WEST COAST INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 87, 15 June 1866, Page 2

WEST COAST INTELLIGENCE.

i The weather has been fearful at Hokitika. We learn tne following from the W. C. Times: — Heavy were the squalls which swept over the i town between midnight on Saturday and 5 a.m. on ! Sunday; so heavy indeed as to compel the steamers in the roadstead to lift anchor and make for the offing. Torrents of rain flooded the streets, whilst deafening thunder and exceedingly vivid lightning added to the wiWness of the scene. So boisterous a night has not been experienced on the coast this season. At 6.30 a.m. the Keera, bound to Dunedin, cast off from the wharf, and made for the mouth of the river, and favored by comparatively smooth water cleared the surf without shipping a single sea. About an hour later the Star of the Evening followed, but as by this time the ebb tide was running there was a much heavier "jumble " on the bar. The Star cleared the frosty river, but on getting into broken water, was met by a succession of heavy rollers, which swept her fore and aft and so much deadened her way that she drifted bodily some distance to the northward, ere she was fairly clear of the outer break. Although the hour was so early and the morning breeze freshly in the extreme, a number of people were on the spit witnessing the departure of both boats, and as many were interested parties the result occasioned much gratulation. The interest held by Throckmorton in the ketch Lloyd's Herald A^as sold by auction on Saturday last, by Messrs. Carey and Gillies. Messrs. Fisher Bros, were the purchasers, at £7(5. Every despatch has been used in effecting the necessary repairs to the Yarra, p.s., and she is now, we are happy so say, again fit for service. We never remember seeing a vessel in so hazardous a position on the bar as she was placed in on Wednesday last, and there is no doubt she stood the trial wonderfully well. The work of opening up the West Coast, and intersecting it by tracks, is being quietly and surely proceeded with by the Survey Department— one, by the way, that we hear but little of, but which is nevertheless, doing a considerable amount of necpssary but most disagreeable work. Hitherto, we have understood that it was not the. intention of the Government to spend any money upon public works in Westland, and we were, therefore somewhat surprised , to hear that survey ljnes.are being cut. parallel to the . coast, a mile distant from each other, the first to be , situated. one mile from the sea beach. The intelligence from Greymouth is that the search alter Mr. Dodson is being actively prosecuted, but so far unattended by success. Fresh parties have started, one consisting of Mr. Mailer (of the survey

department)^ attended by a party of Maoris, and another headed by Mr. Bain, who is accompanied by a very valuable and sagacious dog of the retriever breed. Strong hopes are entertained that the remains of the unhappy gentleman trill yet be found : but very few people anticipate he -will ever be seen in the flesh. The majority are of opinion that he has been murdered, and the body buried. In suclr a case the services of a. good dog would be most effective, as those sagacious brutes usually give tongue on scenting a dead body. An exhibition of figures in waxwork has been thrown open to the public. Amongst the figures advertise d to be seen were two — one representing the notorious Eertrand, the other that of his victim, the unfortunate Mr. Kinder. From what we can gather, it appears that Mr. Wood (the father-in-law of the latter), at present residing in Hokitika, considered the exhibition of his relative as most unseemly, and was heard to declare that if it was persisted in he would stop it in a manner but little anticipated by the proprietor. He kept his void by arming himself with a heavily-mounted whip, and quietly mingling with the crowd, suddenly to the liorror and amazement of the showman made a most murderous assault upon the cast of Kinder, and demolished it. The attack was so sudden that he effected his. purpose ere any one had time to prevent it; but immediately afterwards the police made their appearance, and the offender was at once arrested and conveyed to the lockup. ■ Mining in the Totara district is m a healthy state, notwithstanding that the deep lead at Ross Town, which has riven rise to such sanguine anticipation, is at a standstill. Almost a certainty, however, exists that steam power will be shortly introduced by the Scandinavian Company, which, we think, deserve direct encouragement by the Government to vigorously carry out their undertaking. The old workings on Jones' Creek are beiDg re-worked by sluices, and even yet yield good wages in many instances, as parties who will work systematically can make from £4 to &10 per week each man. The population of Jones' Creek proper, including the town of Hoss. is estimated at 1,500. From the outlying gullies the accounts are very favorable, "Donohogue's" especially being held in estimation by the miners.