VISIT OF MR. JUSPICE GRESSON TO THE KANIERI—CHRISTENIAN OF THE. PIONEER, WATER RACE.

West Coast Times, Issue 115, 30 January 1866, Page 2

VISIT OF MR. JUS PICE GRESSON TO THE KANIERI— CHRISTENIAN OF THE. PIONEER, WATER RACE.

Yesterday will be long remombcrod by tho Kanieiitos as a day of jubiloa, rejoicing, and cessation from work, ns all (ho community, with very few exceptions, assemblfcd nt tho Pioneer Itnco Company, who, having finished their groat work, appointed Monday as thcclnistening day, and issued invitations far and wide, calling upon all who chose to attend and partake of tho good cheer provided for the occasion. Moreover, it soon becaino known that his Honor Jiulgo Grcsson had conscired to olliciiitc on tho occasion — to break the sacrificial bottle of champagne nnd name the raco, and in consequence the attendance was much moro numerous than was at first anticipated. The weithcr upon this eventful day was everything that nould bo desiioil, for not a cloud obsourod tho heavons, tho sun shining with a brilliancy and warmth only to bo compared to an Australian Minimer's day l . Indeed, if nnyhing, the weather was too warm, and during llio afternoon tho licat was really oppiessive ; Iho sun's rays pourii'g down unobstructcdly upon llio clearing round tho Kanieri township. Until v late hour on Sunday evening it was not known that hi« Honor had determined to visit tho district, lint although tho notice was a short one, iho mil of the inhabitants mudc amplo amondu for the littlo timo allowed thorn for preparation. -Yostei'dny morning a meeting was convened at tho Stnr Hotel, at which all tho princip.il minor.-* and business mon attended, and nu address was drawn up and a doputalion appointed to wait upon tho Judgo on hN arrival. On tho Torraco the Pioneer Company made duo provision for their ntuucro'is guests, a lnised platform having bi'ou built at tho end of tho raco, dccrr.teri with evorgrceiiH, and surrounded with tho graceful tree-fern and other shiub.s, Upon ib tables woro laid out, and wats arranged for the convenience' of tho Judge an I the Indies, whilst numerous hamper*, cases of No 2, and a hogshead of ale, standing on end, and ready tapped, iiiunistakenbly g.ive notice that the wants of the inner man had uot been neglected. His Honor, accompanied by Captain Turnbull, ai rived nt Ihe township about one o'clock, taking Iho good folk somewhat; by surpriso, as ho was not expected for lit least tin hour later, as it wan known lie would sit in OliambuiK that morning, and might therefore bo unavoidably detained. His sudden uppenrnnco in the heart of the town occasioned no small amount of confusion, whioh, howovor, was soon allayed, when it was understood ho would first visit tho Camp and afterwards rcccivo tho deputation on tho opon space in front of the stores. A reassembling of tho scattoiol forces nt once took place, and tho deputation, consisting of Messrs. Hankin, Brown, ltyan, BnUer, Ilawkes, Spurling, Harris, and Hamilton held themselves in lcndiness for his return . In about an hour lii.i Honor appeared on tho low terraco dividing tho Knuieri Flat from Commissioner's, nnd ns tho position was a good one for tho-purposo, ho signified his intention of receiving the deputation there. Mr. Scliaw, the warden, introduced tho deputation tojhia Honor, >vho received them most courteously, paying marked attontion to tho following address, which was read pohim by Mr. Ilankin : "To ins Honor JVlit. Justice Uiiksson, — May it please your Honor, wo desire to welcome you most respectfully and cordially on the occasion of your visit to this district, and to thank your Honor for tho courtesy with which you have complied with our invitation to bo piosont at a ceremony of no small interest to tho miners of the Kaniori. Had your Honor's convonienco pert niittedjlyou to visitthe more distant gold-fields of tho West Coast wo eana.ssuro you, qn the part of tho mining community generally, that your Honor, would lmvo mot evorywliQra with tlio fifiwo oowllftl rooepMon wliltil) It ft W m nrowl

' We are tatisfied thit a better knowledge of

tho gold-fields an 1 of tho mining population, obtained fiom perto ml inspection by members of tho Provincial Government, and by gentlemen holding positions of importance in Obristchmch, would not only remove many false impressions, Init lead to the adoption of a moro generous policy. We have every oiiftdencc that even the short acquaintance your Honor has lind the opportunity of making with Westland, will tend to a better appreciation of the important interests of tho district. "Tho work which wo have invited your Honor to inspect to-day, is the most extensive that has yet been completed on tho West Coast diggings. It was coii'inonced in June last, by the enterprise of ten diggers, having at command a very limited capital, and has been persevered with* in the face of great difficulties, arising from the natnro of the country and the unfavorable weather which has prevailed throughout almost tho entire period. TUo water raco extends for a distance of ten miles, and is carried aci oss a large tlat, by a gigantic flu mo seven hundred and fifty feet in length, at an elevation oE sixty feet from tho lowest part. This part of tho work your Honor will have an opportunity of inspecting, and it is to be hoped that it will prove, as its name implies, the pioneer of mmy similar enterprises. Wo regret that your Honor's visit must be necessarily so brief as to prevent a moro gonoral inspection of the ICanieri district, which would afford additional proof of tho energy displayed by tho mining population. Wo again beg to thank your Honor for your kind visit, and respectfully request you to perform tho ceremony of christening tho Pioneer Race." The reply of his Honor was short, but to tho point. Ho thanked thoso nssoiublod for tho manner in which thoy had roeeivod him, and expressed both pleasure and surprise- nt Iho appearance of tho pltico. Ho vegrotted lua stay amongst thorn would bo so brief as to prevent him obtaining a deeper insight into Iho character of Iho Wostluud minors j at the same tiuio, from what ho had nlroady observed, ho l'elt suro (hoy wove very much misundorslood. 110 jlioulcl always look bnck upon his visit to the Kaniori with pleasure, imd folt much sntirtfanlion in complying with their roquest. At Iho conclusion of this lvply, three cheers woro called for his Honor and heartily given, mid n general moro 'was mndo in tho direction of Iho lerrnco. An immense crowd had by this limo gathered, who swarmed up the lerruco in nil directions, it being impossible to keep anything like order, every man making the bi'isl of his way to tho place of meeting over tho heaps of gravel ami fallen timber that covered the ground. On, arriving ut Iho platform, his Honor and tho numerous ladies who attended, seated themselves, and a rather awkward pauso onsucd, as tho water was not running through tho race, tho tail raco, to convoy it cloav of claims in work, not having been provided. It was, however, at. once turned on, and, in about a quartor of an hour from ton to twelve heads camo rushing down the ditch, and a bottlo of No.v 2, decorated with ribbons, being handed to his Honor, ho dashed it against a stone, and tho christening of tho Pioneer Kac% was accomplished. Tho musical popping ,of chtimpagno corks now succeeded, and success to the Pioneer llaco Company was drunk with duo honor. Tho toast wus proposed by Mr Sohnw, who briefly nlludod to tho mngmtudo of the undertaking, and tho porsevornnco and skill displayed by tlioso who had so far successfully concluded it. Mr Hamilton, tho manager of tho company, responded, thanking those assembled for their kindness, and trusting that tho completion of tho work would prove a lasting benefit to the district. A programme of the toasts to bo proposed not having been drawn out. a fow slight mistakes occurred,l!ho health of Mr Schnw, and the fourth estate, taking prccodonco of that of his Honor, whilst her most grnoious Majesty was altogolhor lost sight of. Tho first mistake was to a certain oxtenfc rectified by Mr Bright, of tho if'est Const Times, who drew the nuontion of tho company to tho fact that tho guest of tho day should haro been first considered, no folt certain that all assembled would feel tho utmost gratification in drinking tho health of his Honor, who had that day so cordially mingled with thorn. He folt constrained, although quite a stranger to most of thorn, to make these remarks, and was suro they would excuse him from responding for the press, ns ifc was moroly a complimentary toast introduced habitually, and could thovoforo vory well givo place to ono of , moro momont. Ho was confident his remarks would bo well received, and that tho toast would bo drunk with three timos three That tho wholo nflaiv was an oversight, the ttonfening checw given, sufficiently pvovod, and when the noiso had subsided, his Honor commenced his responso with, " Ladies anil gontlomen, and working men," and declared ho fell; tho greatest pleasuro in meeting them that day. From his heart the thanked thorn for the cordial and earnest manner in which they had rocoivpd him, and said it would over bo an occasion to which ho could roverr with tho most intense gratification. Not only as a private individual had ho reason to feof gratified with tho inhabitants of Hokitika and its neighbourhood, but in his official capacity as a judge of tho Supremo Court, ho felt if. was only a just acknowledgment to the community if ho staled that during an oxporioncn of eight years as a judge ho had novor scon such order or witnessod so little drunkenness as during hU residence in Hokilika. Ho should depart from amongst them with regret, mill ovor took bixuk with feelings of pleasure to his short sojourn in Wcetland, and iigain tondorcd his thanks for tho kindness displayed towards him that day. His Honor's remarks woro received with tho utmost apphmso, and ho was again loudly chcorod. Timo, however, was passing rapidly, and us a visit had to be paid to iho llunio across Tucker FJal, tho huallli of Iho ladies was drunk, when, accompanied by Mr. Schaw and a numerous vcliuuo of minors, ho at onco proceeded in thnt direction nlong tho race. Tho dilForent points of interest in tho cutting ho minutely examined, and appeared desirous of obtaining ns much information us possiblo nboul mining in general, and sluicing in particular. Tho immense flume was reached in duo timo, and on first viewing tho utructuro his Honor scorned unajblo to exprass tho Burpriso ho folt. Ho declared ho should hardly liavo considered it possiblo for ten mon to construct such a work, and that their skill dosorved Iho greatest praise. Tho party roturned to tho platform by tho samo route, but during their absenco a considerable amount of speechifying and toast-drinking had been going on, the omission of " hor Majesty tho Queen" having been remembered nud rectified. Mr. John Cohen was tho gontloman who first drew attontion to tho glaring blunder, and sowing a glass of champagne, sprang upon tho table, and ns soon as ho could mako himself hoard, said he folt grieved and sorry that tho duty of proposing tho health of tho Queen had devolved upon him, and was much surprised that two govorninont officials had been present, and yet that neither of thorn had thought of doing so. Ho, howover, should proposo tho health of buo who had, proved horsolf a good wife, mother, and sovereign, and who had been tho wifo of a great and good man. Sho lived in tho hearts of her subjects, and was ns good a Queen as over s:it upon an earthly throne. Ho trustod sho would livo many years, to adorn the position sho so ably filled. 110 felt it was almost liko presumption on his part to proposo her health. He, however, should do so, for ho was sure it would bo woll reaoived, or otherwise the Knnloii oommumty would bo exposing themsolvos to tlio itpputftttou of disloyalty, Loud find iloitfanlna wwo tlio oliaova whioh followed tljlftlifinwdHr, ant) \mrw ty* toMy tfpto

of the Jiind Air Cohen received for having remembered tlmt which so many had forgotten. A good deal of desultory speech-imiking now tooV place, diversified with dancing, in which, of course, the ladies present took an nctivo pirt, but when it was known that hit Honor had gone down on to the Flat for the purpose of inspecting the workings on the river bank, the assemblage broke up and followed him. After spending half an hour, exniniuing tho different claims, and making enquiries jm to the manner of working &c, Hia Honor proceeded through tho tunnoi driven from tho Cumberland parly's claim into tho Now Chum's, and was hove up to tho surface through thnt party's shaft by a number of willing hunds at tho windlass. His Honor was afterwards escorted to Ihe boat by a bodyguard of diggers, a largo procession bearing flags and shouting vociferously attending tl'om i and tho crew being in thoir places, His Honor took his seat in the slcrnshccts, with our worthy Harbor-Muster as tho steer-oar, tho boat pushed off amidst tho cheers and good wishes of tho tissomblcd crowd ; and so ended tho visit of Mr Justice Gvesson to iho Kaniori— one, it is to bo hoped, that will boar good fruit hereafter. Ho certainly has had an opportunity of forming some slight idea of tho powers and capabilities of a mining population, and may perhaps bo inclined to admit thnt much good mny bo ibund in it. As for tho minors on .tho Kanicvi, they thoroughly onjoyod tho day, and tho business people closed their stores and heartily joined thorn on tho occasion. Wo feel sure that tho ceremony of naming the Pioneer Race will bo long reinembored in tho district.