ECHOES FROM THE OKARITO DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3987, 9 June 1881, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE OKARITO DISTRICT.

[a mountain rat.] Having taken a flying trip to Hokitika, and staying longer there than I anticipated, must be my excuse for not having a line from the "Rat" before this mail. lam sorry to say that my news this time will be rather meagre. The Like Mapourika diggings are not going ahead with that success the digger would have led us to believe they would three months ago. There are no new finds, and the old claims are, I believe, paying very little over tucker. I am sorry for it. There is a large area of ground available for prospecting parties, but the great drawback is the want of a water-race ; also, unfortunately, men with capital are wanted, so that they could withstand the time it would take to thoroughly prospect the Lake. There are a few miners up M'Donald's Creek, but not doing much. At the Forks there are a few men proepecting, and a hatter or two fossicking, but up to the present there is nothing new or startling. Whelan and Company are the only people making anything like wages. On the Waiho there are about a dozen'men working, and making wages is as much as they are. I am sorry that I have to give you the melancholy intt lligence of the death of a miner named Heinrich Neilson. He was found dead in his hut by one of the diggers, and all found in his possession was a watch, half a crown, a gun, and a little oatmeal. An inquest was held upon the body, and I believe it came out in evidence that he died of heart disease, but my belief is that the cause was more likely starvation. However it may be, he was buried last Sunday week, his remains being followed by most of the *8£ Kers belonging to the Lake MapodlWPS^ diggings. H«j has gone to that bourne from whence no traveller returns ; requies* «a< in 2>cwe'

To brighten the scene and make Okarito more lively, one of onr squatters got married. I suppose he thought Okarito was looking too dull, I believe the supper or dinner was held at Mr Barry's Royal Hotel. After supper there was dancing and singing, the company keeping it uo till the;" we sma' hours ayont the twall." Snccess to them ! PB^^Okarito, I am sorry to state, is still *" V very very dull, exceedingly so ; and this diggings not turning out as anticipated, does not tend to make it look any livelier. You can partly guess when our publicans and storekeepers have to go on the road and cut their own firewood ; but I suppose I must not say much more, or else I wil have some of them telling me to cast no reflections, as the old maid said to her looking glass.