THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 123, 8 February 1866, Page 2

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1866.

We have at length before us a detailed account jof Receipts and Expenditure on account of tho West Canterbury Goldfields, to tho 01st October, 1865. We shall probably havo to wait another four months for a similar statement of accounts for tho quarter ending tho 3 1st December last. Howovor, wo are grateful for the information to hand — albeit it is somewhat late of coming — for it will throw light upon what has long been tho great financial mystery. The receipts from tho district as acknowledged, amount to nri aggregate 0fL44,548 15s 4d; and aro classified under four several heads. The first is tho Gold Export Duty. This amounted up to tho 3 1st March, 1865, to the comparatively modest sum of LIOB6 1 4s lid; for the quarter ending the 30th June, it amounted 'to L 5,192 12s)j6'l ; for the September quarter, to L 6,801 7s Od; and for tho month of October only, to L 3, 6 17 1 3s 3d. The revenue derived from this source has thus- been largely and continuously on tho increase, and had yielded in the whole, up to the date at which tho present resume closes, no less a sum than L 16,700, representing an export, of nearly ono hundred and forty thousand ounces of gold. The second head of receipt is tho Customs, of which threeeighths are accredited to tho district, the lcmaiudor going into the General Government Treasury. These threeeighths for tho West Coast amounted, up to the 30th June, 1865, to L 2.339 4s 6d ; for the quarter ending tho 30th September to L 3.900 18s Od; and for the month of October ,to L 3,284 14s 8d ; making a total of 1*9,524 15s 2d, and representing an aggregate amount of import duties, paid at Hokitika and the Grey, of no le>s than Ll 5,240. Undor tho third head of iucome, wo have fees, fhfts, business aud publicans' licenses, Ll 7,643 2s 6d. Lastly, auctioneer's licenses are separately classed, and amount to the moderato figuro of L6BO. So is the to^al rovcmio derived from the district for the time specified, viz., ,L 44,548 15s 4d, .obtained.

The expenditure side of tho balance sheet may bo expected to devclope features moro satisfying to public curiosity. We prop ise for tho present to content ourselves with a general rcsfflno of the statement, and shall refrain from any comment furthor than may he necessary to render the statement itself intelligible. Even to do this is no easy task. It appears that up to the 31st October the. total outlay on the West Canterbury gold-fields amounted to £102,948 '7s, of which sum £G2,50l 1 1^8d had been " paid on Kust Coast " and £40,432 15s 4d "paid on West Coast," making Westland a creditor of Eastland to that dale of soirio £22,000. To Eastland is accredited' the sum of £1,758 8s 4d, for the establishment of an agency on the West Coast to the 30 th June. The salaries of tho Commissioner and .tho Wardens, amounting in all to £2,454 3s sd, are set down as " paid on the West Coast,,'' For the administration of justice tho West Coast paid £169; tho East Coast £267 11s sd. For tho police the West Coast paid £2196 ; the East Coast, £6462. Westland alono supported its hospital at an expense of £1672, and with the excep-

tion of a small s\un of £7 5s 6d, provided its charitable aid fund, amounting to £255. Harbor expenses up to the 30th June, 1865 (£93) were defrayed by Kastland ; after that (amounting to £1019) by Westlnnd. For smveyes and telegraph, credit is claimed for tho East Coast for payments to tho exlont of £5402, and given, to the West to tbo extent of £2503. . Under the head of roads and other public works tho statement sets forth that £44,076 4s 2d, has been ll paid on tho East Coast " on behalf of this district, and only £3001 12s by tho itself. Incidental and miscellaneous expenses, making, a small total of some six or seven hunrod pounds, complete the grand total of £102,000 expended on Westland to the 31st October, of which Westland itself only paid some £40,000, the remainder being defrayed .by the generous people on tho' other 'side of tho range Wo aro favored in a footnote with tho information that "this account docs not include any contribution to the cost of tho Chief Executive Departments of the Provincial Government, of tho Chief Police Office, the Chief Surveyor's, .or tho Provincial Engineer's Office, or any charge for the West Coast Mail, or for tho trial and maintenance of . prisoners from tho West Coast. Tho payments on- the East Coast, on account of surveys, polico, &c, consist principally of salaries of officers serving on tlio West Coast, which aro paid out of tho Treasury in Christchuroh."

The general statement is followed by several appendices and sub-appendices, from whioh information can bo picked up only by the initiated in tho mysteries of Christclmych finance. Appendix B is an analysis of th'o expenditure on roads and other public works, by Mr. G. S. Sale, tho total being £7,963 Os. Bd., aud tho largest separate items— with tho exception, of courso, of the inevitable " West Coast road", which turns up at]every corner— L'i,GGl for clearing stroeljs, and L 2.412 on account of wharf. A sub-appendix furnishes an Analysis of Expenditure) on Public Buildings, The gross sum under this heading amounts, however, to only L 4.500, and tho details aro not of interest at this date. Tho last Appendix, "C," details " Payments on East Coast for West X'oast Road." Tho fol- ■ lowing aro tlio principal items : - Hurunui route, £3,083 ; special road survey, £344; salaries to engineers, £460; Otira route, £J 9,024 ; North Rrtkaia route, £18,701 ; Arnold and Greyrond, £97; nnd incidental, £145. Such is tho substance of tho statement tabled in tho General Assembly, of the receipts and expenditure on account of the West Canterbury gold-fields up to the 31st October last, from which it appears that tho whole revenue derived was only £44,500, whilst tho outlay reached tho enormous sum of £102,000. Tho apparent balance agaiust tho district is ' large. Rut it will bo scon on #10 face of the statement that if certain^sums sofc down as expended by Eastland upon work sfor tho West Coast, which it certaiuly never asked for, and which it does not want, wcro eliminated from the debtor side of the account, the balunco would not bo a heavy one against the district, ~cvcn if tho scale did not turn greatly in its favor. Such items aro tho overland road, £44,000 ; tho escort, £3300 ; and tho telegraph^ £4348 — making at once a total of £50,000. However, tho figures, as they stand, speak for themselves, and we will only remind our readers that •they refer to tho period in. the history of tho district antecedent to the 31st October last.

Oun non-roccipt of Telegraphic messages fromeitherDunedin or Invercargill is due to tho untoward circumstance that "communication is interrupted." Tho mishap is supposed to have occurred between Hokitika and the Bcnloy. A mounted messenger was despatched by Mr. Bird, the local telegraph manager; at an early hour yesterday, morning, to ascertain the placo of the break, and to effect the neccssaty repairs. It is natural to feel some' annoyance at the failure of tho telegraph lino to do its work on the very day after its formal opening. But these little contretemps may bo expected at the outset. It has always been so. No doubt the telegraph lino will bo in full and successful operation in tho course of a few days. With reference to the complaint wo mode yesterday, of somo charges in excess of the scale prices as announced, we havo to express ourselves entirely satisfied with tho explanations we have received. An overcharge was made in error, and tho amount ha,s been refunded. Tho source of tho error was easily traceable.

Wo aro glad to learn that in one particular the Now Zealand telegraph regulations are more rational than those that obtain in tho neighboring colonies. There, every figuro is charged as a word ; here, it is directed that groups of figures shall bo charged as single words only. Thus tho date 1 866, which in Victoria would be reckoned as four words, is in New Zealand to be counted as ono. Seeing to how great an extent our most important telegraphic messages will derive their interest from commercial reports, in which such expressions are common as, Flour, LSI 10s Od to L 32 15s Od, this regulation will be an obvious economy tog tho correspondent.

This explanation does not at nil affect the, question of the general rato of charges, which we must still maintain to ho extravagantly and impolitioally high. Wo leave the subject, however, for the present, trusting that the representations ye have already made will have their due effect. We Bay the same with reference to tho present

most unreasonable hour of closing the telegraph office.

It would bo unfair, after the strictures -wo have made upon the working of the department, not to recognise in the fullest manner both the courtesy and the efficiency of Mr Bird, the local manager — a gentleman who has, wo believe, boon for years connected with the telegraphic system in the colonies. The general arrangements made here for the working l of the lino are most effective, although to a visitor to the station the first impression is that of the extreme simplicity and unpretending character of the appliances employed. In a very modest little building, consisting of a small room, and a smaller closet, are concentrated the forces which, wilh the help of the wire, arc capable of transmitting to the extreme ends of the island, all that spoken or written language is ( capable of expressing. Tho electric telegraph, whilst one of the greatest of modern institutions, is at the samo time one of tho least costly. It serves man well, and it serves him cheaply. It is a magnificent triumph of science, and man in his gratitude should make tho most of it.

Wo suggest the expediency yof causing sufficient publicity to be given, not only to tho scale of charges adopted here, but to tho general " regulations and conditions," subject to which each message is presented for transmission. According to tho usual mode elsewhere these regulations are printed on the back of the form on which tho message is required to be written. Hero the Ycgwlations we neither advertised nov posted for public inspection at tho telegraph office.

Considerable portions of tho to\.n, in which tho holders of businoss liconsos havo takon up their abode and on' which thoy havo orcctod buildings at considerable cost, on tho faith of their boing ultimately enabled to obtain tho fco simplo on roasonablo terms, aro boing marked out as " lledorves." In innumerable instancos, tho courso pursuocl by tho Government will bo attended with flagrant injustice, which might havo been avoided had tho authorities tit tho proper timo survoyod and mappod out tho town. A strong opposition may bo oxpoctocl to aviso in various quavtoi's. Last ovoning a mooting was hold of tho inhabitants of a portion of Wold streot, to concert measures for securing their allotments, in ground which it scotns has just boon declared a " rosorvo," ' and to which tho Polico Camp is to bo romovod. Tho mooting was held in tho hew schoolroom lately erected on ono of tho nllotmonts in question. Eesolutions wcro pnssod for tho purposo of bringing iinmodiatoly undor the, attention of the Government tho gross injuatico contemplated. Tho mattor was fully discussed, and a committeo of action appointed, with instructions to represent tho griovanco complained of in tho first instanco, to tho Improvement Committoo, For tho future wo shall not be entirely dependent on foreign supplies of tougued and grooved boards, as Messrs Haworth and Finlay havo introduced a_ new planing, tonguing, ami grooving machine, tho only ono at present in the district. Tho introduction of new industries is of tho utmost importance to a now country as tending to its soltloinont and giving legitimate employment to those who would otherwise bo driven to a move precarious means of support. Messrs Haworth and Finlay are now employed preparing tiihbor for the new theatre, and can supply all kinds of boarding for houses, from tho floor to tho roof. Wo hopo their entei'priso will receive duo encouragement.

We were considerably surprised when taking a stroll tho other day along tho river bank towards tho Kanicri, at tho extension of the town in that direction, every section fronting the rivor on the edgo ftf the strip of ground two chains wide which has been cleared there having been taken up, and most of thorn built upon. From tho Custom Houso to tho end of tho clearing is quite half a mile,, and as this is a continuation of Gibson's Quay it will bo whon cleat ed from stumps and improved, as pleasant a promenade as can bo found in any part of Now Zealand This part of tho township is hold in high estimation ns it is considorod that tho rivor will bo less liablo to encroach upon it, consoquontly many of tho allotments havo boon scoured by our merchants and businoss mon, who havo crcotod thoroon private residences, soino of thorn vory tastefully built indood. Towards tlio upper end a section of ground hns bocn fonccd in for a Government resorvo, and n largo and commodious cottago built upon it, in which rosido our U.M., Mrl'ifczGorald, and boyoud that, sovoral other buildings aro boing run up. It is a pity tho Goyornmont did not cpntinuo this lino of oloaring, as thoro is no doubt tho sections would havo been cagorly sought after and occupied, although strictly speaking thoy "would have boon without tho township,- tho ond of tho olonring resting on oho of its boundary linos. In tho Eosidont Magistrate's Court yesterday, tho cause list was a most formidable ono, tho civil casos nlono, including romnants from previous days, amounting to ovor thirty in> numbor. Howovor, from somo reason or thor, plaintiffs and dofondants absented themselves in such munbors that tho wholo business was concluded about two o'clock, Thoro woro .no dofonded cases which ocoupiod any length of time, whilst tho "no appearances" woro ono half of tljo list } and tho vowlicts by default, tho plaintiffs only, coming forward amounted to about a dozon of tho formidable list. Thoro woro two casos o£ allogod assault, for ono of which a fine of £2 wna inflicted, and anothor tho ojoctmont of a bailiff from promises which ho was illegally in possession of. In tho •latter caso, the Bench thought that tho bailiff had not takon sum"oionfc caro to find out to whom roally tho property ho loviod on belonged, and dismij|jbd the caso. A decision was to havo been givon by tho magistrate in O'Driscoll v Binnoy and Co, whoro several mercantile points aro involved ; but on tho motion of Mr O'Loughlin it was ngain adjourned, bo that, tho plaintiff might bring additional ovidonoo to strengthen his caso.

Tho groat necessity for jncroasod hospital accommodation is, daily mado moro apparent,' and tho completion of tho now hospital will imlood bo a boon to seoros of tho aflliotcd. An illustration of this occurro \ yostorday, whon a poor follow, named Median, a lunatio, was lakon through tbo streot for tho purpose of boing lodgod in tho look-up. It appoars that ho was brought down aomo six wooks ago su/Foring a 'form of insanity, f designated mclanoholia. Ho was lakon into tho hospital, and sijico thon hns I? eon oarofiilly watokod j but it has beon found thnt it was impossiblo to givo him tho requisite attention in so crowded a placo, and Dr, Ryloy was compolled to give him ovor to tho polico with tho viow of having him forwarJod to a propor asylum, whoro ho might bo proporly treated. On coming to tho cornel' noar tho Olub hotol ho rofuscd to procood furtlior, and a crowd that soon gathorod round ovidcntly mado him moro xunnanngoablo. Constablo Stokos, \vho had him in ohargo bohavod oxcollontly, and instead of using any violonco;* ondoavorod to persuado him to go on. This

however, ho could not be porsuaded into, and another officov was sent for to assist Constable Stokos in caso it should bo nocossary to rosort to forco. On tho arrival of tho second officer tho samo mild means proviously tried wore again rosortod to, and thw timo with buccosb, tho unfortunate man walking quietly away to tho camp. Ho will bo brought boforo tho Bench this morning, and probably sont away by tho first opportunity. Wo hoar that tho now hospital will bo completed in a wook, and in it will bo amplo accommodation for lunatics as well as sick uion, propor airing yards, and porfect quiot, Unfortunately, howovor, Mr Salo has gono away without leaving any instructions as to tho immediate occupation of tho hospital on completion, and tbo bods and somo furniture uocossary, which aro coming from Molbourno, have nofc yot arrivod. A» far as tho immediate occupation goes, ft telegram will soon, wo should imagine, proouro tho necessary authority, and bo far from romaining in tho prosont hospital don, it would bo bettor to move without having othor appliancies than aro to band at prosont. Even shakedown beds on tho floor would bo luxuries to many ncoding aid, and would bo far suporior to any accommodation thnt can at present bo provided by tho frionds of many suffering from sorious clisoasos.

A few days ago, wo stated that it wns intende I to move a portion of the camp buildings without delay, and yesterday their change of position commenced. \Tho constables' quarters, tho old mess-room which on many occasions has dono duty as a police and warden's , court, the magistrate's quarters and other buildings were walked away with a volooity that did infinite credit to the energy of the contractor. The result though, however satisfactory to the Bank of New Zealand, lias not added to the previously by no means classic arrangement of the various edifices. Under existing circumstances the transferred buildings art stowed just any whore, and a more huddled-up, higgledy piggledy appearanco than thoy present would be difficult to find. The mess room takes the post of honour just in front of tho warden's office, or what was intended for a treasury, whilsb tho others apparently have tried to "squeeze themselves anywhero out of the way, and are jammed up most remarkably in consequence. Whoro they will find a final resting place, we are unable to state, or whether they will ever again be marshalled in set order and position. The Bank of New Zealand in the meantime is taking active steps to carry out their building arrangements, and work will be commonced without delay. '

Though gravel or shingle may be very useful in making roads, we cannot boo that broken glass bottles can well be utilised for this purpose. In this opinion, however, the Hokitika public, by no means share, and our thoroughfares are chosen as the most available places of deposit for this dangerous, rubbish. Wo constantly hear of horses, as well as their masters, coming to griof in a greater or less degree, and it is high time that some steps to abate or prevent the nuisance should bo taken. Yesterday, as a sort of crowning mercy in the glassware way, 1 ) a good couple of wheel-barrows full of empty bottles woro deposited in the very contre 'of tho street, at tho junction of Gibson's Quay and Wharf street,, This part is where nearly every bit of the wharf traffic has to pass, and if some unfortunate carter has not to mourn a lamed horse before this time it is no fault of those who were guilty of subh mischievous and insane folly. We commond the pile in question to tho consideration of those interested, and think that under such circumstaaccs the police should bo called on to punish such recklessness and absurdity. XTo-clay will bo a rod letter day in tho Masonic annals of Hokitika, as ou it tho first lodge of tho timo honored craft will bo inaugurated hero. For somo timo past a Lodge of Instruction has boon hold in Hokitika, but rccontly a dispensation has boon granted by tho Provincial Lodgo, and tho Paoifio Lodge of Hokitika will this day bo consecrated. The ceremony will bo povformed by Brother Ohnpinan, P.M , W.P.Z., assisted by other experienced members of tho craft. Mr Chapman was an old and zealous mombor of tho Masonio body in Victoria, and performed similar duties to thoso ho has undertaken to-day whon tho first Masonio Lodgo was founded in Southland. Tho brethren will moot at high noon, whon tho usual coromonials will be gono through, and in the evening they meet at dinner at 8 p.m. Host Fitzsimons has done everything in his power to render tho foast in every way. worthy of him, Turkeys, at 60s each, ducks, fowls, geese, pigeons, and a host of other good things of thii life are to be furnished, and fruit has been speoially procured by him from Nelson, for dessert. In short, no, pains have been sparod either by the oraft or by the caterer to mako the whole day's proceedings worthy of tho occasion, and thcro cannot be a doubt that everything will pass off .most satisfactorily. We may add that the room has been decorated with great care and caste, and its appearance reflects considerable credit on tho volunteers who cumo forward to coinploto this necessary work. St Yesterday afternoon a horse nttaohed to a 'loaded dray thought fit to mako a bolt from Wharf, streot, and turned tho corner on to Gibson's Quay at a tremendous rate. One wheel was on the pavement and narrowly missed the windows of the Imperial Hotel. Owing to this tho career of the runaway was brought to an abrupt close, 'the dray capsizing, the horse of course falling, and tho contents flying about in all directions. The animal, however, was soon got on his legs and the dray righted, after which the scattered goods woro got together, and the quadruped apparently satisfied with his demonstration walked quietly off without attempting any furthor bolt.

Tho Volunteer Fire Brigade held their monthly meeting, on Tuesday evening, for. the purpose of electing officers, .agreeing to rules, and balloting for now members. A largo number of persons were present, and the proceedings conduoted in a roost spirited manner. The result of the ballot was that Mr Millard was chosen oaptain, Mr Horn, lieutenant, and Mr Shiels, foreman. Mr Eoolesfiold and Mr Osborne woro proposed for the treasurership, and tho former gentleman was elected. A committee, consisting of Messrs. M'Gullooh, M'Farlauo, and Holmes were also chosen to act with the ofiioevs proviously named.

Our Grey liver contemporary states that a most daring attempt at highway robbery took place ou Saturday evening last. Mr J. P. Christenson, the gold rotortor, and who is also a largo buyer of gold, has for somo time been in the habit of taking tho gold he purchased during the day to the Bank in tho evening. Usually ho has had the protcotion of a companion, but on two ov throe occasions lately ho has gone alone, carrying his gold in a tin box. On Saturday evening, at about a quarter past elevon, Otiristenson toft his shop, for tho purpose of dopositing in tho Bank Bome£l2oo worth of gold ho had bought during tho day. He was alone, and finding that tho street was crowded, owing to the number of people just leaving the theatre,' ho crossed over to tho othor side to tho river ( bank, which part of tho streot was comparatively quiet and desorled. Whon nearly opposito to Sweeney's Hotol lie noticed a man standing alono at the odgo of the bank, who, when ho saw Mr Ohristenson Approaching, moved towaads him. Mr Ohristonson not suspoQting anything did not take particular notice of the man as ho passed him, but ho had barely passed whon hearing a rush as of somo'ono coming behind him, ho was in the act of turning round whon ho recoiyed a heavy blow at tho back of the hoad, which had evidently boon intended, to foil him senseless. As it hap* pened, howovor, the first forco of tho blow was received by tho brim of Mr Ohrlstonson's hat, and tho only effect was to make him stagger forward a little, the assailant doing tho same and bumping up against him. Mr Ohristenson oallod out lustily for help, and the robber, finding his intended viotiro. was uninjured, bolted

off in the direction of the Custom House. M Ohristenson followed him and a number of other persons joined in tho chase, but when near the Molbourno Hotel, Mr Cliristenson was afraid to continue the pursuit further in the dark part of the town, as ho still had tho gold in his possession, and wnd fearful another rush might be made for it. He • accordingly went into Kilgour's Hotel, and soon nfter tho Bank olork accompanied him to tho Bank where the gold was safely doposited. In tho meantime tho chase after the thief had been successful,, and he was aprehencled by one of the Nelson constabulary, Detective Meredith. But here comes tho singular part of the story ; before any of the Groymouth polico put in an appearance, Meredith was compelled to let lria prisoner go, as some say from inability to hold him, na others atato owing to tho roughs in the crowd releasiug him and ho is now at liberty, although expected to bo caught. Whatever may havo been tho immediate cause of the prisoner's escape, we have only ono opinion to express and that is that the affair reflects anything but orcdit upon tho arresting constable, or upon the Greymouth polico, who only signalised themselves by their absonco. In a case of tiiis kind the arresting constable should have called upon some of the spectators in the Queen's name to assist him in tho execution of his duty, a course which is regularly followed in similar cases in Englaud. With regard to the non-appearance of any of the Greymouth polico. from the time of tho attack to tho. escape of the prisoner, nearly half an hour, it is most unaccountable, and shows greatj laxity either of discipline or arrangement. Wo should liko to know how it happens that with our limited police tho cons* tables so frequently patrol. the town in couples, intead of singly ; and why in tho neighborhood of tho theatre and of places where at the hour in question largo crowds collect, no constablo could be found until too late to render any sorvice ? If a little moro attention were pai<r to tho property, instead of fishing up of paltry cases, the police would bo spared the unfavour- . ablo comments we havo felt it our duty to make.

From the Grey River Argus wo extraob the following: — The accounts from the Karamea -aro rattier conflicting, bnt the balance of testimony is unfavorable, and we fear tho sanguine anticipations formed of that place are not, according to present appearances, likely to be realised. We received intelligence on Monday that .the rush was a comploto failure, mid there woufd appear to bo some , foundation for this statement, for the Nelson Colonist mentions the roturn of the ketch Secret with passengers from the Karamea. "Tho intelligence," says the Colonist, " is very scanty 1 ; the men that are there are prospecting in various directions, but nothing very startling has yet made its appearance ; sveral patches have been struck which will no doubt yield well when once steady work is commonced."

We are informed that a fourth share of the celebrated Darkies' claim on the North Bekoli, was sold yesterday for LSOO. Tlio seller was R. Gregory, and the purchaser W. Sharp.— Orey River Argus, Feb. 7 . • Timo has hot beon afforded us to test the capabilities of the now telegraph, as most unfortunately tin interruption has already ocourred on tho lino between this town and the Bealoy. This is certainly a bad beginning and has caused no slight disappointment to many, ourselves amongst tho number, as it has deprived us of an answer to messages we dispatchod to Dunedin and Invorcavgiiron Tuesday afternoon which wo hoped to' have published in yostorday's or this morning's issue. Tho stoppage wo trust will only be temppraiy, as a man was at onco despatched along the lino to flnd out where tho fault existed and repair it.