TAKAKA. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue XVI, 12 December 1857, Page 3

TAKAKA. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

Dec. 7, 1857.

I have just gleaned some information with regard to the Anatoki diggings, and therefore take the first opportunity of communicating the same to you. I have seen James Maine this morning, who has sold to Spittal, of the Anatoki Inn, £36 worth of gold, which he and two others got upon a bar of the river by dishing — the result of three days' work. I need not tell you that Mai le and his party augur great things upon the head of this adventure.

Many of the pioneers have formed themselves into parties of 18 and 20 : Garrick's party are doing business upon a gigantic scale, and hope to make something handsome ere the close of the summer ; they talk of nothing less than hundreds of pounds' worth as each mai/s share.

The diggings here will have to be wrought upon the Californian principle— that is, in large parties, 30 as to turn or divert the course of tbe river ; for in ifcs bed more of the gold is to be found, and that too particularly after a flood or fresh from the mountain ranges.

I must tell you that the dish and fossicking principle is all " bosh." If you attempt to work for gold in this locality, you must, as the Yankees say, "Go clean slick into it."

The parties above mentioned have made their own wheelbarrows, cut out their planking for sluicing, wheeling, cook-house, &c, upon the most improved "navvy" principle; in fact, you see and hear the busy hum of a small railway-colony at work. Two other parties, one consisting of French Californian diggers, and "down Easters," are above Garrick's men, turning the river upon the same extensive scale. There are above 250 white men, and about 100 natives (men and women), at work on Cann's Point or its neighbourhood, and they are doing first-rate. Romaka and Hopeni weut off to Nelson to purchaso some horses— the gains of tho Auatoki diggings.