of Hokitika, another rush took place with favorable results. Men are makiug wages and a trifle over and the prospects in the neighborhood were highly encouraging. Near Kanieri itself there is a flat where driving has produced good effects, and on which a number of miners have congregated. Storekeepers are following the diggers to the different rushes around Kanieri; information received from districts considerably southward of Hokitika appears to bear out forme) anticipations, that gold trends to the south. Numerous prospectors have gone in that direction, and although a good deal of reticence is shown as to their movements, their satisfaction as to their position now and then breaks out. On the North also, in the Buller, many men are said to be working, but it is difficult to ascertain with what success, but numbers are drawa by reports in that direction. From all appearances the gold districts extend a great distance along the West Coast.

The following is taken from the West Coast Times of the sth July : "Waimea. —The weather during the past week has been exceedingly wet; for two days all communication with the town was completely stopped, the river being bank high. The mail was a day behind in consequence. On Thursday evening we were visited by a heavy thunderstorm ; lightning very vivid, but I have not heard of any damage done by it. At Hatter’s and Liverpool Bill’s gully, a good many of the claims are getting worked out. Most of the claims in last-mentioned gully have paid the owners very well. At Pox’s many of the old claims continue to pay good dividends ; a great deal of new land opened, both terrace and gully claims, seem to promise as well as those that were first taken up. Pell and his party ate averaging from ton to twelve pounds per week, a man. Maori Gully, and the gullies and the terraces adjoining it still maintain the reputation already acquired for richness. Most of the present claims will pay wages, and many of the better ones will yield from £2OO to £403 each man. At Callaghan’s, most of the ground at present being washed is on the terraces, end miners generally appear satisfied with their returns. The Three-mile is rather dull at present; many of the miners seem to be waiting, Micawber-like, “ for something to turn up,” A good many have left for the Grey.