HAVELOCK.

Marlborough Press, Volume VI, Issue 55, 12 July 1865, Page 3

HAVELOCK.

[from OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] July 5, 1865. From a view of the Estimates brought before the Council I perceive that the government have made the “ amende honorable,” for their previous apathy to our wants. I hope that no unnecessary delay will occur in having the various works entered into. The harbor improvements and road to Deep Creek particularly, are of essential importance, not only for our interests but also that of the province generally. * There are other matters also requiring the attention of the Government. The polling arrangements are very defective. /here are but two polling places for the whole district. That in Havelock is stated to be the house of Mr Yarker; there is no such house now standing, That down the Sound entails an expense of several pounds upon Government, while the number of voters residing in that part of the district are very few indeed. While at Deep Creek where the bulk of the electors are there is no polling place at all. It is too much to expect people to loose three days to come here to record the expression of their political opinions. How indeed could many afford to loose the time by doing so. The appointment of a Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages is also neeessary, as also that of a residant coroner. The gentleman at present holding the latter office is living at Blenheim, and might just as well be at Auckland as far as fulfilling the duties of his office are concerned. Why should Boxer when he is desirous to tie the hymenial knot with Kitty have to go to Picton or Nelson to perform the feat ? The convenience cf the public should be of pressing consideration to a government, more especially when »he want to be supplied entails no money expenditure. The Customs Revenue for the quarter ended June, shows as follows :

Making a total of £5.7 17s. Dd.; a decrease of ,£34 ss. ( d. on the March quarter. Of colonial produce the exportation has been—

Gold-dust 519 ozs. 16 dwts. Making a total of estimated value of exports exciu>ive of gold c.f £4,771 ss. Od. ; and being an increase of £2,432 ss. upon the timber export of the previous quarter. Forty-three vessels hive cleared from the port as follows : —Nelson, 10 ; Wellington, 11 ; Taranaki, 4 ; Wanganui, 8 ; Hokitika, 4 ; Wairau, 3 ; Picton, 2 ; and Lyttelton 2. The quantity of gold shown is by no means a test for gauging the produce of the district ; many parcels of which find their way to Nelson where it is sold as Hokitika gold. The Customs restrictions are another serious drawback ; business people complain of being put to a good deal ■of trouble. When the duty is paid it lias to be looked at by the Customs authorities at the next shipping port to see if the weight corresponds &c. Nor are the storekeeners always in a position to buy up the gold offered them. Money often is so scarse that gold has to be taken in exchange for the smallest purchases. Those who have experienced this only can know how troublesome it is to have to deal. I hear of a petition to the direeters of the Bank of New Zealand to place an agent at Havelock ; in certainly appears to me that there is room for one. The weather we have has been very fine, from a registry which I have kept for the last four months I find as follows: March. April. Fine 23 23 Showery— Day 3 2 Night 3 3 Wet 22 Mat. June. Fine 20 22 Showery— Day 3 2 Night 3 3 Wet 5 2 Those days shown “ fine ” mean dry for the twenty four hours. A destination is also shown between showers falling either by day nr night. The weather generally has been cold at night with hard frost and ntnch foggy weather. May 24th saw a fall of snow well down the range at the hack of the town. A comparison of my record with Saxby gives eight days to correspond •with the time marked by him. The changes however in most instances have been very slight, n few showers merely. On two occasions only have we had very bad weather on the days ntatked bj' him. The weather has been very favorable for mining operations. Any information however on this subject is very scant. The terraces are being opened out, generally with profit to those who are doing so. From the nature of this kind of working not being affected by a flood their importance must he duly considered. I hear on all sides that the diggers are doing well. Tiiere is plenty of gold to be seen in their hands. I have just heard upon reliable authority that Williams and party have obtained a prospect cl: im for a terrace they have opened about three miles this side of Deep Creek. There was only room for about 15 claims which have all been taken up. It is said the wash-dirt will go an ounce to the bucket, sinking middling. 1 have seen a very nice sample of gold obtained about four miles from this. On this side of Wilson’s. The gold is umuistakeably quartz gold. If the people would pull together at d start a party to prospect for a reef I have no doubt that a good payable one would reward the outlay.

Spirits 644 39 32 386 19 0 Tobacco 383 lb 47 17 6 Wine 105 eals. 2, 0 0 Suirur 11.563 H5 48 3 8 '1 ea, Coffee, &e. 13 17 8

Sawn Timber 926,650ft... 4,6o3 5 0 Hewn do. 16 0 0 Shinnies 14,000 10 0 0 Sheepskins 12 0 0 Pannt-1 Doors 24 24 0 0 Sundries, oilier produce... 76 0 0