WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 98, 30 March 1866, Page 5

WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS.

[VBOIC TBB COBBS3POMDBNT OF THE "PRESS."] Hokitika, Saturday, March 17. After the electoral exhibition, now dosed,, we cannot be accused of being a

political community. The particulars are as follows : — Moorhouse. Shaw. Hokitika .. .. 152 C!) Kanieri .... 25 84 Ross 5 G Waimea .... 15 2 Greymouth .... 4 1 Cohden (Nelson Province .... 1 0 Twelve-mile (Nelson Province) . . 0 0 Total .. 202 102 Majority for Moorhouse — 40. The result is satisfactory. The returns from that part of the Westland district lying 1 to the north of the (Jrey river, are quite ludicrous, and the people seem perfectly indifferent to politics. Considering the mnnr grievances which we have been made to lahor under by the local press, I have no doubt that those who take an interest m our well-being-, on the other side of the intervening 1 range, will be surprised at the apathy shown by the numbers above quoted, and will wonder still more that we have chosen " one of them" to be our mouth-piece m preference to a local man. It a local man possessing- the time, talent, and other requisites could have been found willing- to represent us, I think it would have been our duty to return him ; but when we are asked to vote for a stop-gap — as Mr. Show, m playfulness, so truthfully denominated himself — because he is a local mnn, I consider credit is due to those who did vote for returning" Mr. Moorhouse. I look upon this as a step m the right direction ; we are not old enough to toddle without assistance ; we should not improve the state of our exchequer by allowing- a lot of harpies m favor or separation to foolishly spend our revenue m Westland. Monday afternoon.

The notorious Mrs. Kinder is on board the Susannah Booth, now lying- m the roadstead. It is difficult to conceive what employment she will adopt ; perhaps some speculating- publican will engage her as a barmaid.

The enterprising agents of Cobb & Co. have at last succeeded m verifying' the prophecy, that a buggy aud pair might be driven from Christchurch to the West Coast. The first coach arrived about two p.m. on Thursday last, bringing- as a passenger our elected member, Mr. Moorhouse. On Saturday last two more arrived. Two are to run between here and Greymouth daily, I understand. The unusually hi« - h spring* tides on Saturday aud yesterday created a great commotion amongst the occupiers of the North Spit. The sea at high water broke over the narrow neck of land, and, undermining several of the houses, threatened to launch thorn bodily into the river. I think these stubborn people will see the necessity of removing their penates to some more secure position, for the spit is no longer safe. In the shipping list you will see that the Star of the Evening, s.s., has left for Melbourne. She is the first steamer that has ever left the Hokitika wharf for any of the Australins. The advantage of direct shipments by such v«ssels as the Star of the Evening is evident, and I trust her good qualities will obtain for her a return freight to our port. Another unfortunate was added on Wednesday last to the list of those who have met their death m the Westland Rivers. A man named William Pierce, a stock driver, m the employ of Messrs. Garforth & Co., while attempting to cross the Teremakau, was swept by the current from his horse, sunk, and was seen no more.

Our harbor has been singularly free from mishaps lately. The William, however, mentioned m my last, has broken the spell — she has left nothing 1 to mark the place where she was. Being an old vessel she could not withstand the severe bumping she got on the North Spit during Monday nig-ht. Her cargo was all landed on the North Spit without much damage. On Tuesday everything was taken out of her, and on Wednesday the wreck was sold for £10. The purchaser must have regretted his bargain, for she went to pieces too soon to admit of his realising more than a lowermast for his outlay. At the Grey and Okarita the shipping interest has suffered more than ours. No less than two steamers, the Nelson and Eleanor, together with three sailing vessels, ornament the Grey beach ; the latter are named the Falcon, the Sea Bird, and the Secret. At Okarita the steamers Challenge and Thane both managed to get ashore. The former got off at spring tide, but m leaving for Hokitika, went ashore again, and was yesterday reported lying across the stream m rather a dangerous position. She made her appearance, however, m our harbor this morning, towing m a small craft. The Thane also was released from dry land without damage. The Lenton Troupe arrived per Egmont, on Thursday, and performed m the new theatre on the following night. Their talent is really astonishing, far superior to anything I hnve seen m the colonies ; and their entertainment being disversified with monkeys and other laughable introductions, draws full houses every evening. Mr. Barlow is as inimitable as ever. He has augmented his host of talent (that is himself) by taking an india-rubber man to assist him.

A company, I have just heard, is m course of petitioning the Government to grant tbem ground for constructing a tramway between this port and Greymouth. The capital they can raise immediately is £20,000. The great boon that this undertaking- would be to commercial men is very evident. Another rush is reported to have taken place and caused a great commotion, about Four miles north of Okarita; wry good prospects have been obtained I "understand : these are only reports unsub- ( stantiated. The population is estimated

at nearly 5000 by the police. The p.s. Bruce continues to be a fortunate trader to Okarita, and m spite of unfavourable accounts, generally manag-es to g-et a crowd of passengers. At the Kanieri, everything- is satisfactory. A small rush took place on the west side of the terrace, leading- from Kanieri to Hokitika. The prospect is one dwt. to the dish. A g-ood deal of ground has been marked off, and an eng-ine ordered by Messrs. Simeon and Brett to drain their claim. At the Totara, a mining lease has been applied for, and the ground surveyed, on Jones's flat. The applicant purposes bringing- steam to aid him m overcoming the obstacles caused by water, so frequent m the deep sinking m this district. A twelve-ounce nugget was found m this neighbourhood a short time since, and is now m the possession of the bank of New Smith Wales. One party of miners near the town of Ross have been making £48 per man per week for some time ; indeed the quantity of gold exported substantiates such assertions as this although they appear extravagant. In the present instance I can vouch for the truth of the statement.

The weather during- the week has been most beautiful. We had a day or two m the middle of the week wet, but that is necessary m this part of the world to health.

I suppose we shall soon have a biweekly mail. That, tog-ether with the telegraph, will almost neg-ative the opinion entertained by some, that Christchnrcli nnd the West Coast are separated hv ii natural barrier from one another, and that therefore, it is either unwise or impossible to attempt to overcome it.