OUR WEST COAST LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 31

OUR WEST COAST LETTER

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Ross, July 2.

A TOWN CtERK WHO WOULD ENJOY HIMSELF.

The gay and festive town clerk of that very important borough Hokitika bas been enjoying himself lately. He got married, .which interesting fact' was a sufficient excuse in ordinary, and had he not attempted to have his honeymoon in the public streets none could have found fault with him. As things were, however, public attention wai so much engrossed by the unusual spectacle that all Hokitika is now rinsing with the chimes of this spectacular wedding march. As far as I can learn there was really no' harm dove, although the West Coast Times— Hokitika's morning glory —came out next morning in blazing anathemas against wbat it torms " a most disgraceful and disgusting scene" ; and it also spares not 1o pour out tho seven vials of its wrath on the offending head of the unfortunate town puss, whom it also rakes fore and aft with the broadside belch of virtuous indignation. Not so, however, the Star —the pveniug luminary of the old capital— the "We" of which, hieing to the police, comes out triumphant, and calls shame on the head of its morning contemporary. " The police assert there was no conduct observable in the streets which would have warranted their interference with the merriment of the civic bridegroom," quotes in effect the vesper twinkler, who goes on to talk about the mote and the beam business, waxing righteously indignant over the lucubrations of its mourning brother ; whereat up rears on his hind legs that irate scribe, and calling loudly from his Olympian apex, denounces his starry traducer, hurls defiance at all and sundry, and winds up abrilliantpororation by proclaiming that his accusations shall be heard at the bar of judgmont seat. How it will all end it is hard to tell, but the council whose minutes and books this T.C. manages has given their servant three months' notice. Moral : If you do chance to get married, go abroad for your honeymoon.

MISCELLANEOUS ITKMS.

I regret to iuforrn you that last Fi May night, whilst journeying to Koss in his Rig, Mr Joseph Grimmond, ex-M.H.R. for Wehtlat.d, had the misfortune to sustain n fracture of the right arm near the wmt. The accident was caused by the horse he vrni driving filling. The whole Coast appears to be glad that the strike at lleefton is ended, the men having accepted Mr Ziman's offer of nine shillings per day, in consequence of which active work in all the mines is lesumed. MrDAvid Ziman, who it must be owned met the' men fairly in evory way, is now calling for tinders for numerous opening, out works on, the Globe, Wealth of Nations, and Progress mines at Reefton. He also informs me that these are bnt the commencement of other numeious undertakings, and that he is supplying all his employees with suitable accommodation. The owners of the fresh quartz discoveries at Cedar Creok (Ross) are now crushing a ton of their stone at the Donnelly's Creek stamper battery, and on its results will greatly depond the future of Ihe field on the Mikonui slope. Very rich finds arc reported trom Heley's Gully, Grey Vulley. A special claim was some time ago taken up by a dozan Greymouth speculators, who after spending something liko £200-} in opening out the property, which is a sluicing claim, came upon a rich run of gold Since then t^e company has been offered a very substantial figure for the mine, but they prefer to work it themselves. The Lyell Hotbl, which you may recollect was nearly all burned down, is beiug rapidly rebuilt, and popular Mr John, Fennel, who was a loser by the fire of something over £8000, is again putting up a hotel and store. The latest report in connection with the Boss United Company's claim is to the effect that another London syndicate wants to purchase the property, and as an earnest ha 3 cabled out £6009. The offer, I am told, would be a cash one.