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THE MONTH.
Referring to the probability of the entrance to the Okarita Lagoon being closed during the present season, we find that in the report furnibhed to (he West , Coast Times; of 13th May/1865, by Capt Gibson, Vrho accompanied tho steamer Bruce on her first exploring expedition to the southwards, the following remarks occur :— " Hohuhauuiiu on the south side of the Okarita is a high rocky headjand, from which a rocky bottom evidently stretches out* to the N.W., causing an irregular cross swell— frequently breaking, • which would preclude vessels from anchoring outside. The North side is a low sandy bank covered with coarse crass, and flax extending some five miles North and enclosing a large lagoon. Tiro resident natives had informed Mr Rochfort that, in . their remembvauce the entrance had been completely closed-up so that they could walk across dry footed, being in this respect similar to Lake Ellismere." Although the police have scoured the country to the southwards, nothing whatever has been seen of the bushrangers who have been exhibiting themselves so freely of late. The fine weather during the early part and middle of the month, was fully appreciated by those who endured the endless down - pour that reigned (!) during May, 1865. Among some old records of that period, we find it written " Tho deluge continues in a degree that is positively disheartning, and it is a wonder how any one can screw up courage enough to remain in the district. A complete stop has been put to all mining operations, the men being able to work only between the squalls. Tho last two steamers left with 140 diggers, and it is certainly to be. expected that should a cessation of rain not take pace shortly, these outward bound men will assuredly be only the precursors of a larger stream regularly washed out of Hokitika." Then follows the significant remark : " The men leaving are all of tho same opinion— that there is gold enough in the place but the rain is an insuperable obstacle to their obtaining it." An interesting souvenir of the Maria* was discovered by some- of the workmen engaged to break up the vessel. On unshipping the mainmast they picked up from under the butt a small copper coin having inscribed on the one side " copeck, 1856,'' while tho obverse bore "Alexander ir." The memento recalls several facts in the history of the schooner not generally known. She was built at Riga, by the Russian Government in 1856 — the date on the coin, which, doubtless, was deposited under the mast with all the coremony that we make use of when we christen a ship or lay a foundation stone. The Maria was in early youth a screw steamer and considered a crack transport ; but in an evil hour she became the prize of a British man-of-war — immediately on the Russian war breaking out—in fact we believe she was the first capture made by the British. Alter suffering the fate of all prizes by being sold by auction, she received at the hands of her new owners the additional insult of conversion into the three-masted schooner she wa9 when thown on the beach of Hokitika. Apropos —In the Hokitika theatre in the churchyard scene of 'the Ticket -of- Leave Man — was a tombstone inscribed " To tho memory of Maria' —was it a tribute to the departed saint whose remains lie on the north spit? On the 19th ult. the cutter Mary Ann was cleared at tho Customs for Invercargill with a few passengers,- and about twenty tons cargo. Having good reason to believe thut the Mary Ann's destination was in the first instance not quite so far south as stated — that, in fact, her passengers were successful prospectors returning with stores to where their mates were at work " on the quiet '• down South — our reporter was somewhat anxious to learn the spot where the Mary Ann would land her passengers. The attempt, however, was a signal failure. The men reiterated that they were going to Inyercargill. At last one of the number confessed that to be a mis-statement. "If,' 1 said he, "you want , to know exactly where we are going to, put down in your note book Port of Guam!" It is said, with what amount of truth we know not, that a distinguished member of the Hokitika bar, on being summoned a short time ago by the police charged with not having a busmess licence, made his appearance in the Warden's Court dressed in blue shirt and moleskins — in the style of a new-chum digger, and produced to the astonished and perplexed Warden his miner's right. As the document exhibited did not, in the opinion of Mr Schaw, exonerate the wouldbe miner or carrying on business a3 a public notary and " barrister, the charge waa only dropped on the production of the necessary license which had been procured from the Registrar previous to the court opening. We have not yet heard the name of tho Judge who is to preside at the sittings of thevSupreme Court in Hokitika, which is to be held in July. It is rumored, however, that Mr Justice Chapman, who has recently proceeded from Dunedin to Melbourne oh some matters connected with his late melancholy bereavement, will return by way of the West Const, and will discharge the judiciadutiesl here on this dc- , casion. Whichever 'member of the Bench visits Hokitika, he will probably be able to give ua some information as to any steps that may have been taken to secure to the district the presence of a resident Judge either of the superior or second order. We are very happy to state that arrangements have been made by the managers of the Panama New Zealand and Australian Steam Navigation Company for the steamer Ajredale to leave this port* specially to convey passengers and mails to Wellington for the first Panama mail boat which leaves Wellington on the 23rd instant. The Airedale will be despatched from Hokitika on the eighteenth, in ample time to connect with the main line. We are glad to hear that the residents of the Kanieri are taking active steps to provide a place of worship for those who practice the ritual of the • "lurch of England, a considerable bu.a having been already subucribed for the purpose. For some weeks past Mr Warden Schaw 'has held service every Sunday morning at the Court House, which, we are given to understand, is remarkably well attended, unmistakeably shewing that a wish exists among the inhabitants to pay due deference to a day especially *-ci aside for rest and devotion. Such a feeling would materially beget a desire to erect a suitable building wherein to worship God,
and the above lias resulted which we feel confident will be successfully carried out. Plans and specifications of 1 a commodious edifice have been submitted to the Church Committee, and as £"-500 will cover the cost of erecting it, we b.lieve that tenders will be shortly callo I for, and that ere ]♦ ng the first Church of England in Westland will rear its head in the Kanieri township. On the 14th ult. several diggers from the Kanieri, brought into town a block of stone, weighing about fifty pounds, which they avowed was greenstone. While showing it in front of the Camp to some persons bye, a geutK-niiin offeied them £5 for the specimen which they readily accepted and walked off. Whether or not the purchaser lias made a hit we cannot say. The Rtone, certainly has not the ulark greenness nor transparency per taining to the real greenstone. A facetious bystander n marked, that the greatest depth of cojor wns visible, not in the stone, but in-its new owner, On the 16th ultimo, a man named John Thompson was killed while working at his claim near Rosstown. Jt appears that the decoused was engaged working in a shaft tbout eighty feet deep, and sinking for a second bottom. After he had filled a bucket of earth, and hooked it on to the rope, he sung out to his mate " to heave up." On doing so, the bucket, when about lmlf way up the shaft, slipped off the hook, and fell directly on deceased's head, killing him, it is supposed instantaneously. On one of his mates descending the shaft, Thompson was found quite dead, a portion of the brain protruding from the wound on the head. On examining the rope and hook, both were found complete and unbroken. At the inquest on the 25th May, an incident occurred, which for a moment relieved tho proceedings of the earnestneos which was given to the entire evidence. When Sergeant Ilickson was detailing the arrest of Mr Bracken, he held in his hand a gun, which in the fracas was broken in two, and the disjointed parts held together by letting the do<r-heads rest on tho nipples. Whilst passing the damaged weapon from one hand to the other, the top portion, consisting of the two barrels, suddenly dropt off, narrowly striking in their fall Mr O'Loughlin, the solioitor, whose look of astonishment at what, no doubt, ho supposed mijjht h ive proved matter for a second inquest was truly indescribable. We have had to record one or two instances of robb?ry and house-breaking of ate ; but considering the fact of tho known presence in the district of a large number of lawless characters, it is a matter of congral ulation that the peace of the town has been so well preserved. We attribute this very greatly to the efficiency of the police force, which, small and inadequate as it is, appears to have succeeded by its vigilance in striking a wholesome terror into the brcaßt of wrong, doers. They have come to tho conclusion seemingly, that Hokitika is not a very safe place for them to follow up their pursuits and have accordingly betaken thembelvt!) to the less protected districts. It is to be hoped that in these they will be quickly overtaken by the hand of justice in every instance in which thoy break the law, and that a substantial punishment will act as a warning to all others who may be inclined to come over to the West Coast and try their hand at a trade that has been only oo successful elsewhere. We understand that the Right Rev. Dr. Harper, the Bishop of the diocese, who arrived by coach from Christchurch on the Gth. instant, is likely to remain for some time, probably two months, on the West Coast, and that the special . object of his visit is to promote measures for the establishment of Church of Engand worship in this long neglected district. Ou the 7th instant a meeting of licensed victuallers wns held at Kennedy's Club Hotel, to take into consideration tho working of the Act in Hokitika. From the discussion which ensued it was evident that much dissatisfaction existed 'amongst the licensed publicans thai the Act was not more stringently enforced by the authorities, and a committee was appointed to report upon the manner of its operation and lay the same before a meeting of hotel-keepers to be convened at an early date. * We are very glad to lenrn that measures are being taken by a few, public-spirited persons at the Three-mile (the Ilau llau), for the establishment of a literary and reading society in connection with the new Union Chapel about to be erected there, and in aid of which some L 53 have already been collected on the spot from the diggers and storekeepers. Great credit is due to the promoter of this movement. The Three-mile people are indeed setting an example to Hokitika .that ought to shame the professional and other educated men into some action for tho establishment of a literary institution of some kind in the chief town of the 1 district. The pleasures and sorrows of a " needy knife grinder" have been shewn in the case of that enterprising individual, who, a few weeks ago, imported to Hokitika a fully equipped grinding machine by the Star of tho Evening on her lust trip from Melbourne, On the first day the apparatus was landed and unlimbered, which we may remark, presented as decayed and delnpidated a condition as ever Canning conjured — the ancient party who claimed ownership was busy at work much to the benefit, we should fancy, of his private funds, and tho cutlery of our restaurant keepers. It would appear, however, that the success he gained was too much for the old gentleman. Perhaps the memory of a happy past, spent over the revolving wheel, combined with a laudable desire to test the effects of •New Zealand beer, overcame him ; at all events, he disappeared from the public gaze, while his machine became tho sport of a number of gamins, who make Gibson's Quay the sceno occasionally' of their pranks. A short time back, whilst two of the Government Officials were on their way from Rosstown to Hokitika, taking the usual road along the beach, they observed some distance ii-head of them a couple of men dressed like diggers, yet without swaga, and who seemed to be looking about in a manner that, under the circumstances was more than strange. On approaching closer to them, they repeatedly looked back and seemed as if they were debating some matter having reference to the approaching passengers, who were now close upon them. The discussion by ' the two strange characters was ended by both turning sharply off into the low scrub, which lines the beach just abovo high water mark. In doing so, however, one of the gentlemen noticed, peeping out from under tho coat of tho taller or the
two^ the black butt of a revolver. Being totally uiurmed, they were of course quita unable «to give effect to their confirmed suspicions, - but immediate'y pushed on their way to Hokitika, when they at once communicated the circumstances to the police. There can be little doubt, from the description given, they were tho same mon who robbed the mailman a few weeks ago;, in fact, the described position when they were first seen was near the exact .spot whore Cameron was stuck-up.' It is little .use trying further to burke the kno\v|edgc of the fact that, a gang of nStorious and determined bushrangers have landed on the West Coast, and sonicwere •to the southward of Hokitik,a are planing some dark scheme of villany. Another extensive gold robbery/ has taken place, this time at Okarita, of which the Bank of New Zealand have again been the .sufferers. Tho circumstances attendant on the loss we are in possession of, but who the robber or robbers, if more than one was concerned in it, is yet a complete mystery. Our informution is, that on the morning of Tuesday the '22nd ultimo, the manager of the ' bank Mr. Allen, deposited in the bank safe one bag and one bar of gold, aud locked it before he went out, probably to breakfast, as this happeued at about halfpast nine o'clock. When ho returned, which took place hi twenty minutes afterwards, he missed the key of the safe. What became of it during the interval ho is unable exactly to say. The safe, howiever, was locked and apparently the contents secure for the time being. To add double security to the drawer, in case the key should by some mischance have fallen into dishonest hands, a seal was placed on the safe. On the return of the Bruce from thi3 port on the 3rd inst., Mr. Allen received a duplicate key, with which, after breaking the seal he had placed, he opened the safe to find, however, the whole of the gold missing. The parcel consisted of one bag of alluvial gold, and one bar smelted — valued in all at £2500. Active inquiries are being instituted by tho police to discover the thief or thieves, as the case may prove. A scene occurred on the 28th ult. in the Resident Magistrate's Court, in consequence of a misunderstanding having arisen among the three legal gentlemen who were conducting the defence, in the case of Mr. 11. W. Bracken. It appears that when Mr O'Loughlin concluded the croas-examina-tion of the witness Purcell, that. Mr Kees, with Mr Bracken's consent, asked some questions relative- to the matter gono into bY Mr O'Loughlin, whereupon the latter gentleman stated that Mr ltees had com-mitted-such a breach of etiquitte as compromised his (Mr O'Loughlin'B) position, and compelled him to throw up his brief, in which procedure his cxamplo was followed by Mr Button. On the 29th ultimo the greatest number of men drunk, and either disorderly or incapable, appeared before the Resident Magistrate that ever took place in one day in Ilokitika ; thirteen individuals being charged with over-indulging. It is a noticeable circumstance that on Monday evenings there are more of the above class brought to the camp than any. other time. A friend in the trade supplies an explanation. On Mondays' the storekeepers accounts are presented for payment, and an it* is a heinous sin to receive money from a publican and not ' shout' — and that largely too, among all tho loafers that on such occasions gather around the public bars — the increase in the number of inmates in the log huts may thus be ac counted for. Another ciiusoof increased drunkness lies in the use made by some disreputable hotel and shanty keepers of liquors adulterated with stuffs wliich it would be compliment to call trash, as they merit the name of poison. Tho arrangements entered into in rospect. of the inter-provincial and intercolonial services, up to this time, havo beon published. No service has been fixed for Melbourne and Manakau ; the Sydney service has been decided upon. The arrangements with the Panama Company are for a Sydney to Auckland service, at £47-') a month ; for Auckland to Otago, at £300 per month ; Manukau to Bluff, £300 per month— total subsidy, £12,900. Tho New Zealand Steam Navigation have taken aservico from Manukau to the Bluff, for £300 per month. On the whole of the contracts, an annual saving of £31,778 has, been effected. An extraordinary accident occurcd to Cobo's coach on the Gth inst. when on its way into town from Christchurch. When coming along the sands close to high-wator mark, a wave stronger and heavier than the others rolled so far up tho beach as to strike ono of the wheels of ' the coach which had the curious effect of literally turning the wheel inside out— that is to say the nave was, not as in the normal condition, at an angle from the rim and towards the body of tho coach, but the reverse. Amongst the passengers by the coach from Christchurch on the Oth was the Bishop of the diocese, Dr Harper. It is earnestly to be hoped that his visit to the district is associated with some plan for the abatement of the scandal of the nonprovision hitherto by the Church of England of any resident clergyman, or of nny dedicated place of worship in a community consisting of thirty thousand souls. We trust the bishop will also ilurn his attention whilst he is .hero to other wants of tho district than those strictly' ecclesiastical. He would render a substantial service if he would lend his influence to 1 the foundation of somo institution in the shape of a Mechanics' Institute or Literary Society. In the recovery of some portion of the passengers' luggage washed overboardfrom the steamer Yarra, very considerable credit is due to Capt. Tin nbull, Mr James Bonar, and Sergt. Dyer. During tho greater portion of the night of the Oth inst., in the face of the bitter cold wind and driving rain, they paced the beach for many hours in search oi the missing property. Further— it was late in the evening, and only by a diligent search among the tents at the top of Gibson's Quay, tliat one of the packages was brought to light. We think such servicos, entirely disinterested, worthy at least of acknowledgement. - The valuable nature of some New Zca land woods was exemplified in the repair now being carried on on board the wollknown schooner lona. When stripping off Borne planking the timber presented the appearance of haying been cut but yesterday, and yet this little craft is thirteen years old, having been built in Auckland in 1853. The state of preservation in which the whole of her timbers are is indeed wonderful. J.The Kauri planking in particular could not look freßher, howeyer new,
Eirlyou the 7th hist, a mounted constable was despatched to search the beach as far as the Teremakau for tho body of the unfortunate gentleman who lost his life on the Oth, by being washed overboard from the Yarra, whilst the latter was effecting hor perilous passage over the Bar with the llangitoto's passengers. No tracea, however, of the body have yet been discovered, and the probability is that the corpse may not be washed up for a day or two in the present condition of the surf. As it was stated that Mr. Dalton was travelling under aii alias, we think it right to explain that that the reason why the* ill-fated gentleman took out his passenger ticket under the asumed name of Graham, was that he was coining to Hokitika to take legal proceedings against some parties here, aud that he considered his interests would bo best protected by avoiding the notice that would be given by the appearance of his proper name in the passenger list., Such was the statement made by himself to the reporter a fow moments only before his melancholy fate overtook him, and there is no reason to doubt its accuracy as Mr. Dulton had some months ago 'considerable trading transactions on this coast. The following appears in tho '' Provincial Government Gazette" :— " Proclamation. — Whereas, in accordance with Clause 3 of the "Municipal Council Ordinance, Session XIV, No. C,' a petition from the residents and householders in Hokitika, praying for the proclamation of the Town of Hokitika as a .Municipal District, was published in the l Provincial Government Gazette' of the 30th April, 1860, No. 30 a, and no counter petition has been received since tho date of such publication : Now,' therefore, I, Samuel. Bealey, Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury, in pursuance of the powers vested in me in that behalf, do hereby, with the advico and consent of the Executive Council of tho said Province, dcclaro the Town of Hokitika to be a Municipal District under tho said Ordina'nco and 'The Municipal Council Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, I860."' It would seem thai) the lato rush t o the north of tho Grey, to which the steamer Woodpeokor conveyed a number of diggers a few weeks ago, has turned ont another of the delusions that serve only to unsettle men who are making comfortable livings on old fields. Fox has left it himself already, and gone to try his luck in pastures new in the direction of the Buller. The subject of reserves is likely to prove a sore matter between the Government and a very large majority of the inhabitants. On the part of the unfortunate settlors on theso reserves the complaint is, that no notice was posted by Government until a late date, on the laud in dispute, warning people from occupying the same. It is no answer to say that tho survey maps could be seen . at the land office. At that time,- when fully one-half of the sections in town were taken up, new survey maps woro issued almost weekly. ' Should any block be laid out for occupation to -day — that, to-morrow, was found to be more suitable for a reserve — a new sketch map issued perhaps a month afterwards contained the alteration. Should it happen that several families in the interval had. in good faith built their dwellings on this ground — why, they must- consider themselves liable to be ejected on a moment's warning. The above ii no imaginary case but a statement of what has actually taken place on the new Police Camp Reserve, in Weld-street. We do not aver that the whole of the inhabitants on that block have been thus summarily treated. One was spared in the general order, namely, a gentleman holding an official position, to whom wo believe compensation has been awarded for the great expense he was put to in erecting liis building. When the members of the Canterbury Government paid their first and only visit to Hokitika, this matter of reserves was mentioned, and we believe a half promise given, that previous to the sale of the central portion of the town a Commicsion would sit to enquire into the whole of those disputes, and award justice in a manner different from the style indulged in by our autocratic Commissioner. A very narrow oscapo from a dreadful death occurrod to a minor at tho Threomilo Crook, ami should bo accepted as a caution to parties foiling timbor, not to lot tho troo go without first giving warning to any person who may bo within its roach. In this instanco a store, kopt by Mr Lowry, was partly dostroyod, and a digger natnod John Haloroff, who was just loaving, ij struck violently to tho ground by tho upper brandies. 110 was tulcon up insensible, and, as soon as possiblo, medical aid was procured. Upon oxamining him, Dr Loo (tho gontloman called 1 in), pronounood that no bones woro broken, but that tho right arm and back woro scvorely injured. News from tho Hau Ilau diggings continues favourable Tho population may bo estimated afc two thousand, oxolusivo of thoso on tho Old Thi'oo-milo diggings. Tho gold has boon traced in three distinct leads, tho main ono running up tho Hau Hau Creek for a distanco of two miles, whilo tho others branch off in tho direct ion -of Tuokcr Flat, which is situate about thrco quarters of a roilo distant from tho Kanieri. Tlio distance from tho Kuniori to lho lato paddook whoro tho township is formod is about four miles. 'Thoro is somo doop sinking going on on tho ground, in Bomo claims as much as ninoty and ono hundrod and twenty foot.^ A good many shafts have boon bottomod, yiolding thrco to n*vo ponny weights to tho dish. Tho gold is found an a iandstono bottom, tho wash varying from twolvo to eighteen inches. A groat many of tho minors aro Bhophcrding, but it is oxpectod that all who are on tho lead will make good wag'os. Tho presont earnings of thoso on tho new rush aro from £16 to £20 por week per man. Washing is done- by cradling, as tho water is Bcarco on" tho Hau Ilau Crook, and tho diggings aro on feho tor-races. A good many havo made tunnola into tho face of thoso ton-aces, and havo struck Iho bottom at onco. Tho major .ty of tho minors aro sinking. Tho gold got in tho wash is rough and scaly, that in tho shafts is gonorally fino. At tho paddook aro noarly thirty business places, including not less than six bulohors, Another fatal boat acoidont has takon place in tho vicinity of Bruco Bay. Throo inon, on tho 25th April, loft Bruco Bay in a small boat ladon with provisions for Hunt's Beach. Tho cargo was diaohargod, and on tho way -returning, tho boat was capsised | two of tho mon suoceodod h) gaining tho shore — thoir Scompanion, howovor, was drownod. The'docoasod was v nativo of Donmack, and • numod Charlos W. Jobbon, agod <13 years. Wo havo rocoivod tho first number pf a now wookly paper published in Blouhoim, under tho Jillo ot tho Marlhorough Express, It is a noalJy got up and woll conduotod publication. Another paso of drowning is reported from tho Groy. On tho 4(h ulr., whilo a bout was prooootling up tho rivor, and noav tho junction pf ltod Jack's Oeek, Avhpro jt is (ho pmgtjop
to tow tho boat from shoro, ono of tho boat, niL'ii, in attempting to pass the- liuo ashoro to tho bank, missed his footing, and boforo his niatcH could vendor him assistance wa9 drownodi Tho deceased, whoso nftmo is Antonio Dias, Was a nativo of Portugal, and has left a wifo and family to mourn his fate. On tho 3rd ult. tho sohoonor Falcon, of Auckland, wa3 sold by public auction, as suo lay alongside tho wharf. It would scorn, that this vessolj some- limo ago, got stranded at ttio Groy, and had to perform tho overland journey. Tho oxponso incurred by tho mishap was dofrayod by tho well-known firm of Messrs D. Girdwood and Co., Groymouth, to liquiduto whoso claim, wo boliovo, tho Faloon was sold. In consequence of doubts oxistiu; ns to tho legality of tho salo, tho vessol was knockod down to Mr Gird wood at tho ridioulous low flguro of £250, several gontlomcn present ollbring more than double that amount if tho auctioneers would guarantoo a title. Wo hoar that tho Faloon was mortgaged for £000 previous to ontoring on her voyago to this coast. Wo loam that throo prisoners havo succeeded in effecting their escape from tho Cobdon gcol by cutting tho floor of thoir coll on thought of tho sth. ult. Their namos aro Robert Stouo, committed for robbery under arms j John Langton aud James M'Gavin, committed to trial for stealing from a dwoll-ing-houso. Vory littlo is known of thoir hiding. A rowaivl has boon offered of £50 foi> tho eapturo of lho first, and £25 for oach of tho othors. Tho " Groy River Argus' of sth May, gives particulars of tho loss of tho Wonga Wougato tho north of tho Signal Station, as follows s— " It is with very groat regret that wo announce tho loss of tho Now Zealand Stoam Navigation Go.'a stoamor Wonga Wonga on Wednesday last, whilst attempting to enter. ,the, river. At lho timoof her reaching tho bar the tide was obbing, but as thero was. , nos inubh- fresh in tho river, and as sho and. Other, steamers have frequently done tho same/ thing, Captain Mundlo could not expect the disaster which afterwards befoll him, Tho steamer had got into tho river, and all seom'od right, when tho Btro)ig current from tlio southward caught hor port bow, and slowed hor, so that sho lost steerage way, and in a few minutes tho unfortunate vessel was cast ashoro a short distanco north of tho signal station. Sinco hor stranding thero has boon a hoavy and high surf, which has knocked hor about bo much that hot* back has broken, and other damages have boon caused, which have led to hor boing condemned. Cant. Mundlo is considorod to bo blameless regarding this unfortunate affair, and ho has I'ocoivod tho following lottor from tho Harbor Master :—: — To Captain Georgk Munjjljß, s.s. Wonga Wonga. Sir. — Referring to tho stranding of ypur vossol oa tho 2nd hist., noar this port, I horoby cortify that at tho time you fittomptod to enter the rivor tho bar was quito practicable. It is quito usual for steamers to cross tho bar both out and in aftor tho high water signal is down and tho flag demoting obb tide hoisted. Boing present at tho tirao mysolf at tho Flagstaff I can tostify that tho movoinonts of the Bomapboro wore- strictly attended to by your vcssol. I am, sir, yours rospeofcfully, Thos. Ooulsow. Harbor oflloo, Groy'niouth, 4th May, 1886. On thoßlhult. four prisonors woro brought to town from tho Grey. Two of tho number numod John Hunter and Jamos M'Noign woro committed for trial on tho ohargo'of stealing a cash-box containing £100, which sum has sinco boon rocovorod by tho police. Tho -two othora havo oaoh boon sontoncod to a month's imprisonment, ono for assault on tho polico, and the other for larceny from a dwelling. Mrs Jano Lyons, who has frequently of lato ( boon brought beforo tho Rosidont Magistrate-, and -roinandod ou chavgos of temporary insanity, oausod by oxcossivo drinking, on tho night of the Bth ult. attempted to commit suicidobythrowinghersolf into tho rivor noar tho foot of Rovoll-stroet. Somo mou who hoard tho splash rushod ou to Iho rivor, and by timoly interference aavod tho unfortunate woman from tho fate sho sought. Sho had boon drinking heavily, v und only recovering from tho offects. Wo boliovo sho is married, and mother of a young fani'ly. We havo boon at somo troublo to colloofc tho following information regarding vessels which have sailed to or from this port, and not boon hoard of sinco. Wo shall bo glad to learn any additional facts rogarding thoso or othora : — Bluo 8011, kolch, sailed in May last fro.m Holutika for tho Grey, supposed to have capsized in tho same gale which blow tho Waipara ashore ; four mon. Sangalior, schooner, Capt. Charles - Clark, 60 tons, sailod ,21st Octobor last from Hokitika' for Port Molynoux } four inon. Sir Honry Have-look, cutter, 17 tons, sailod from Hokitika for Invoroargill ; on board three brothers named Judd. Dovo, schooner, 25 tons, sailod six i months ago from Nolson for Hokitika, with cargo and about twenty passougors, with four of a crew. Jossio, sohoonor, Oapt. M'Farlano, i sailed from Invercargill on 20th February for Hokitika, calling at Stewart's Island on 26th February j four hands on board. As tho p.s. Bruco noarod tho wharf on tho 10th ult., a slight commotion whs porcoptiblo amongst tho crowd of passongora which thronged her dooks, and upon a signa^ from thoso on board, soveral constablos pushod off to her in a boat, and tho ateamor lot go hor anohorand romainod in tho contro of the stream. This rathor unusual proceeding waa oocasionod by many of tho passongera refusing to chew thoir tickets, sovoral objecting to pay at all i 90 tho boat was kept clear of the shoro until a gonoral muster of tho passongors was made. Of (ho many who refused to pay a considerable proportion finally "stumpod up j" ono of them, who pleadod povorty as an. oxtfuso, boing compelled to ohango a £20 note to discharge- his liability. Thoro woro, however, niuo unfortunate fellows who rojlly had •nothing, or at loast wo Biipposo so, for thoy submitted to " bracoloting" with a good graco, and woro marched off to tho camp. Some amount of oxcitomont had boon occasioned ' " down South" by tho intelligence from tho llau Ilau and Six milo rush, for when tho Bruce was leaving sho was fairly Btormod by a host of diggers — noarly between two and three- hundred — aud as any attempt to ejoct them would havo boon utterly futile, it was wisoly dotorminod to bring thorn up at all risk?. Fortunately Mr Inspootor Broham was on board, and as lho courso adopted mot with his ontiro approba* tion, tho captain and agents of tho Bruoe woro of courao hold guiltloss by tho Customs authorities for this infringement uW tho towns of tho " Stoam Navigation Aot. As a proof of tho riohnoss of some of tho back terraces bordoring lho coast wo may mention that tho prospectors of that terrace running parallel to tho old Auckland load and soparatod from it by tho swamp only, will tako from lOOOoz. to 1500oz. of gold off thoir claim. Besides this claim, thoro aro sovou or ojght others paying remarkably well, although attempts to traco tho gold either wajr havo hitherto failed. That company, howovor, which was formed for tho purposo of testing tho swamp, and havo out a tail racb through it, intend to carry on tho ditch until tho torraco is intersootouyhoping thoroby to pick up tho lost load. 1 From tho Waimoa, we learn that tho waterraco brought in by tho Porsovoranoo Company, has at last been finished. On the 7th ult. tho coromony of christening ' was porformed by Mrs Molloy. Tho raoo is in full operation, although tlio Company intend ox»
tending it further towards tho Waimoa township. At tho now rush admo aro roported aa doing woll, tho gold found being of a heavy coarse description. Tho indurated comont has boon found highly auriferous, but will roquil'o nluchiuory fdr crushing. Soveral prospecting parties aro testing tho neighborhood. ' "Notwithstanding that Okarita has beon doolarod a port (ov tho oxporfc of gold," says tho •' Westland Obsorvor, "wo boliovo it is tho intention of the Customs authorities to ch'nrgo tho duty, not at Okarita, but at Hokitika, thoroby virtually ignoring, in the returns which will nocossarily bo made, tho distriot by Which the gold will bo produced." Wo havo beon informod by Mr Jones, tho local operator, that in ton days, at tho most, tho communication botweon hore and theGtooy by tolograph will bo opon to the public An aot of wanton misohiof was committed on tho night of tho Ith May, at tho Kahakau Accommodation Houso, on the Christchuroh Road, about sixteen mltca from town, by which tho proprietor, Mr M'CHntock, lost a valuable iniloh cow and its calf, It appears that a fow days provious Mr M'Clintook had Purchased a cow for Lls, whioh uoxt day calved. , During the night in question tho discovery was made that somo maliciously disposed porlons had killed tho cow by striking it, with a small axe or largo knifo botweon the horns. Tho calf was also found with its throat out. Mr Robinson, of tho Duko of York Hotel, hud his till robbed on the 12th ult in a most audaoious manner. About noon ho loft tho shop for a minute or two, whilo a man was ongagod drinking at tho bar. On roturning ho found his customor ou tho wrong sido of tho counter, fumbling among the bottles. Having no suspioion that anything moro than drink was the objoct of his boing thoro Mr Robinson at onco turned thd mart out of his house. A short time afterwards he had occasion to go to tho till, whon ho discovered ho had lost L 9 and somo loose Bilvor. By this time tho man was nowhoro to bo found. Tho polico, howovor, aro so closo on his tracks that before this appears in print we oxpoct that tho thiof will bo safoju tho camp. Wo learn that Professor Noumayor, of Molbourno, tho illustrious meteorological obsorvor, purposes at an oarly date to visit tho West Coast, in tho interests of tho Victorian Govornmont. About 3 o'clock on tho 14th ult. a man sud' donly foil down in an opiloptio fit in front of tho oflico of Mr O. W. Oakos, solicitor, iv Rovoll-Btroot. Ho was at ouco takon into tho Robort Burns Hotel, whoro temporary remo* dies having boon applied to tho sufferer, he was recalled to corisciousnoss, and conyoyod to tho hospital. On tho 15th ult. tho camp oflbials, who for tho past twelvemonth havo hvod at tho roar of tho old Court Houso, had thoir buildings— if wo may dignify a fifty shilling tent by such a . name — romovod to tho rosorvo situate at tho upper side of the Custom Houso.* From tho Waimoa wo loam that now arrivals woro making thoir appoaranco in considerable numbers. Several partios of tUom had gono out prospecting the district. A number of "hai'd-iqr chums had coino baok to old tuckor ground. Nixon and party havo finished thoir raco, whioh is to bo christened in a fow days. At tho now rush, two or three partios havo bottomed and got good payable good. M'Mastor and party 'have nearly finished thoir dam, which thoy havo boon ten months constructing. Grout scarcity of water oxistfl in tho outlying gullies. Calligan and party have a largo quantity of staff waiting rain, to onablo thorn to wash up. Vory few loaving tho district. Wo tako the following items from tho " Canterbury Times" :—": — " Tho Customs returns of-tho colony for the last qnartor show tho important part which tho Wost Coast traffic forms in contributing to tho revenue. Upwards of d 840,000 havo boon rocoivod in tho last three months at Hokitika and Groyinouth, of which £35,000 in round numbers will stand to tho crodit of Canterbury. Tho Customs revonuo dorivod from tho western- half o Canterbury oxcoedod that of tho oastern, amounting to £30,400, by £5000 during that timo. Tins provinco now stuuda at tho hoad of tho list, its revenue- oxcoodiug that of Otago by £60,000, and that of Auokland by £110,000 a year takon from tho rates of last quarter's returns. Tho Provincial chest has boon considerably recruited during tho last mouth by ■tho Pasturage routs, tho suloof town lands on tho Wost Coast, and tho incroasod revonuo from tho sale of lands on this sido. No loss than £5000 must havo boon recoived from these sources during thut poriod, a sum tbat will help materially to reduce tho largo dobtor balance at tho Bank of Now Zealand." Concerning tho provailing opidomio in town at presont, of which nearly every' ono complains, it may bo assuring to sbmo of our roadors to state that no foundation whatever exists for alarm as to the consequences. Sovoral of tho medical, mon in town with whom wo havo conversed on tho subject, say that is moroly a slight autumnal .fever, by bilious attaoks, hoadache, and low condition generally; but that no danger need be apprehended, unless combining with existing disoaso. They say that a fow days careful nursing, together with a light diot, will removo all the annoying symptoms of tho fovor. In tho presont state of suspension of Go* Tornmont works, wo aro glad to boo increasing oyidoncQs of tho disposition to oinploy tho reaourcos of private enterprise, in tho proseoution of undertakings for tho construction o roads and tramways. Wo havo alroady roforrod to tho project for tho construction of a railway to connect Hokitika and Groymouth. A similar schomc, though ou a moro modost and iuoxpensivo scalo, has boon for somo timo gradually maturing for tho formation of a tramway from Hokitika to tho Kauiori. The promoters have alroady gone to a considerable oxponso in surveys and other preliminary works, and havo subsoribod ono half of tho capital required. Thoy havo succeeded in obtaining a grant of tho necessary land from the Government, and now only wait for tho share list to bo filled up to coramonco operations in earnest. Wo boliovo that tho total oapital required for tho work is only L4OOO, and considering tho importance of tho Kauieri gold Gold, tho steadiness of its yield, tho pub* lie spirit displayod by tho minors thoro" in tho construction of costly engineering works and tho omploymont of ateam machinery, and tlio largo traffic with tho district, wo can hardly doubt that tho funds etill needed will bo at onco forthcoming. Tho tramway, or light railway, whiohovor may bo dotorminod, will bo of groat bonofit, not only to tho Kaniori itself, but to tho wholo distriot tho lino will pass through, and will groatly promote tlio oxtousion of gold 'workings in tho diroction of town. Tho faot wo havo mentioned — that half of tho capital has already been subscribed, in, wo believo, four shares of LSOO each— is a guarantoo of tho entire faith of the promoters in tho profits to bo dorivod from tho ontcrprise. During tho past fow wooka the population on tho Kaniori has considerably iuoroasod. It is ostimatod that the nunibor of niiuera at present on Commissioner's Flat, Tuokor Flat, Woodstock and vicinity, is about two thousaud fivo hundrod. On Oommißsionor's Flat mining operations aro being carried ou oxtensivoly. No loss than fivo steam ongiuos aro full at work thoro, thus giving employment to a largo body of minors, who otherwise could not work their claims. On tho terraces bohind tho township \firy littlo has hoen dono of luto.in consoquonco of tho want of wuter on thoracos, whioh hithorto have oarriod as much D 8 six to eighji Jieocjs of water, bitf ))ow
scarcely bringing in ono hoad. Thoso races bring tho wuter a distanco of nino miles. On Tuckor Flat about two hundred men are at work, all making good wages. A great many,however, havo gono to tho Hau Hau diggings. At Arthuratown only a few nlinors aro working, and vory littto business of ttuy kind is boing carried on there at prcsont. Woodstock has about ono hundrod, including minors and sawyers, who aro unusually idlo at present. Business continues brisk | in fact, bettor than it has over been known to bo oh tho Kanieri. The storekeepers are enlarging their premises, and all seem satisfied with tho present, and their proi« pects in tho future. An aotion has I eon entered against; Sergeant Hiekson, of tho police force hero, for illegally arresting Mr Princo, of Lyons and Prince, during tho arrangements being mado by that ' firm tor filing their petition. Tho action against tho sergeant wo suppose to bo only a pro forma affair, as of courso he only acted under a warrant. Tho " Qrey Eivor Argus" states, "on gooi ~ authority, that many mon are malting good wages — in somo somo instances £10 per week by re-working the tailings and other debris of tho terrace claims." Tho ineidonts that may happen to oue, even in suoh a short voyago as that between here and Nolson have beon strikingly illustrated in a oortain trip mado by tho Wallabi about ten months ago. On that occasion sho was compelled, by atross of weather, to put.into Wan* ganui Inlet, of tho many sheltering bays on this coast, and Bituute about 160 miles to tho north of Hokitika. On tljat occasion Captain Whitwoll, then in command of tho Wallabi, was dotained for a fow days, during which tho passengers, composed mostly of storokoopora bolonging to tin's place, passed thoir time in short excursions on shore. On one of- thoso rambles over tho beach they discovered a magnificent seam of con], about eight feot in thickiloss, cropping to the surface im« modiatly above low watermark," and with the dip running -towards tho shore. Boing prac ticttl busiuoss mou, tho discoverers woro not tho sort to allow suoh a valuable prize as ail undovolopod ooal mine to bp thrown by fortune within thoir. grasp, and not clutch it. Accordingly, tho remainder of tho voyago of tho Wallabi was mado ploasant by tho pas« songors boing employed in tho formation of tho Wanganui Coal Company. At tho tirao cortain arrangements woro mado to test tho Vrtluo of thoir disoovery, and a doposit mado of £10 from each to meet preliminary expenses. Ou arrival at Nolson a praotioal mining surveyor was despatched to report on , tho mine, which, being highly favorable, a grant of tho laud was immediately proourod by tho discovorors from tho Nolson Govern* mont, for tho purposo of properly working for and carrying away all coal or other minerals within tho specified area as dosoribed in tho application. Tho last wo hoard of the concern w»S, that a company was boing formod under tho Limited Liability Aot, and about being floated on tho Molbourno market with a capital of £50,000 in shares at £1 por share, ouch of tho original projectors being allotted 600 paidup shares in lieu of tho\r interost in the mine, with this addition attached, that they shall not sell at under par. Such aro tho prospects of thoso lucky passongors, who by prompt action and tlio investment of a vory fow pounds, turned an ovont that many would pass with indiiforonco, into a sourco of roal and substantial woulth. What brought the particulars of tliis affair to our recollection, was meeting with Captain Falconer, of tho schooner Caledonia, which arrived in harbor on tho 16th ult., having on her voyago from Dunedin been dotained in Wauganui Inlet from 17th April till Bth May, a poriod of 21 days — in consequence of a galo which blow during the whole of that ■timo Btrpng, from tho south-west. Ho describes the lulot as boing about a milo in oircumforonco, having a bar at tho ontranco, on which ho found oighteon feet of water at flood tide, aud safe from south and north-west winds. Tho surrounding country is a ierioi of sharp pointed, high torracos, very ruggod, frunning inland, and covered with a low defts* bush. Thrco mou wore at work noar tho coal mino, who supply the coal at 10s por ton< if takon from tho beach — a matter of no great difficulty at any time for small crafts. Captain Faloonor states that he wout to another part of tlio Inlot, whon at low water two men filled nino Backs full of coal in one hour. Regarding tho quality of tho mineral, wo can .vouoh that the specimen in our office, taken prouii»oaoualy from a bag on tho deck of tho Ca lodo.nia, is fully equal to anything wo have over soon from the New South Wales mines. Iv working tho coal, tho company propose sinking a shaft, to Btriko tho load inshore a fow hundred yards, when, should thn dip not be at too grout an angle, a drive can be formed to run both from and towards tho bcaoh. At present a small supply, of about 100 tons, taken from tho outcrop, is ready for shipment j yet as ovory tide flows ovor this — tho only entrance to the mino— tho only other mode of practically working it is by the plan we have montionod. Captain Falconer, to 'whom we are indebted for many of those particulars, further informs us that two men were there who had for tho preceding two months been prosnsoting tho distriot for gold, but had not beon more successful than to obtain the color. From Rosstowu wo learn that the letters have been recovered which were stolen from tlio mailman Cameron on 20th March last, On tho 19th ultimo as a digger was out pigeon shooting . on tho top of tho Totara ranges ho noticed some fragmonts of letters lying half concealed underneath a fallen tree, On coming into Rosstovm he mentioned the ciroumstanco to tho police, one of whom, accompanied by Mr. Camoron, proceeded to the spot indicated, whioh is situate about two miles distant from tho place whore tho robbery was committed. They found, under the log, tlie greater portion of tho missing mail, the , loiters having been all opened, and Hcarcoly ' logiblo. From the rat-oaten appearance tho papers prosonted, it would seom that thoy had ■ been dragged from their hiding placo by some • of those vormin whon discovered, The lettera woro at onco forwarded to tho postmaster horo, and delivered to those addresses' that • were readable. Tho action* takon by the G-overnraent in North Rovoll-streot, by posting notices to tho effect that the inhabitants of the west side of tho streot aro liable to removal without further notico, was tho subject of a meeting of thoso intorostod, hold at thoMoohanica' Arms Hotel, on the 20fch ult. It was atated on that ocoasion that a deputation had during tho oarlior portion of tho day, waited upon Mr Salo, to request an explanation of the full purport of tho notices, and endeavor to obviate tho loss aud inconvenience which the proposed removal would occasion. Mr Salo oxplainod that ho objected to the west side of Itovell-Btrect, north of Stafford street, being •urvoyod with tho object of selling, as the atrcot ia at prcsont laid out much too narrow; in consoquonce of whioh the inhabitants of the opposite sido of the street, who have a prior claim, object to tho wosfc sido being survoyod or sold. Mr Salo fnrthor informed tho deputation that tho course they ought to puraue • was, to fraino a inoinorial to tho Provinpial Counoil, containing thoir griovance, and signed by tho inhabitants of both sides of the stroot. Tho mooting having hoard these atatemeuts, agrood, in ordor to soouro thoir aim, to oonstituto thomsolvos a committee, named tho North Rovoll-Btrcot West Improvement Committee, tho mombers of whioh are Messrs Haworth, Hiuo,- Tumor, Fitzaimmons, Hinoholiffe, Wright, Orr, Campbell, Powell, Milliard, and Dr Young. After having appointed a, sub-Qonimittoo to draw up a memorial, 't\\s
meeting was- -adjourned till the 26th, at 8 o Vl oct. Ou the 22nd, the sub-conunittce mot in tho Mechanics' Anus Hotel, and framed the memorial to the Council. In Hokitita, a constable is told off for the special duty of discovering parties who are carrying on ordinary business without the necessary Business License ; or a - wine and spirit ti ade without either a Retail or Wholesale Spirit License. The effects of this functionary's labdis during the past few weeks hare been to add, in a material sense, to the revenue of the West Coast — not so much by fines secured as by the force of one or two examples, cau-iug (he unconvicted defaulters to save their pockets by immediately rushing to the Warden's oTice for the necessary licenses. In the six months previous to the appointment of the policeman to this wjrk, tae revenue was LI2CO. During the few weeks that followed his visits to the storekeepers, LISOO rdlitional was added to the provincial colliers. The dilference iv time and amount is very great, to much so, indeed, that we can almost excuse — if not sympathise with — the police in their assiduity. \ . hile the perioi. dical visitation of the appointed constable was being made on the 21st ult., an extensive seizure took place on the premises of Mr John Angus, general grocer, Eevell street, on the grounds that Mr Angus had failed to procure a Wholesale Spirit License. The amount of liquors taken possession of by the police, comprise the following extensive list : — 2 qr-casks of port Svine, 1 qr-cask, each, of brandy, sherry, and whisky, 18 cases and 5 bottles of gin, 7 cases and 1 bottle of brandy, and 17 cases aud 12 bottles of porter. During the day a summons 'was served on Mr Angus to appear before the Warden, to answer to the charge pf selling wines, spirits, and beer without possessing either a Wholesale or Retail Spirit License. We have been informed that the . unfortunate owner of the seized liquors made a verbal application for a license some time ago, but which from some cause was not procured. On the 20th ult., the boatmen forming the <hvw of the whale-boat Alert, wishing to convey their boat to the Teremakau, were induced by the extreme calmness of the sea to make the attempt to sail her there. Accordingly, at noon the Alert started on her . perilous voyage having three men on board and a small stock of provisions. They got safely over the bar, but when outside found . that the wind was dead against them. The men then took to the oars and got on very well until they were off the entrance to the Teremakau, when a mist arose which completely hid Ihe beach from their view, thus preventing them makiug auy attempt, that night, to reach the shore. Seeing nothing further to be done the anchor was cast, and the words of one of them when furnishing us with these particulars " they turned in for the night to sleep." During the night the wind arose, and about four o'clock in the morning their cable parted and they drifted a few miles to the northward. Again they took to the oars and bore up for Hokitika where they arrived early the next day, and by means of a stone which formed portion of their ballastry, they anchored just outside the break. Their intention was to wait until a steamer came in sight to pick them up ; or should the sea go down they might puisue their original course by landing at the Teremakau. The boat was soon observed, lying just outside the break, and with a promptitude which reflects the greatest credit Mr. Spence, of the firm of Spence Brothers owners of the Challenge, at once despatched that stenmer to the assistance of the whaleboat and her crew, and brought them safely to the v harf. No accident on this occasion happened, yet the foolhardiness of the attempt cannot he too strongly condemned. Had a gale sprung up while the men lay outside in the boat — such gales as visit these shores without any warning whatever — would the result have been the same ? Had no vebsel come up for a day or two, run short of provisions, the frail Alert being forced to attempt the crossing of the bar, in such condition for instance as on Sunday, in all probability these men would have paid for fieir folly with their lives. It would bo well fiat the Harbor-master had the power to prevent men risking their lives in such a manner. For some time past it has been well-known to the police here that a number of the Sydney bushranging fraternity Tiave been resident in our midst, quietly taking notes of the general mode of conducting business in the town and outlying districts, more especially that connected with the purchase of gold. Gossip says some of the strangers were seen oftener than once present in the dress-circle of the Prince of Wales Opera House. Of the intentions, however, of these characters, nothing wa3 exhibited until the evening of the 10th 1 ult., when the startling discovery was made that between the hours of eight and ten, the officers' quarters at the camp had been entered by one or a gang of daring thieves, and the following articles carried off: — 1 cross belt and pouch, 1 largo size Colt's revolver, 1 small revolver, 1 patent leather ca.3e for revolver, 2 large size Dean and Adams' revolvers, 2 plain leather cases for revolvers, I paii' Bedford cord pants, 1 set sword slings. The revolvers and belts were taken out of the mounted constables' room, and the pants out of a framed tent, which is used as a washhouse. As soon as the robbery became known, immediate inquiries were set on foot to find if auy strangers had been seen within the Camp Reserve during the evening, without, however, procuring any clue to the manner in which the daring act was accomplished. That it must have been done by men possessed of courage, men accustomed to seize an opportunity at whatever risks in order to further their own ends — and prepared at all times to meet sudden danger with deliberate boldness — is but too apparent from all the circumstances of the case. The room from which the •weapons were abstracted is situate in a quadrangle, composed of small wooden buildings whose doors open upon the court, and in which members of the force are present at ' nearly every minute of the day and night Further, these rooms are seldom without a light burning and the officers present. Yet evidently these precautions were omitted during some portion of the evening of the 10th, and it is also evident that there were lissom fingers and cool heads close at hand waiting to make the most of theii opportunity. Prompt and energetic measures we need hardly say were adopted by Sergeant nickson. What ihe«e steps were, however, or how far the result will be to nip in the bud the concerted plans of the modern freebooters, we are unable for the present to say. That a portion of the stolen property has been recovered—that one or two of a gang implicated in the- transaction are in custody, and that the police are on the traces of the remainder, is, besides what we have given, the total amount of authentic information we can furnish to our readers. A Carters' Association, under the designation of " The United Company," has been formed in Hokitika. A large number of the carters plying in town co-operate in this movement, and as the scale of charges they publish is greatly under the lates that have hitherto prevailed, a large saving will acmie.to business men and toothers requiring goods to be carted. We trust the increase of traffic iv Hokitika will prevent any diminution in the aggregate receipts of the carters forming the United Company. Considerable dissatisfaction exists among tne inhabitants of Greymouth at the appointment of a Resident Magistrate at Okarita,
under the extended jurisdiction, whilst their undoubtedly greater wants in thi3 respect have been totally neglected. During the week ending on tho 19th ult., 10 prisoners were added to those already confined in the gaol. Of these 3 were committed for various misdemeanors, 5 sentenced to hard labor, aud 2 debtors received. These numbers being added to those left in imprisonment at the close of the former week make a total in gaol during tho week, of 34— namely, 3 committed for trial at the Supreme Court, 3 for short terms of imprisonment, 18 sentenced to hard labor, 8 debtors and 2 lunatics. As a set-off against this — 9 sentenced m>n have been discharged during the past week, I 2 debtors liberated, and 2 lunatics trans. - ferred to Christchurcli. Leaving in the gaol on Saturday, 4 men and 2 women committed for trial, 9 hard labor men and 6 debtor. Total, 21. The above return is independent of 33 men imprisoned in the new gaol near the Cemetery, of which number, 32 are committed for trial, aud 1 sentenced to lengthened imprisonment. For the above particulars wo are indebted to the courtesy of Sergeant'M'Mj nn and Mr Dale. The election returns for the remaining polling districts of Westland represent no vot-s as having: been recorded, so that the polling on the West Coast, as taken at Hokitika an I Greymouth, stands as follows : — Moorhouse, 15 ; Lance, 3 ; Travel's, 0 The Provincial " Gazette," dated May I<l, contains the resignation of Mr Jollie, as Provincial Secretary, and the appointment of Mr Stewart in his stead. The " Lyttelton Times," ! of the 16th, says : — "The Provincial Secretary has resigned his office. The post is at present filled by Mr Stewart, who combines the duties of Provincial Secretary aud Secretary of Public Works." A miner named Pier"c Rou^ier die lo n the loth ult. suddenly at tho Five-mile Beach, Okarita. His death is supposed to have been caused by disease of the heart. The deceased was a native of the province of Nivernais, France, and had a wife and three children living there. From Ross the new 3up to the 23rd May is quite uninteresting. Froiaareport of that date, we are informed that several of the old mining parties are taking up extended clahns for the purpose of working the surface and terraces to more advantage, when they obtain a supply of water from the races now being completed. Mr C. E. Button has joined the bar in Hokitika. Mr. Button commenced practke, as a member of the legal profession in 2few Zealand, in Invercargill, where he obtained botL success and fame as an able advocate. A fatal accident occurred on the 23rd ult on the Hau H<ui diggings. It appears whilst two men were engaged in felling a very large tree near the Blue Spur, in the vicinity of Singer and Weddy's public-house on the Three-mile the trre, when about to descend, was si en to sway in an opposite direction to the one they intended, and was likely to destroy their tent. The deceased thoughtlessly rushed into the tent to free a valuable dog he had chained there, and while emerging with the animx! in his arms, a large limb of the fulling (ree struck him on the head, completely crushing it, and killing him on the spot, as well as the dog, which he still retained in his anus. At the Warden's Court on the 22nd May,3lr Angus, grocer, Revell-st., appeared to answer to the charge of selling spirits, wines and beers, without being in possession of a license, in accordance with the 10th clause of the regulations of the Goldfields' Act. The evidence produced on the occasion before Mr Warden Sehaw was such as to raise doubts whether or not Mr Angus had been acting from ignorance. The benefit of such a doubt was accorded to Mr Angus, the case bnng dismissed by the warden. The whole of the seized liquors were returned by the police. A man was brought into the hospital on the 23rd May, hurt by falling down a shaft at the Teremakau, near which ho was at work, and which is thirty feet deep. How the man escaped with his life is a mystery. Dr. Rvley declares his injuries to be not very serious, although time and care will be required in his recovery. We regret to state that the unfortunate mar, Patrick Connell, who was so severely hurt in the affray that took place on the 22ud May, at the Queenstown Hotel, died on the 23rd, at half-past me o'clock pm. Since the time of the oeeunvnee he exhibited no signs of consciousness, in spite of amnonia, hot irons, and other remedies being adopted to rouse him from the state of com-i into which lie had fallen. We believe the left, temporal bone, situate immediately behind the eye socket, was forced in upon the brain substance, causing the. absence of all feeling as described. The functions of respiration continued unimpaired during the whole time ; his breathing, however, being labored and heavy. The eye 3 were closed, and absolute insensibility seemed to pervade every faculty up to the moment of his death. A sign of the state of this district was exhibited on the arrival of the overland coach on the 23rd May, by it's being accompanied by two mounted troopers. The escort met tho coach at Rangiriri about, twenty-four mile 3 from here, and remained in company until it got safely into town. This thoughtful precaution on the part of the police authorities is fully justified by llu ir know1 dge of the many desperate characters who now infest the coast. Thenight of 24th May a boatman came rushing to the camp to- repo» fc that a gang of bushrangers had stuck-up a large number of packers on their way from Totara, at a place about four miles south of Lagoontown. Prompt measures were taken by the police which, however, only resulted in the discovery that the whole affair was a mistake, and decided ca«e of false alarm. It appears that a packer was coming along the beach with a number of unladen horses, when bever.il diggers approached him with the intention of seeking a ride to town. The packer, however, had made up his mind that the men were bushrangers, aud after striking one with his whip, he madly rushed off in the direction of Lagoontown to report the desperate encounter he had just been engaged in. By his orders a boatman was at once despatched to the camp to inform them of the circuinstaiv lS as his vivid imagination had viewed the facts Of course, on the police makiug their appearance, the whole matter explained itself, not, however, without causing two of the diggers a journey back to town. The " Gen ,ral Government Gazette " of t^o 18th May notifies the appointment of G. S. Sale, Esq., and G. G. Fitzgerald, Esq., as Visiting Justices of the gaol at Hokitika. The appointment of Matthew Price, Esq. IP., and. Warden at Okarita, as Resident Magi-trate, is notified in the " New Zealand Gazette" of the 18th May. May 21th was observed in town as a general holiday, in honor of the anniversary of Her Majesty's birthday. The weather was not very favorable to out-of door pleasure seekers,' rain having fallen during a considerable portion of the day, and a strong gusty wind blowing during the afternoon. All the principal business establishments in town, as well as the Government offices, were closed, and there was a gay display of bunting from the shipping in port, the hotels, and many merchants, stores. The Bruce was prevented making her promised excursion trip, owing to tho severe indisposition of Captain Kerley. The theatre, in the evening, was fully attended, and the performances went off with great spirit, the National Anthem being most effectively sung by the full company, with the assistance of amateurs.
O l (he 21th ult., a meeting was held at the Mechanics' Arms Hotel, of the North Rjvdl street West Improvement Committee, Cap; tain White in tho chair. Tho minutes of the forjaer meeting hiving been read and adopted, the secretary laid on the table the memorial framed by the sub-committee, numerous] v signed, requesting the Government to extend the survey of the street, to include the east side. It was further moved and adopted that measures be taken to form a foot path on the c ist side of Revell sitreet, Several gentlemen having been admitted members of the committee, tho meeting separated. The gaol returns for the week ending 2Gth May, ai-e as follows : — 2 sentenced to short periods of imprisonment, 1 imprisoned awaiting bail, 1 pri ;oner on remand, aud 1 debtor received, making a total of 5 added during the week. During the same period, 3on remand, 2 sentenced to hard labor, and 1 for a saort term of imprisonment, have been discharged. At tho close of the week, the number in gaol were — 2 females and 1 male committed for trial at the Supreme Court ; 8 males sentenced to various periods of hard labor ; 1 male remanded ; and 7 males imprisoned for debt. — Total, 19. At the new gaol 3 1 aiv impr'soned on sentence. The " Grey River Argus," of 27th ultimo. says that tho Wonga Wong.i is completely smashed up, but her engines and boiler and fittings have been secured. We understand it is intended to put the engines in the Murray, and re-convert that vessel into a steamboat. The " General Government Gazette" contains a notification that the hours of transacting business at the Telegraph Offices are extended, and that messages will for the future bo received and delivered between tho hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tho Gazette notice adds. — "The Government will not be held responsible for errors, omissions, or delaj s in the transmission of telegrams, nor for the nontransmission of any telegram, nor for dela^ s in i{he dplivery, nor for the non-delivery of any telegram, from whatever causes the same may arise." This extension cf the time during winch the electric wi.-o is to keep awake ap--plies only to the General Government lines. But no doubt the provincial telegraph department will at once follow suit — if on no other consideration — to prevent the creation of a grievance. A report from the Hau Hau diggings, dated 27th May, estimates the population at 2000. The principal township, at the present time, is at the Little Paddock, where about thirty business places have been erect el. The storekeepers complain of dulness, caused by the lead of gold being trace 1 higher on the terraces, in the direction of Tuc!«vr l r lafc. Tlie gold i 3 found to run in one lead, about a chain wide, and within the last week it has been I traced within a mile of Tucker Flat. In consequence of the divergence of the lead stores and shanties are being put up all along the supposed leid, through the bush. The storekeepers who have places of businees at the i i'addoek arc uncertain whether to pack up and settle on the new lead, or remain where they are and take their chance. The direction of the lead is due east and west. A fewdays ago several shafts were sunk and bottomed. The prospects obtained are said to be three pennyweights'to the dish. The gold lies in a layer of washdirt from six to twelve inches deep. This rests on a hard s-nidv bottom, situate at depths variously estimated from seventy to one hundred and twenty feet, the depth of sinking corresponding to the height at which the shaft is struck on the terrace. Very great difficulty is experienced in sinking these shafts, as they require all to be well-timbered. Miners are working ou the lead at present for a distance of three miles. A good number of them are merely shepherding their claims, waiting till others will sink near them and test the lead. These cautious p-oceedings have been induced by seveia' parlies having, at very considerable expense, sunk shafts and missed the lead. As we have said, all the way on the supposed lea 1 tho ground has been pegged oil', almost up to Tucker Flat. In the Largo Paddock there li'ijiwo stores t<nd a few diggers' huts and tu'iits. Almost nothing" is doing there, as the leid is a good distance from it, on the terraces ' within t.ie bush. From Ross Town we learn tfial a warrant has been issued for the apprehension of two men charged with forcibly breaking into the premises of the Beudigo Hotel, about halfpast one o'clock on the morning of the 27th ult., who upon their being refused drink w cut away, returning afterwards and smashing in the door of the hotel; they then commenced an attack with stones, breaking a number of bottles full of liquor, and others empty in the bar, to the value of over L2O. The miscreants escaped for tho time, but it is to be hoped they will soon be in the hands of the police. The above case so closely resembles the late affray in this town that we wander the f ital result in tho latter event did not act as a ■warning t ) such characters. On the night of the 28th May, a most unusual number of men were taken by the police to fl:- 1 camp in a drunk and disorderly bta, \ At ten pan, no 'ess than ten had been locked up, aud they were continuing to tumble in at the rate of one in thirty minutes. So great was the number that we are puzzled to account fir the sudden appearance of such an amount of drunkenness. Some people say that since nobblers were reduced to sixpence the drink sold at some of the third-rate bars in town is of a most abominable description, and this is the means of making those who drink it so soon loose their cm piousness and fall into the hands of the guardians of public peacj md behaviour. The following lands are, by proclamation of the Superintendent, under date the 30 Mi May, withdrawn from the goldfields : one hundred acres situated ou the road between Hokitika and Browning's Pass, and nine acres two roods situated on tho plain at the foot of the w oocled s uldle at tho source of the Styx, on same road. Tho boundaries of the lands are described in tho " Provincial Government Gazette" of the 30th ult. On the 31st May, an accident, which might have been of a serious nature, occurred in the river. Two men — one, wo believe, a boatman, the other a passenger — were crossing in one of the whale boats that ply between Lagoontown and Hokitika, when in one of the severe squalls that picvailed all day, the boat was suddenly upset, and both the occupants 'veeipitated into the water. Neither of the nen seemed to be expert swimmers, yet they managed for some time to keep afloat, the Younger of the two by clinging to the upturned boat, the other unassisted. The current, which was running fast at the time, was gradually carrying them towards the mouth ol the river, when a boat put off from the shore ju&tintime,for the sake of the older man a*, least, who had several times sunk under water, and was fast losing both consciousness and strength when rescued. He was ultimately carried to the Steam-packet Hotel in an exhausted condition. His companion in t!-.e accident was little tho worse of tho narrow cacapo he had from a watery grave. Shortly after "the above had taken place, an empty boat was seen to be sweeping 'down with tho current to destruction amid the breakers, when it was saved and brought safely ashore. Okarita is gazetted as a port of entry, a warehousing port, and a port for the clearance of gold. The limits of the port are thus described : — •' Commencing at a point being the north-western corner of Native Re&erve No. 18, from thence extending seaward on a
hairing oPN. "6S° W. for a, distance of two miles, thence north -easterly at right aiglesa dislauce of one mile, thence south-easterly at right angles to a distance of three mil m, thence south-westerly a distance of one mile, and from thence returning north-westerly to tho commencing point, as shown on the map* of the Chief Surveyor of tho Province of Canterbury." By proclamation, " the river bank. one hundred yards on either side of the Cu— torn House" is ordered to bo "deemed and taken to he tho legal landing place for the lading and unlading of goods'" A third pr >• 1 clamation appoints tho port a waivhou-inj port, " for tho purposes of ' The Customs Regulation Act, 1858 ;' " and a fourth " proclaims and declares that the port of Okarita shall be a port from whence gold may be exported from the colony." * From the Waimea the accounts received are of an encouraging nature. It i-, estimated that about 3000 people are now working and in business in this district The Ballarat rush continues to progress favorably. Several large parcels of gold have lately been brought into the storekeepers by miners. Patrick Keenan, who was imprisoned at th.' new gaol, awaiting trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, madegood his escape on the Ist inst. from the warders by suddenly diving into the bush before the constable in eh irge had time to take any step 3to prevent him. This man was committed for robbery, accompanied with violence, at the Grey some time ago. Ho has the reputation of being a desperate fellow ; and although the police are scouring' the district to recapture him, it is very doubtful if they will be successful. A straugo case of " sticking-up " occurred near the Grey a few days ago, of which we have seen no notice tuken elsewhere. A storekeeper left Groymouth to go to his store at the Little Grey, having a parcel of sovereigns concealed in the breast of his shirt. On crossing a creek distant a mile or two from his place of business, two men with faces blackened, suddenly rushed from the side way upon him, and before he had time to collect himself they had thrown him down on the roadway and were rifling his pockets. During this operation he contrived to bury iii tho mud of the road, unobserved by his ' despoilers, the money he carried. The bushrangers then took their victim to a neighbouring bush, and, tying him up, threatened his life if he would not tell what had become, of the cash. This the storekeeper stoutly refused to do. The men then went back, and began to search for the missing money, which they succeeded in finding. Leav ing tho storekeeper as they thought secure for tho present, the robbers then decamped. The bailed up individual was a very short time in freeing himself by means of a knife which he carried. Proceeding on his original journey, he aroused the folks in the neighborhoo 1, a number of whom immediately started in pursuit, and had tho satisfaction of capturing the two villains, who were without any money when this took place. A proposal was then made to summarily Lynch them ; but this was overruled by the inducement ' being held out to the two men of being released if they disclosed the spot where the money was concealed. This proposition they agreed to, and under a large and powerful escort they conducted the storekeeper to where his stolen money lay hid, and which he gladly | took possession of. A largo crowd had by this time collected, and two of the number were told off to convey the men to Greymouth Police Camp. On the way there, however some accident took place that prevented this intention being carried out, as both of them on the way g it clear by some unexplained means. So ends a chapter in bushranging, as curious in results as interesting in the details. YVe notice that Messrs Coote Brothers & Co., of Okarita, advertise their erection of bonded stores for the reception and warehousing of goods. This is one of the fii'3fc fruits of the proclamation of Okarita as a port of entry and cloanuu c. We un lerstand that the boatman nam -d Richard Banner, who succeeded in picking up the man capsized in the river on 31st ult., was presented with a sum of money raised by private subscription, which, we be lieve, he intends generously to hand over to the unfortunate owner of the boat capsized, and who lost his little all by the accident. Mr Banner, who performed this highly creditable act is an old Sandridge waterman who has settled among us. We are glad to learn that the powerful and useful steam tug Lioness is for the future to be employed exclusively in towing and transhipping passengers an 1 cargo irom and to the roadstead. Considerable inconvenience has been occasioned to the trade of the port, and wo believe, some loss to tho ow ers of the Lioness, by her diversion from her legitimate traffic. The agency of tho tug has been transferred to Messrs Carey and Gilles. On the 2nd instant, the dwelling-house of Mr Eaton, situato at the corner of Weld and Fitzherbert streets, was entered, and a small amount of property stolen. It appears that about four o'clock on Sunday morning, Mrs Eaton awoke her husband by saying that there was some person in their bedroom. Immediately Mr Eaton got up, and saw a man retreating, whom he pursued, but failed in capturing. An investigation was then instituted, when the discovery was made that a gold brooch had been stolen which lay on the table, nothing else being missing, through the daring burglar having evidently been disturbed in his operations. Entrance was effected, by a back door, which had been left unlocked during the night. A description of the maa has been gixen to the police, who will doubtless be able in a few days to give an account of him. Duiiug the forenoon of fie 2nd inst., a man was seen to bo engaged in a suspicious manner scraping a hole m the sand, near a stump, at tho back of the Exchange Hotel in Revellslreet. The person who saw the operation, had his curiosity so far excited as to visit the spot immediately after the man left, and, after clearing away the sand, he brought to light a silver hunting watch, with Albert chain attached, which had been buried a few inches below the surface. Information of tho circumstances was at once conveyed to the police, who placed Constable Elliott to shepherd the plant. About an hour afterwards the same individual who had secreted the valuables, came back to take possession of his proDerty, when he was disagreeably astonished 'at finding the timekeeper gone and in its stead, though not buried in the sand, a policeman, who quickly informed him thar, if he would accompany him to the camp he would see the watch he was vainly looking for. The man, whose name is Thomas Cain, was immediately louked-up, and will remain so until the real owner of the watch is proven. As Cain is known to be one of the fraternity whose fingers have an < itching for other peoples goods, it is not likely that he will remain long before ho knows the result of the unlooked-for discovery. The loser of such a watch and chain is requested to call at tho camp. Daily we are experiencing the inconvenieuco and danger to life and property arising from tne aoseuce ot municipal laws to abolish many nuisances that exist unchecked in our midst, An instance may be seen in the centre of the town — halfway up Revell street — where exists a huge pool of liquid mud about eighteen inches deep, aud twenty square yards in extent, that emits a stench only to bo compared to bilge water five years 61d. From t his sickening and disgusting slough, through which the horses and drays all day long go splashing, there arises an effluvium that positively taints the atmosphere a considerable
distance up a>id down tho street. How the shopkeepers in the vicinity can bear it aiul live, or lind customers to do so, is a mystery only solved by the long-suffering nature of -i Hokitika community. Another nuisance although not so pungent, yet ah dangerous in another sense, is the reprehensible practice that stockmen indulge in of driving half-wild eattlt through tho streets at hours when business is being carried on, and people going about. N<i hit 'r than the 2nd inst. a little boy — son oi Mr Kennedy, proprietor of the Club Hotelwas attacked in a furious manner by one ( f these infuriated beasts whilo it was beinir driven o a fclaiuhter-ya.nl, and before the little fellow could be resi-ued he wastossel high into tho air, and only by a wonderful stroke of goo:l luck came to eaivh again living, and without any limbs broken. It is a mailer of vexation I hat our police have not tho power to stop such conduct. Early on the 3rd instant a miner nam. cl Mtirehmont narrowly craped a horrible death by his tent catching firj while he lay asleep in bed, near the tramway, at the top of Revellstreel. Two men in an adjoining tent awoke during the night by seeing a bright glare issue from Marchmonl's tent, to which they imraeiliatelv rushed, in time to drag out the he.n\\ sleeper, who^e cloth. 3 were already on fire and his tent in full blaze. The man was, fortunately, not injured, although all his available property, consisting of wvaring apparel, some money he had in his pockets, and other odds and and ends, were lost. The accident was occasioned by Marchmont having gone to bed leaving the candle burning, while he was too much under the influence of liquor to be careful where the light was placed. On the lth inst. a meeting was held in the enI gine room, of the members of the Volunteer Fir. 1 Brigade. Captain Milliard, as usual, occupied the chair. Several accounts due by (he Brigade were ordered to be paid, including a "inn of about L 7, said to have been incurred by advertising in some Hokitika papers, the balance sheet showing I heir financial transactions since their formation. Several other items were discussed and passed. It was asked by a member when the LlOiJ promised by tho Provincial Council was due, to which the captain replied that most probiblyifc would bo included in the new Estimates now forming. The sum of L 2 per week was allotted to the engine keeper, exclusive of 10 per cent . commission on subscriptions collected. Several minor affairs affecting the Brigade were entered upon, new members admitted, aud the meeting adjourned. At last there seems a probability that steam machinery will bo introduced at the Totara for the purpose of drainiug the deep lead, and most sincerely do we trust that the movement initiated will be successfully carried out. On the evening of the 7th inst. a- meeting of tljp shareholders belonging to the Scandinavian Goldmining Company was held at Ross Town, ' when the following resolutions were carried : — • Ist. •' That the Compauj be reoristeredjfnder tho Limited Liability ' Act. '2nd. "hat a capital of £1500 be subscribed. 3rd. That t the first call of £20 a share be paid up. 3rd. That an engine of 16-horse power be ordero 1, I for the purpose of working the company's ground." s Detective Bowdera, of the Sydney police ' force, arrived on the 7th inst. by the Rangitoto, having in charge John Ridley, against whom, , in last December, a charge of embezzlement was laid b,• his late employers, Messrs J. C. Brooke and Co., chemists, Rovell-street, and who has been urgently " wanted" by the police here ever since. On the 7ch instant, the Polly, a wee steam ferry boat of one-hor3e, or, as an indivilual ficetiously remarked, of "three sick Chinamen," power, made her trial trip up and down the river ; and although her machinery worked somewhat stiffly, the little vessel steamed in good style down to Lagoon Town and back again. We cannot say that she attiined a very high rate of speed, but feel confident that a little alteration to her f.in is all that is needed to very considerably augment her rate of progress. The Polly is a safe and commodious boat, capable of caivying some twenty passengers, 'and is driven by a direct-acting engine of one-horse power, which was constructed by Messrs Sinclair, of Melbourne. She will ply regularly between Lagoon Town and Holitika, in the} avenger and c irgo trade, and will, we have no doubt, prove a remunerative speculation to her owners. Notwithstanding that the sea on the 7th inst. had abated, aud the wilth of white water much les-ened, there was still a sufficiently heavy surf running to render crossing tho bar anything but an easy matter ; and although it was currently reported that not only the Bruce, but tho Star of the Evening* and the Kecra, would sail positively for then: respective destinations, very few credited the statement, in the face of the uninviting state of the entrance. As the afternoon waned, however, thero was so marked an improvement that the signal-man considered himself justified in hoisting the red flag; and, acting upon this hint, the Bruce, at 5 p.m., cast oil" from tho wharf and steamed for the bar. As it was considered just possible that the sensational scene of the preceding day might be repeated by the Bruce, quite a crowd of sight-seers thronged the spit, who watched the departure of that lively little boat with intense interest. Fortunately she ran through the broken water safely, not. however, without shipping one or two seas, which it is supposed washed a few sheep -overboard, as a short time afterwards t we were washed up on the beach alive. After communicating Avith the s.s. Thane, which was lying off the bar ready to cross, the Bruce stood on her course to Okarita, and the former vessel at once " shaped" for the river. Favoured by a comparative "smooth," she p-issed through the outer break in good style, but when fairly on the bar, nearly abreast of tho wreck of the Maria, she touched the ground, and at once broached to, broadside to the sea. Just at that moment a high roller swept in, and before the steamer's head could be got off, struck her with full force upon the starboard side, knocking away all the " gingerbread work," and making rnoro than one most effecdve breach through the pinels of her bulwarks. Of course the decks were flooded and tho deck house swamped, and a great quantity of water found its way into the engine room and stoke hole, filling the latter to a level with the lower bars of the furnaces. As soon as possible the head sails were set, which at once paid her off, and as she grounded for a moment only, way was soon re-gathered and the wharf reached without further mishap. We were pleased to see the Thane handled in so masterly a manner. Tho lvanieri Steam Drainage Company have at last succeeded in getting properly to work, in a manner which does credit, to their energy and perseverance ; and notwithstanding the several disappointments which this Company have met with in its great outlay of both time and money, their eoufidence in tho ground — which has prevailed throughout — has been augmented by the fact of their having obtained, even earlier than they expected, a very encouraging prospect, which bids well to carry out their most sanguine expectations. The expensive machinery which they have erected would, well repay a visit to the ground, it being probably the finest of its kind ever seen on the West Coast. The pump, we may state, is of a very powerful description, it being calculated to throw upwards of 1000 gallons of water per minute. The dimensions of the pump (Californian) are 18iu. x 4iin., inside measurement, and of the extraordinary length of fifty feet.
We regret to have to state tint tho mos seiious apprehensions are now entertained n to the fate of Mr Georgo Dobson, who wa last seen on the Arnold River, and declined proposal made to him to return with a part by a boat to the Grey, statins his wish t cxamiuo the Arnold track, which may b remembered was cut originally under hi supervision. We learn from the Grey tha the impression prevails that Mr Dobson ha met with foul play at the hands of some o the desperate^ fellows who now infest tha district. It is rumored that a storckeep win intended visiting the Arnold, to buy gold received information that there was an'intci 1 ion of sticking him up on his wav b.wk. air that he succeeded in securing the services o <i constable as an escort, spreading fi r-port that ho should return by tho track flavins; thus, as he supposed, put any intending assailants on a wrong scent ho cams back by boat, instead o by the track, and arrived in safety. It i known, as we have said, that Mr Dobso declined to como by the river, and the conj.^cture is that on'his way back by the track he was mistaken for the storekeeper by partie lying in wait, and that he was either robbed, and in the discovery of their mistake by hi •issailimts detained, or else that a worse fate befel him. One man has already, we unclir stand, been arrested on suspicion of having some complicity in the foul play, if such hvs taken place. He came' to the camp at Greymouth, volunteering some information as to parties lying in waiting on the road ; but the circumstances under which he mado his statement, and the manner in which he made it were so suspicious that he was detained in custody, A party of police are out searching for Mr Dobson, and also Mr Harman and Mr Bold of the Survey department; but neither have yet returned. Nothing is now left but to hope for the best. At the Resident Magistrate's Court during the week ending Saturday, June 9th, 6 priso.icrs were sentenced to different terms of hard labor, and 1 debtor immured, whilst 8 sentenced men were discharged, and 1 debtor released from confinement. This is the lightest weekly calendar we have ever published, and it speaks well for tho order] v eharai-Ler of the inhabitants of this district. The number and classification of continees in the old gaol, at the above date, is 1 male and 2 females committed for trial, 8 hard labor men, G debtors, aud 2 prisoners on remand — total, 19. In the new gaol, at tlu same date. 33 committed men were awaiting trial, and 1 undergoing imprisonment only—total, 34. Total number of eonfinees iv both gaols, 53. Mining in the, Totara district is iv a healthy stale, notwithstanding that the deep lead at Ross Town, which has given rise to such sanguine anticipation, is at a standstill. Almost a certainty, however, exists that steam power will be shortly introduced by the Scandinavian Company, which, we thinke, deserve direct encouragement by the Government to vigorously carry out their undertaking. The old workings on Jones' Creek are being re-worked by sluices, and even yet yield good wages in many isstance?, as parties who will work systematically can make from £1 to £10 per week each man. The population of Jones' Creek proper, iveluding ' the town of Ross, is estimated at 1500. From the outlying gullies tlie aocounts are very favorable, '• Donohogue's" especially being held in estimation by the miners. * The fifflfc exhibition in Westland of figures in waxwork was thrown open to the public on tho night of the 9th instant, and to jir-g, by the attendance during the first I»up we should imagine it was duly appreciated. At the end of that period, liovever, a most extraordinary and un. expected scene occurred, which, although it somewhat abruptly terminated the evening's amusement, afforded no slight diversion to the onlookers. Amongst the figures advertised to be seen were two-one rep resenting the noterious Bertrnnd, the other that of his victim the unfortunate Mr Kinder. From what we can gather, it appears that Mr Wood (the father-in-law of the latter), at present reeling in Hokitika, considered the exhibition of his relative as most unseemly, and was heard to declare that if it was persisted in he would stoo it in a manner but little anticipated by the proprietor, lie kept his word by arming himself with a heavily-mounted whip, and made a most murderous assault upon the cast of luncler, and demolished it. The attack was so sudden that he effected his purpose ere any one had time to prevent it; but immediately afterwards the police made their appearance, and the offender was 1 at once arrested and conveyed to the lockup. The "Argus" has received from official sources later information concerning i he Upper Grey diggings. The rush toOakdonia Creek has substSed, and a great many of the dfegers have returned to the Little Grey, owing to tho fact that the workings are nil in the bed of the creek, and there is too much water to contend with. "The tevrates in tho neighbourhood of Caledonia Creek have not/ proved so good as was expected, and until dry weather, the creek cannot be worked extensively. At Wyndham Creek the ground is proving very satisfactorily, aud the miners are well contented with their prospects. The track recently commenced by the A Telson Government across the Saddle has been completed, and on the Bullev side great activity prevails. A'township has been formed at the Innngahun, containing already uiue »iores, and two butchers' shops. 'The supplies are mostly brought from the Grey, across tho Saddle, as many as thirty pack-horses having crossed in one day. There appears to be no probability of the Buller river competing wilh the Gr^y as a route for the convoyance o stores, as. owing to the rapidity of the cur rent, and the dangerous nature of th rapids, ouly canoes can be used, and thes can only convey a small quantity of goods, A few loads have been brought by the Builer route, but Jie cost of freight, £45 pc ton, has effectually put a stop to the t-ad in that direction. Mr Warden Kynnersle intends visiting the Inangahun, next week. The enterprise displayed by a private com pany in the heart of the town ought to excit shame in the Government for the scandalou indifference they have, first and last, displaye to the state of the streets. It would be onl reasonable to suppose that the approaches t it 3 chief reserve, in which are erecud the pi in cipal Government buildings, would at least b kept in a passable condition, and not be per milted to remain knee deep in mud. We are however, compelled in justice to state, that no even selfish considerations have induced th authorities to mend tneir ways; for Sswell street, which flanks one side of tUe reserve was one of the worst thoroughfares m town We say " was, for during the last two day the United Company of Carters hay been busily employed m forming a road way by laying down thick brushwood and covering it with earth on th top of which they inteno. depositing a goo thickness of gravel Thei improvement ahvad effected is astonishing, considering the shor timo they ha /c been at work, and we are at loss to conceive how the Commissione can look tamely on and see these me at work wn-hout ppoifcnng to assist them Such a proceeding on his part would only b anactofcommonjustice,andanacknowledg ment of the service rendered to; the Govern jnent in improving its own section.
i An inquest was held at the Tcremak^^H * Dr. Beswiek, the di-trict, coroner, on th^^^H s instant, on the body of tho man M'C^^^| a who (as we have before stated) was kil^^^| y a fall of earth whilst asleep in his ten^^H o verdict of accidental death was ret^^^H r From the evidence adduced, we gather t^^^B s waa a native of cb'urity Tyrone, I.'clan<^^^| t has left behind him property to the a^^^H s of LlO5. f \ On the 12th, the Gothenburg carried^^H t i with her 11,000 ounces of cold dust, th^^^| r | duco of the Hokitika aad Grey district».^^^B , A amount was shipped by the Banks of - Zealand and the Union' Bank, the forme^^^| l tributing 12,050 ounces, 2000 ozs of wh^^H ! ' Grey gold, and the latter 1950 oz. _^^H c A meeting of the inhabitants of "l^^^| . Revell street was held on the 12th, at the^^H NVlson Hotel, the object being to decide^^H , what measures would be most effective t^^^B ) sure the immediate improvement of the s by making up the roadway,and making^^^| n pathways. Mr Cummings-being voted t<^^^| chair, stated the reason why it was cpnT^^^H , and urged-" upon 1 if •fn/TfiS^sify of pr^^^| s a?tion, a3 the street was not-only next to^^^| passable, but a reproach.to the residents. s admitted they were peculiarly situated "Oi^^^B fount of the pending municipality, but^^H - was uncertain when tlie Council* wool^^^| formed, it was their duty to endeavor, 'if-^^^l sible, to ascertain the probable tlme.'a^^H they failed lie considered it advisable to atr^^H \ collect subscriptions, amoags,t themsolves^^H proceed" with the wo,rlc The u amount expended would d'otlbttess be }%fun^^H , by the Council when it was fbrineci."- J^^H j some further discussion, it Ws prop^^^| and carried, "that, a deputation should upon Mr Sale, in order to .ascertain \^^| acion had been tak'eh by 'the 'GfovWnn^^H for tho formation of :a.Tqwn board ; w^^H it was likely that Municipal • r.ulo wt^^H commence,in Hokitika." ' .jA commfiiteo^^H °^so form the deputation wag then appoin^^H consisting of the following gontkme^^H Messrs. Cummiugs, .^lunpUrey^ %^.Q^^H Lazarus, Powel and Hackeit. It was cided thaT "tlieir~i^sC r rt~iTiouia"u'e" Submit^^H at "a meeting, which should be called., at^H eai"ty date. , , OnSuuday last ,an address was preseuted^^H Mr Keenan, on behalf of the Jtoiuan jCath^^H Congregation of Greymoutji, to the Right E^^| Dr- "Viard, Bishop of Wolliijgtqn. Tlio dress, which conveyed the afleptio;iato wiai^^J of tlie congregation, was presented $t o'do«k mass, m the Church, aud Dr. Vi^^H acknowledged it in very feeling terms. was sig»ed by Messrs Keenau, Joyce, Grif^H Fitzgerald, M'Convey, Smyth, Kenne^H Sheedy, Foppoly, Guerin, O'Donn^H M'Guirk, and several others. , -^ f°w weeks ago, the Cumberland P&r^^J wno arc working a back claim Qn the Kani^^l rivi r > 9L'nt 12° ozs of g°l<* dust t0 th? Lond^B Chartered Bank in Melbourne, for the purpi^H of having it melted and assayed, and the r^H value of tlie metal thus ascertained. By t^H Rmgitoto th'.y received the bank retui^H wllicll ha 3 beeu submitted to us for publi^H ti™- After the gold was melted, it weigh^H , H-Sozs 17dwts 12grs, .thus shewing a loss ' loz 2dwts 12 Srs only—a very small one on lai 'ge a parcel; when assayed, it was found be 23$ ? arats fin< ~ A reduction to the stan^H ard increased ehc weight to 1240zs 15di^H lOgrs, which. at 75s 61 per oz, realised £4^M la Id, thus Hhewiug that the gold inits unH fin(ld st:iLo 's worth about %'& 18s 4d P^H ' oz.no allowance being made for the cost H nieltmg, &c. ._*>•<. »<'• A melancholy and fatol accident lv»« fulled in the death of a miner name| MCM ! ocll >, w ul. sfc mat? J^SS? T* 8 "e^H , lnvolved m *he -fT^l ? ? p Ht *■ ! the.c men had pitched there tent at the f« i? f a hlgh and. very steep terrade, n^er tj i impression doubtless that the sitechdßenwJ I •* safe one- , On the evening of the 9th inj ■' the J tu ™d "I for d! c "ight, one of^£m oH to awaken only in eternity, forearly-^ne™ • mOTn, in S *c bank, aabove, c the *f*' ?* V? *?■ s"™?\f , the *"nt *?d,? d, «>mP^ burieM M'Oulloch. How M'lntyre escaped, is a myH ter.y. * he ' howevcr ' man ff d to «rtneftte hinM f?». and »* once Bought assistance tpreleaM hls 115, 9 ff^^ companion., In this he auß cceded after half an hour s hard workout onM to »nd him a corpse. The body, waft jemoyJß to tho Union hotel to await an inquest. H Tll. c B ™<* brought /P. on P the,^ S°M the lai 'o'e <luanfclt.T of 028 *I? 5 * T^U One of those acciJents ,so incidental tB diggers, few of which, w,e are happy to sajH have happend in Westlantf, occurred at thH Hau Hau goldfieia on flier StK'Mstvaad Tfl " attended by a. fetal'result., • la the afternooH of the day in question, a- party, consisting <■ three minors, were w6r\-ing«-claim, near thM olil township, the tnaduopemnA of ,domg s| b«ng_tlut ot paddocking. T.Jie; were JM the time attempting to remove a. veryJargH 9tlun P- which overhung .one.; side of, tbfl cuttl "S. wiien it suddo^y gave way, «»d feM ?P on OTe of tn?m »am? d t Eob f ert ?unt^B H's mates summoned assistance from the ad« Jomining clamia, which being promptM .responded to tlio unfortunate fellow wafl quiekly-cxtaeated, but in a hfeless state. W« believe-an inquest, will be held on the body. ■ • An, awfully sudden death occured at thjM Hau Hau during the night of the 11th ins« It appears that & jnnfer named Luder Vo« ■ Thou, a nahvtf of Germany l, retired td rtst lfl ' his tentafSio ifenaT lioujV SpparenHy^in tliM ' enjoyment of excellent health. A*ottt tw« j o'clock, however,.ftis mate named John OttenM heard him groan heavily, and ualf an nouM I later found, on-lookuaj at him; that he w)■ j qmte dea-1. ' ■ A meeting, largely attended, was held onH the 12th inst. at the Criterion HoteT, conH sisting chiefly of gentleraem interested in proS f porty in. Revell and Wharf-streets, to>promot^H measures for the extension .of, the wharfH c Resolutions were passed appointing t aH c deputation to wait upon Mr Sale, and direcbH ng a memorial to be forwarded to His Honor H on tho subject. I r Tllcre waß excellent " bar" on the 12thH c morni na, which was duly taken advantage ofl y !by ontWard and inward bounders. At anl , ca,.]y hor n. tne harbor boats commenced worM - i —the Lioness towing out the John MitchelljH c ! and afterwards "bringing in the Falcon; whilstfl s | the Challenge towed in .tin) Maid of Erin, andl d ; conveyed the brig Clarendon safely and far y into the offing. The Yarra ran out with gold o and passengers to the Gothenburg, which she - safely transhipped, and re-crossed the bar at 4 c p.m. - -\ye understand that the Yen. Archdeacon , narper may bo" expected to arrive in Westt \im& parly in August. 1 c ' rfwo tWefl gentlemen, passengers by - h Albion from i| elbourne to some of the , rtll..ra ort9 were left on shore ' her* . th ,h t£ c impossibility of communicating s j h = thftt yee^ el before her departure on c gund kst It Beemß tlmfc p^mp^d by - curio9 jL they came- On shore to -view the , deP£ of Hokitika, losing their. pakages c in conseqUenco. We daresay these..-genfle-d mm in anytning but an amiafle Wood y th h tbis seri OUB ,logs of timeand JUon6y, t and £ c flro sincerely'B6rry tfcey ehouldhare a Buffopod 80 RWsat a ~ inconvenience. At the r Bame timo tho b yUavetn-enißSlvesaloh^ to Blame, n &nd wo ? -^^ p'teaengers^who . mcrd £\ his - fc de6ti.l c jg elsewhere not to'attedlpt fendrngl . aJ. Beason of tho year, when not'one I - UOUI.' S dopendance Can be placed on tho I weather ' I
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West Coast Times, Issue 233, 18 June 1866, Page 2
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17,981THE MONTH. West Coast Times, Issue 233, 18 June 1866, Page 2
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THE MONTH. West Coast Times, Issue 233, 18 June 1866, Page 2
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