HAWKESBURY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 43, 15 February 1864, Page 5

HAWKESBURY.

(FROM A COEItESPOXDENT.) Waikouaiti, 6th Feb. 1864. The Grovernment arc still pushing on with the formation of Eeach street, wliich is the main thoroughfare through Jones's township, so-called in contradistinction to that laid out by the Grovernment, which latter, by-the-byc, appears to be quite at a standstill ; it does not really boast of an hotel, that fore-runner of progress under English rule. Reverting to my subject — it appears that the sum voted by Grovernment for the formation of Beach street is but £1500, the distance, say a mile, with cuttings in places from 6 to 12 feet deep, and several dressed stone culverts, and then to be laid with metal. I am certain that if the sum voted is not. supplemented by a further grant that the work cannot be finished just now.- The progress of this place has been very rapid within the last twelve months, and ijome really substantial buildings have been erected. Its progress has, however, in a great measure been accelerated by its vicinity to the goldfields, and, as they are rather in a languishing state just now, our trade has become rather dull, and while some assert that our best days are those that have been, others again look forward to a better time. The work of building still goes on, and an opposition butcher starting next week lowers the prices of beef froni lOd. and Is. to about 7d. The unusually dry weather we have had lately has materially retarded the growth bf garden vegetables ; - the blight has also shown itself in the wheat. From a correspondent in the North (East Coast), I learn that the blight has shown itself so strongly in the crops of the farmers residing there as to totally injure them, and they are. either turning- the cattle amongst it or adopting the more expeditious plan of putting a firestick in it . in order to clear it off. ; „ I do not leavri that the "pleuro-pneunionia" has spread any further in this district. I, however, learn that several parties have crossed the up-country boundary with bullock teams, ■ and I have no doubt . they will <. be summarily dealt with, as the law cannot bo too stringent in a case of this nature. A report has been very, prevalent here ; within this week, of a pretty blrong party of ■ diggers with dray and pack-horse being met . I proceeding towards Mr. Watkins', which is ' about six miles from here. Now it has always been an uudorstood thing that gold was obtainable there, and that a man would occasionally come on, in that locality, with 20 or \ 80 ozs. ! The Bank of New Zealaud has established | an agency here, with what success it is hard ! at present to say. Several parcels of gold .have been offered there to-day, rumor says obtained fi-oni the vicinity of Mr. Watkins. *