OKARITA

The diggings at Okarita continue to be productive. The West Coast Times of Tuesday says : —The Bruce brought up, yesterday, from Okarita 62130z5. 13dwts. of gold, making, with the 32210z8. to hand by her former trip, the large quantity of 94340z5. within a week. Bain has for the present ceased, and a severe frost set in, which renders the temperature of the atmosphere extremely cold, especially during the nightand early morning.

The Perils of the Sea-shore.—The Westland Observer gives the following account of the dangers encountered by travellers on the beach between Okarita and the Five-Mile Beach : —" On Tuesday and Wednesday, in consequence of the heavy surf along the shore, communication between Okarita and the Five-Mile Beach was considerably interrupted, and several of the more venturous travellers, in the course of their journey, met with accidents which, though ludicrous enough to observers, were attended by no small amount of risk Co life and limb. The common catastrophies of a high tide and heavy surf —the capsizing of drays and packhorses—were supplemented by some, awkward accidents to foot passengers and riders, and it was only owing to the good fortune of some, and the gallantry of others, that tho results were not more disastrous than they proved to be. The most narrow escape was made by an important functionary at the present time—the bailiff of the local Court—who, on returning from the Five-Mile bestride a packhorse, was with his steed, caught in a heavy breaker and carried up among the rocks. The saddle-girths being slack, the saddle and rider were displaced from his proper position, and, one foot of the rider remaining in the straps, he was dragged along the beach fer a considerable! distance, at the imminent risk of his life, and not without sustaining some serious bruises. About the same time, one of the fair sex, who had paid a holiday visit to the Five-Mile, was treated by old Neptune with similar disrespect—was washed from her horse, stripped of hat, cloak, and other portions of her outer attire, and drawn into the raging surf, from the unkind embrace of which she was only rescued by the gallantry of Mr. J. O'Connell, who fortunately happened to be in the vicinity at the time, and who promptly brought the incipient mermaid safely to shore. During the same tide, drays and horses were dashed furiously up againsj; the bluff by occasional heavy seas, and each pedestrian, as he reached the town, indicated by his appearance that he had once too often attempted cutting corners and cheating the advancing wave. The Late Gold Robbery at Okaeita.-—A reward of £250 hns been offered for such information as will lead to the discovery of the person or persons who robbed the Bank of New Zealand, at Okarita. The Grey Argus of Tuesday last says that Mr. Harry Jones, the proprietor of the Manuherikia store, was yesterday arrested by the police, on suspicion of having purchased some of the gold, the proceeds of the recent robbery of the Bank of New Zealand, at Okarita. The accused will be brought before the magistrate this morning. '