WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 54, 7 October 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1865.

Ono of our legal luminaries met with rather an unexpected and disagreeable check on Thursday. Mr O'Loughlin, in tho course of the Magistrate's summing up of the evidence, wished to say something further in defence of his clients and interrupted his Worship, who requested the learned gentleman to sit down. This, Mr O'Loughlin refused to do, and a verbal passage-nt-arms took place, tho end of the argument being that the rofractory solicitor was arrested for contempt of court, and borne off in triumph to the lock-up by the orderly, who left him in darkness to reflect on the vagaries of magistrates and the mutability of human affairs.

The contraot for the formation of Wharf street has been signed, and wo trust, therefore, that we shall soon see some signs of improvement in that mnoh-used and much -neglected thoroughfare, which is at present a disgrace to the town, aud offensive to moro senses than that of sight alone. The improvements in llevell street aro progressing slowly indeed, and there appears every probability of a continuance of the presont fashion of knee boots for some time yet.

We observe from the proceedings of the Improvement Committee that there is an intontion to write to Captaiu Kerley to request the removal of tho wreck of the Titania. With every wish to see suoh a desirable work effected, we fear that it is a tougher ono than Captain Kerley can cope with, It is much to be regretted that steps were not taken to blow up tho wreck- when she was lying in the channel, as the matter would then have been comparatively easy ; but, as the opportunity was neglected, we see no alternative but to put up with the present disagreeable consequences.

It may, perhaps, serve to spare several of our business-men the trouble f.nd annoyance of being summoned to attend our Magistrate's Court if wo draw their attention to our report of the proceedings in Court this day, by whioh it will be seen that several storekeepers and others were mulcted in a fine of ten shillings for obstruction of the piiblio thoroughfare by not storihg their goods. The Court gave tho delinqueuts to understand that the limited penalty imposed upon them for their first offence would not be extended to futuro complaints against them, ao that wo would recommend those who were fortunate enough to escape the vigilance of the sergeant on the first occasion to be on tho gui vive for his future patroles, The inquiry into tho wreck of tho Samson occupied the Resident Magistrate Court till raidday till 10 o'clock last night ; but we aro compelled to hold ovor the evidence till our next. Whatever may be said about tho dangers of the bar, tho extremo risk incurred by vessels in crossing it, in attempting which so many como to grief, we may, as a set-off, take credit to ourselves for tho expeditious manner with which we tiansport them afterwards acioss the spit into the rivor. Quito a now profession has been born here, and, through constant practice is rapidly being perfected, and if it only continuo to advance in the snmo proportion which it has done lately, the work of convoying vessels from whore the sea first cast them, into a place of safety, will be a mattor relating only to tho expenditure of a certain amount of timo and mouoy. In a seaport town, there aro always a number of • ' old sails" adrift ashore ; and in Hokitika especially only too many of that class, thrown out of employment through their vessels having been wrecked here, are knocking about only too ready to turn their hands to anything in the shnpo of honest labor J and tho professional acumen con* spicuous in seamen naturally prompts them to turn their attention to those vessels whioh, getting into difficulties, need a holping hand to et them out again , and tho intelligence and energy displayed by these men is creditable in the highest degreo to them- No sooner does a vessel come ashore now than tenders are at once in for her removal, and tho work proceeds with a rapidity which, under the circumstances, is something astonishing. In go the longhandled shovels, nnd out goes tho sandQuickly the Bcrews aro placed uudor, and she is raised and obock'd ; the ways to carry hor follows as a natural sequence) ; and very soon the sehoonor, brig, or cutter, as tho case may bo, is seen moving slowly along — the motivo power being supplied by poworful wlnohcs heavily weighted, to koep them in thoir place—further secured by anchors. Tho rivor being at last reached, sho is once more sent aflnat ; and tho sturdy fellows who have so triumphantly proved the power of mind over matter, in all probability once moro turn thoir faces seawards, watching for the next " distressing wreck " that will give them fresh employment. Suoh scenes as those aro of frequent occurronco in Ilokitikn, tho last of tho sort being the transportation of tho schooner Dolphin in tho above manner. This vessel was at first supposed to bo a oomploto wreck, but she is now, wo are happy to say, so closo to tho river flido that a day or two more of steady work is all that is required to float her.

Wo are sony to have to recoul the losq of tlie fine three-mnstod schaouor Miviia on our liar this morning. Tho Maria was observed to be some; whiv doubtful as to the propriety of entering! for she hauled her wind once when pretty closo in and s'ood to sea ngain, but on seeing the Susannah Booth enter safely, blie plucked up courage and followed her. On catching tho full force of tho current sho refused to answer her helm, and went ovor bodily towards tho north spit, whore sho grounded, and wo aro much nfruid she lms run her race, as sho is a heavy vessel and will bo consequently more dillicult to move. However, there is no telling what somo of our Ilokitika men cm do, and wo should not bo at nil Burpri&ed to see her, in tho course of a week or two, on route for the river in tho usual way.

Tho dismantling tho John Bullock is now comploted, and sho now lies upon the beach with only her lower masts standing. No commencement has yot been inado in removing her, and we have doubts whether sho will ever be afloat ngain. We believe the ogonts are waiting for iho arrival of her owner before anything definite is decided on. In the meantime, she certainly is in an awkward position, ono indeed that must severely try her strength, tho heavy seas that sometimes roll in nt high water expending their full might on her broadside. The ominous curve in her lines is nt ill plainly perceptible, although not I) so great an oxtent as at first.

No less than thirteen vessels entered our rivei in safety this morning. The bar was most favourable, and a fresh breeze blowing into the channel afforded evoiy facility to vessels wishing to eater. At one timo we thought there would have been a mishap, as three schooners were in dangerous proximity to each other when between tho spits ; they, howovor, by great good luck, managed to avoid fouling. Tho names of those or.ift who got safely in are tho Julin, Quiver, Mary Vim Every, Isabella Jackson, Oaledbnia, Star. Sanglier, Susannah Booth, Pat the Rover, mid Dispatch.