HAVELOCK NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 23

HAVELOCK NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) December 20. The telegraph office, which for some weeks past has been opened from 7 to 7.30 p.m., is now closed, which is certainly a matter for regret, as it was a great convenience. The timber trade or industry is in full swing throughout the district, as all the sawmills, are fully occupied, .and the timber that is now used for building at

Cullensville is supplied from the Kaituna. sawmills.

There has been good work done at the Grove—that is, at what may be called the boundary line to the Pelorus and Picton Road Board districts. A small butverysuitable wharf has been built by Messrs Smith and Philpott, of Picton, and two steamers can come up, one on each side, and land passengers and discharge cargo, as the water there is sufficiently deep to allow good sized crafts to come alongside. The Grove is situated at the western extremity of Queen Charlotte Sound, and is about four miles distant from the Mahakipawa arm, which is a branch of the Pelorus Sound. This is a great convenience to parties arriving from Picton and Wellington. There are conveyances always at hand ready to take passengers to Cullensville. There are parties out prospecting at the Croixelles and at Koromiko, but as yet with but poor results. December 24. The news from the Mahakipawa Goldfields, although not startling, may be looked upon as satisfactory, as the yield during the past week was over LIOO worth by Grey . and party of five ; Sclienkel and party of four have obtained L4O worth, and Pope’s party of four L3O. In addition to this large quantities of gold have been sold at Cullensville, and a great deal of gold is obtained and changes hands of which there is no public record. As the Christmas holidays have now commenced, and all claims are protected until the sth proximo inclusive, comparatively little news of any importance can he looked for during the ensuing two weeks. Satisfactory "accounts have been received from the Wakamarina, as the dam at the Maori Gorge is now in, and by all accounts will stand any pressure. The Gorge is pumped out dry and the tram is now being laid down for trucks to carry ouf the shingle: This work will (weather permitting) be completed this week, when the real business of working the claim will be commenced. Several parties are anxious to buyshares, but the shareholders are reticent, although good prices have been offered. The claim is now in good working order, and I am credibly informed it can be pumped out in 40 hours after a heavy flood. There have been several parties to the Croixelles, and also to Tuna Bay, Pelorus Sound, but so far they have not met withany success. Those localities require to be more fully prospected before it is advisable for many people to go there, as nothing has as yet been found to warrant a rush. Accounts from Waikakaho are somewhat vague, and, it being nearer to Blenheim than Havelock, information of a reliable character generally reaches tlio former town first, but I hear that the prospectors are on gold, and also another party. A party of four have beeu working at Nydia Bay, Pelorus Sound. The indications may be considered good, but the gold is very fine, so much so that it cannot be saved by the ordinary sluice-box ; but the party being composed of practical men who will not be beaten by trifles, are devising some means whereby the precious metal may be saved. That they will succeed is the general wish. As a rule I do not refer to cases that have been decided in the Supreme Court, but the decision of Judge Richmond in the mining appeal case of Rush v. Fewmann, has given, general satisfaction, as the decision of the Warden has been upheld. Mr Allen, the Warden for the Marlborough district, is considered, by all right thinking men, ps fair and impartial in his judicial capacity. * The aboriginals are certainly being civilised as regards conventional sayings and customs. As lam now writing many of them are saluting each other with “I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Few Year.” [By Telegraph. J Havelock, December 20. The Keep-it-Dark Company have this day sold£o worth of gold, and Ward and party £l7 worth, to Brownlee and Co. Havelock, December 22. Nearly eight ouncea of gold from the head of the right-hand branch were purchased by Messrs Browley and Co. this morning. Tha Maoris have got 61,1 b of gold within the last fortnight.