LATEST FROM THE WAKAMARINA GOLD FIELDS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2052, 23 April 1864, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE WAKAMARINA GOLD FIELDS.

The special correspondent of the '3£arlborouqh Press writes to that journal of the 20th 'inst :—

Being fully impressed with the importance of reaching the Wakamarina gold-field at the earliest opportunity, I left Blenheim on Saturday morning last, and proceeded up the Plain, striking across it by Mr Adam Jackson's, and crossing the Wairau river just opposite Mr Gibson's farm ; then picking up the track up the Kaituna Valley almost immediately afterwards overhauled a couple on the tramp, as a matter of course bound for the " land of promise." After a word or two, and hearing that there were several horsemen in front, at once went in pursuit, and proceeding about a couple of mues further, pulled up the party we were in search of, consisting of three, who proved to be well known residents from the Lower Wairau. Falling in together, we determined to prosecute our further journey in company, which we accordingly did, meeting with a party of five or six, about two miles further on the tramp. No other travellers were met, and we reached Mr Farnell's Accommodation House, at the Kaituna ; found him on the premises, having just returned home, after washing a dishful of stuff in the neighbourhood of the creek, within sight of his house, and obtaining the colour in the shape of a good " spec," which he produced for our satisfaction.

As the sun was about to set, we at once proceeded en route, being determined to reach Wilson's this evening, more particularly as, from all we could hear, there was every likelihood of a considerable number of intended diggers arriving at Wilson's during the evening; and there would necessarily be little chance of obtaining a shake down if we did not arrive in good time. On arriving at Manks's we found every body off to the diggings with the exception of the landlady, who showed us a sample of gold that had been sent down on the previous day. The gold was of a scaly appearance, and proportionately heavy, whilst the news that accompanied it was satisfactory in the extreme, viz., that there was little or no grumbling, although diggers were flocking in continually, every one being apparently satisfied with the prospects they had obtained. Starting once more and after having proceeded about two miles further, we came across the first party that we had as yet met, returning from the diggings, being four horsemen all hailing from Blenheim; of course anxious enquires were immediately instituted, and the replies we received so far satisfactory that we were informed that there were a good few doing remarkably well, and that some of their party were returning for provisions after working out claims and leaving representatives in possession. A few hundred yards further and we came upon another party also returning on the tramp, and their genial countenances whatever thenreplies might have been, showed evidently that they also were only returning for the necessaries of life. Arriving at Wilson's approaching dusk in the evening, as may readily be expected, we found everything in a considerable bother, and on dismounting I was immediately accosted by a Picton resident who had just returned from the field on the way to Picton, with the intention of returning without loss of time. Before arriving at Wilson's it had been our intention to proceed, if possible on to the , gold field the same evening, but as the night was rapidly stealing on and the way on to the diggings anything but a simple one for strangers to find, we determined on turning our horses into the paddock, and remaining where we were until the following morning. Conversing with several who had returned that night from the field, I was enabled to ascertain that a considerable quantity of gold had already been taken, and that one party of four had obtained what they believed was at least five pounds since.