CANTERBURY AND ITS GOLDFIELDS.

West Coast Times, Issue 106, 19 January 1866, Page 3

CANTERBURY AND ITS GOLDFIELDS.

(From the LijllcUon Times.)

The establishment of a real union between the Eastern and Western Coasts of Canterbury seems to bo abandoned by the Government. $Ir Hall, tho Secretary for Public \V-ofks, has become despondent about tho maintenance of tho integrity of tho province, and has very broadly hinted that the Westland people should apply to the Assembly for •Separation as soon as possible Speaking in a tone somewhat of despair on Wednesday evening in tho Council, in answer to Mr Prossor's catalogue of injuries sustained by ITokilika, Mr Hall declared that no Government in Christchurch would ever give satisfaction to tho people of the West Coast, Perhaps the .Secretary for Publio Works has trusted too much to his oflicial industry, and has never tried tho magic of real sympathy with tho Western people. There may bo a Government in Chrislehurch yet, which can satisfy the Western population that their interests are considered and their real advantage earnestly sought without tho interference of any selfish Eastern motive. There may bo a Superintendent in office before long, who will venture in person into the presence of the' diggers and secure from them confidence for confidence. We do not expect that our political relations with the West Coast will always bo so hopeless as they are now ; but we are bound to admit that the present .state of matters is enough to discourage even a sanguine man. At the end of ten months from the opening of tho goldliolds, we have no road worth calling by tho name from one coast to the other, though nearly £100,000 have been spent upon the construction of one. Just when there was a promise of success, when • much of the most difficult work had been done and well done, the torrents destroyed a large portion of the completed road, and will cause not a little time and. money to bo spent in replacing it. Wo have not received any impetus to our trade from the goldfield, nor have wo benefited by passenger traffic to and from, nor have we succeeded in bringing the gold itself for shipment by this route. Gradually the prospects of achieving these objects have faded away, one by one. Our merchants have secured but a very small share of the trado in supplies by sea, and the overland route does not promise any advantage in this direction. The escort "has failed to bring over any gold, and that prospect, once bright, is now dull. The advantage that a road would really give, namely, the passing backwards and forwards of people between Christchurch and Hokitika, has boon tf-sled only enough to tantalize us all. The road has been delayed much longer than was expected j and now what was done is thrown back again by the floods. To do us any service, coaches ought to have been running from end lo end by this time ; but they cannot run yet, and most likely will not for months to come. The electric telegraph has been delayed lor similar reasons. The last and great hope, of reaping profits from tho goldfield lies in the chance of supplying tlio West with stock, and even that prospect is gloomy. The report of the select committee on the North Kakaia (Browning's pass) route, which was laid beforo tho Council on Wednesday, and will bo found in our columns to-day, takes a general glance at this part of the question. Browning's pass will be travorsable by sheep for only three months cf the year, in its natural st-ite,- and by a good deal of trouble for three months more. Cattle cannot be driven over it ; nor may they be sent by the Otira route ; but by the latter, sheep may be driven over in small numbers, whenever the i oad shall be opened for light dray traffic. llurunui lino is still the only one for cattle, and altogether the position of the sheep and cattle holders on these plains is no better than it was when the diggings broke out ; though the prospect of getting sheep through is brought a little closer. _ Wo dwell upon these points, because they chiefly attract our attention from this side of the ranges. The misfortune of Canterbury with its goldfield would make an interesting volume if well written, and bo very ' amusing to our neighbours. But wo need not be disheartened by them. We need npt think on account of them, as Mr Hall seems to do, that Westland may as well separate from us, for all the good it will do us to be united. Some good will result, sooner or later, incidentally if not directly. Eastern Canterbury is the most attractive field for investment in New Zealand, we might almost say in the Southern Seas ; and the profits of the goldfield will bo drawn over hero for investment. At any rate, the separation of Canterbury East and West will not bo caused by misfortunes suffered on this side of the range. Tho people of Hokitika will not petition the Assembly for redress, because the profits of its trade are not reaped by Christchurch and Lyttelton merchants. Tho cry for separation will como from the other side, for neglect sust-iined there. And wo think it will be found that a little close personal attention paid by tho Government of the Province itself, and not through -a deputy, to tho wants and resources of tho West Coast, will supply the former to tho satisfaction of tho re». sidents there, and will dovolope the latter to tho great advantage of both sides of the province. There are 30,000 people living on tho West Coast of Canterbury, and they aro worth looking aftor by the head of the,. ' Government, Mr Sale is there, as its representative : ttiul \\q bojiove he is v very hard-work/

ing and useful man. To jud»n by Mr I'nkjkim'u accounts of tho interviews which have boon hold with Mr Halo, iiiidtlo deputations which i.avc wailed on him on a hundred miscellaneous mattes, wo should sny that ho has a {iroat thai to think about, and a gioat deal lo do; thct he has more discretionary power than is compatible with his position as a subordinate not responsible to the Council, and not enough to bo really useful to tho community whoso aft'aih) ho administers. We .should like lo see all the operations of tho Provincial Government in connection with tho West' Coast, conducted by competent authority from Hokitika, as a centre. It will bo just as convenient, and much more satisfactory, to work outwards from Hokitika towards Christchurch, than from Christclmrch to Hokitika.

1 Ouu GitiiAT TvWNH.— Aii estiinulo liuh been I lii'oii nindo by UlO Registi-i\r-(tciieial of tho popu- . lulion of lingo towns in tlio Unitcil Kiiigdom in I tlio middle of tlio your 180/5. Tlio csiiinatois as follows:— London, 0,01/5,484; liorough of Li1 vei'poool 47(5,318 ; city of Mnnchcstcr, 354,030; • lioioukli of Siilford, 110,833; borough of Biv- , mingliam, 327,812 ; l.orongli of Lecls, 224,025 ; . cily of Urtstol, 1(51,809 ; City of Kdinburgh, 174,180 ; city of Glasgow, 423,723 ; «ity of ' Dublin (and somo hurburbs), 317. 000.