CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 320, 2 November 1865, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE TIMES. Sir, —On Thursday, the 19iA Oct., one of Tareha’s policemen arrived here, bearing a summons to take the Hau-hau Waata Kohikohi before justice at Napier, for his previous outrage on Mr Harding and. myself. He called at the Station and showed me the summons, and said that he had come for myself and Waata, and we must both proceed at once or early next day. The request for my part I immediately complied with. In the meantime he went to Mohaka to get aid from the friendly Maoris to come and help him. The next day Paul, the Maori chief and six of his men came, some armed with swords and others with bayonets. They went over to the Pa to korero, hut Waata would neither go to Napier or Mohaka. He says Hau-haus have nothing to do with the Government whatever; and as the outrage was committed here he will not be tried anywhere but here. If the Government is to be defied both on a point of law and justice by a single Hau-hau fanatic, what are we in future to expect and look forward to —as this demoralizing superstition of the Hau haus is fast spreading amongst the Maoris.• —I am, Sfc., GEORGE FARROW. Waikari, October 25th, 1865.

In the House of Representatives on the 24th nit. Major Richardson asked the hon. gentleman at the head of the Government whether there was any intention of moving the Defence and Native Departments of Government to Auckland ? Mr Stalford said the Government had no such intention whatever. Major Richardson said that after such a frank expression of opinion on the part of the hon. gentleman at the head of the Government, he said that he felt no embarrassment in putting the second question, viz.,—Whether he (Mr S.) concurred on the part of the Government in the active employment of Her Majesty’s troops in New Zealand, and, if so, on what understanding? Mr Stafford replied that the Government had not concurred yet iu taking any action in the matter.

In the House of Representatives on the 24th lilt, the Master and Apprentice Bill was read a third time and passed—Me Goknso vigorously op* posing the “inhuman” measure.

WEST CAFTTEBB DBY GOLD-FIELDS. WAIMEA. The correspondent of the Leader, of the xoth October, writes ’ — Notwithstanding the continued wet weather, work is being pushed ahead with vigor. The miners of this locality appear to be getting aeclamitised to the West Coast weather, and work away through the rain, regardless of the almost constant down-pour. This is, in fact, almost a necessity, as the number of fine days bear a very small proportion to that of the rainy ones. The false bottom which so generally exists in this district contains many palaeontological treasures, that would delight the heart of an Agassiz. During the past few days, I have been shown the remains of several fossil fishes, some of them in a very perfect form. They appear to belong to the ganoid class, nearly all the varieties of which are extinct, with the exception of the sturgeon and one or two others. The fossils I have mentioned are about the size of a mullet, and have the pointed scales distinctive of the class.

Several of the terraces near the township are being worked to advantage, the water having been brought on to them from considerable distances. Several of the races run through the Camp reserve, the whole of which has been proved to be auriferous. There has been a great deal of talk lately concerning the practicability of bringing in a large head of water from the left head of the Arahura. The length required to be cut would be about ten miles, and if this work was but accomplished it would be of immense advantage to the district generally. From what I have seen of the levels, I imagine that the water could be brought across the range immediately below this township. At Greek’s Gullies, Nos. 1 and 2, there are not many men working, but I believe that all are getting well paid. There are two or three first-rate claims iu these gullies. At the Italian’s there does not seem to be much apparent change. The claim-holders appear satisfied with the results of their work. The principal drawback is want of water, as, after two days of fiue weather, the supply begins to fail.

Maori Gully supports only a small population at present, compared with its former greatness; but lam assured that some of the claims are yielding as well as in the best of its palmy days. I have made farther enquiries concerning the so-called discovery of of a second bottom; and from what has transpired I imagine that it must have been what is termed iu diggers’ parlance a “ pothole,” as no other party had succeeded in getting through the false bottom. The “ pothole ” may have become overlaid with some deposit, which induced the men to suppose that they had made a great discovery. Afew days ago, some men who were engaged in felling a large red pine tree on the upper terrace, managed affairs so badly as to tumble the whole bulk of the tree across the store of M‘Farlane and Co., completely destroying the building, and likewise the bakery iu the rear of the premises. To add to the difficulties of the situation, a case of matches ignited by the falling timber, set fire to some goods, and altogether the damage done is something considerable. LIFE IK HOKITIKA. The following extracts we take from the Advertiser, of the 13th ult.:—

Eight months ago the ocean surf expended its wild strength upon the solitary shores of Hokitika. Not a human being dwelt within sound of its thundering roar. All was a dreary solitude. Scarcely a living thing—reptile bird or beast—tenanted the district, and save two or three brave adventurers, intent upon fresh accessions of land whereon their flocks and herds of sheep and cattle might graze, this portion of the West Coast of New Zealand was uninhabited ; a terra incognita , known only as an inhospitable waste ; a dangerous coast; a bleak drenching climate. Sand and shingle from the seaboard until the hills were reached ; and, beyond these, dense timber, scrub and tangled creeper everywhere. Heavy mists hung over the hill tops nearest to the beach line; snow upon the mountain caps further distant. Yawning chasms, precipices plumb down many a hundred feet, and deep gorges between and beyond all. Such was reported of Hokitika but short eight months since. To-day, how vast and astonishing the change! Twenty thousand men populate this hitherto unprofitable waste. Twenty thousand more, it is said, will come. Eight months ago, a traveller landing on these shores unprovided, would have perished wanting a meal, and his intellect have forsaken him in the profound depths of the vast solitude by which he found himself surrounded. To-day he pushes aside

the busy throng, aud enters one of the numerous handsome hotels or restaurants which adorn the town, and is served by the civilest of attendants, under the watchful eye of the landlord with his three courses at a charge but little in excess of the oldest of colonial towns or cities. Surely Hokitika, and the tide of human life that flows through it, is worthy of describing, if it only be for the information of those who, living far away in quiet lands, cannot picture to their imaginations a change, effected— As by a stroke of the Enchanter’s wand We will take our reader in company with us, through the town and show him if we can, the talismanic influence which our golden wealth has wrought. It is a Saturday, and we start from our well ordered hostelry, where we have breakfasted sumptuously off the best.

Turning to the right, we have passed along Revel! street as far as the office in which this ‘brochure’ will be printed, turned back on the other side, and in this short quarter of a mile we have counted fifty hotels, public houses and restaurants, which must have cost many thousands of pounds in bar decorations alone. Shilling nobblers ! Why, if we take into account the money which has been outlayed on many of these establishments, the uncertainty of the tenure upon which they are held, the risk of fire, the tidal dangers of the ocean at the rear, nobblers at a half-a-crown would be cheap, although we am sure sixpence is the price which would generally be preferred by an appreciating public. Attached to many of the hotels are costly biliard tables in the centre of capacious rooms, looking as cheerful and elegant as the painter and paperanger’s art can make them. Others draw custom by well-constructed bowling and skittle alleys, while less pretentious houses are content with such amusement as a bagatelle table may offer, for which there is no charge, the profits accruing being the drinks which losers pay for, and ,A playing off is strictly prohibited.”

Passing by numerous butchers shops, in which the weight of fat beef and mutton threatens the upper joists of the building ; and bakeries displaying hundreds of loaves* the legal weight of which we sincerely hope is correct, we notice at intervals several drapery establishments of a very attractive order.

Besides what we have noticed, there are in the street some scores of wholesale and retail houses for purveying of provisions, groceries, vegetables, wines, ales and spirits (all, of course, of the best brands). There are cattle yards, horse repositories, concert halls, and music saloons, where aerobats, Ethiopian serenaders, and comic singers, entertain nightly delighted audiences of a highly mixed and heterogenous character; A NEW EUSH. The Times, of the 14th October, says;— Yesterday, reports were rife in Hokitika concerning a rush that had set in near the cemetery, and no small excitement has been caused thereby amongst the miners who Are at present waiting in Hokitika for intelligence anxions enough, no doubt, to hear something definite that would enable them at once to leave the town and an idle life. As usual in such cases, rumor has much exaggerated the real facts of the case, we having heard that as much as 2 dwt. to the dish bad been obtained. As far as we can learn, the highest prospect washed was 3 grs. to the dish ; and on our applying at the Camp for information, we were given to understand that no application for a prospecting claim bad been made. We were also informed that the sinking was shallow, the prospectors* hole being only three feet deep; but that lower down, on the side of the terrace, the ground was much deeper, and not yet bottomed. We shall report specially on t.bU rush in our next issue.

THE WEST COAST ROA». We (Canterbury Press) have received the following very interesting account of a journey overland to the West Coast, and can vouch for its authenticity : Having just returned from a cattle-driving expedition to the West Coast, I thought a few remark on the state of the roads might not be uninteresting, especially as rumors of all kinds prevail on the subject, and those rumors most readily gain credence which argue against a road being made at all, the question being continually raised. Why spend so much money on a road which, it is said, cannot be completed under five years, and when completed, can never be available for dray traffic ? Now, my own impression is, that the enterprising “Cobb and Co.” will be found running their coach to the Taipo within a

month, and within three months they will be running.through. As to dray traffic, the only bugbears on the road are Pprter’s pass and Arthur's pass. Of the former, I agree with a Lyttelton carrier, who has himself been over.it, in the opinion that it is not so bad as the Sumner pass; and of ,the latter, I feel persuaded that it. is neither so steep nor so long as Porter’s pass. From the summit of Arthur’s pass the gradient is on an easy incline to the bed of the Otira, and thence till, you come within two miles of the Teremakau you have a good metalled, coach road. At this point, a cutting through the bush brings you out 'on the Teremakau, This part of the road was very, soft; but from the marked improvement in it which we noticed on our. return, there is no reason to doubt that even this, bad as may appear, will soon be formed into a good road.

Down the Teremakau to Taipo, a distance of, sixteen miles or so, you have alternately, the dry river bed and bush terraces. Here again, although the road..was soft in parts of the bush, still there was. goodly evidence of daily improvement, and of much skill and energy in prosecuting the work. The Taipo we found to be anything but an agreeable river to ford. The stream is very rapid, and it passes over large boulders ; indeed, this river is a very serious obstacle to foot passengers, but as it is not wide, I -conclude that the Government will bridge it without delay. From this river to the mouth of the Arahura you are almost entirely in the hush; and here you have the worst pari of the journey. In many places there is only a track cut, and as the road passes through quite a plain country of bush, a.nd no drainage has as yet, been completed, it is not to be wondered at that the continual traffic of passengers, horses and cattle has rendered it a complete puddle. But even here one of the contractors told me that their road would be available for dray traffic within .their specified time. Once through this—some twenty miles, from end to end -—you come out on the Arahura river, which you must ford from side to side, at least a dozen times, till you come to the. sea beach. But here I may mention that heavily laden waggons are even passing up and down by the same fords, conveying stores and implements to the road-contractors ; and when the bush .cutting shall have been completed, there will be no need to take the river bed at all. Once at the sea beach, five miles along it brings yon to Hokitika, whither we were bound. It took us fourteen days of travelling, extended over twenty days of time, to get our cattle through; and it took us six days to return to Christchurch. The distance, to the best of ray calculation, seemed to be something like 160 miles, and I think that the Bealey store may be considered the half-way house.