PUBLIC WORKS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 233, 18 June 1866, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

The only new work progressing that may bo considered in any sense of, a public character, is the tramway to oon« , nect the Kanieri with Hokitika, which, although of great public importance, is undertaken by a private company, / The shares have all been taken up ; the necessary contract's entered into ; and the operations of the company aotually commenced. Tho length of the tram■way will only be some four miles, and the capital expended only some four or, five thousand pounds, but the line will run through a district which, although presenting few engineering difficulties, . has been hitherto impracticable for traffic, and will connect directly with Hokitika the nearest, and one of the richest and most permanent of our goldfields. In our last summary we gave some particulars of the various lines of telegraph which^were in .active operation in the Middle Island. Since that date the work of stretching the wire from Hokitika to Greymouth has been proceeded with, andthis line may be expected to bo opened for public use within iho next few days, tt will prove a great convenience to commercial men. Through an unfortunate accident, telegraphic communication with Christchurch has' beon suspended for some days. The locality of tho accident has, however,

"been now ascertained, and measures are being taken to repair it, The town shows signs of great and rapid improvement. The banks are erecting edifices on the new sites recently purchased by them, of a substan.. ' tial and imposing character. Shopkeepers are in all directions enlarging and improving their premises, and the leading hotelkeepers are making great, additions to their means of accommoda--tioW' Many hotels in Hokitika are now not only habitable, but comfofiable, arid even luxurious in their appointments. Amongst theimprove^ ments most receutly effected we may note, in particular, those of Messrs Mader and Edwards, of the Criterion, Mr Solomon, of the Cafe de Paris, and Mr Wagner, of the Shamrock. In theso establishments all the most recent London improvementshave been introduced, such as single bedrooms, commodious dining-rooms, bath-rooms, lifts, and other mechanical appliances conducive to the comfort and accommodation of the inmates. In many of the streets, not exclusively occupied by business premises, private residences of a very commodious and ornamental character have been erected. The same style of building is becoming a marked feature of the suburbs of the town.