WARDEN'S REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Issue 1510, 14 October 1865, Page 3

WARDEN'S REPORTS.

We have been favoured by the Provincial Secretary with the following reports, dated Sept. 23:— MR. WARDEN FITZGERALD'S REPORT. Sir, —I have the honour to report that, during the p tat week, I visited the Tofara district, and found the population largely 011 the increase. I believe there are now about four thousand (4000) persons, of all classes, in the district. The clearing of the Government reserve is nearly completed. I pointed out to the man left in cltyirge by Mr. Bold the best position, in my judgment, for the Court-house, Police-barracks, &c. The miners are, as a rule, making large wages; but the deep sinking on the flat below the old township has not turned out as well as was expected. Some of the claims were very wet. A resident warden and warden's clerk —especially the latter—are much required. MR. WARDEN SCHAW'S REPORT. Last week I visited the Woodstock diggings, and found the workings there very shallow, ranging from 18 inches to 9 feet; they are composed of terrace lands, with occasional "blind" creeks, sloping towards the The resident miners appear to be well satisfied, and fresh parties are settiug in every day, the average wages being about £6 per man per week. There is some difficulty about water ; but that could be easily overcome by bringing in a head-race from the Hokitika river, the fall being quite sufficient. The population of the Kanieri district has increased about 500 since my first report, and every foot of ground has been marked off on the large flat at the back of the Camp reserve. In most of the shafts bottomed, from one to two dwts. has been the prospect. I have no doubt that a large amount of machinery will be placed on the ground in the course of a few months Large parties, consisting of from ten to twelve men, are now being formed, and there is every prospect of subduing the water, which appears to drain through from the Kanieri river. Several most ingenious wheels are in course of erection ; but it remains to be proved whether the inventors are right in their predictions as to the results. 1 hope they may be, as it wiil be sure to incite other miners to follow their example. The weather has been very changeable during the last fortnight, but we have had some few very flue days. MR. WARDEN REVELL'S REPORT. I returned to Greymouth from the Arnold on Tuesday evening, the 12th inst., by boat, in two hours and a half. ; The miners in that locality are very unsettled, and leaving for other rushes, principally owing to the high price of provisions and the distance they have to carry them after purchase, and the want of roads to the various creeks frou the township. The following are, the prices charged at the township Flour, 45s per 100 lbs., or Is per lb.; bacon, 2s 6d toSs per lb.; tea, 4s 6d per lb.; sugar, Is 4d to Is 6d per lb.; tobacco, 10s to lis per lb.; and other goods in proportion. Freight of goods from Greymouth is £40 per ton. The miners who have set in to work on these diggings are reported to be doing well, and I have no doubt that, ere long, that portion of the district will require the services of a resident Warden. There has been a slight rush to the two small creeks running into the sea between Saltwater Creek and Greymouth and along the beach, about two miles south of the latter place. One hundred and fifty miners have set in to work. The gold is vety fine, and difficult to save. It is found in two layers of black sand, varying from three to eighteen inches in thickness, with a layer of sand, fifteen inches thick, between. The stripping is from five to fifteen feet, according to the height of the terrace. Water is very scarce ; the washdirt has to be carted a considerable distance, and in other instances tramways are buing laid down to run the stuff to the creeks. Claims in that locality are paying from £10 to £20 per week per man.

Post Office.—The money-order system was extended to Hokitika on the 10th of July lust, from winch date there have been orders issued amounting to £950 14a j orders paid X 125 16s lOd. The transactions for September were—Orders issued, £479 108 ; orders paid, £54 lls6d. The number of letters dispatched per overland mail to Christchureli, on Monday, 2nd October, 1865, 2275 (85 being registered). — West Coast Times, Oct. 3.

( From the Nelson Examiner, Oct. 5. J

By the arrival of tlio Wallaby, from IfokiSrV -° n , Tueßdli y morning, and tlie William Miskin, from Bruce Bay, yesterday morning, we have intelligence of a later date from tlie Western goldfleld. The Miskin left Hoki- , " n last, for Bruce Bay and lJnnedin, with passengers for both places, but on arriving at Bruce Bay found great difficulty in landing those of her passengers who were bound for the new rush. After sending a number on shore in the large surfboat stationed at Bruce Bay, the William Miskin was compelled to put to sea for fourteen hours, and on landing the remainder of her passengers, the boat got capsized, and, was twice rolled over in the surf. Most, if not all, the men on board reached the beach, but, as the precise number in the boat was not known, it cannot be said whether any lives were lost or not. The wind was from the N.W., blowing strongly, and the surf on the beach in Bruce Bay was exceedingly heavy.

The gold intelligence from Bruce Bay is scanty, but, as far as we can judge, encouraging. The gold abounds in the sand, in very fine particles, and the men who are at work there are reported to be doing well. The influx of diggers which is now taking place to this new field will lead to its being thoroughly prospected, and we shall, in a little time, learn more of its true character. The steamer Bruce had made a second trip from Hokitika to Bruce Bay, with passengers, and reported that the steamer Samson was a hopeless wreck, her back having broken. The John Bullock's position was also a desperate one, but it was expected the steamer Yarra would be got off. Captain Hepburn saw the Omeo off Hokitika, under easy steam This vessel has a large cargo to land, from Melbourne, but the prospect of doing this was very small. Being bound for Dunedin, it was Captain Hepburn's intention to have gone south about, but the weather was unfavourable for this, and he shaped his course for Nelson, and, having coaled, took his departure again yesterday afternoon. The Wallaby, which left Hokitika on Sunday morning, brought no news of importance beyond what had reached us by the Eleanor. The Otneo, which arrived on the 29th, conveyed the English news received by the July mail to Hokitika, and this was published in the West Coast Times on the 30th.

The accounts from Kanieri and Waimea, furnished by the correspondents of the Times, were highly satisfactory. The account taken back by the Bruce of the diggings near Bruce Bay, was, that the colour could be obtained everywhere, but that the yield was only two grains to the dish. The cutter Advance had gone on shore there.

Speaking of the Grey district, the Times says:—•' The Nelson Government do not seem inclined to make better use of their opportuities than that of Canterbury, their efforts to meet the wants of the Grey goljlfields' community being poor in the extreme. As an instance of their penny-wise and pound-foolish economy, we may remark that, in consequence of the absence of proper police protection, the banks closed their agencies in No-Town, above the Twelve Mile, and therefore miners wishing to dispose of their gold will have to come down to the the latter place. There are no police stationed on the Nelson side of the Grey, and the consequence is. that the gold is brought over to the Canterbury 6ide as early as possible to save unnecessary risk, and the duty of 2s. 6d. per ounce therefore goes into the coffers of Canterbury, instead of into those of Nelson." Mr. A. Mackay, Native Commissioner, was laying off the ground on the Maori township of Greytown.

The following paragraph calls attention to the disgraceful manner in which females are transhipped from one vessel to another to be landed at Hokitika. We are afraid, however, that the remedy is not so easy, when the vessels are being violently tossed about in a heavy swell: —" A gentleman, recently arrived, writes to complain of the highly indecent as well as the dangerous manner in which females are transhipped from the large steamer into the boats that cross the bar. He says that they are, in the first place, bundled down the ladder like bales of wool, and then partly hauled partly pushed over the side of the small steamer, when the boats arrive alongside, in such a manner as to be extremely offensive to every respectable woman. If this is the cise, there is, unquestionably great ground for complaint. The idea, no doubt is, that time is saved thereby, and that by lowering ladies in chairs, as is done under similar circumstances in more civilised parts of the world, a great deal of time would be lost. We do not think that even on this ground, the shipping interest is right, for females, by the present bungling process, become naturally more alarmed, and are more difficult to get into or out of the boats. But, putting utility out of the question, it is monstrous that, in order to allow a steamer to get away a |uarter of an hour sooner, the weaker sex should be so dealt with. We hope that the shipping agents will look into the matter, and if half of what is alleged be true, establish some sweeping reform without delay." The cutter Heather Bell had departed with M'Gregor's prospecting party for the South.

| WRECK OF THE SCHOONER MARIA, AND ENTRANCE OF THIRTEEN VESSELS (From the West Coast Times, Oct. 7.) It is seldom we have so favourable a bar J for the entrance or exit of vessels as the one of yesterday, and the weather also was everything that could be desired by shipmasters who had due regard for their professional reputation and the safety of their respective charges. The channel, from its appearance, warranted the belief that there was any amount of water, and being now at right angles with the shore, instead of running in its former tortuous course, we could perceive at a glance that now was the time for the large fleet to be seen anchored in the roadstead to enter, if they did not wish to miss an opportunity that seldom presents itself. The morning, which, up to eight o'clock, had been rainy and inclement, towards tide-time cleared up beautifully fine, which induced a \ery considerable number of " sensation " seekers to assemble on the spit, to witness the entrance, or wreck, as the case might be, of the many craft to be seen under weigh, and who were evidently preparing themselves for the struggle before them. crowd a very large number of new arrivals were to be seen : they were easily distinguishable by the intense interest they displayed in everything around them, and the extraordinary manner in which they disported themselves upon every available object for sitting or climbing. The moveable beacons had their load to bear, and the shrouds of the flagstaff were fairly covered with these gentlemen, who stoutly resisted any attempt of the signal-man to displace them. A scampering match occasionally took place amongst the dense crowd standing on the point of the spit, for every now and then the sea, as if to forbid encroachment on its bounds, sent up An unusually heavy roller, that washed right over the spit, splashing and dashing amongst their legs, filling boots, and playing antics amusing to witness, and ninny a grave-look-ing gentleman might have been seen vigorously doing a " pas seul" to keep the salt water out of his Wellingtons, and in most instances without the desired result. In fact, a spectator at some little distance might several times that morning have imagined the spit to be covered with a crowd of dancing dervishes. About halfpast nine the schooners Wild Wave, Julia, and Quiver dushed into the break, and safely entered, none of them, so far as we could see, touching ; and this was considered as a good omen of success for the others, and every eye was strained seawards, with looks of intense interest, as vessel after vessel made sail and steered landwards. The schooner Mary Van Every was the next to try her luck, closely followed by the Star and Caledonia ; she had safely crossed, and was heading for the river, when the breeze fell away, and the freshet catching her forced her over towards the south spit; she recovered herself, however, and made for the south channel, but, being a little too far to the south, she stuck, and for a few minutes blocked up the passage. I he position of the Star now became critical in the extreme, for she was so close that a collision seemed inevitable, and lier

captain, evidently fearing there was no room to pass, dropped the peak of his mainsail, and kept away as if to go out again. This would have been a fatal mistake, and in all prubaoility have resulted in her wreck ; and so, apparently, thought all on shore, for they immediately began to shout and gesticulate for her to keep on and pass the other to the northward. This had the desired effect, for he hauled to the wind and got in 10 the river without mishap. In the meantime the Mary Van Every had moved considerably, every sea sending her in the desired direction, and we had the gratification of seeing her,safely enter; the Caledonia also getting in unscathed. The Isabella and the hanglier were the next in turn, and both made a good entrance ; the latter, however, hung once or twice when in the fair way that runs through the north spit. Now occurred one of the most narrow escapes and extraordinary pieces of good luck that we ever witnessed. The Excelsior, a dandylooking schooner had, like the rest, got safely over the bar, but on getting abreast of the Titania, the wind almost entirely died away, and she became unmanageable ; and the current from the river catching her on the port bow, slued her completely round, with her head to seaward, threatening to send her on the south spit close to the wreck of the steamer. All was confusion on board, down canto her head sails, and it was very evident that she had taken complete charge of herself, and every iustant we expected to see her take the ground, and add one more name to the already long list of vessels who have departed this life 011 our treacherous sands. But the very cause of so many shipping disasters—the | sea itself — came to her aid, for roller after roller swept by her, carrying her with them towards the river ; and the captain discovering consummate seamanship in handling his craft, she fairly went stern first from the south spit through the channel safely into the river. Great Vas the gratification at her wonderful deliverance, which was strange as it was unexpected. A smart lookiug brigantine, under every stitch of canvas, was now seen to head for the dreaded entrance, and on her nearer approach we had no difficulty in recognizing the Susannah Booth, of Sydney, and she being by far the largest vessel that had made the attempt, some anxiety was felt for heron that account, fcjhe, however, was more favoured that her predecessors, for the wind, which had been for some time very light, now freshened up, and blew steadilj right across the spit. On she came beautifully, every stitch of canvas drawing like a cart horse, and under the skilful pilotage of Captain Clulow, whose voice we could distinctly hear on shore,directing the man at the wheel, she sailed into the river in splendid style. Pat the Rover, a clipper schooner, and the Dispatch followed the brigantine, and, like her, got in without let or hindrance. We now ventured to indulge in the hope that, as all the fleet, save one, had managed to escape, the last would surely be attended by the like good fortune ; but in this case we were sadly disappointed, and again it is our painful duty to make known to the world another disaster to shipping on the Hokitika spit. The Maria, a large threemasted schooner, which has been for many days lying in the offing, waking for a chance to get inside, had been seen un ier sail for nearly an hour, evidently waiting for some of the rest to take the channel, and thus pilot her in. She should have entered immediately after the Caledonia, but seeing the position of the Star, and that there seemed a probability that the channel would be blocked, hauled her wind and stood out to sea again. She, however, seeming to take fresh heart on seeing the success of the Susannah Booth, once more bore up, and this time seeme 1 determined to go through with the undertaking. She, however, was fated not to succeed; she never even fairly crossed the bar, for the current catching her just as she arrived at the point of the south spit, slued her head to the north, and in spite of her head sails being hauled over and every effort of her crew, she refused to face it, and very soon showed her whole broadside to the bar and headed across for the beach. Her captain now did that which we think was the only course left ipen for him: he tried to bring his vessel to the wind and get outside again, but here the break opposed him, offering as great an impediment to his exit as the " freshet" had to his entrance, and the result was that the unfortunate Maria was cast ashore, just about the spot where the Sampson came to grief; and after turning round upon her heel, finally laid broadside on to the beach, a helpless wreck. Many were the remarks made on the cause of this disaster. Some blamed tha signal - man, which individual, we certainly think, was attentive to his duty, and did not deserve such censure. However, the usual official inquiry will doubtless be made, and then the blame, if anybody deserve it, will fall on the right shoulders. Thus ended disastrously what might otherwise have been an auspicious morning for Hokitika. Our stocks were not too heavy, and of late the bar has been in a wretched state, certainly not fit for sailing vessels to attempt, and the utmost anxiety was felt for the many ships that were lying outside with heavy freights on board for this port. Twelve vessels had, before the Maria, succeeded in passing the Rubicon ; but she, the unlucky thirteenth, was made scape-goat for the rest, and paid the penalty with her life. As usual on such occasions, the large concourse of people were not sparing in their comments on what was taking place around them, and so long as they were contented to speak to each other only, and not interfere with the duties of the signalman, no harm would have been done, freedom of speech being one of our dearest privileges. "We are, however, sorry to say such was not the case; and in direct violation of a standing rule that especially forbids the uninitiated from giving advice in matters which they do not understand, remarks were directly addressed to the men on duty, and on whom the safety of the vessels entering in a great degree depended. Such conduct is reprehensible in the highest degree, for nothing is so liable to confuse a signal-man, and be the very cause of his doing that which is a great mistake, than the prtsence of a large crowd of busybodies close to his feet, pertinaciously interfering with his business instead of minding their own. We trust that Mr. Sale will take immediate steps to prevent a repetition of this, and thus give a poor fellow, whose bread depends upon the skill he displays, a chance for his life, and be the means, in all probability, of preventing the loss of many a fine craft which, under ordinary circumstances, would have no diffiulty in crossing the bar. A good strong fence should enclose the flagstaff, and, if necessary, a constable might attend on special occasions and enforce order. In fact, one of those gentlemen might be much better employed preventing men climbing on the beacons and rigging of the " staff," than ia doing nothing particular at the Camp.

BRUCE BAY. (West Coast Times, Oct. 7.) Our journey to this port on board of the William Miskin. will be long remembered by many as a tedious and disagreeable one. After a delay of two days, stuck in the Hokitika river, they were compelled to tranship the coals and passengers to the Eleanor, after which we were enabled to cross the bfir, accompanied by the Eleanor. After reshipping about half of the coals, they were compelled to part company, and anchor, as the sea became too rough to continue here. We spent a miserable night; the stench and disagreeable odour from the over-crowded hold of a naturally ill-ventilated and unclean steamer was sickening in the extreme, J he nausea of sea - sickness is trying in itselt, but when it is aggravated by neglect and carelessness on the part of the officers in neglecting to provide lights, and, generally, trying to secure comfort for the passengers, they deserve censure. After remaining to finish the transhipment of the coals, we steamed south about one p.m., aud, after passing another disagreeable night, we succeeded in arriving in this port about 12 o'clock the following day. JBruce Bay is a small indentation in the land, and is protected from the south by a leading range which runs east and west, and comes to an abrupt termination on the sea shore, along the foot of which immense washed boulders form the beach. The water

|n the bay, to within 300 yards of the shore is six fathoms, and although the captain was informed of the fact by, Mr. M'Gregor, of the Heather Bell, who was anchored there, and also by Captain Beveridge, who came from shore to land the passengers, he, through timidity or stupidity, lay at a distance of half a mile; the folly of this soon became apparent, as the steamer's boats were useless, and the landing solely depended on Captain Beveridue's boat, whicli was managed in ah admirable manner by him. A second boat, owned by boatmen from Hokitika, who had their passage free in consideration of tlieir services in landing the Miskin's passengers, unfortunately, on their first trio, upset in the breakers, and had it not been for the temperate character of the sea at the time, another accident, of a similar kind to that which occurred to the Lad> Darling's boat, would ha*'e occurred. The Government boat—an unwieldy and heavy article—was, after some delay and difficulty, launched, and was useful in picking up one of the unfortunates. A number of men, amongst whom I noticed Mr. Sale, rushed into the breakers, and succeeded in bringing to land the entire crew, some of whom were nearly exhausted—the boatmen, in particular, had to be put to bed. A party volunteered to man the boat and bring their dry clothing ashore, which Captain Hepburn refused to give up, alleging that they were bound to assist in landing the passengers, although assured of their inability to do so. During the afternoon the Heather Bell raised her anchor and shifted across the bay to the Mahitahi about a mile and a-half, where the cutter that conveyed Hunt's party landed a few days ago. The Miskin being unable to land her entire cargo that evening, owing to her distance from shore, caused some confusion, as many parties were detached, some on shore without tent or provisions. They managed to get shelter among those who landed by the Omeo, and had tlieir habitations erected. The night proved a stormy one, and on directing our g«ze to where the Miskin was last seen, she had disappeared. Many conjectures were formed respecting her departure ; some affirmed that she had gone Invercargill way ; others, that she had returned to Hokitika. These doubts and surmises were removed, to the delight of many who had goods and mates on board, by her return round the south headland about 9 a.m. On Captain Beveridge manning his boat to finish the landing, it was found that evil disposed persons had cut holes and split the sides and bottom of her with an axe, a piece of BCoundrelism for which, if the perpetrators could be detected, they should receive no sympathy from the hinds of justice, as this was in reality the only safe boat available. After an hour or two spent in repairs, she resumed the landing process, during which the Bruce steamed into the bay with another cargo of adventurous miners.

The site selected for the township is well sheltered, except when the wind is direct on shore, and at a reasonable distance from the landing-place. At present the survey o?ly extends to one street, which runs parallel with the beach, and about twenty yards in scrub, on a slight elevation composed of heavy wash. From 15 to 20 frontages were occupied, and their possession gave rise to litigation, which was soon satisfactorily settled. A number of small stores have opened for business, but nearly all the owners had supplied themselves with a few weeks' rations, so that their business is v6ry limited up to this time. The population I estimate at 140, many of whom are spending their time in washing, resetting their tents, picking cockles at low tide, which are here in great quantities, while others are fowling ; but, although many reports can'be heard, in no instance have I seen them return with game. They say that ducks and pigeons are much scarcer than they anticipated. The question now arises, what has justified this large rush of people? I have been unable to visit the Nine-mile Beach; as it is called, but from what I can learn there are about 250 men, besides 73 horses and '82 pedestrians that came overland. Hunt dnd party have, or are about to commence operations with quicksilver on the sea beach, and I am assured by those who came in the same cutter that the prospects were much inferior to those that can be had on the beach between Hokitika and Three-mile creek. He advises prospecting, which he intends doing, and some are now back in the interior. 1 might mention that the main range approaches much nearer the sea than in the vicinity of Hokitika, which must limit the area for prospecting, and a swamp of considerable bieadth runs in a line with the sea shore that will require crossing. I would strongly and sincerely advise all parties whose minds are disturbed by this ru*h, to divest themselves of its influence, or wait until something tangible has been found; as yet there is nothing, and it is quite within the range of probability that if nothing is discovered within a few days the sea shore will be lined by returning disappointed miners Through the high temperature of night (the thermometer standing at 56) ,we are inclined to believe that a great deal' of snow must have come down from the ranges, for although the rain was certainly far heavier than we have known it to be for the last six months, the rise in the river was too sudden and violent to be caused by that alone. An avalanche, in all probability, had been detached from one of the lower snow-clad spurs of the ranges, and, consequently, occasioned the first spring flood this year in the Hokitika. There are more, however, yet to come, and we would most earnestly impress upon those gentlemen who have taken the matter of the extension of the wharf in hand, the necessity that exists for pushing the work forward with the utmost vigour, or the washing away of the corner of lievel street and Gibson's Quay may be the result. — TFesf Coast Times, Oct. 3.

A Storm at llokitika.—We shall Iqng remember the night of the Ist October, for never in our lives did we hear a heavier downpour of rain, which was accompanied by heavy thunder and vivid lightning. From midnight to 6 a.m. this continued, until we thought that the time so long prognosticated had at last arrived, and that Hokitika was about to be carried bodily out to sea. On our visiting Gi')Bon's Quay in the forenoon, evidences were not wanting of the severity of the storm, the river being higher than we ever saw it hefore, it reaching very nearly to the top of the wharf, and extending right up to Louisson's bonded stores. The consequence was, that drays were called into requisition to convey pedestrians across to the finished part of the wharf. The greater part of Weld street was also under water, the river having made its way up Tancred street on the one side and the ditch cut for drainage purposes by the Post-office on the other, consequently the water on the bridge that crosses Tancred street was waist deep, and reached up to the side of our office, threatening to flood us out. Fortunately, however, at 10 o'clock the water commenced receding, and now all danger of Hokitika being submerged lias, for the present, passed away.—lbid.

Grey and Arnold Bridle Road.—Mr. G. Dobson reports, under date Greymouth, 29th ult., on the progress made with the above road :—The bush cutting is completed from Greymouth to the Waimea (still water) creek; also from the Grey and Arnold junction, up the latter river for a distance cf eight miles. The portion between the Waimea and Arnold, a distance of about one and a-half miles will be finished next week. The earthwork in the limestone hills near Greymouth is nearly completed, and the bridges in hand. The earthwork in the Coal Gorge is proceeding favourably, and the contractors for bridges between here and the Arnold are making rapid progress. The following is the present state of the works: —Total distance to be cut, about 35 miles; distance cleared, 15 miles; distance completed, 8 miles. The total number of men employed on the 28th September, exclusive of survey party, comprised, 42 day labourers ; 25 at bridge work; 20 at earthwork ; :>0 at clearing bush. Should the ■weather prove favourable, he hoped to open the line by the end of next month.