OUR WEST COAST LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 18

OUR WEST COAST LETTER.

Westxaxd, July 20. A NEW STEAMSHIP COIirAKY.

The fresh arrangements for connecting Okarito with Hokilika by sea by means of tho auxiliary schooner Hercules having been found to be inadequate to the requirements of that district, the Hokitika folk have risen to the occasion, and at a public meeting on Monday last it was resolved to form a small company with a capital of £5000 for the purpose of purchasing a steamer suitable for the trade. Prior to the Waipara going to the bottom, Government used to subsidise that handy little tender in tho sum of about £600 a year— little enough in all conscience when the dangers and difficulties attending the navigation of that dangerous port are considered— no insurance agent having been found intrepid enough tv take risks upon the boat. Since the widening and extension of the Main South road, this large and extensive tract of agricultural and pastoral lands is becoming opened up and settled upon, and it was fell at the meeting that if Hokitika did not bestir itself and come to the assistance of its less fortunate neighbour by providing a seagoing trade, Dunedin would probably jump in and derive what benefit there might be by a direct connection with this miniature of the far south. PROPOSED RAILWAY TO THE NEW GOLDFIELDS.

The reefing district of the Paparoa Range is claiming such attention that public meetings have been held in Groymoutli and in nearly every centre of the Grey Valley to urge upon the Government the necessity of connecting the township of Blackball, situate on the south-western slopes of the auriferous range, by rail with Ngahera, an up-station on t';e Grey-Reefton line. Between tl'.o township and the station named the total distance would be less than four miles but as the Grey River cuts the distance a large bridge, estimated to cost £35,000, appears to be ths greatest engineering obstacle to the proposal. However, accredited personages, who claim to have gone carefully into die matter, estimate that this branch line would pay the Government over 3 per cent., and as the member for the district (Mr Arthur Robert Guinness) has also taken the matter Avarmly up, tho probability is that something tangible may be the outcome I may add that the Blackball Coal Company, which expended nearly £40.000 in the erection of an aeriel tramway for the carriage of its black diamonds from the mine lo Ngahera, would make use of the line as a safer and more effective mode of transit for its largely increasing output.

AT LAST.

Aftor a number of years of hard fighting by the newspapers, by cyclists, and by equestrians the Government have at last agreed to complete the remaining portion of a dray road connecting Kumara with fireymouth, which will be a great boon to tho Coast towns. Up till the present time this very necessary road has been somewhat like Mahomet's coffin, with this difference, that five miles of it at either end has been constructed, ami a gap of three miles has been left in the centre.

A BTG EUJirUS.

There is a big rumpus going on in Hokitika at the present moment over Ihe appointment of a new town clerk. Since Ihe retirement of tho late clerk (Mr John Peake) Mr John Peake, jun., had been filling the position temporarily until a .permanent appointment could be made. To that end invitations were inserted in the local papers calling- for competent persons willing lo act, and when the applications were opened, the council appointed Mr Campbell ; but the friends of Mr Peako, dissatisfied, obtained a legal opinion that the appointment was illegally made. They immediately acted thereon, and requisitioned his Worship the Mayor to convene a public meeting for the consideration oi tins alleged technical l.Wnder; but hid Worship is obdurate, and flatly ief n«*«*s to do so, although the requisition v>as b'.cnod by over 20 people. He, however, parenthetically remarks that the requisitionists are free to hold a meeting without him, and so I don't know how it is going to end. MISCELLANEOUS ITEM*!.

The pre^ure of tho last few week* having easod off. a number of colliers arc being discharged from tho WostporL Coal Company's mine. , . The No. 1 Barrytown Gold Mining claim appears to be a big' success so far. The claim, which has been fitted up with all the latest appliances for hydraulic sluicing, and with the electric light, was set going last Tuesday night, and gave every satisfaction. They cvpect to work on a 60ft face with elevator*.

Tl.ey have g'^fc an illicit still somewhere about "the South Spit, Hokitika, ami according lo 1!jo low I papers many of tlio " pubs." arc g-e'.tin^ tip-top mountain dew at prices minus the customs duties.

During excavating operations by the Boatmans Sluicing Company (Reefton) prospects from the well gave as much as a pennyweight to the dish of gold. The total area of the Ross auriferous block has been set down by the Mines department at 5000 acres, one-third of which, is level land*

Mr Foster, superintendent of the Progress mines (Reefton) for the New Zealand Consolidated Mines Company, estimates that there should be an annual profit of £23,000 tv the company and he bases his estimates upon tho moderate return of Sidwts of gold to the ton. Tho value of the ore is £1 18s 5d per ton, and the treatment 17s 4d per ditto. Tho Big River Company (Reefton) sold 9000 tons of -tailings to Mr Johannesburg M'Donald for 8s per ton, and that gentleman treated 4000 tons, obtaining £24-80 worth of gold and then as he left the company seized 3iis plant and are treating tho balance themselves.

CJp to the end of the year 1697, 32 students from the Reefton School of Mines passed their examinations successfully as fir^t class mine managers. .Mining matters at Karamea, better known a3 tho Promised Land, a centre situate 40 miles north of Westport, are looking up. Ono hydraulic sluicing company there employs 30 men, and M'Kerrow's syndicate agrees to spend £3000 in development work. So far the only relic of the unfortunate young woman, Potbury, who took a flying leap into the Grey River, is ia petticoat picked up on the Twelve-mile Bluff beach. Gold dredging appears to be catching on everywhere along the "West Coast, and during the next six -months it is anticipated that new gold dredges will be placed upon the Karamea, theßuller, the Inangahua, the Grey, the Greenstone, and the Tolara Rivers. (4reat things arc expected from Barrytown tl.is year, no less than three large companies are expected to bo in full operation. Good accounts continue to come from Sandfly Beach, South Westland, where combers are reported to be earning from £20 to £30 a week per man. It is anticipated that the recent payable orushings at Reefton by the New Zealand Consolidated Company will be the means of introducing moro English capital to New Zealand mines. Mr Foster, general manager for the company, who Ims just left for Engiand, is reported to lnv\ c taken with him f nil particulars of tho Ross auriferous flats, how they may be worked, and what subsidy the General Government is willing to give to any legitimate company working the deep levels. Another report slates that Mr Ziman, founder of the Consolidated Company is leaving London for the West Coast shortly after the annual meeting of .shareholders.

Councillor Banke, of tho Westland County Council, is undoubtedly the new Dick Scddon of the Coast, for he hits hard often, and spares none; yet with all he is humoursome, pleasant and sensible. Last Wednesday at the council meeting he vras fairly "on the job." Having accused a member of talking "twad<lle,"and being asked to define it, the irrepressible said, amiil roars of laughter, that it vas a meaningless string of B — r, — c — h ! At another time the item of £10 charged in the annual balance shoot for "Record Reign" photographs of tho WostJantl County Council, objecLed to by tiie Auditor-general, being difceusaed, when Mr B. glanced up at the picture on the wall and exclaimed pathetically, " The auditor never saw that picture else he'd have never denied it to be the best piece of furniture in the room."

it is reported that a good copper lode has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Mount Koeterangi.

The wages men of Reefton are kicking up the du?t in disdain because they are only geting from 9s 6d to 10s per day. Such unheard of hardship as thai is a matter calling forth widespread sympathy.