HOKITIKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 14, 20 March 1866, Page 3

HOKITIKA.

The rush on the north bank of the Hokitika promises to be of great importance, as the prospectors have succeeded in breaking into the washdirt -which yielded an excellent prospect of 1 dwt. the dish. This result soon became known, and the flat was marked out for,, nearly a mile in length, some little excitement being occasioned, ,. The miners are. all sanguine, it wili 'turn out welj, -and confidently predict they ( will-yet; connect :'Hokitika and Kanieri by along line • of vorkings.T :: That'Buch vaay be its" case is the vish '

of both communities, and there seems no reason to doubt its fulfilment, for from the appearance of the intervening flats we feel sure they contain both rich patches and leads of gold. The new flat is already named, and is now known a3 the Shenandoah, and the prospectors have assumed to themselves the appellation of the Enterprise Company. The chief obstacle to the rapid development of this locality is the depth of sinking and the quantity of water met with in the drifts. Hokitika Bar. — A -marked change has lately taken place and is still going on in the formation of the North and South Spits, so much so indeed as to necessitate the removal of the southern flagstaff, to preserve it from being washed into the river, to a spot some two hundred yards further to the" westward. Considerable inroads have been made into the South Spit, the direct action of the river upon its' inner side having eaten away, acres of the bank promising in time .to remove the whole point and form a channel out to sea further to the southward than was ever known before. The S.VV. breezes of the past week have silted up the south channel and compelled the river to find its way to the sea along the north beach, the junction being effected very far to the northward flagstaff". So far as breadth and depth is concerned the channel is a good one, the only objection to it being being the vessels are exposed to a broadside surf when they enter or depart. Public Buildings. — The progress of building in town is rapidly advancing, and a very superior style of structure is superseding the rudely put up stores, which were made to suffice for the exigencies of trade during the first days of the gold-fields. Substantial warehouses, new banks, and commodious hotels, are gradually giving an entirely altered character to the architectural appearance of the town. We have referred elsewhere to the new theatre, whicli will present a very fine and imposing front to Revell-street. In the same street the Bank of New South Wales has just completed a new set of offices of very handsome design. Near it is the Camp Reserve, a fine and commanding site in the centre of the town, which is being surrendered to the more general uses of the. public. One portion of this has been taken posses-" sion of by the Bank of New Zealand, who are about to erect upon it a handsome building, and has already put up a smelting house as part of .their establishment. The frontage immediately adjoining it has been granted by the Government to the Volunteer Fire Brigade, who have adopted designs and called for tenders for a commodious engine-house, which is intended to have an ornamental exterior that will render it in keeping with the new style of building that is growing up around it. The new hospital is aimost finished, so far as the portion of the design at present taken in hand is concerned, and is on the eve of being opened for public use. The new goal is progressing. — Leader, March 1 6.