THE WEST COAST HARBORS.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 779, 11 April 1865, Page 1

THE WEST COAST HARBORS.

A weiter in the Ly Helton Times says :— The absence of anything like harbors, or any ports tliat can be used as refuges, together with the presence of a bar at the mouth of each river, endues the navigation with peculiarly forbidding features. The deep keel must here give way to the centreboard ; and it is now that this clever adaptation will have a fair chance of being judged upon its merits, for there can be no mechanical difficulty in making tho case tight. Vessels constructed with it carry grain, in bulk, in the United States.

Speculating on the probable course of trade, and the likelihood of our finding a competing Australian spirit in the market, in the contemplation of the coast and its dangers, the Wanganui Inlet is seen to be the only port of refuge on all that West Coast, and as a necessary sequilur that it would be highly advisable to procure some more information about it than can be obtained from tho New Zealand Pilot, pp. 153, 2Gi, 265. On an inspection of tho dangers of the Farewell Spit, and the course of tho tides, the importance of this question is still farther magnified. If any of the masters in tho Nelson coasting trade coulcl supply the local peculiarities, or if the Government of that province, or the Marine Board would publish a sketch of the inlet on a tolerably large scale, if; would be most useful. Those who, after rounding the Farewell Spit, might be struck and kept at bay by a westerly gale, would rejoice at having a snug and accessible port under their lee, if it should prove that only local knowledge and a competent pilot are necessary to enable them to profit by the Wanganui Inlet."

The Dnnedin Steam Fire Engine was tested lately when a meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade was hold for that object. The injury sustained by the steam engine at a recent trial, has been effectually repaired, and last evening she was taken to the end of the Ilattray street Jetty. Three of the Brigade engines were stationed near the Custom House, at a distance of 980 feet from the steamer, and she supplied to the two large engines an ample supply of water, with something to spare. Indeed, enough was occasionally pumped to keep three engines at work ; and it was altogether proved that at 1000 feet she can pump enough to keep the two best engines of the Brigade constantly at; work, doing their very best. The pressure of steam last evening never exceeded 1201b. to the square inch ; and that of the water was 1101b. The steam engine was, in fact, only fairly worked —not at any time put to anything like a stress. — Otago Daily Times.

An Unpublished Despatch.—lt is reported (says the New Zealancler) that His Excellency Sir George Grey received a despatch by last mail, in reply to a requisition of Sir Duncan Cameron for four regiments for service in New Zealand. The reply of the Secretary of State for the Colonies is said to have been a recommendation to raise the regiments in the colony! We give the rumor for what it is worth. [It seems not to be worth much, as it will be remembered that by last mail we were informed that the British Government had determined to prosecute the war with increased vigor. ~\

Permanent Building- Society.—At the usual monthly meeting of the above society, held on Monday, March 20, thirty-two shares were disposed of at bonuses varying from £1 17s. 6d. to £2 2s. per share.

The Southland News thus refers to the latest outbreak of fire in Invercargill:— l< The evidence taken on the inquest at the Southern Cross Hotel, to discover the origin of the fire at Mr. Nyulasy's Melbourae and Ballaarat Hotel, discloses a most diabolical attempt at incendiarism —the probable consequences of which it is fearful to contemplate. The unanimous verdict of the jury, that the fire was the wilful act of some person or persons unknown, requires to be strengthened by the efferts of all to discover, if possible, the guilty wretches, for whom no punishment can be too severe. Surrounded as we are by danger, even ixnder circumstances of the greatest care, of no ordinary character, in houses so inflammable, that they may be justly compared to match boxes, the fiendish wickedness of the mind which would devise—and the hand which would fire the train, the consequences of whidh are misery, ruin, and ofttime death in its most appalling form, should if possible be extirpated from society. We trust effort will be used —in the shape of reward or otherwise—to ensure conviction." The Railway Works of Southland. —The Provincial Government Gazette of Southland contains a report by the Railway Engineer, relative to the state of the works on the Bluff and Invercargill Railway. It is stated that the cost of the Railway works to their entire completion, including contingencies to the works consequent on their suspension to 31st December, 1564, will be about 19 per cent, in excess of the approximate estimate- The payments already made amount to £89,717 18s. lid., of which sum £8144 was for sleepers. The retention of money in the hands of the Provincial Government is £5122 Is. 5d.;

there remains to pay ou completed works £15,933 ; and the cost of completing the whole of the works require an additional sum of £12,725 7s. 4d. The permanent way and rolling stock has all been received, and some of this is held by the shipping agents, in security for freight, &c.

An Ex-Minister. —Messrs. Wright, Robertson & Co., Otago, report that Mr. Dillon Bell has purchased Mr. Jones's station, 40,000 acres, at Coal Creek, with 20,000 sheep, including lambs, for £24,000; also Messrs. Hamilton and Wayue's station, 45,000 acres, and 10,000 sheep, for £18,000.— Wellington Advertiser.

Census of the Province of Auckland, 1864.— The results of the census of the Province of Auckland, taken on December, 1864, are as follows : —" Total population (exclusive of the military, both imperial and colonial, and their families) 37,008. The number of military settlers and their families in the Province of Auckland is, males 4035, females 10S9 ,• total, 512-i, making the total population of the province when the census was taken, males 25,686, females 16,446 ; total, 42,132. The number of acres fenced is 128,705, and there are under cultivation 87,147 acres, of which there were in wheat 856, oats 3394, barley 154, maize 754, potatoes 3459, in garden and orchard 1855, in sown grasses 75,650, and in other crops 995. The province contains 7233 horses, 111 mules and asses, 42,120 cattle, 73,145 sheep, 3273 goats, 12,930 pigs, and 104,564 poultry.

Discovery of Gold at Raglan.—The Southern Cross says :—" Gold has been discovered in the district of Raglan, and under such favorable circumstances as to cause a claim to be made for the reward offered by the Provincial Government of Auckland. "

A coinnssiONEß has been appointed to inquire into the claims of settlers for compensation for losses sustained during the rebellion in Auckland.

Large Nugget.—On Tuesday afternoon two men entered the Bank of Victoria, Castlemaine, and inquired of the manager, who was at the counter, how much he gave for gold. The reply was, of course, that it depended upon the locality from which it was obtained. " Have you got any for sale ? " asked the manager. " Well," said one of the men, "we have a little bit," at the same time handing over to Mr. Young a swag, tied up securely with a strong cord. The manager at first thought that the men were poking fun, and wanted him to take care of their blankets ; but he was quickly undeceived when he received the parcel into his hands. On opening it, lie found a magnificent uuggcfc of beautiful gold, slightly interspersed with pebbles and dirt. The nuggc}, which was about twelve inches in length by nine or ten inches in width, closely resembled a '"' Harp of Erin," and was heavy enough to make young arms ache while holding ifc for examination. It is a pity that it has not been possible to preserve this splendid specimen in its original fovm, but in order to approximate its value, it had to bo broken up, the debris thus extracted weighing about ten ounces. The net weight was found to be SJOSoz. Sdwt., and the price given by the bank was between £1300 and £1400. It appears that the two men had been working in a claim on the Whipstick for some time with indifferent success. Indeed, on the evening of the discovery, one of them was reduced to his last crown piece. Their claim had been sunk on to the depth of 18* feet, and they had driven about eight feet. They were just about knocking off work, at eight o'clock on Monday evening, when the man at the windlass thought he heard his mate puffing and blowing like a grampus, and remarked to a bystander that " Billy had evidently overwrought himself." The exertions of the man in the drive, coupled with the excitement of finding such a splendid prize, had completely " taken away his breath," and his mate above, thinking something was wrong, hailed him with, " What's the matter, Billy ? " "0, nothing," replied the fortunate Billy, who was preparing to ascend the shaft, " only I've got a nugget as big as a loaf! " Billy and his loaf were quickly landed on the surface, and it may well be imagined that the surprise and joy of the two men were mutual and intense. Like discreet diggers they determined not to make too much fuss about the matter on the Whipstick, for fear their vantage ground might be rushed; for, of course, they firmly believe that there is " more where that came from." Accordingly they brought their treasure secretly to Castlemaine. The reason they selected the Bank of Victoria wr.s, " that ifc was the best-looking of all the banks in the town." — Melbourne Argus.

Attack on the Sydney Gold Escort by Bushrangers.—A telegram from Braidwood, to the Sydney Morning Herald, of date March 14, says :—" Yesterday morning, the bushrangers Gilbert, Hall, and Dunn, and another man, stuck up the Araluen Escort, on Major's Creek Mountain. They were beaten off by the police. One, John Kelly, was dangerously wounded. Constable Burnes, with great gallantry, guarded the escort on the road. He was single-handed at the time, and covered with hi 3 rilie any of the robbers daring to approach the escort from their cover in the bush, while constables Stapleton and Gulligan fired from the rear, having left their horses and taken to the bush. The robbers left a double-barrel gun takeu from Mr. Davis; also, a sledge hammer and axe, with which they intended to break open the chest containing the gold. The Superintendent and police went in pursuit in the direction of Ballabala, but it has since been learned that the robbers struck off- that road and went down the river, touching on their route at Jinglemoney, Bombay, Wan a, and Mana. Mr. Blatchford, who drove the escort, was shot at, but was not wounded. He rode back on a trooper's horse to Araluen, and gave information. The escort arrived safe at Araluen, but has not yet been sent on to Sydney.

Cheap Tobacco foe Soldiers.—ln consequence of the high price of tobacco in New Zealand, the Home Government lias shipped thirty tons of that article to Auckland, for the iise of the troops in New Zealand. We understand that tobacco will be sold to the men at Is. 2£d. per lb.. each man.being privileged to dra™r one pound per month. A large quantity of pipes have also been received for the use of our military smokers. — New Zealand Herald*