TEREMAKAU.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 159, 5 November 1864, Page 3

TEREMAKAU.

The correspondent of the ' Nelson Examiner,' under date 10th ult., gives the following particulars of the diggings at Teremakau He says : " The weather, so important to those engaged in creek and river claims, has not been favorable during the last fortnight, and as one day s rain is sufficient to retard mining operations tor two or three successive days, the delay caused by the broken weather of the lust and previous week has been a serious drawback to the miner. I nice working days out of the seven would seem to be as many as can be reckoned upon at this season \ but as the summer advances it is to be hoped that the occurrence of rain will be much less frequent. When we are favored with sunshine, the weather is indeed beautiful—bright as the Victorian spring or Nelson summer. Nobody could desire a finer climate, were it not for the attacks of swarms of sandflies, which, warmed into in creased activity, assail the hands, arms and other exposed parts of the body, with a remarkable degree of vigor and pertinacity. The large " blue bottles" are nearly as great a pest, although their assaults are of a less sanguinary character. They are fond of blowing blankets and similar textile fabrics, if at all damp; and myriads of embryo maggots are sure to be the result of carelessly leaving such articles exposed to the attentions of the ' blue-tailed fly.' The Hohonu and Greenstone have within the last week been partially deserted for a new rush on a creek some seven or eight miles south of the Teremakau. This last £1 Dorado does not, however, promise to be anything richer than the older workings, only some half-dozen claims being likely to yield moderate wages. Several parties have proceeded further south along the coast, as far as the Arahura river, and, from the appearance of the country in that direction, entertain hopes of ultimately opening up a payable goldfieid. Something of this sort is necessary to retain the population here, as many who came overland f»'om Christchurch, not liking the appearance of things, immediately made up their swags, and prepared to retrace their steps to the capital of the Province. These have been succeeded by numbers of Otago miners, from the Molyneux, Kawarau, and Shotover, who intend remaining as long as their sinews of war last, and they are determined to give the country a fair trial. A few additional storekeepers have lately arrived, and have erected buildings in places more convenient to the inhabitants, in a great measure doing away with the necessity of humping provisions such great distances as they were obliged to do. The advent of the new traders has caused little alteration in prices, but in a short time they must all doubtless be reconciled to have a little of the gilding taken off their ginger-bread. The following are the retail prices of provisions, as furnished by Messrs Hemmett and Co.:—Flour, 30s per 501bs bag ; tea, 4s 6d per lb ; bacon, 2s 3d to 2s 6d ; tobacco, lis ; candles, 2s 6d; sugar, Is to Is Id ; coffee, 2s 6d.

We extract the following from the 'Otago Mail' of the 31st ult."The cheeseparing economy of the 'retrenchment' administration is bearing good fruit. Last year the police were reduced from 12s 6d to lis per diem, and now they are reduced to 10s per day. Those newly joining will only get 9s per day. This may to outsiders appear good pay, but when we inform them that a constable's clothes, clothes, in fact, that he is compelled to purchase, cost between £2O and £3O per annum, or about 10s per week, and his mess as a single man only comes to another 25s per week, it is clear that the margin when the long hours and other necessary expenses are taken into consideration, is very small. As might be expected this gradual reduction has thoroughly disorganised the police force, which, a short time ago, was something for «Jtago to be justly proud of. No less than 22 have already sent in their resignations to the Chief Commissioner, and a large number up country will no doubt follow suit. A good time is coming for rogues and vagabonds, and rascaldom will have real reason for rejoicing at the economy that has recently been manifested in reference to the police."