TAKAKA.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 417, 22 October 1861, Page 2

TAKAKA.

[from a correspondent.] 6th October, 1861. In the first place, who is to be returned as Superintendent this time ? are there any aspirants to that honor except Mr. Wrey ? " r ' '

> Secondly» can you give us the slightest information as to when we shall be visited by the Resident Magistrate for Massacre Bay? I have attended the court six times. since his last visit, now two months ago, but to no purpose. And I can" assure you it is a most serious matter to the Takaka people, as many of them have to travel from four to nine miles, and even 12 miles, besides crossing most dangerous rivers.

Sometimes when the weather is wet he does not come on the day appointed ; but when he arrives, proceeds to hold the cpurt without the slightest intimation to parties concerned —this has happened once to mynelf. A man of Motupipi was sumironed for Wednesday (the first Wednesday in each month is court day) but the magistrate did not arrive until Saturday afternoon, and adjudicated as he thought fit. On an average there are about 30 persons at each sitting of the count, the hour of- commencing is fixed for 11 a.m., so they have to leave their home in time to be theie at that hour; his worship does not come, you are obliged to wait about in your wet clothes until £-past 3, when a policeman postpones the affair till next day. I want to come to Nelson, but I caunot, as I want to gtt an order from the Magistrate for several individuals here to pay so much a month. It is most likely that some of them may be off to Otago, and I have no means of preventing them. I would have written to the Colonist-long before now about this subject, but I am afraid it might influence somebody's decisions. '

I omitted to mention that a loss of time is money to the settlers, and'double that to the diggers—i. c. a digger comes to court, he loses that day's gold, and is fined ten shillings by his mates for absence. Endeavor to convince our magistrate that there is such a place as Takaka. There has been no court held since the 7th of August, and the next is notified for the 9th November; perhaps if he is reminded of the fact ia the meantime, it may happen; but

how to get there goodness knows, as there is no furry now, Spittal gave it up last court-day. The diggings here are progressing favora'^g; indeed, I question if there is any place in New Zealand where men are doing so well, taking them one with another. .

We have had a great deal of wet, but at most of the diggers are ground sluicing,, it is a very great adva/itage, but to the diggers it is a drawback; the substratum is gravel, and if the river rises at all, the water percolates into the pits. 1 will not attempt a description of the roads here, it could not be credited in Nelson ; but I can assure you that I have had the mud up Jo vest-pockets in wading through them. There is a cart stuck at the present time, and I don't know when he will be able to get it out again. The lower Takaka school was opened on Wednesday last, and had a numerous attendance for the first day. The building is a superior one, and I have heard competent parties say that the contractors, Messrs. Scott and McCallum have done their work well. The ratepayers are not satisfied that the schoolmaster is only to teach the children 12 hours per week, with a salary of-£l4O per annum —the children to go to school at 10, leave at 12, go again at 2, and leave at 4, and that for three days per week; the other three days he has to go to the Long PJain to teach at their school—but different arrangements must be made, as at present he cannot cross the Takaka river even *vith a horse, —supposing he had one —and there is no ferry.