FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE EXTINCTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2128, 16 October 1867, Page 2

FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE EXTINCTION.

There is no name so well and so widely known in connection with the subjects which form the title of this article us that of James Braidwood. No servant of the public has ever shewn ut higher sense of duty, or a moro noble contempt of personal danger. As stated in a short biographical notice prefixed to the volume we intend to notice at some length, there was much in Mr Braidwood's personal, intellectual, and moral qualitiej worthy of admiration, apart altogether from the mibli.: value of his career. He was a man of strong and commanding frame, of inexhaustible energy.andof enduring vitality, lie braved all weathers, all extremes of heat and cold, could sleep or wake at will, and wuld' work on long after others would have given way. U e , vas always at his post, and in n() m . ment of difficulty or danger did his <m»l judgment or his steady courage forsake him. It was mis, together with his coniidcrate bearing, and on occasions of special trilll his almost womanly kindness to his men that i u , P i«.,i mem with unlimited confidence "'l«ra and his plans Beyond this, | lc ffas a man of superior mind, with strong comprehensive and generalising faculties. Such, personally, was James Braidwood, who, when only twenty-three years of age, was made Superintendent of the tire engines of his native city of Edinburgh; who brought the Fire

Brigade of that city ti> such perfection that men went from nil quarter!—even from the antipodos—to enquiro into its organization and consult iti chief; who, his fame growing year by year, went from Edinburgh to Loudon in 1833 hb Superintendent of the Kre Brigade; and who faithfully, devotedly, »nd most efficiently served the inhabitants of tlw first city of the world till 1861, a period of twenty-eight yearn; who lost his life in doing an act of kindness to his man while employed in subduing the wont terrible Are London has seen for o-n----turiei; who was buried with almost national pomp; and who was mourned at

" Only an honest man Doing his duty." Before going on to eximine the volume on fire prevention and firs extinction which Mr Braidwood has left behind, and which may be regarded as the accumulated experience oi a lifetime devoted to the subject in every con citable way, thore are a few particulars which it may not be uninteresting or uninstructive to note. Mr Braidwood'i Edinburgh brigade, we are told, was formed of picked men, who, although engaged in their former ordinary ocnupttions, were regularly inspected, trained, and exercised early in one morning of every week, The men | were taught to improve to the utmost the first few minutes after an alarm was given, and by coustant emulation and discipline, a spirit of wonderful readiness was cultivated in them. They were trained to seek out and follow up the source of a fire before it had time to spread, and to throw the water from the engines directly upon it, instead of wastefully if not injuriously about, liemoved to London, Mr Braidwood, as pointed out by his biographer, exhibited from the first excellent judgment in his choice of men to serve under him. He chose Bailors, as a rule, as being accustomed to obedience, and to irregular and prolonged duty, while also they were especially hardy and active. When there was especial danger which must be met, he was always ready to lead, and his men had soon learned to confide in his quick and sound judgment in emergency, knowing that he would never allow them to incur needlees risk. His own iron constitution, and his habits of constant vigilance served as a high standard and incentive to those about him, And thus, by selection, discipline, and example, resting upon a foundation of even paternal kindness, the men of the London fire Brigade became conspicuous for their courage, energy, hardihood, and unalterable devotion to duty. With the public, the London Fire Brigade was very popular, and could always count upon any necessary assistance. The system of rewards given to whoever was the first to bring a call of fire the liberal gratuity to the policeman who first reached the burning premi-.es—there preventing undue confusion, and by keeping the street door closed, shutting off s strong draught of air from the flames—and the handsome pay to the ready throng of strong-armed men who worked the engines, secured every co-operation from the public beyond that naturally springing from a general admiration of so brave and well-trained a body of men. Mr Braidwood lived at the principal station of the fire-engine establishment, and to this station all alarms were sent. He attended in person all calls from leading thoroughfares public buildings, or localities where a serious fire might be expected. In the night a call was made to him through a speaking-tube reaching to his bedside. The gas in his room was always burning, and he would quickly •decide, from the known locality of the fire, and from the report given, whether he need go himself. In any case, his men were awake, and quickly away. Rapidity in dressing,|ind in horseingand mounting the engines, was but a detail of daily drill. The moment the scene of action was reached, nothing was allowed to stand in the way of access to the actual seat of the fire, and nothing either in securing a supply of witer. The inmates of the premises, if any, were quickly got out, and whenever>n unhappy creature was cut off by the flames, there were always one or more firemen ready, if necessary, to brave an apparently certain death in a heroic attempt at rescue. The men of the brigade were taught to prevent, iw much as possible, the access of air to the burning materials, What the open door of the ash-pit is to the furnace of a steam boiler, the open street door is to the house on fire. In both cases, the door gives vital air to the flames. The men were trained to pursue a fire, not yet under headway, upstairs and down, in at windows and out through the roof, anywhere, so ic could be reached directly by the water from the •ngines. They were made to regard it as worso than a waste to throw even a gallon of water upon a dead wall, or upon a surfacs of slate or plaster, so long as by any means the branch pipe could he got to bear upon the fire itself.

Mr Braidwood justly regarded the training and discipline of firemen as of the first importance in the organizatioi of a Fire Brigade, but he also gare a large share of attention to the improvement of fire-engines and their kindred appliances. In conjunction with Mr Tilley, then a fire-engine maker in London, he at length produced the distinctive type known as the London Fire Brigade Engine, This ha«, to a certain extent. been superseded by the steam fire-engine, but is still likely to be preferred for a large class of fires. Mr Braidwood, at an early date in his London career, adapted the ordinary military scaling ladders to the purposes of his brigade, two being placed on each engine, and at his recommendation ladders were also placed on a two-wheeled carriage as a convenient fire-escape. In 184S, a' d in consequence of the large number of small fires to which hii engines were called out, he was induced to adopt a small handpump as an auxiliary to the fire-engine. This could he rapidly brought to bear, and though worked by only one man, the value of a small quantity of water thrown directly upon the scat of a small lire was found to be greater ">»" liwt of perhaps twenty-times as mueh when thrown about in the ordinary way It was found to bo very useful also m the case of fires in warehouses stored with valuable gootls, where to throw the least necessary quantity of water upon a fire is an object greatly to be desired. These handpumps still form an important part of the apparatusnf tic London Fire Brigade, and have been widely adopted in other places. We have collected these particulars from the short biography of Mr Braidwood prefixed to the volume, which, on subsequent occasions and under the various heads into which it is divided, we intend to notice at some length. We have preferred, in [most instances, especially in stating facts, to quote the words of the biographer,

WKSILAUI),

The WtttUnd S e „ lr . li; being presented t„ J'!> m was, on ih« in iio,i l){ ~ .Native,. • *.\ tared ut, a*ekt the lions. Mai , r ~.."' <=• c JUI :, 'tAdand, Dr l»i ,„ < !\« Jolm«on,\lrS.-y m ..«r a r . M,, "i-' ,r son. .I he commiuce n ;, t J taswasap Nmuil , h »*M U 5 neises examine „, r , n "'"i. T,. '* heed, Mr B-lf.*,, , "i?"' l! *", t *!h Mr Monrlmuse. ' ,r '^n a |i M ' I"«-">^t.onl,i„ Ba , ke , lt '** commitiee wl mt | lt £.,,.,„ l,) «iit e ~,, i-puia.bo.fwe.u,!:; I :^^!.*,' was not in his p„w fc r t, fj 1 *! tl. s ■ estimate l ' ; (...,,"• Mr Seed was request! t „ ; , "' a, ' : mittee whether wrlajll " f " r "ul,.,. P* 11 ". »■«'"» to I '* imports, tonnage of V . P ' ~' e *K ~,': various ~„n3 and a: i: «™ correct. He .UMtham* 1 ,,"" ■" ■!:> exp ( ,rt»lr l ,m,lietw„p, )rh Greymoutli, „,, to .),„„. :j| ' ' *w! to £1,099,43; ; the K „u ;„'".*< Hokitik, !tl ,ci (irvyn'out,/ 1 ; s r ' ' amount received on an ;-,>(') ~ ,,:' 0v: of ih« Neiwin pnniuee »-»,'n """ r ! C the quantity..! «,„,) rhi„ lJ( ..f f Vll -; ports was 1,()2G,0.V) ~.,,, tl !'' ,r '"» !.»,,. 2qr 9ll n!7lbsH», J ir,j; i11 ,, i ; ,, , , 781 939 .»h were the „„,;,,„„ ft Sr ■;..: Canterbury i;..|i|fiel.ls. The'* '" '"' Up lo June 30 had am„ ""i""'.-.:i,! the registered „{ '.' ; wards at llokitika an.| f. ,:;i '-'".i;-' 95,185 But tin, referred ,7;; : '. rttu .... tonnage are not tur„i,i„ M .„ ' Customs office. Mr .Scl-1 | m ] ' : ■■'•:» with regard to the '<::v Ur Hector's evidence i, ,2' •• Being ask-d regarding the ~,a l' ; v ">'■<•*. Grey district, he repli (B ii ia t'i ti ,7 iß, iit importance to the w ,l„ny ij i;u ~ ~ "-^v. thatdbtrietsh.mlilhewurkelV '- superior character of -|i» i^fT"' * '■■• with which acec-s,nay h^^i'^^ mi be mined more e» m , tni ,' '' i: - !■ north side of the t iv tr . 'u,- 7 .'"■•-'. i mined only ~ut the Nt-!.. jn ? i'| ''.'"' : '' '•' , that side also. 'lhe iir, au f-,!,'," 1 , ' :: " , must be at least f.,ur f ( .uv,.' r , '"' ' Canterbury side of the r 'v.'.''.' ] ' : "< , Nelson side at ten or-.r.-li',.' " ' :: ' , gar.l to any desire on ti K \~, '.'.' : - . IjMbitants to , urcl.ase Ul n ,\ ,V . " district, Dr Hector says, ;!ia:ih.^' ' have g.nc imo pennant: V,^-'"'^' i deep sinking h/ ail or niaeliin.--V'' i! i sluicing operations, are so hiclkej'> ".. ;"' { 'is no inclination toeng go in [.'■'tnii'''-'-"'" cultural operations, in.ltn al'^.-"V l v ; ' 1 mining pursuits, and ~-f 'me x,i-- ' i • supplies for diggers. Ik k ■",.::■' , a sysicm of lc.>"j'*'r,";"" { theca'e of those smill teulerlr: |!^: that the system has neve- b-.-sV.-.''.'. '! district as far as he is aware : ; ':."' : opinion that the freehold sy?V r V.. j;; i better, if it could be so admin^t-.i,.,'-"■.' I interfere with the dijigiims. ■ fl '■'■ ","';,:; Of Westland's mineral* rW, .".^t reply to a question wh.v> ■-..','"!■..[; ■ them, as the petitbner, av.;, ••-:-."•'..',.';' ( Dr Hector says, that bey.i;:.l :;':"■':"".•;', . mineral resourees of the V/es; '] ■■■ ->'-\ the (Canterbury prorince, are <.■<■ ■<'--.'-.' i ■ to be in excess of those of manv...•'■•' r ! i of the colour. There ue . cations of copper and other '""' garding the probable duration of ii': ; -'-;i ' Ur Hector is of opinion ths: :!iey t.":-\ ■ at a minimum yield at a no: V;:'.- v r ■ period, but they wi 1 mniutaiti:'::•.;•'::::.•'•. . B'.mence perhaps greater th.tn.-:p:.v : :- goldSeld, and probably supnort a.';;.i 1 digging population of 5,000 n'r •'.*. ]■ country has been much better exre.;:^;;'. : 1 is often rep esenttJ. Dr Hector is:t - : . that at present it is qui*.* irc-;.;;. ; 1 to carry on business involvin-' ;-t traffic between Westlandand Kadiur:': the capa'dlities of Hokitifcahsrbnr :'::::.■.* traffic, lie s iys that he does w: :±'; --. harbour works would he warraj'.ei :: Hi tika on such an extensive scale as f:: required for large vessels, owi:;; : ■... cliaracier of the entrance of ::■ :;.::. Milford Sound is the near--: s£vu natural port for vessels of very; y;;-ze.r:: is difficult of ncce3j by land.' Th; nor. \ *;•: port is U'estpoit the mouth of :ki B:'.': , Neither of these i» in the dist '.-::: -h;:: None of the pires of the Wes: C.-j-s - ".:0."terbury, in their present condition.!:: :'.::'.: . other than small vtssels. Jr ':!;.::. -. reply to a question as to : .v:;a: iv :■;:/;;.' ; the best trunk line from Nelson to :':::■ 1~- , says that such a line woald cro« t■- :: ::• tains in the northern par: of C.i'.::>::b:: r A--1 to the extent of available laa..! i::\V : vj::. : he informs tlie committee tin; :::.. .;::."• mouth to lloss there is a w: itli o: :':."■ ■ ,'■ : ! toten miles of comparativeivfi.ittc::;::'.-"-'-. with the excep ion of ;ke st'tep rr.;:;o -::'-~ ; ' which extends south to the fere:::'.k.:::-- , the ureymouth Gorge. This ierr.i.e !:- ; rises to a height of 1200 feet ak'-. :::; •.; level, and is composed of o!.iy ..:.'■•"'•' : marine origin, covered with stir.';-. ::•'-; 1 and superficial deposits of frmi the inountttns. The \n\ ::'. -■■■' terraces is very light and ?:■::.■'. '-■■'■ y: carries a luxuriant growth of tbl. 1 : i s: i : in those spots called '• Pakihis." o: '_' P..ddocks"), there is aoreason n te'-' ; '-' it would carry grass and light or -:•;. it : - on the whole, better than :«'.• ?*■■■'■? Plains, though similar in eiwra..-:er. f'-- : climate is very much superior fr i;v. it? •'•■ ■■ ■■' dant moisture. The st:e;i:n? ex -i channels into the tcrraoes, and ;i?' : -'v ! are too rugged and connm.!. -.locp ■■' - case of the larger rivers, to atfor.t _"t' : available land. Along the valley? < [ :: rivers as the 6rey,Tere:n:ika-j. a::'l i! *- :: V: there is a fair proportion of -wtt'n r; ; and along the coast successive bM.'-" :;i:: ( to a height of 250 feet, rrese;:: i v ; :v: >' width of tine alluvial kn;h H:» " !'- ;i - : ~ or "Paddocks" before allude! :' ;;; sites of old river bed* or higoor,!. i-■■ .•;;; hollows in the shingle of the terrace-" with rich mossy vegetation, :or:;i: V» ■-• peat, resting on shingle, aad see:'' :: ;'_ t growth of stunted heath plants, has shewn that these natural o'.v.;:--'-capable of improvement, ai'.i tiist '••"'.','.;'•, ultimately f.rm pasture iar.i. J , ' r -': :1 . : 7 southward liic country is :-.:.:::• hi-}'. : ' ::, .;..' 1 valleys have a considerah!'.- *:-. i e: "■' - ". liiiid,''with light loamy available land in the viuleys i5;~. ,,: -; : the average of hilly country in Ne ,v ••;•.'.'.' A rough, estimate of the availi'f'-.'' :: i V _ said district, including Die terro'e-i : ••' about one nml a half millions..::! "■ :'■■■•*"" Martin's Bay and the tire;-' !•!'>•■";. _ , i»ni he distribution of go:'. • : ''' ;:; ' r the following inf..rma:io:::— The extent of the ;uirirVr":- - i:,; ' ... he estimated. The digging niv ' /' under four groups —iiig.i •'■'' - "" ; coarse gold; these rc<: o:i :;:•■ '•'■' : "' ''.-" underlie the gravel--, cue. :r. '■ • ' ; " . dire.'tioi, I'arallei with tiiv ?■■' ■ great- vullev tin: ;•! e '.: :: ' ' . liny to the West <.'>.--. "■"•"■ '; , ; bounded mi the cist iy t. - : , "... _ l>iho::oie rocks, tiiie.': »y ' (ilnionic rocks; and on ".itt v '. : '' : hills of crystalline ro/.;-. ; - ;; - ,; '.'....'■ ■;■ vctqied in nuso: lie and ii-r::.: y •■ • y coal seam-:. The hich terrti '•.• ''.'. •'_ on ilie coa.it about Ukarit::.:!".!'^'' ] \ .. : into tl.e pioviuce of XcN'-n to ;;:; Na ,',.; yet astvrtnined, but there ure n: ;'y ( '.''.. i the line yet untested. 'i' : ' e ';"'','',",....• :> leads thus lying parallel »'i":: '-"'"',",. ■ have been cut through by : if i ' : , v '; i ..- I '.',. ' ing to the sea, and the gold : " : ' u 'i','._'." ' :• form the i:r '' ; " : '".:„•'.,. : gings. Most of the .!ige::i,« ''_;";' ■' ■;:■■ elass attracted the -arly a '■-';.'■■ .. .-: diners, and in some : ' !t ; I. I;.','-, • ■'■' cominued employuien: Kiinieri and lv-iss. 'l'he ' beach terraces on wi'ieh t!:e ' i ' l ''•-;',.,-; ■:* out to sua h:i< !w ■'"'' '/ , „|r:re :: levels, reaching to --"' '- c '; _," v :; ''■ prest nt const during clianL'C?:' ! ;-,,_'.;-. i of the coast. The iw.iw ( '., !K , : l gold arc still in progress ut •■•■ tlieir richness must !:■>''- ■;■ creased by the disturbing . ' ■'■','.'!'... :■..'* drifts by the diqeer- ia !; :K '. c . : ?IL" ■!ti-■'' from the cent. All thegv- ::1 ■

t Vt . tins i» grain, and tile richg'"ftlie deposits is in some cases very je-'J"'?, ry (he raised beaches'wilt nul I" 11 f the bottom on k.liicli the.:-' wash 3B»ture or |)((t jt of re working, tin rci" ff , ien „ M e abandoned, as is dune iii t\»®V: , s „f digging The existing ihiMli 111051 1 lever be a lastinur .w»urce. of .wcaltli *""' '.noviiitJiit fur labour. TV gol;l is *nd ?'"' , he bi-ach and valley terraci'S.of #, tuitions, of (be fivers hcfore.ihey ifrtHM country, This affords 01 FoUn (l andhaaauraeled very lit lit iW r M as v-t. The tain) Kiver diggiiigs 3tt n e GreVnlnnd diggings bel.ind boss's, •li the g""M extt,nil!t lOan-a-ltiiude «t 111 ,'Li „liove the sea. are almost the only * ■ a'i belonging to this class. The. prosfe'"r !|illtzlce f 8 orcii'ring in. fne VVest'i rn ff ct '°, ts ; i< much belter than in Kasterii ami t>iagf. owillg t0 llle nmimcr >» r h t-lte-strnfa have been michanieally iliisU but it in«V «Q«' W a lou ß J"ywJ for JeVdWi'l'Venient. _ Mr lfilfo'« f '' '"' n Wltnes9 > Mid llis . L, relates mainly to the AVcstlim.l '"," He »"'••<' ,l|C sf Civastaiiout two rs »!''• nn d ff '" le I,l,ire i M '" l ,ar, ' eular Sti'iii l 0 tl,e P ort "* ,loki ' ik "> "»*•»? • '.ml cotie on purpose to insjHct it, lie '"•; IC ,„ j,o port on the West Coast of the inie of Canterbury, which i» or could be F ro | e llVi ,ii,ible for "TBisels of any burthen. rthriti 'be tllinks ' >* m&,{ ' susoeptibleof . ' IT 'e'iicnt than llokuikn, but be has seen l!l | ilieiwrl* of llokitiku and Okarita. He not. esnnine any other p irts smith of the T K \- hut ha-1 beard that Bruce Bay was l,f«l';i! sii«' lar tol,ic roadstvailsof Timaru L] ttotnani. Being asked to -state his rijniou of the several ports on the West jw nt Ne* each :„[(, rtspectivt; distances from Hokitika—anil ". V, ,f w nature of the laud communication ' bctireen them, Mr B ilfour says :- The rivers on the West Coast of the Middle ~,i n(j :I re generally of considerable diihe'nJfons. TlK'.v take their rise in the great Alpine mountain chain which forms the b»ckkinf of ll' c i«l* n 'l) a ')d a? this chain is inhere more than about thirty miles from •he coast, the beds of tbe rivers have a very s{ e ;n gradient, and after rain, or when the is melting the flood waters rush to the villi euormous velocity and in great volume, carrying along with them very huge cusntities of shingle. After these flood's the ©trances to the larger rivers are generally straight and deep, and practicable for vessels of a molerate draught of water. After a Ion" continuance of fine weather, on tbe other land, especially in winter when no considerjble amount of water flows off the higher ranges, the rivers become greatly shrunken, sad the very small body of water then flow* jus; to the se» is quite unable to remove the stele banks which the prevalent westerly skllij almost incessantly heaping up across tlijir entrances and thus the mouths become more or less completely closed up until Mother heavy fresh sweeps away all aecumii

l.tians. Within the bars these, and all similar river*, have constantly shifting courses; ihey meander over a very wide bed, and very cminiunly change their course every time a food occurs, the merest trifle, such as a large sane it the root of a tree, being sufficient to cause an eddy, in which shingle is rapidly deposited, and thus in an hour a high bank: jn.iv be formed where the deepest part of the river was befof e. Something may be done to. control the movements even of such torrents certainly, hut it is always with misgivings that an engineer would attempt works of this kind. Ihey may be successful aiid prove a t-enefit for years; but, oh the other hand, the caprice of the stream may either utterly destroy them, or in a single flood scoop out a neff channel hundreds of yards distant from the then useless work. No doubt it is possible completely to confine even the mightiest torrent,b.ut to do that with certainty would necessitate the most massive masonry and other works on a scale which it would be absurd to propose in such a country as this for many years to come, and the com rolling works I : rifer to as being uncertain, their action is rich as might more reasonably be attempted in the present .condition .of ih« colony." If little can be. done to restrain nature within the bars of such rivers -'.sti.il ie ß s can be done outside. It; is still an open question whether breakwaters on either side the mouth of a river, and running out, to deep water (such as arc now being constructed at the Tyne in Engiad), can possibly have any more than a temporary effect; indeed, I believe it is limited that the effect can only be ternpary, but it is asserted that the time the imjiovement will 'tasty before the. coastline T-jik- seaward so as to enclose, .the bn.akw.j:; and form a hew bar, will be so. great !k the benefit arising from the- works will Kfc! repay the outlay. This may be the case where the beach is composed of fine sand, and where the river is only able to carry the finest silt ; but where the beach is composed of heavy Single, and where the river brings down enormous quantities—probably millions of MEs-of gravel and ihingle annually, I have notaintion in saying, that .no breakwaters st the mouth of any river on the West Coast wall be of more than the most temporary benefit, or could ever repay the cost, which *ou!1 be very great, of their construction. Tie rivers then must be left almost entirely to the action of nature, and all wharves and all property on their banks must be more or Is liable to damage or destruction, or to be entirely deserted by the water and left high and dry. On the other hand I see no reason to suppose that the rivers wili not maintain sn average depth over an average of years, wl be perfectly sufficient as ports for the s »P?ly of the district, so long as prices rule J t> high as to allow of the employment of Seam tugs and steam lighters; they may be worked by sailing vessels, but with much 'Ks certainty, and at a much greater risk. «r a heavy export trade, as of coals or the tes precious metals, I dp not consider the Bvers suitable potts, as such bulky goods tan M 'y he carried economically in large le «e s, and if such a trade i« ever to be ''■KctSifnlly carried on other barless ports ! "w ha constructed on the coast, or the "'toerab must be carried by rail to existing m secure havens. Ins following are Mr Balfour's notes on • «'« principal harbours of the West -Coast,' ; r ™ the Bullet southwards. He is speaking ; r( "i» personal knowledge, and from what fc 11,5 wen able to ascertain:— , •• liuller River.—This is considered by all '■'"pmasters to be the best river on the coast. j is greatly protected by Cape Foulwind from ,S.W. swell, and as the beach shoals graj,,u% the surf is always more moderate J lli "i at most rivers on the coast, and the bar _ : ii'-tn quite smooth. The channel varies to wi- extent; indeed there are sometimes two i-WiiH-F?, but J believe they are always com!U^!''rfc!y straight in, and consequently easy of'!'''!" '^ eß r ' 36 m ' tn t0 "i ne leet ' ilel --'' ', Wa!(:r <hi bar is said to average not less twelve to fourteen feet (at high water), to be as much as twenty? ~-*■ It is probably never less than ten feet, •,' : " ::nd.ioragc for large vessels, under Cape ''| ,!; «'|nd, is excellent, and the shelter 'from J; w-ailiog w j ni ] s g (KJC i_ j-,. j 3 .{ rom seventy ■ t Id c-ißlity miles distant from Hokitika by ;;'■'• but 1 Inlieve it is exceedingly difficult to l "|. v '- 'southward along the coast. i,,"' ' x ' s '—A small river of only temporary B ;':;Planet. Itoadstead much exposed and ..';' l i lti i2e very bad, the bottom being mainly »' ; dded rock.

„ ( ';-,-' !jl 't Kiizabeih. About three miles '■'" " J>f the (jrey, slid twenty three mites (: '^ : li<iki'.il; a . This is a naturfil bay of v t ', M f" 1 ' 1 - exttnt . but -the greater part is . iMialkw. It p.ppeara to be sheltered by , ; ''f *'' , r ' K ;ky islets, farming a continuation ir! D '.' " t r' :l ri,i t-'° "f l] ! '-"ril limestone which p-."o< ••W\-,v s " ml,erD angle of the bay. Iwas 1,-, 1 ,";. ft to ( -X:ioiine tin., port from the shore; . li| t aeiueil that, there was a considerable : ;-■;» o, ilc'tp wju- rat t ] m . MUlll eiM ] j a , l( ] i .'! ,!a eedtserTe3 to becarefully snr- '](■"-'"* .''' il !s C;l iwbie (if there be sufficient if of being made an excellent hurM,!', r a ' : ' moderate cost. It is nf'';"'"" 1 '« bare been at one time the outlet i'ivt.' > n C,v ' £rom wll ' c '''' * s 6e l )arate( l by a Over'' |' *' nt * * believe a tramway from the virs"' i lllillC ' S C "" 1J illi m,i(le as e!,s ' ly Ul & ,', I'ort lis to Greymou.th, while the absence v 4*- fres!l ? s wou 'd make it infinitely the c'ft°i»° t ' le rey ss a e s P ec ' a 'b' t° r wai trade,

J' .ss -The Grey debouches fri.in between two high bluffs at a .iistance of less than a.mile from the sea, ami-being confined to one that jpoint its wandering rau S t,al ! y In that since it has been used a* a pontile : ,>oritHin of the signal station has .not required to be nitereii,* .suilieient .proof of tlie pennaiiciici! of.tiiegeneraiiposiiion of the.entrance, . Ihe channel over tlie our is, sbiftiiig within .comparatively narrow, limits. the rise of the tidu along the whole of .the West Coiist awiigcs about eight feet. According to Captain Kennedy the average depth on (he bar at high water is about leven. fevt,,)iut it has been as liitle as four and a-half feel, and as grcatas twelve feet,at.'least. Outside,, the water deepens rapidjyi and from this cause and the more westerly, lie of the const tlieie is usually a heavier surf here than at liokiiik*. lj o ili hero arid at llokiiika the channel is-occasion-ally in such a direction that vessels entering uve for r short time-broadside to thesiirf, and 4 these, times it is'dangerous to attempt an entrance, especially if the vessel .does not answer her helm ..rapidly. This port is. about twenty miles from llokiiika by sea and 1 believe'a tramway has been made, or is to be made, along the beach to connect the two places. 5. Tereinakau.—About eleven miles from llokiiika; has nqver beeii used as a port from its vicinity to better rivers. 6. llokitikn,—A fine river, but very liable to shift its entrance. Since my visit the spit lias been cut through by tlia combined action of bind floods, high tides, and heavy sens, and the entrance is now at least a quarter of a-uii.lt> further north than it wai when I saw it. The depth on the bar at present is about six fed, but according to Captain Kennedy the average depth is -from, eight to twelve feet. The water outside deepens gradually, and from this cause, and from the lie of the shore, the surf is generally less than at most -other ports. Outside thire is good holding ground tor large vessels, but the roadstead is quite open, and vessels generally put to sea on the appearance of bad Weather. 7. O.karita.—A small port fifty miles south of llokiiika; like the Butler, it is somewhat sheltered from the S.W. swell by Long Point, and Abut Head also protects it somewhat from the northerly swell, he entrance is sometimes absolutely cl<;sed up by shin?Ja ihrown up by the sea, but the place lias !'•' •, valuable peculiarity, that the lagoon inside is of such a large extent that when it has become filled up by land waters to such an extent that they are able to burst through the shingle barrier the quantity of water to be discharged is.so great that a.good channel is sure to be scooped out before the lagoon is emptied. The streams entering the lagoon are not glacial rivers, and do not apparently carry shingle, so that this disturbing element has not to be provided against. On the whole, I think this .-port susceptible of great improvement, but at a considerable cost, the track from Hokitika is along-the .beach,-and portions cau only he passed at low water,

8. Bruce 'Bay,—'About eighty miles south of Hokitika, 16 a good shelter from the S,\V, swell, There is good anchorage in three fathoms. Captain Gibson, the Port Officer of Canterbury, describes it as " superior to Oama-ru, or Timavu," I do not know the nature of the shore tracks, but understand they are difficult to traverse. 9. Jackson's Bay is about 125 miles south of Hokitika. It is a fine bay, with good anchorage, and is sheltered, according to Captain Kennedy, from all winds except those between N.N.E. and N.W, by W.; according to others there is even mou shelter, especially for small cvaft, which can go very close ill. I understand that communication between this bay and Hokitika by laud is at present almost impracticable. Mr HulL evideu-e comes next. He is asked to state his views as to the allegations contained in the following paragraph of the petition:—That with the exception of cattle and sheep driven overland from East Canterbury, the whole of the supplies necessary for the consumption of the large population of Westland are reee.od by .he se.i-boaid being brought from the Australian colonies and the neighbouring Provinces of Xew Zealand to the two ports of Hokitika and Greymouth ; aiid that the large shipments of stock constantly arriving by sea, render the district to.a great extent independent in that particular also of the eastern part of the province. To this M.v lia.lt rcplieitliat the first part is substantially correct; the latter part, he says, is incorrect, llr. Hall cannot state for certain, the proportion between stock imported by sea, and thoie driven overland. His impressioi is, that by far the greater number are driven overland. The overland route is always open, while the water-traffic is not always to be depended upon, llr Hali is not aware of any manufactures in Westland worth mentioning, nor does he think that th; extent of land under cultivation is as yet large. The cultivations he had seen were principally on the Maori reserve on the Arahaura. The soil on the level ground he considered very fertile, and the climate specially favourable for the growth of grass. He thinks green crops, in particular, would grow well, arid believes that a proper system of land regulation's would secure a considerable permanent population. The best system of land regulations he describes as the selecting blocks of agricultural land not likely to prove auriferous, and selling them in smaller sections either at a fixed price or by auction. The former, he thinks, would be preferable. Mr Hall does not believe that there is a large number of inhabitants permanently settled in Westland, but admits that there has been a strong desire to acquire town lands, and also agricultural: lauds in the immediate neighbourhood of the towns. Such portion of the town lands as have been sold have not realised high prices. Mr Hall believes some large buildings have been, erected in the district, hut rather doubts the statement that a large amount of Capital is lying idle. The Canterbury Government, says iir Hall, has spent more money on Westland, and public works connected with it, than has been drawn from it. In this expenditure he includes that portion of the main road lying west of the dividing range, and the cost of the escort, which latter was, so far as he recollects, about £2OOO or £3OOO. Westland has not been charged with any share of the cost of the principal gaol, lunatic asylum, head office of survey and engineer departments, or any of the general expenses of the Provincial Government or interest oil provincial loans, until last session of the Council, when £"000 was charged as interest on over-draft, and also a small sum of the general expenses of the province. In the expression "revenue," as applied to the receipts from Westland, Mr Hall explains that he includes the three-eighths of customs- which have been ordinarily payable to the/provinces. The petitioners averred that Hokitika, the local seat of administration in Westland, is distant from Cliristchurcli, the capital of the province, by the mountain road connecting thtwo towns, one hundred and fifty miles; the through journey occupying two days under favourable circainisiaiic.js; that this road is frequently rendered iuipnssaUe for many days together by the 'flooded state of the rivers, by vioiet.it sn'ow storm', and by the interruptions arising from' the falling of trees and other accident:-., whilst telegraphic communication is often interrupted from the raine causes, aiid the whtiic district of Westland consequently becomes completely isolated, for the time being, fftii.ii the present

st.it of Government. Mr Ik 11 does battle for his road. He tells the omimiitlcc that it is an excellent one, and th;;t it would be possible id rim through in eighteen hours. There are niily two lurge river* to cros-i—the Wainii'kariri on the eastern, and the Arahaura/ on the western tide of He will not -I'liiit that the traffic hii~ been stopiied more than once or twice in the course of the past twelve month*, and thinks lb chances of inte-M nation and difficulty of communication overrated in the petition. Telegraphic cuhimunicatieii, he says," rarely intOTuptqd. (m the subject of the road Mr Halt further «avs that it was carried over a difficult mountain range under circumstances of pecuiar difficulty, principally io the depth of win when wa-,4 were exceptionally high. Owing to thereat rush to the West Coa>t, »t ™ desirable to complete it with, the smalles, delav. Under such circumstances it ww impossible to let the work general y >y tender. Such parts of it an could be let by

Taking all these facts' intocoiHr.iermwn i ijia'iiHd wttsj-li. the on! mon of competent authorities, completed at ; « | «y ffl.MJßr.ite cost.. Legislation-,m such . Milgcctß ut are generally dealt with by Imvineial Lc),'i«liitures ought, in Mr-liu||' B oimimn.to l,oif a.Hllereiit kind for Westl«wd to that adopted in. i«h ß tlitnil. This applies spcehlly to the case of waste land Wi circumstances affecting which are entirely iliff, rent inthu two districts. The estimates lor public works at Westlnnd have lu-cn finiiu'i], i-eniarks Mr Hull, with referent* to the probable revenue to he derived from thin part ( ,f tlie province.. He says it: in perhaps technically coned, but, not sul.s'iintially so to.iissert, as the petitioners d; > t'lmt the Provincial Governm nt, hi onnseqiieuce of the failure to d sp >se of their de"entures on terms which it was deemed prudent to accept, have largely ov rd awn their account at Hie Hxiik of New Zealand, and llmt it bus lieen erroneously alleged that a sum hearing ut 1 rge proportt m to the overdraft is due by Westland as it debt to the Provincial clust. That, the representatives of the district have repeatedly and. persistently protested against tlie equity of this charge against the district, at the same time avowing the dosire of the people of Wesliand to hear any fair proportion- of the alleged debt that may be alooated to the district, after due and impartial investigation. The Provincial Council, he says was not uctu Hy urged to go into any in! vestigatioli, The Westlnnd members always slated their readiness to hear a fair proportion hut- never brought forward any specific proposition. He believes that the £7,000 of interest on overdraft was fairly chargeable to Westland, mid admits that it is quite (rile that tlte Westland people always protested against the escort, tie adds that-Vestiend vv-iia tirade responsible for tlie actual sum spent, but she had the benefit of the buildings erected for the escort on the western side of the range, also some of the horses and a great portion of the material and equipments which were bought for tlie esc< rt. Mr Hall concludes his evidence by saying that he was i:i err r when he stated that the cost of the escort was from £2,1)00 to £3,000. It was considerably more. Mr Moorhouse informed the committee that he had visited the West (toast rivers with Dr Hector and the heads of departments and that between Milfnrd Haven and the Grey, he saw no harbour or rl er which any seatnan would, at ordinary freights, attempt to trade to unless in vessels propelled by steam power or assisted by tugs. I he population of Westlnnd, he considers, has been slightly overstated by the petitioners. He estimates it at from 40,0-0 to 45,000, inclusive of the Kelson diggings. Mr Moorhouse thinks the coal mine on the Nelson side of ihe Grey will prove most valinblc, but lins not such a high opinion of that on the Canterbury side. Nearly all snpidies, with the exception of live stock, are, he says, brought from the other i\'cw Zealand provinces and Australia, No sea-borne stock can compete with those driven ovi tlaml, and Canterbury will always supply stock cheaper than any other place. Mr Moorhouse knows of no manufactures worth mentioning- in Westlnnd. except very good beer and cordials. With regard to the soil, he says tha*, it vatjes very much, that he has a high opinion of its fertility, that all tlie good land is at present over-grown with bush, that it would be suitable for grazing purposes if the bush was cleared, and that it will not be available for agriculture to any extent for many years. He believes thai the adoption of a system of land regulations, protecting the interests of the miners, would secure permanent settlement. The population, he says, is very migratory, The temporary eharaetor of the buildings argues strongly against a general belief in the permanence of the settlement. 1 le has no d.-übt of its permanence, but imagines that the traders at present there are prepared for its being only t.-niporavj. Tramway companies almost invariably, when asking con: essious frOm the Provincial Government, have disclosed calculations of profit at the rate of not less than 50 per cent, as b.-ing a requisite inducement to mitt"' upon ti.em. When asked how such profit is j istiiied, they reply, that there is no security for their being required for more than two years. The mercantile element is exceedingly vigorous and enterprising. The banks are the best, and pretty good buildings; mo-t of (be test are temporary. It is notorious that, there is very little capital lying idle, He bad received liis information on this subject from the most reliable authority. He thinks that the revenues of WestUnd are amply sufficient to " defray al! costs and charges of local administration, and all necessary public works within the district." The interruption of traffic on the overland road is not very great. Stoppage of telegraphic comnvuniciiliwi Ims not occurred for some time. By engineering reports and savveys which he has in Ids possession, Mr Moorhouse is assured that railway 3o'miminication from I'hristchurclito Hokitika, touching the coast about the Arahaura, is quite practicable. The estimated cost is £G00,0G0; but he adds S-'i per cent, for coniiiigeiicie*, making a total of £1,000,000. The irigihal object of keeping the accounts of Eastland ami Westlnnd separate- was to mable the Provincial Government to demonitrate clearly to the inhabitants of Wcstland it-hut proportion of the revenue they received, vlr Moorhouse admits that the representation )f Westland is disproportionate; but that is iccpuntedforby the migratory character Of he population. Rich diggings breaking out n any other part of New Zealand, if suffiliently extensive, would in till probability ake away a majority of the population vithin a month. The registered electors are ery few. The miners generally do not xercise the franchise; hitherto they lave been practically indifferent to it. Ir Moorhouse says it is untrue that the Provincial Council "improperly and unjustly leprived Westland of its own sources of evenue, for the purpose of expending the airie on works ter the benefit of Eastland," [heir reason for reduciiig the estimates was hat they did- not think the revenues would i 8 sufficient for the proposed expenditure, le thinks that the revenues of Westland fouldnoMe most judiciously and inexpenively administered by a Local Government, t would not he judicious, in bis opinion, at iresent to entrust the Westland community rith a separate Government as nskedfofiu he petition. A large proportion of the adiiinistrative expeiues of the General Govern iient is paid out of Provincial revenue in Vestland. There has been no appropriation iy the Provincial Government of any specific lortion of the Provincial Loans to Westland; ho expenses of the roads and other Outlays pill, however, be charged to the loan. A urge-proportion of the road was made by ontraet. The Provincial Government, he •ays, has always niaintainod during his adiiinjstration that there was to be no speciHe barge against Westland in respect of that oad, Westland being liable in common with he.rest of the province for its btirdci: of uililic debt. The separate account for the li.tfr.iet was,a mutter of convenience, specially fill), a view to be able to prove the exact .mount expended for We3tlttnd uses, le denies that tlie Provincial Council has leen repeatedly Urged Without {-fleet to take iropt-r measures to get the aliened debt of Vrslland finally adjusted. The escort was topped because the hanks declined to use it.' /cry little gold was carried by it. lie iclievts the expense was charged against the tr-ni police expenditure, but is uo.t certain. I'he net cost, was not move than i'lii-UO. Jovcrmneiit has been willing to as-dsr., by ;uarau:ee, the cs:ablislnnoul of tnunway.s; lilt no action-has been taken, in consequence l' a i.Hlliculty between the projectors of the evev-al lines (which, in the interest of the iiiblie, should be connected) upon Ihe qncsion of g'tiige, This difficulty once fettled, iovcrnincnt proposed to give gi.niraiilco in ;ithes where such aid may appear expedient. Villi regard to tlte allegation by Ihe ptl.iiouers, that on making his li-iiunu'ial stateiient to the I'rorincial Gounod, on bringing lown the estiniates of expenditure for the line months ending .'ilst March, l-tiS, the 'rovineial Secretary announced the vutiii.ii.rn if the Government to he to .deal with the vhole Go'-dliebls revenue of the I'.lstricl of .Vestland ns territorial revenue, and io appro-iriatetwii-fifths of it to the " - ailwuy and laiijotiv Worl'.sPcnd Ordinance, 18(14," Mr iloovhouse savs tlie proposal was made by the .-rovineial So-rotary, in oi'dtr to test the

opiiiipn of Hie Council, which Iml not been definitely expressed on the subject. But the opinion of the Executive was, that for convenience siike.knil to render certain the local application of yVeslhind revenues, iv separate account would be required. The Government was favourable to applying the provisions of the " liailwny and Harbour Works iifiliuancb" to W*stlanl, with a view tn mitkiiig n fund applicable to iiailway and Harbour Works in Westland. The petitioncs fiirtlier assert, in connection with this siibjct, that it was distinctly shewn to tie satisfaction of the Provincial Council, that such an aiier'ation of the gold revenue was absolutely'illegal, under the clauseß of the " Gold Duty Actj 1858," and tli •»' Goldfields Act, 1866." that in consequence of its proved illegality the propo.-al was abandoned, that the main purpose of the large and most disastrous-reductions made in the votes set down in tho estimates uiwcr the head of public works and roads, was improperly to crj-n'e a surplus of revenue over expenditure, within the meaning of section 3 of the " Gold Duty Act, 1J58," to be treated as terdtorial revenue, out of which two-fifths (estimated to amount for the current financial year to no less a sum than £26,1100) might be transferred to dw -Hailway and Harbour Works Account. To this Mr Moorhouse rejoins that there was no int.ntioii on "the part of the Canterbury Government to treat the revenues f.nnj the Western portion of the province in the manner set. out. lie would not have assented to any policy of the kind.