SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

West Coast Times, Issue 202, 12 May 1866, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

The principal items of intelligence under this head will bo found in the narrative of the events of the month, given in our second and third pages. The population has been augmented since our last summary, by an excess of arrivals over departures of more than a thouiand persons ; and from the latest accounts to hand we may anticipate' a considerable influx of miners during the next month — induced by the evidence afforded of the increasing wealth Of the goldfields of Westland, by the very large shipments of the precious metal I recently made by steamers to Sydney and Melbourne. The sensational topic of tie month | has been the condition of the gaol, in which large numbers of prisoners were confined, under circumstances very un- ! favorable to health and cleanliness. By i " the gaol," we mean a collection of log huts, which were made to servo the uses of a prison pending the erection of a more suitable building. Matters had recently — after many months of ineffec- , tual remonstrance — reached such a dis • graceful climax, that an indignation meeting was held at the Pryice of Wales Opera House, which was largely attended by influential citizens, and at | which strong resolutions were poised, and a deputation appointed to wait on the Commissioner and insist on immediate measures of r«lief being adopted. The next day, however, it was found that the new gaol was sufficiently advanced to enable a large portion of the prisoners to be removed to it ; and what has long been known here as the " gaol icandal" has since abated. So far as the action of the Government is concerned, the progress of public works in town has been suspended. Tho alleged want of funds is the ostensible reason. The desire to wait until the new Provincial Government has been initiated is probably the real cause. In the meantime, the improvement of the town has steadily progressed. To the formatioa of its principal streets it has been indebted to the action of an Improvement Committee, expending funds collected by a voluntary assossment, supplemented tb tome extent by a Government subsidy; A second Improvement Committee has lately been formed, to deal with the requirements of a distinct portion of the town ; and their labors have greatly contributed to the public convenience. Very marked improvements are being rapidly effected in the general architectural appearance of Hokitika, a moro substantial and ambitious style of buildings springing up in all directions. The j Revell-street frontage of the large enclosure hitherto known as the Camp Reserve is being rapidly filled-np with imposing structures, consisting of the new offices of theßank of New Zealand, and the Union Bank, and the enginehouse and depot of the Volunteer Fire [Brigade, Tho Bank of New South

Wales had previously erected a handsome edifice on an adjoining site. In various parts of the town hotels are being enlarged, and stores of an improved character erected, whilst in the suburbs a number of villa residences are being erected of very -picturesque appearance, As is common throughout most of the provinces, our buildings consist almost exclusively of timber and iron, nnd although the town has hitherto most fortunately escaped damage from auy serious couflagration, the necessity has been recognised of taking precautions against fire and providing means for its. repression should it break out amongst us. A well organised Fire Brigade has been accordingly established, and a careful watch is set nightly at their engine house ready to bring their implements into play, and to summon the members to duty on the first alarm. | Elsewhere will be found the monthly return of the Surgeon Superintendent of the Ilokitika Hospital — a new establishment elected k at the cost of the Provincial Government on the South side of the river, Hokitika. We also furnish the monthly report of the Meteorological Observer. As affecting the development of the district and the increase of facilities for i its very large traffic, we may mention that a project has been launched for the construction of a railway to connect j Hokika and Greyraouth along the beach line, with intermediate stations at the junction with it of roads leading to the various adjoining diggings. A Company is in process [of formation, under a pre visional directory of some of the first business men in town. It is proposed to raise a capital of some £30,000, and the prospect is held out, apparently on the most substantial grounds, of a dividend of 20 per cent, to shareholders after the>first year. Another project is in hand for the construction of a tramway, or light railway, from Hokitika to the Kauieri— a short distance of from three to four miles — which would have a very, useful effect in the development of one of the best established and most productive of our gold-fields— the one upon, which machinery has been most extensively introduced, and. which, although nearest to the town, is still difficult of access except by' river boats.