THE WEST COAST GOLDFIELDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1368, 4 March 1865, Page 4

THE WEST COAST GOLDFIELDS.

PUBLIC MEETING.

Pursuant to advertisement, a Public Meeting of the citizens of Christchurch was held on Thursday night, at the New Town Hall. Mr. Luck, chairman of the City Council, in the chair. The doors were surrounded at an early hour, and when opened at 7 o'clock, the Hall was immediately filled, and became densely crowded in a short time, not less than 700. persons being present at one time. The platform was occupied by gentlemen, merchants, aud others well-known in the city, among whom were Messrs. Moorhouse, Cracroft Wilson, Ollivier, J. Hall, Kolleston, Crosbie Ward, W. Wilson, Bishop, Barnard, Revell, Hargreaves, Dr. Turnbull, Captain Wilson, and others. The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the requisition calling on him to convene the present meeting, which had been signed by 82 of the principal citizens of Christchurch. He stated that the meeting had been convened for the purpose of urging the Government to establish a gold escort, make a road, and other necessary works for developing the resources of the West Coast goldfield. He said that we had now, as a province, arrived at a most important period of our existence. They were all aware of the result produced by the finding of productive goldfields on our Northern and Southern borders, and of the immense benefits received by other provinces from that source; they were now in receipt of the intelligence of there being actually a payable goldfield within the province of Canterbury; and they should show the Government that it was the will of the people that the utmost endeavours should be used to develop its resources with the least possible delay. It was certain that if steps were not very soon taken to secure to this province a fair share of the profits to be derived from the possession of such a source of prosperity, that our neighbours in this colony, and even in the more distant ones of Australia, would step in and reap the benefits which, from right and position, belong to us alone. He was happy to inform them that since the requisition had been signed be had learned from the highest authority that the Government had, to a certain extent, anticipated the action of the public. He had no doubt that the members of the Government who were present had come prepared to give the fullest information as to the steps already taken by them, and also as towhatweretheir intentionsfarthe future. Although he believed they would find that the immediate objects of the public were already gained, yet their presence in such numbers would be a proof to the Government, if they wanted any, that in this movement they were really in earnest, and would have the effect of hastening whatever exertions had already been made. He had no doubt that the resolutions which would be submitted to them contained everything essential to their object at the present time, and he hoped that no effort would be made on the part of any to convert the meeting into an occasion for political discussion. The question was one in which the Government and the people were of one mind, and it was their desire to work together for the weal of the province at large. He would now call on Mr. Wm. Wilson to moTe the first resolution.

Mr. Wilson moved "That the Provincial Government be requested to take all necessary steps for proclaiming the West Coast goldfields." He said he read the resolution pro forma, but they would And by what he should presently state that it was rendered unnecessary by the steps actually taken by the Provincial Government prior to the announcement of this meeting. He was enabled to say that so far back as the 31st January last, the General Government had been conferred with relative to the appointment of a Resident Magistrate at the West Coast ; a gentleman had been recommended to fill that office, than whom, he was sure, when he mentioned the name of Mr. Revell, they would concur with him, a better choice could not be made. (Applause.) On the 24th February Mr. George Dobson had been dispatched to endeavour to construct a road to the West Coast by the Gorge of the Waimakariri, over a low and passable saddle previously discovered, and through the valley of the Oteira River. He said, through the valley; this might be a piece of news very little known ; he, however, had in the way of business been in possession of that information for sometime, and he could t<ell them that there was a valley through which the Oteira runs of very excellent grassed land ; and, moreover, it was perfectly free from obstruction, and available as a safe road to the Teremakau. A gentleman in this city, of known keenness and foresight, had taken it up as a run. He felt confident that the mission of Mr. Dobson would result in complete success, and that very shortly we should be in use of a road very much nearer than the old road, and passable at all times of the year. On the 27th February the Government had appointed a Postmaster, for the diggings, subject to the approval of the General Government; they had also made arrangements for erecting a Post-office there; and, further, ho could say that in a Gazette, published and in circulation that morning, the Executive had proclaimed the West Coast a goldtield, under the powers secured sometime ago. (Cheers.) He thought, therefore, that on this occasion the Government were not found wanting in energy. They were aware that the establishment maintained at the West Coast had been a great loss to the province; the Government had delayed increasing that expense reliable information had reached them of the bona fide character of the field. Now, however, being justified by the progress and real necessities of the diggings, they were making strenuous efforts to secure all the advantages to be obtained by prompt and efficient action. It would, perhaps, be interesting to leam that a person, lately arrived in Christchurch, had deposited three pounds weight of gold, procured at the diggings, in one of the banks; and that another had " planted " forty pounds weight till, as he said, he could send it down by escort to Christchurch. (Applause.) There had been some

talk of the separation of the West Coast from r terbuiy; he was sure that the Government j people had no wish for that step, and, when a r a was made sufficient to carry the traffic now i n infancy, the bonds of union would be drawn closely between the eastern and western portion* the province as for ever to set that QUP ; tion at rest. He could see in the fut,, a great accession of wealth and p ro3T)er ,[® to this province by means of the West CW and for the present an immediate relief from th depression which, he was sorry to say, wag now »ni versally felt. As to the climate of the West (W a gentleman had assured him that for many month there had been no rain at all, and, in other respect? there was nothing to deter the most timid fa„ plause.) ' k P * Mr. Ckosbie Ward being called on to second the resolution, said that as the previous speaker had clearly- shown the resolutian to be useless, he could see no end to be gained by passing it. He had heard what had already been done by Government- he should like to hear a little information as to their future intentions. Mr. Rolleston (Provincial Secretary) said that he was much pleased, in his position as a member of the Government, to observe that the steps taken had met their approval. He would say, in addition to what Mr. Wilson had told them, that on Saturday last a body of policemen had started by the present track to the West Coast, Thef "Commissioner had also been instructed to proceed to the West Coast; anda detachment of officers would be sent by sea to form a permanent staff. The Port Officer had been sent to arrange for the proper buoying of the bars, and to place ferry boats on the rivers between the dig. gings and Christchurch. Mr. Rochfort was about to lay out townships, and a member of the Government (himself) would also proceed to the West Coast, in order to carry out these matters with the leist possible delay. He was instructed to take Wellington in his way to the diggings, in order to confer with the General Government with the view of establishing a Custom-house where necessary. There had been other preparations made, whiah it would he the province of Mr. Hall, as Secretary for Public Works to describe. He would assure them that the Government were really and anxiously striving to p ish on the development of the goldfields on the West*, * in the way that would most conduce to the benefft of the province at large. (Applause.) The Hon. J. Hall said, that as the formation of a practicable road to the West Coast came within his department, he would state what had been done by the Government in that respect. By the Hurunui route the West Coast was 150 miles from Christchurch, and only 50 miles of that distance was practicable for dray traffic. Mr. Arthur Dobson had sometime ago discovered what was, he believed, a much better road by the Gorge of the Waimakariri. There was already on this latter track a dray road 82 miles In length. The only part which is of doubtful practicability is that portion of the country between Dobson's Saddle and the Tferemakau. Mr. Geo. Dobson had been dispatched at the beginning of the present week, to endeavour to cut a track through this short piece, which, he believed, was principally bush land. Mr. Dobson had a number of hands in charge, whom he, if it is possible to do so, would set to work at once; and his instructions, in that case, were not to return to Christchurch for further orders, but to put all the men he could engage on to the work, and make the road as soon as possible. (Loud cheers.) The road would merely be a bridle-track, as the Government did not think themselves warranted in constructing a dray road under the circumstances. It was childish to think that we could compete with Nelson in the goods traffic, but a bridle track would enable us to supply the diggings with stock, and that, he need not say, would be a great boon to a large portion of the community. (Applause.) The first resolution was then withdrawn. After some remarks from Mr. Vincent, eulogistic of the proceedings of Government, Mr. Ollivier moved—" That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that an escort be immediately formed for the conveyance of gold by the route already in use, from the West Coast goldfields to the city of Christchurch." He was delighted to find that the Government were in earnest on this occasion. He was very sure the Government were doing their utmost for the benefit of the province. In reference to the resolution placed in his hands, he thought it scarcely required, for he believed that Government had been making inquiries that very day for strong, weight-carrying horses, for the pur-

pose of mounting a body of men, to form a gold escort. He had every confidence in the productiveness of the diggings, and was sure if the Government found it necessary to construct a dray road to the West Coast, if there was not money enough in the provincial chest, there was public spirit enough in Canterbury to provide the means somehow. At present we were labouring under financial depression, but he hoped that they were now about to see a new state of things; a better time was coining for all classes. (Cheers.) Dr. Tuknbull seconded the resolution. Mr. Travebs said that, from his intimate knowledge of the nature of the diggings on the northern part of this island, he did not share in the flattering illusions of some of the previous speakers; he, however, believed that a remunerative source of employment would be found there for many years to come, for a good number of people. He did not think it wise to pledge the Government to any particular line of conduct; he would advise them to leave it in the hands of the Government to act as necessity should demand. The resolution was carried. Mr. St. Qdentin moved that, in addition to the foregoing," the Government be requested to take the necessary means for forming and laying out a township, appointing a Warden, and organizing an efficient police force for the protection of the digging population. He said that, with others, he was very glad to hear the Government had done what they had done, but he thought there was more wanted than was comprised in their programme. He had thought they were rather tardy, and wanted a little pushing along; they were moving in the right direction, and with such an expression of popular feeling as had been exhibited that night, he had no doubt they would endeavour to keep wherea Government should always be—in advance of the times. He could not see why there should not be a dray-road all the way from Christchurch to the Grey; the cost might appear large, yet the prize obtained would more than compensate them for the outlay, and that speedily. It had been said that the West Coast diggings were only river diggings, and for that reason would be neither of great extent nor permanently capable of supporting a large population. Now he was an old digger, and could tell them that this idea was a fallacy. The first diggings—the principal diggings— in Australia were river diggings; they might be sure where there was gold in the rivers, there was also gold in the terraces; and from what he bad heard of the West Coast country, he had not the slightest hesitation in affirming their permanent and expansive character. (Loud cheers.) As to the talk of this goldfield becoming a burden on the Government, that is to say, not able to support its own proper staff of officers, a little examination would soon convince them to the contrary. Taking the digging population at 5000, and that was only probably about half the number of people who will be there located in a very short time, they could easily reckon what they would pay towards machinery for Government ; say £5000 for miners' rights, taking the yield of gold at half an ounce per man per week, that would give over £16,000 per annum for export duty; the charge for conveyance by escort would amount to at least £3000. There was also Customs' revenue. And did any one contemplate a government of the goldfields costing more than j£20,000 per annum ? The goldfield at the West Coast would pay the outlay at first starting, and repay it almost at once. He hoped the Government would devote themselves zealously to the task of opening out that part o£ the province, and lose no time about it. (Loud applause.) Mr. C. W. Bishop advanced to the front of the platform, but being unable to make himself heard, he sat down again, amidst cheers and laughter. Mr. HargreaVes could not s e that the Government had made any extraordinary exertions; they had moved, it was true, but not before the people had spoken through the press. He thought there was no fear of Canterbury losing the good things that would soon be going. He had just received a telegram from Port, stating that a steamer had arrived with 180 diggers on board (cheers), most of whom preferred travelling the whole breadth of the plains to going to the diggings by sea. It was the cheapest way, the nearest, and the best. This was not the only load of diggers who have taken the same course; they were coming every day, and while that was the case, Canterbury would reap, he thought, a pretty considerable share of benefit. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Moorhouse, in response to a clamorous call from all parte of the hall, said that he was surprised to hear from the Government that they had ♦ n l iu * n ma tter for the last month. To teu the truth, he did not believe it, he gave the gentlemen who had charge of the welfare of this province more credit for sagacity than to suppose in all tnat tune they had done nothing more than taken steps. He believed that if they had been seriously engaged with this matter for the last month, they would have come before them that

T more triumphant burst of flight W-n their owu work than they had congratulation He hft(l heard a great deal dared to useias kau in the hills and in the 4boUtg ?the Wesf coast, but it ought to be in rivers of tne before this time we ought to Cbristchurch, fl^st _ fruits of t jj e wisdom of His have nt Ag tQ whßt the Government Honor s Govern opinion about it; thiswas • shoulSbeleft in the hands of the a matter tl j responsible for doing; they alone muse answer to JWJK if they make a mistake in their calculaP /'Lers ) He would correct one error winch tl0t !; p /to Sen tertained by preceding speakers. They about the difficulties of the roads from rhristchurch, but he could tell them that the cost of F nl of gwds from the beach, where they were i Wbv steamers, to the diggings, was far more carriage of goods from Christchurch. (Pro- , J Peering) He thought that settled the questi the expediency of making a dray road. It was of vital importance to have such a road forth-with-they did not want an expensive road at first, . thP traffic developed itself that would come in f r,rTfCheersTHe had no fear of the pros-m-fr of these diggings ; the very steps taken by the Government guaranteed that. They might depend these gentlemen were m possession of lmSant information; or they would not have made the advance they have done. (Loud and prolonged ' P » U AiioBT Mid that, wlier. invited to take part in these proceedings, lie had e*P*ted something to An- hut after the explanations they had all heard, £££kfSthat, in common with other gentlemen he saw there, he would have to button-hole the first Send he met, and inflict his speech upon him m private. (No, no.) He seconded the resolution, which Revell said he had lately returned from the West' Coast; he had left there about a fortnight ago. He confirmed the accounts they had hear ! f ni >.• - ▼ious speakers, as to the charu .tor H tk. ; diggings. He knew parties there w;o were making: £50 a JL. they were only a few, but he thought those work were all doing well. The climate was not nearly so bad as had been represented through the newspapers and otherwise. There had been very little rain for the last four months; it was true that when it did rain it came in torrents, which flooded the rivers and rendered the fords impassable. At these points, however, they had heard that ferry boats would soon be placed, which would at once obviate the danger and inconvenience now exoerienced from that cause. In answer to a question from a gentleman in the body of the hall, he said, that for sailing vessels the bars were only passable with a fair wind and moderate weather. The steamers Wallaby and Nelson, trading between the West Coast and Nelson, usually experienced no difficulty in entering the rivers; they were occasionally detained however for a short time in bad wither. He believed that the owners of these steamers had agreed to charge £100 for towing any craft over the bar. After commenting on the hardships attending the life of a digger, he sat down. Mr Vincent moved—"That the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to his Honor the Superintendent by the chairman, on behalf of the meeting, with a request that the matters contained therein may be brought under the notice of the Executive at an early day." Seconded by Mr. OUivier, and carried unanimously. . A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.