TRADE IN HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 455, 21 January 1869, Page 3

TRADE IN HOKITIKA.

A correspondent of the Grey River Argus writes: — There is very little news of interest floating about Hokitika. The town has been exceedingly dull since Christmas, and the once flourishing diggings in its neighborhood are languishing. I paid a visit to the Waimea district the other day, and was astonished at the desolate state of the diggings there. At Piper's Flat, the only sound that disturbed the stillness was the click-elack of two or three cradles, worked by Chinamen; and the whole district from Stafford to to Waimea seems to be deserted. There is still a large population in the district, but the miners are scattered about ia the creeks and gullies around. The Greenstone is all the talk now, and great numbers of men are going up daily. On Monday, I counted fully 70 swag-be'aden diggers, wending their way to the Teremakau, en route for the Greenstone. The idea has been mooted for making the Teremakau &po)~t. It is very certain that, for some time, almost any ordinary coasting craft could enter the river and discharge cargo. On Monday, there was 14 feet of water on the Teremakau bar, with a clean run out and good shelter inside. I hear it is probable that the Tarra will be despatched to examine the entrance. Amongst other topics, I may mention that there is a very strong feeling just now in favor of the Southern diggings. I hear that at Okarito, and down as far as Jackson's Bay, the diggers are doing extremely well, and that new ground has been discovered. I saw a beautiful specimen of coarse nuggetty gold the other day, brought from the neighborhood of Jackson's Bay. Matters seem so far improving in that district that a gentleman in Hokitika is about to erect a large store and depot at Jackson's Bay, and he assures me he has the prospect of doing very well.