HOKOTIKA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 643, 4 December 1865, Page 5

HOKOTIKA.

Tn consequence of our Hokitika files per Excelsior being forwarded to tho wrong direction, wo wore unable to give extracts from the same in our issue of Saturday. Our last published copy of tho West Coast Times ia dated tho 25th November, (-'peaking of the Totara lwh tho correspondent of the West Coast Times nays, in his letter of tho 22nd November: — Considerable eicitemont. has been occasioned hero during tho last few days, by reports of a new rußh of gold in the Totara River, and a rush of BEiver.il hundred miners has taken place to a small creok running into tho Totara, about ten miloß north-east from Ross. As usual, many exaggerated rumours havo brcn in circulation as to tho ri'dinosa of this new locality, and many miners havo not hesitated to sell out of good paying claims to hasten thither. Tho facts of tho case aro simply these; a party of six men havo been prospecting for some weelcs past, and thoir last week's earnings amounted to 3Jt oza., obtained by sluicing. On the strfngth of this prospect thoy have applied for, and obtained a prospecting claim, being grantod an area in si/o four times an ordinary claim. Their names are Philip' Blackmore, Francis M'Clean, J. B. 'N'otherwood, Robert Gibbs, Wm. Fitzsimmans, and Donald M'Grogor. The man who applied for tho claim montioncd that his mates had not yet time to thoroughly prospect tho ground, and ho vory candidly stated that he could hold out no encouraging prospects for a rush ; but a crowd of excited minors dogged his footsteps from place to place throughout tho townfliip, and fiirly ran liim down to tho sprit wlioro his motes aro working. Throughout the day tho cxcitoiuont continued, and th<» news quickly spreading, has brought in many eager diggers from distant points of the district. It is, however, vory problematical whether thoir anticipations of a good find will bo realised. Another rush has also taken place in a difToront direction, tho point of attraction in this instance being on tho Sea Reach, five miles south of the Mokinui Itiver. A parcel of vory fine gold, weighing 2 lbs., was sold at the Bank of New Zealand last week, by some men who stated they had obtained it by cradling the sand, and on this becoming known, a great number of miners hastened fo tho t-pot, and from prospects obtained, havo received sufficient encouragement to romain—thero now being somo three hundred men at work, most of whom are earning wages averaging from 15s. to 30s. por day. The gold is, as usual, of tho finest description, in fact, an almost impalpable powder, and is found mingled with black sand at various depths from the surface. From the heavy roll of tho surf on tho coast, miners are unable to avail themselves of tho sea water for washing, but are compalled to carry the washdirt to tho nearest waterholes in the adjacent bu=h. This entails much unprofitable labour, and several parties havo already arranged to amalgamate their claims arid omploy some of their numbor in constructing watercourses and dams, so as to ensure a supply of water at an easier diftanco from their workings. Soveral quicksilver cradles are in use, although many aro making shift with tho ordinary cradle and blanket, but aa a matter of course they lose a considerable portion of tho gold. Tho supply of provisions on the beach is quite equal to the demand, and the first mob of cattle was driven down for slaughter a few days since, beef being sold at Ross Town prices. It is reported that two small schooners, laden with provisions, have rafely crossed the bar of the Okarita and failed up towards the diggings. Their arrival will be welcomed by the diggers located there, aa Btoreß have lately been selling at famino prices—flour, 2s. Gd. per lb., and other articles in proportion. The creeks running into the river are now being steadily prospected, but the difficulties attendant on the search for gold aro very great—the watercourses in many instances opening out into impassable swamps, and in others running between high preciptons cliffs, narrowing in places to an opening of only two or three feot in width. Wherever a layer of washdirfc is found on this river, payable prospects result, but no spot has yet boon opened up sufficient to givo work to more than a very limited numbor of miners. Throughout the Totara district mining operations have been muck delayed dur : ng tho last week by the almost continual downfall of rain which has taken place. All the creeks havo beon flooded, paddocks filled up, damß injured and in placeß washed away, (tail mtich additional labour entailed.