THE WEST COAST ROAD.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 797, 19 May 1865, Page 2

THE WEST COAST ROAD.

Mb. Hall, the Secretary for Public Works? returned yesterday from an inspection of the West Coast road, and we are happy to say has brought down the news of a very important discovery. Mr. Blake, who has ! been employed on the Lower Teramakau, has discovered a perfectly level route through the bush from a point on the Teramakau, a few miles below the Otira, into the diggings. He walked from the Teramakau, to the town on the Waimea creek, in about four hours, over a distance of ten miles, there being no d-fficultyin-the construction of a good dray road. We believe the road is beiug cut thence to the Arahura and Hokitika by Mr. Sale. This new track will avoid all the dangers of the Lower Teramakau, and save probably 20 miles. All the cuttings are now complete to the Bealey, _nd the provisions for the road parties are taken on drays instead of being ■. packed. The road is progressing rapidly over the saddle, and there is a prospect of a good bridle road being complete all the way to the Teramakau in about a month It will then be merely a question of money, how soon the bridle track can be converted into a dray road. About 250 men are at work, but the weather has been so severe for some time back that not more than three days' work in the week has been obtained. A closer inspection of the Otira gorge seems to show that the road down it will be made with much greater facility than was at first supposed ; and as timber is abundant three or four inexpensive bridges will probably get over the d-ficulty of crossing the stream. It is impossible that works can progress in such a country with very great rapidity in the winter; but unless the scarcity of money should press very severely on the province, we may expect that the dray road will be got through the entireroute inthe course of next summer. __is new road, direct to the Waimea from the Teramakau, is one of the most important discoveries whic_ has been made.

LeCTPRE AT THE M-CHASICs' INSTITUTE. Mr. FitzGerald delivered a lectura yesterday evening at the Mechanics' Institute on the " Bate of Wages." The lecture-room of tha Institute was crowded, aud the audience appeared to listen to the remarks of the lecturer with much interest. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. FitzGerald at the close of the lecture, with a request that he would allow it to bo printed.

City Council. —A special meeting of the City Council was called for four o'clock yesterday afternoon, for the consideration of the draft of the proposed amended Bill, aa drawn up by the Committee. The following members were present: —Messrs. C. W. Bishop, E. B. Bishop, S. C. Earr and the Chairman. Not being a quorum, the members waited the required time, and then retired. The Town Clerk waa directed to summons the Council for five o'clock this afternoon. RirLE Match.—The competition for Lieut. Harman'a prize of £5, for the best shot of No. 2 Company, will take place at theßutts, Hillsborough, on Saturday, next, at one o'clock. The ranges will be five rounds | each, at 150, 200, and 300 yards. The firing for Captain Packe's prize will come off on the Saturday following. Resident Magistrate's Cottbt, Kaiatoi. —The time for holding the weekly sittings of the Resident Magistrate's Court, Kaiapoi will bo every Tuesday instead of Monday. The change will come into effect on the 30th inst. Peovincial Gazette. — A Gazette was issued yesterday. It contains the "Warden's Court rules for the province; schedules of forms, and tables of fees. CONFERENCE. —A conference of all persons interested in the extension of the temperance movement will be held in Bonnington's Hall, on Wednesday, the 24th iust. There will be two sittings, viz., at ten a.m. and two p.m., and a tea will be provided at half-past five. The proceedings will be terminated by a public meeting. Literary Society.—The usual weekly meeting of this society was held last evening, in the Congregational Church, Manchester street. Dr. Foster presided. The question discussed was—" Is the present policy of Napoleon 111. pacific." Mr. Mould introduced the question in the negative. He contended that the Emperor could at the best but be considered as an usurper of the Throne; that the fact of his keeping up the largest standing army in the world, at a time when hia kingdom need fear nothing from aggression, clearly pointed to warlike intentions. He also repressed freedom of thought, and in many ways hindered the progress of the peaceful arte. The debate was continued in the aflirmative by Messrs. Morley, Beynon and Newton, who held that the possession of a steady army was no proof of a warlike intention; all the nations of Europe had standing armies, large or small, according to their means of keeping them up, and no one could assert that war was their object. If the history of Napoleon 111. be compared with that of his uncle, whose whole desire was conquest, the difference would be clear. The present Emperor came into power by revolutionary means, and his desire for war seems to have been as transitory as the revolution. The aims of the present Napoleoi had been to consolidate his dynasty by peaceful measures. On the motion being put, it was carried in the aflirmative by a majority of 13. The subject for discussion on next Thursday evening will be—" That war is not in accordance with Scripture." Pbivcbss' Theatre. —Last night the " Pride of the Market " and "11-treated Trovatore " were repeated at the theatre to bnt an indifferent house. The acting in both pieces waa very good throughout, and certainly deserved a much better house. Tonight the burlesque will be played, and the comedy of " Sweethearts and Wives." The Leopold Family are announced to appear in about ten days.