THE KARAMEA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 16, 20 January 1868, Page 2

THE KARAMEA.

[from a correspondent.] The weather in the neighborhood of the Baton has been very unsettled since the 28th ult. There have been several heavy storms accompanied with much thunder and lightning, and owing to the continuation of wet, weather, ail work both on the roads and mining have beeu at almost a standstill, but as the weather appears to ba now taking up again the work can again be proceeded with. There are now 22 men at work on the Upper Baton employed in mining operations, but since tlie 16 ounce nugget was found in that locality, nothing haa been got worth speaking of. in fact, I do not think any one has made even tucker during the past, three week:*, but of course, the wet weather has been greatly against them. In Maori Gully there are three or four men at work, hot their success has so far been very poor, none of them having made more than tucker since being in the guily, hut as it is a general opinion that there*) is good ground in the neighborhood, rhe men seem determined to proseeulj their prospecting efforts for a week or two longer. Most of the men who 'save been winking in the Kni'.mi- a came in nu Christmas Eve, and returned with provisions sufficient to last for a mouth. If- was the geueral opinion amongst them that if they could only be regularly supplied with provisions Avithout l-uvir.g to io.se so vevy much time in coming here for their wants, they would soon be able to strike upon something as a reward lor the hardships tiiey have endured in their search fbr goid in- such a c*.u:-try as this, as rough a country as it is possibh lor auy one to imagine. During the past, week about 40 men eamo up here from Neison for the purpose of getting woik on the road which is now being made to the Kara men, bur, owing to the contracts being tendered for at- so low a figure, and days w.iges also being so very low, many of tiiem returned to town rather than remain here to work at N-'!s*hi rates of wages, and provisions about 75 per cent higher than Nelson prices. Most t.f them, however, intend to try their luck in the Karamea when the present rond, which is now being made, shall he corn pie ted. I am inclined Lo think that they will wait about and visit this part again, as they seemed strongly desirous to see the Karamea At. present there are two miles of the road contracted for, and I believe the Surveyor will let out each half-mite, as he has litiished laying it off. The contracts are let out iv sections of 40 chains, and to he finished iv three weeks from date of contract, so I imagine that in about four or five weeks from now the road will be finished. As it will then be easy to take stores into the Karamea, no doubt there will be a considerable number of diggers trying their fortunes their, and we may hope to soon know for a certainty if the Karamea is as rich as many people at present are Jed to suppose. The different rivers in this district have beeu lately very high. A valuable packhorse, belonging to Air Snow, was drowned on the 7th inst. in attempting to cross the Motueka river. January 12.