HOKITIKA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1117, 20 July 1865, Page 5

HOKITIKA.

(From the Nc'son Examiner,) We give the following extract from a letter received from a correspondent at Hokitika: — Hokitika, July G. Mr Bird, the telegraphic engineer, has arrived by the Omeo, with full instructions to commence operations on the telegraph between this and Christchurch at once and with energy. The line to be taken ia up the Hokitika to the Kaniere township; thence across country to the Iloho, or Three-mile diggings; thence across the Arahura, striking it, if possible, above the Maori Reserve ; and thence up the Ka whaka, a tributary, striking the Tercmakau gorge; thence by the Otira and Waimakariri to Christchurch.

Our new line of road from the Arahura to Teremakau, has turned out good ; no rise worth considering, and no swamp, but a good hard gravel bottom.

There is a great rush to the Grey—l think to the Mawhera-iti. There was also a rush to a place four miles off the beach, between Mikonui and Totara, oa Saturday night last. Oft Saturday night last a serious collision occurred between the police, in the execution of their duty, and a set of cowardly ruffians, who got three of them down and kicked and jumped on them in a brutal manner. Serious consequences might have occurred, but for the timely manner in which the inspector (Mr Broham) and the police, with several gentlemea from the camp, hastened to the rescue. Oa the arrival of the police, the scoundrels ran away. Afterward Mr Sale, the Inspector, and Detective Howard, walked round the town (the time was between one and two, midnight) to see that all was again quiet, when they met three men coming from the scene" of the row. The detective, in an insinuating manner, feigning himself to be a companion, said to one of them, " Well, what of it?" The man. innocently enough, said, " Oh! such a spree, we have been hammering the bobbies." Much to their surprise, they were at once arrested and conveyed to prison. The Resident Magistrate committed one to take his trial at the next Assizes, and two others he condemned to the utmost penalty he could inflict (two months' hard labor), and at the same time, animadverted severely on the crowd of men—they could not be diggers—who could stand quietly by and see three or four men brutally illused by quadruple their number.