A SECOND CHARGE.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 799, 23 June 1865, Page 3

A SECOND CHARGE.

Another information of similar character was laid by Henry Fish, who gave evidence as follows: Henry Fish, sworn: lam a clothier carrying on business in Nelson, and have known the defendant about a fortnight. On Saturday night between eight and nine o'clock, he came himself to my shop, and asked me to cash him a cheque for £5 The cheque produced (marked B) is the one I cashed. I paid the cheque into the Bank of New Zealand on Tuesday morning, and on Wednesday I received the notice (produced) which states that it was dishonored. I have not seen defendant since and it has not been paid.

J. L. Dalbedyhlm gave evidence ofthe cheque having been refused payment through insufficient funds.

Cross-examined by Mr. Pitt: I have inspected defendant's account at our Bank. It is what I should call a fair account.

The case was then adjourned till Friday (this day). On application from Mr. Pitt, the Magistrate said he would accept hail of two sureties in £30 each, and the prisoner in £50.

LATEST FROM HOKITIKA.

ARRIVAL OF THE WILLIAM MISKIN

LAST NIGHT, WITH 3300 OUNCES OF GOLD.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE DIGGINGS

DANGEROUS STATE OF THE BAR.

A FLEET OF VESSELS OUTSIDE.

THE STEAMER NELSON TO BE GOT OFF.

The s.s. William Miskin, Captain Hepburn, arrived here last night from Hokitika, which port ahe left on Wednesday at 1 p.m. She brings 3300 ounces of g dd, and there is between 4000 aud 5000 ounces besides in the hands of the Union Bank of Australia.

The news from the various diggings is good, gold being plentiful in the hands of diggers; and our informant says that nearly all the good hands who have come up with the steamer, have goue with the intention of returning, many of them, with their wives. There are now no loafers about the townships. The Kanieri (pronounced Canary) or Five-mile township now rivals Hokitika itself. Its population is estimated at from 4000 to 5000, and it rapidly is growing quite a large place, with good substantial stores and hotels. The miners on the Kanieri are building themselves log huts with a view to a permanency, while deep sinking, which is the chief system of mining in progress here, continues. Provisions at Hokitika vary, and it is not easy to state prices. Some sales we can enumerate, which speak of high figures, lour bullocks which went down in the William Miskin, brought the large sum of £64 a head, and a number of sheep by the same ship sold at ,£3 7s- 6d. each. Other sheep sold at £2 16s. Meat was ls. 6d. to 2s. per pound ; but a lot of cattle was expected to arrive. Flour varied, ranging from 365. to 38s. per 100 lbs. One transaction in Adelaide flour is reported at 405., but the ordinary price is as above. The great difficulty of the Port is the increasing shallowness of ihe bar. When the Wm. Miskin arrived, the Bignal indicated 9 feet of water on the bar, but on entering she found there was only 8 feet. The steamer accordingly struck A huge ■ea came over her bows, and, as the Captain narrates, literally " rolled" her over the bar into deep water, the staunch little vessel fortunately holding her way. Our readers will Bee from our special reports of Hokitika shipping, the serious interruption to trade which the state of the bar occasions. One result of this state of things, and of the risk in taking the bar will be an immediate rise in the rate of freights; and shipowners contemplate raising the freight to i>lo a ton. Tho Captain of the Maid of Yarra, which is expected here to-day, has named that sum as his future rate, and we believe the owners ofthe William Miskin consider £11 to j£l2 a ton from Otago to Hokitika by no means an exorbitant rate. As for sailing vessels, without a steam tug, they must ride hopelessly outside the Port.

The following cheering extracts are from the West Coast Times, of 2lst instant :— KANIERI TOWNSHIP.

"Homeward Bounders" has been the principal talk amongst the miners of this place, on account of several parties having struck upon some very rich gold on the several sides of their claims. One party sunk a paddock on the four sides of their claim, and the average prospects of the whole was Jdwt. They obtained as much as 3 dwts., and the lowest. 4 grs. to the tin dish, and as they have two years' work before them, we may certainly call it a *" Homeward Bounder."

A tubli was spoken of yesterday, situate about two miles up the flat, and a great many have gone there. Payable gold has been struck on the flat, >ome bit or seven feet below the present bottom, which the miners are now working, and T have no doubt that, some speculative miners will strive to reach the main bottom.

A party has been formed for briugtng in a race of water, which is said can be obtained about, seven miles up the Kanieri river, and with that intention bave set off to make a survey, and if water can be brought on to the terraces and flat, it will be a boon to all and a " pile " to the speculators. There are parties working aboufc seven miles up the river, and from all accounts are making something more than wages. On the shallow sinking ground things are looking Unusually brisk. Jem Buddleford's party are making on the .average £20 per man per week; their claim it nearly worked out, but I hear that they know of another spot that is expected to turn out equally as good. Tho population afc this place is on the increase.