OUR WEST COAST LETTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 16

OUR WEST COAST LETTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

RdSS, July 26.

A SMALL RUSH.

Owing to the news that a party of prospectors near Cape Terrace, Kumara, obtaining a good sample of gold in a drive they were bringing up to drain 'their claim leaking out, a small rush has set in to Fuchsia Creek, w.here the gold was found. There are now from 15 to 20 claims pegged off, and as the locality has long been held by experienced miners to contain rich patches, the probability .is that the ground will now be thoroughly prospected.

NOT ALLOWED TO RETRIEVE HIMSELF.

Owing to the very severe strictures passed upon him by the Kumara Times and the West Coast Times the unfortunate Kumara Bchool teacher, of whose slip and recovery I told you in my last, has tendered his resignation, which was accepted last Thursday at a special meeting of the school committe. Bjsoffence.althoughagraveoneandone which naturally called forth itsquantoni of condemnation at the time, had been expiated, and the young man (who, by the way, has a wife and a large family) another chance, and had the (paper) doga of war not ppened on him in futf cry go

would undoubtedly have been allowed to continue following his useful avocation. As it i«, these sleuth-hounds have, metaphorically speaking, killed the unfortunate discipla of Dr Arnold as dead as any red herring. A DANGEROUS RIVER. One of the most dangerous fords of South Westland" appears to be the Waiho river, which has neither bridge, punt, nor boat for the use of travellers. The consequence is that those who go that way frequently meet with mishap, and in one or two instances lives have been lost. To the former list I have now to add another m that of the southern mailman, who, while attempting to cross this turbulent stream, has just had a narrow escape. Hia horse rolled over with the mails, and had it not been for timely, assistance rendered, both mailman and mails might have been lost. The residents are strongly urging the county council to put a boat on the river. BETWEEN TWO STOOLS, <SC. The agitation for a settlement of the Brunner difficulty and the .opening up of the Coal Creek mines by railway appears to have altered to a battle royal between the people of Brunner and the Grey Valley 1 and those of the town of Greymouth, one strongly advocating that the request of the Gtey Valley Coal Company, should bo agreed to at once, arguing that if it is not Brunnerton must go to the wall, and the port of Grey, mouth become crippled for the next six or eight years, or until the new vettture-the CoalUeek mines and railway line-is opened ;,and theother replying that a perilous turnhasamved, at which a divarication of interests must take place ; that the people of Greymouth must conserve their interest in the coal trade by having two strings to their bow-i.e., the opening up of the Coal Creek seams, even at the expense of allowing the Brunner difficulty to remain for a time m abeyance; that there is no way of arresting the very serious falling off of the coal export other than by making a railway to <3oal Creek, opening up, asit wluld, four or five coal leases with coal of the finest quality ; that there is no animosity against the Brunner Coal Company, but tint every one must try to get on eyen if it is at tha-expense of their neighbour*, &&., 4c. To that end the Greymouth Harbour Board and borough council sent deputations to Wellington io urge on the Premier the hecessity of constructing the Coal Creek railway last Monday, they being accompanied by another from Brunnerton. . One, feels sorry, to see a split in two such communities over such a matter of vital importance to the whole district, and it is to be hoged that such an undesirable catastrophe such is coming to the ground between two stools will not 'occur.

THE BITER BIT. The Picturesque Atlas fiends, who ever since Mr Macfarlane'a memorable verdict m their favour against an unfortunate victim, who neither took any number nor bound the deed by current coin.have been havingthingsmuch their own way by summoning "susceptibilities to dißtant coiffta, and relying on their non-attendance to secure a verdict, have just met their match in Mr Mango 3 (let me write his name in large Roman), of Lyelli who, summoned to Westport by these inconsiderate people, putin an appearance there. Result: Plaintiffs paid £1 16s costs into court, and withdrew the claim. Defendant's application for £2 extra cost was met by his worship 8 remark that ho would allow the costs if he had the power, and to that end he adjoutned his decision. Is there one out of the thousand-and-one New Zealand victims of this .picturesque calamity but hopes that he has the power? THE NELSON CREEK WATER RACE. This white elephant, which has cost the New Zealand Government so many thousands, is almost in a state of collapse from rottenness, and decay, and there is now only one party paying Government for the use of water from it, and it is said that he even intends suspending operations after the next washing upTHE MONT D'OH COMPANY. This grand oldclaim continues battling with the heavy expenses entailed- in cutting heavy road works in lieu of the Government one deßtroyedby their tailings; in paying heavy compensation to all andsundry affected by their sludge and Mbris ; in purchasing blocks of private lands, dwellings, and holdings ; and in settling disputes with the Ross United fcompany, part of whose lease is now being overrun by this sluicing claim ; They have a very rich narrow gutter in Sailor's gully, and that is, in fact, where all the gold has come from. The company are following this up in a very narrow gut, and from the appearance of the stuff so far one of the best washings that the company has ever had is in prospect withm a week or bo. Yet, strange to relate, the principal shareholders are selling out, one director having succeeded in clearing out all his shares last week, and I hear that the chairman of directors has all his in the market. Whether it to the heavy expense they are unde,r or a fear that the mine is about to give out I cannot say, but the action taken in this respect is causing considerable comment here. THE NEW HARBOUR BOARDS. The following appointments have been made by Government :-Westport Harbour Board -Messrs A. Jamieson, J. Mills, J. Bloynihan, J- Hughes, J. Suisted, and E. O'Connor ; Greymouth Harbour Board-Messrs J. Petrie, C. Holmes, W. Kettle, A. R. Guinness, J. Kerr, A. M'Dowell, and A. Matheson. Considerable comment has ensued in the Grey and Bmnner papers over the exclusion of Mr Richard Nancarrow, he having been a member of the board since its inauguration. MINOR ITEMS. . A seam of coal 20ft thick, and, of excellent quality, has been struck in the vicinity, of the New Cardiff Company's mine, Mokihinui, WestP °Th'e export of coal from Westport for the week ended Thursday last was 6500 tons. For the week ended Saturday last Greymouth exported 2126 toni of coal, coke, bricks, and fireclay, and also 363.744 ft of timber. 1 am sorry to inform you that Mr Charles Greville, late foreman comp. in the West Coast Times office, Hokitika, died last Monday evening. He was a brother of the Government auditor of

The libel action, Metcalfe (Picturesque Atlas) v. The Wesport Times and Star, has been settled by defendants paying all costs up to date and giving up the name of the anonymous I am happy to say that the Lyellcoacb. accident was not as bad as it was at first reported. Mrs Mitchell's baby, althoughit rolled down adeclivity of 150 ft, escaped unhurt, wonderful to relate ; Mrs Mitchell is in a critical condition from internal injuries; (Mr Dixon is still very weak, but is improving slowly ; Mr Glennie is now being treated in the Westport Hospital, whilst Mr Mitchell, although much bruised, is recovering. Our late surgeon superintendent, Dr Mill, who lef c for Wellington recently, has had forwarded to him by the Ross Borough Council, a testimonial signed by the residents expressive of their goodThe average depth of water on the Greymouth bar for the last month is reported by the harbour master as having been 25ft. Scalmer, the injured footballer, is being tendered a benefit by the Grey Valley football club?. The annual presentation of prizes at the Greymouth State School took place last Friday, on which occasion there were 450 scholars present, all the adult youth and bsauty of the town, and all the heads of the local governing bodies. The Hon. James Kerr delivered a lengthy and interesting address, in which he reviewed educational matters generally in the district and made very complimentary references to the staff. In his annual report to the Labour Bureau the Greymouth agent saya :—": — " I may remark that the co-operative system of public works is distinctly popular with the meu of this district, that the men evinced high qualities of self-government, and that skill and speed in the performance of ■work were combined with harmony." This is no small tribute to the intelligence of the men, for ' the parties were mixed, and trained men, wishing for good return", were tempted to make the pace heavy for those not so strong or expert. All pulled together, which is the main feature of success under the system; and with the men familiarised with the regulations, splendid results should follow future applications of co-operative labour on the West Coast., , A3 is only natural, Lieutenant-colonel Fox's sweeping report on the Westland volunteers, in which he recommends the disbandment of the whole of' the companies on the West Coast, is meeting with an anything but favourable recepThe friends of tbe Rev. W, Malcolm, late

incumbent atßrunnerton, are congratulating that gentleman on his ordination as a minister or the Presbyterian Church in Ormond, Gisborne, whither he was called by the unanimous wish of the Ormond people. , „ Two petitions, one from the miners ana the other from the business people of Kumara; have been sent up to the Minister for Mines praying for a reduction in the price charged for water out of the Government water race. Another small rush has occurred at Diamond a Terrace, Kumara, and last Thursday over 300 miners were attracted to the ground. So keen is the desire to get a claim that last Monday two prospectors stripped to the buff to settle their dispute over a peg in the old orthodox style, but before it came to extremes good sense prevailed, and the difficulty was amicably arranged. The Kumara people, too, are kicking against the absurd reductions in the teaching staff made by the Westland Education Board, and held a public meeting last Thursday, evening, with the object of getting the board to increase instead of reduce the staff, and motions were earned authorising a report to be drawn up for presentation to the local committee urging it to use its influence in that direction. _ „ ,., At the last fortnightly meeting of the Hokitika | Borough Council the Mayor showed that in August last year the council had a credit balance of £46 ss, and outstanding accounts amounted to £80 They had also a sum of £300 on fixed deposit to pay interest and sinking fund, but it would be necessary to make an annual rate this year of Is 3d. The latter announcement caused a storm in a teapot, several councillors holding that the ordinary shilling rate would be sufficient, and that public works must be stopped, strict economy observed, and the waste of money by the Charitable Aid .Board, especially m the travelling expenses paid to members, who held special meetings whenever they could, be strongly condemned, and if possible prevented. The Rev. Mr Burrows and the "we" of the West Coast Times have differed over the Direct Veto question, and the former has rushed into print with a view to settling matters. So far as my limited discernment can perceive, the divine has proved too many for the scribe, even at his own humour. According to the Kumara Times the school teacher, about whose unfortunate slip I have commented above, must be a very naughty boy indeed, as the Rev. Mr Woodthrope, who besides that of spiritual instructor holds the more worldly position of school committeeman, has thought fit to preach a special sermon for the benefit of the poor dominie. Like unto some of the Innocents Abroad weeping at the tomb of Adam and incurring other expenses without due thought, the Kumara Hospital Trustees appear to have suddenly awoke to the question as to who is going to pay the piper m connection with the expenses incurred over the libel action preferred against the West Coaßt Times, and the worat of it is they have no Mark Twain to extricate them from their little difficulty. ' _