WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 96, 16 March 1866, Page 5

WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

[from the correspondent of tiie "press."] Hokitika, Saturday', March 3.

The issue of the approaching election for the Superintendency of the Province of Canterbury is viewed, by the inhabitants of this portion of the district of Westland, as the most important prop upon which is resting the structure of their future welfare. Where there is smoke there is fire, and though the present Government may have been unjustly attacked on many points, yet all must admit that sufficient attention was not paid by them to this populous, wealthy, and important district. However, no doubt the wise men of the East, who may be called upon shortly to administer the government, will come to our outlying (I think that is the word a candidate for high office designates us by) district for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of our requirements and our grievances, and of remedying such evils as justice and equity demand. I think if Westlanders had been granted an opportunity of actually feeling the presence of the Government (that great unknown) m their midst, that the present unhappy bitter feeling would never have taken root. Nor do I think that any complaint can be justly urged against the steps taken by the Government respecting the sale of town lands. True I heard a lawyer the other day grumbling because the abolition of the Warden's Court would reduce his weekly income by £20.

We have not heard who is to be our M.H.R., or to express it more laconically, I quote the West Coast Times : — " General Assembly of New Zealand, Electoral District of Westland, one member ; day of writ, January 27 ; day of nomination, March 12 ; day of polling-, March 16 ; number of days intervening-, nine ; candidates m the field, none ; requisitions m course of signature, none." Lxannot predict a fierce contest for the honorable seat. It will require a great amount of importunity I fancy to bringforward one duly qualified candidate to represent our interests — creseit amor nummi, i.e., as our mutual friend observes, as true now as it ever was m Hokitika.

I have, m a previous communication, alluded to the absence of a place of worship for members of the Church of England m Hokitika. As the remedy for this evil lies, I presume, with the head of the Church m Christclmrch, I do not think I am m error m again mentioning- the circumstance, more especially as it reflects discredit upon all who feel concerned m the advancement of our church and the increase of its members. The Wesleyans and Roman Catholics have shown a praiseworthy spirit by providing- for the disciples of their religion buildings wherein their ministers can hold service, while we are compelled to put up with an occasional clergyman, who borrows a court of justice to enable him to assemble his flock.

The difficulty m procuring vegetables and garden produce, even at a high price, has induced many to adopt agriculture as a means of getting a living, and large portions of land between Woodstock and Hokitika have been fenced m, and brought to a high state of cultivation. The caterpillar is a most ruthless enemy to cabbages, turnips, carrots, &c, nor lias any compound been discovered that will rid our praiseworthy and industrious gardeners of this disagreeable pest. O, Harper Twelvetrees, where art thou ? As the reclaiming of land is being most eagerly prosecuted, we may soon liopo to see the thick, rain-inviting bush give place to pleasant fields and inviting gardens. The new smelting house and assay office,

the property of the Bank of New Zealand, were opened on Wednesday last, and began work immediatlv, 200 ounces of gold having been brought m by a digger from the Auckland rush. The building is commodious, and fitted with every requisite ; it is under the management of an efficient superintendent, and will be of very great service to the district.

The river persists m converting more of the thoroughfare named Gibson's Quay into a part of its bed, and m shortening all streets running at right angles with it. Owners of property m this locality have the choice of two evils : on the one hand, they may leave their houses and allow the river to have its own way ; on the other hand they may, m cases where it is practicable and not illegal, raise their tenements on skids, and by means of ropes and blocks, move them to the rear of their allotments. Many have had their allotments carried all away \>y the stream, and of course have, as P. 24 would say, to move on. Some prefer pulling their buildings down out of spite, and perhaps with a view of realising a little from the material. It is rumoured that a few of those most interested are endeavouring to arrange for the extension of the wharf two or three chains lower down, so as to preserve those valuable sites m Revell street and Gibson's Quay. I am afraid it is too late.

The theatre will be opened on Monday week, when the Lenton Troujie will make their first appearance m Hokitika. It is a beautiful building-, and would be no insignificant ornament to the empire city. Professor Jacobs is bidding farewell tonight to Hokitika, he proceeds via the Grey to Melbourne. He will be replaced by Mr. Inimitable Barlow, who arrived per s.s. Otag-o. On Thursday we were astonished by a severe thunderstorm, with the usual accompaniments. We had been enjoying most lovely weather before this sudden change, and on Friday we were again fjvored with a sharp bracing air, and a clear sky.

On Tuesday morning- the Mary Anne wns launched from the South Spit into the lagoon. She has not received any material damage from having been wrecked. The Wonga Wonga managed to ground on the North Spit while entering the river on Saturday, and, as the tide was ebbing, had to remain there several hours. Captain Muiulle reports the origin of the mishap as follows : — " On our arrival off Hokitika, at 2.40 p.m., the red flag was flying as a signal to take the bar. On attempting to cross it the vessel took the ground, and stuck fast for a few minutes with her heel on the South Spit, but the force of the current on her starboard how payed her head round to seaward, when she floated and steamed outside again. When fairly clear of the bar we observed the red flag hauled down half-mast, and then run up and down two or three times, finally being-mast-headed, where it remained. This we understood to signify " try it again, there is plenty of water," and accordingly the vessel was again headed for the bar, which she succeeded m crossing, but grounded m the mid-channel inside of it, from which position we found it impossible to move her until the tide again made at ten o'clock that night. Not the slightest blame can be attached to anyone on board, as the directions of the signal man were implicitly obeyed. There can be, however, no doubt that we were too late on tide, and should not have been allowed to enter." Considering the state of the tide (past half-tide) when the Wonga was signalled to take the bar, Captain Mundle is quite correct m saying that the signalman was to blame m allowing her to attempt an entrance. The North Spit has undergone a wonderful change during the last three weeks ; a large bank has been thrown up, runningwestward, and so forming- a little bay on the northern side of it. The water here falls listlessly upon the beach, and the other day, when it was comparatively speaking calm outside, it would have been perfectly safe to have ventured out m an open boat, or indulged m a bathe m this little sheltered spot.

The Challenge has been repaired, and is again at work here. Rumor says she is m some way defective m steering, though | what truth there is m it I cannot say. Our intercourse with Okarita is daily increasing-, the Kennedy, on her last trip, visited that port, and the Wonga Wong-a will do so if sufficient inducement should offer. I send you particulars of the place, extracted from the Hohitika Chronicle. Monday afternoon. The Escort will be made' use of by the Banks for the first time on the 14th inst. It has heen reported by the West Coast Times that the Greyniouth gold will be shipped from Hokitika, and an indignation meeting was the result m Greyniouth. No one heard of such a proposal, but it has created a great stir. On Sunday morning we were nearly experiencing the effects of a fire. Victor Frank, landlord of the Lambing Flat Hotel, had allowed some one who was rather far gone to take charge of himself on going to bed, and entrusted him with a lighted candle. Of course he managed to put it where it was most dangerous, and the house caught fire. The interior is very much burnt I hear. It is almost miraculous that no fires have broken out m our densely packed wooden town, especially when the majority of houses are hotels, and are consequently frequented by careless and semi-intoxicated persons, who neither value their own safety nor that of their neighbours.