West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 277, 13 August 1866, Page 4

West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1866.

Thk history of journalism in Hokitika is instructive. The Times was the first newspaper published on the West Coast, and the success it achieved not unnaturally exfiited a spirit of rivalry and a desire to contest with it its well deserved rewards. The is»ue of the Times as a daily newspaper having conquered any opposition that had beeu organised against it up to that time,

thenextphase of Hokitika journalism was the publication of a small cheap evening paper, which might have been allowed to pursue its mission undisturbed, if special circumstances had not led to a novel form of opposition to, and rivalry, with this journal. Combined with the publication *of the "Evening Star," was the issue of a gratuitous morning advertising sheet, under conditions that threatened to subvert all the ordinary ar: alignments by which business is" conducted between the commercial community and the press. Another attempt to share in the success of the West Coast Times, was made by the publication of a secoud morning p4per, for some time issued thrice a week, but subsequently daily. The " Hokitika Chronicle " was a legitimate venture. During the two or three months of its publication it has very fairly sustained the reputation of colonial journalism. Its political principles were on the whole in accord wit h those of the people of the district, and its tone was moderate and candid. It was as Avell deserving of public support as any newspaper could be, which was started with the simple purpose of establishing a second morning journal in Hokitika ; and it received as much support as any enterprise of^ the kind could well be expected to command. It had 1 , indeed a good deal of special support, which the conductors of the West Coast Times had alienated from that journal, by a certain uncompromising independence in -' political matters. But the experiment tried by its late proprietors has demonstrated beyond doubt, the fact that neither the political nor the commercial development of Hokitika is yet sufficiently advanced to sustain two morning papers, and that the pursuance of the experiment is sure to bu a losing game to the weaker party. It can only be carried on by a ruinous competition and rivalry in low prices. The present experiment has proved an unsuccessful one, and it has resulted in very unnecessary sacrifices entailed upon both parties. In order to compete with the position achieved by the Times, not only was the "Chronicle" established, but, as we have said, a gratuitous morning Advertising Sheet was issued, with a " guaranteed circulation," . by the proprietors of the " Evening Star." It was in order to meet and foil this combined opposition, that the proprietors of this journal determined to publish an evening paper, under the designation of The Despatch, which for many weeks past has been circulated gratuitously amongst the subscribers to the Times, and of which we may speak — now that it has folded its garments about it and died — as in every respect an effective evening journal, containing the latest news of the day, and a fair supply of literary matter. The contest is now over. Of the five daily papers of various kinds and grades issued from the Hokiti'ca pressonSaturday last, three have ceased from publication. The " Chronicle " has died ; the Advertising Sheet is abandoned ; and The Despatch has been withdrawn from the field. Henceforth, until opposition offers itself in some new and unexpected shape, there will be only two daily papers published in Hokitika. The West Coast Times, as the sole morning journal, will pursue the even tenor of its" way — advocating, with its accustomed fearlessness and independence, the principles to which it has always- adhered — and once more in a position to concentrate the whole energies of its staff on the issue of a newspaper full and conip'lete in its intelligence, and comprehensive in its range of political discussion. Between our even.ng contemporary and ourselves there can be no rivalry. We wish it success, as we intend to deserve the continuance of success for ourselves. The public generally will derive practical benefit from the cessation of the unnatural and opposition that have lately prevailed. The}' will reap the advantage of an opportunity of advertising in a journal which they know will reach the hands of all newspaper readers ; and they will have their news supplied them in a form compre- ' bensive and digested. As far, as the advocacy of political principles in Westland is concerned, there has never : been any real controversy in the [sress, I because there have never been any substantial differences in public opinion. To perpetrate a bull — if there were any division of the people taken, all would range themselves on the one side. We want justice for Westlaud, and we all perfectly well understand what justice for Westland means. Starting a new newspaper here, means — not giving existence to an organ of new opinions, but simply trying to secure a share of the trade profits of an established journal — and what such an endeavor is likely to result in is now patent. We regret that the deserving and enterprising men wiio started the '■ Chronicle " did not more carefully count the cost, whilst we congratulate them on the good sense which has dictated their timely retirement from their speculation before encountering serious loss. The same spirit and energy displayed in a field where there was more room for a second newspaper enterprise, would have resulted doubtless in ampler fruits. The unoccupied field of colonial journalism, however, is yet wide. ;

Wo publish, to-day, in the form of a supplement, a Second Edition of onr Summary for Europe for despatch by tho Gothenburg. The second jury in (he case of Reynolds against Simon, who were locked up on Friday night, were discharged by hisHonoronSaturday morniug — having failed to find a verdict, but agreeing in certain statements of facts Avhich his Honor .consented to receive, leaving it a

question to be argued by counsel, and ultimately decided by*iho Bench, on which side the verdict should bo recorded. The argument will bo commenced this morning, and no doubt the case will be disposed of at an early hour to-day. We are again undergoing ono of the periods of bad weather so peculiar to tho West Coast, and which visit us co regularly. During the last three days it has been reunißg almost incessantly, and, since Friday night, the showers have been extremely heavy, and accompanied by thunder, lightning, and hail. Once more aro we reduced to a lamentable stato of mud 5 for, with the exception of Eevcll and Wharf streets, and the pathway along Gibson's Quay, every part of the town is almost impassable, and should the rains continue — of which there is every likelihood — boats will be again called into requisition to connect the east and west parts of the town. Wo really pity those unfortunates whoso residences are situated in that delectable locality between Sewell and Tancred streets, for nearly every houso is an island in the midst of fetid pools, rendered noisome by decayed vegetation and foul animal matter which had accumulated during the preceding dry weather. Of course, the usual lake has formed at tho junction of Weld and Tancred streets, and as the tide rose last night, it extended gradually, and by midnight was a remarkably fine sheet of water, upon which good-sized boats could have - been handlod under canvas. As we have before co often remarked, it is the creek running through the Supreme Court reserve which first of all deposits tho water, through not havingafree outlot to the river. This creek drains a considerable area of country, and after heavy rain, discharges an enormous volume of water, which the Sewell street-drain is^quite inadequate to carry off. Wo would earnestly urge upon the authorities the, necessity of making jsome at. tempt to abate this nuisance, which might be easily remedied by the construction of a drain from the river higher up Gibson's Quay. The ditch now being cut through Bealey street will, we believe, be of great service. It is, however, not sufficient for the required purpose, and no time should be lost in cutting another, as, during the ensuing few months, we may be subjected to frequent and heavy floods. The overland mail from Christchurch arrived in town at 3 p.m. yesterday, but in consequence of the flooded state of the Arahura the coach was unable to cross, and still remains at the other sido- It left the Bealoy on Saturday morning, and reached the Arahura that night, whore its further progress was stayed by the flood, which rendered it imposible to then swim the horses across. Testerday morning this was effected, and the mail and passengers conveyed to town on horseback. The driver reports that the different streams between this and Bealey are very high. x Yesterday evening, a report reached town of the drowning of three horsemen in the Teremakau, whilst attempting to cross that river the preceding afternoon. The intelligence was brought in by a party who informed the police that whilst standing close to the fording place, at half-past four, -on Saturday, he saw three men on horseback ride up from the direction of Hokitika. They asked a boatman whether the river was fordable, and we^e told it was not ; but, notwithstanding, they pushed their horses in it, at a point a short distance above a small island in" the centre of the stream. Shortly afterwards the informant saw one of the horses riderless on this island, but could see neither, of tbe others. He says that to cross the river in its then state was an impossibility, and believes that the men must have been drowned. One of them was Mr Aleorn> of this town ; the other two he did not recognise. We publish this statement for what it i 3 worth, and would suggest that it be accepted with caution until further intelligence comes to hand, as we can hardly credit that any sane man would attempt to swim the Terevnakau whilst flooded to such an extent as it was on Saturday. In referring to a case lately heard in the Supreme Court, in which a charge of indecent assault was preferred, the Hokitika correspondent of the " Canterbury Press" says that -his Honor, after expressing surprise at the decision of tho jury, and recommending them to retire and re-consider it, at length " kindly accepted their verdict." Accounts from the Stafford Hill rush still continue favorable, several shafts having been bottomed on gold since Wednesday last. Of i these, one sunk by Reid and party yielded six I grains to the dish, whilst one adjoining gave idwt to the same amount of dirt taken from i tho top of the wash. There is every probability that tho greatest portion of the hill will prove payably auriferous. Last night a man, evidently in a stato of lunacy, wa3 removed to the Camp for safe keeping. For some days he had been residing at the Cleveland Hotel, where his eccentric conduct excited tho suspicion that- his intellect was disordered. Yesterday, his antics assumed a more dangerous form, as he armed himself with a carving knife as a menns of of defence against some imaginary enemy, when it was deemed advisable to placo him in custody. He stated his name to be Henry Seal, and that he was a miner. The." Southern Cross " learns from various sources, that the natives in the interior are settling down to industrial pursuits .—". — " They are very badly off for every necessary, and and have very sadly retrograded. Our Tc Awamutu correspondent says that tho natives from Eawhia are finding their way across (.0 the settlement, to sell cattle and pigs, shoeing that even the' King natives under Rowi cannot subsist without intercourse with the Europeans. From information received by us, and on which we can rely, we are disposed to think that war in this province is*at an end. The ! King movement is as rampant as ever, and and the tendency and intention of the native? as we long since pointed out, to establish an independent Maori State, over which British authority and law will have no sway. They do not intend to make any aggressive movement ; they will resist the encroachment of the Europeans, and notably of tho law. A g~reat nativo meeting is to be held shortly, at which laws will be made to put an end to the thefts now practised with impunity. Let

us hope the King's courts may have compe tent jurisdiction to arrest and punish offenders It is plain that we havo * great deal too much to do in the way of consolidating our power in Waikato, and on the East and West Coasts, to think of invading Rewi's territories ; and so long as he is content to remain in the sulks, let him do so by all means. There will bo no good sot by "teasing" him or his people ; the"ready-money purchasers of their live stock, at.Mr Allen's Awamutu sale-yards, will gradually bring about a change of feeling on tho part of most of the natives. If i 3i 3 now a case of ' let alone' on both sides ; a hfcate of tilings which, we trust; will not bo disturbed 'until the salutary influence of civilization at the borders of the ' locked-up 1 territory will produce all tho changes we can possibly desire. Our information regarding native fuel- - ing extends as far as Taupo. The natives are everywhere building better houses for themselves, of the kind in use at the establishment •f the colony. They have generally given up feheir - fanatical superstitious observances in public worship, and have returned more or less to the forms of Christian worship. The attendance at prayers in the various pas is bettor than the average attendance under the missionary influence ; but instead of the regular catechist or teacher leading the devotions, all take part as they feel inclined. These meetings partake, on this account, more of the nature of a 'ranters' prayer meeting than anything else. On tho whole, everything is conducted with decorum." We clip the following from the " Lytteltoa Times" of the 7th inst. :— « lt will be remembered that recently a public meeting was held at Hokitika, at winch it was resolved to erect some testimonial to the pioneers of exploration on the West Coast, including Messrs Howitt, Wbitcombe, Townsend^ and Dobson. A committee has been formed in Christchurch for the same purpose, and we believe the first meeting will be held on Thursday next." The Wellington correspondent of the " Oarnaru Times" says :— " Mr Campbell, Maior Richardson, and Mr Yogel have been engaged in drawing up a bill called the Local Government Act, which, if carried, will guoranfcee to all districts a fair share of the revenue derived from the districts being spent within them. It is proposed to make the measure retrospective — that is to say, to endow the various Boards with land equivalent to 10 per cent, of that already soldj so that a district like yours, where say 150,000 acres will have been sold by the time the Act comes into operation, will be permitted to select 15,000 acres. Power will be given to these Boards to borrow money on this laud, for the purpose of carrying out public works, such as roads, bridges, &c. These gentlemen propose to follow, as much as possible, the " Victorian Local Govermnent Act," which has now been in operation in that colony for three years, and which has given universal satisfaction. It is most carefully drawn up, and provides for every emergency." The "Southern Cross" relates the particulars of a fatal gun accident that occurred to a man named Robert M'Kay, at Ellerslie, on July 21. It appears that the deceased and another person, named Jame3 Walker, were engaged as stonemasons on the railway aEllerslie. Both men lived together in a small building, which was divided into a kitchen and sleeping apartment by a thin par. tition. Walker rose to get breakfast ready before bis companion, and, according to custom, when he wanted to awaken M'Kay, he took up a gun, which had never been loaded by either of the men, for the purpose of snapping a cap upon it. Tbe gun had been loaded on the previous Tuesday by another mate named A. McDonald, and of this Walker was not aware ; and to his grief, when he pulled , the trigger, the charge went through the partition, and entered^ M'Cay's head a little above the crown, scattering his brains abaut a frightful manner, and killing him instantaneously. Deceased has left a wife and one child to mourn Ms loss. < The " Lyttelton Times" says that the extraordinary, development of the West Coast Groldfields has for tbe present put an end to " the sort of see-saw rivalry" which has long prevailed between Canterbury and Otago : — " Otago had the earlier start, but Canterbury soon rose higher. Then again tho discovery, as we may term it, of its pasture lands, made principally too by Canterbury men, and above all the discovery of its goldfields,, gave Otago a temporary advantage. But once, more tha goldfields of Westland set Canterbury in the ascendant ; and so it at present remains. The alternations for tbe future are not likely to be so marked or so rapid." The same journal says :—": — " We are informed, on what we believe to be good authority, that the value of the live stock belonging to tins province disposed of on tbe West Coast is nob less than from three to four hundred thousand pounds per annum. To this must be added a considerable amount for flour, corn, and horse feed. Canterbury will always possess a considerable advantage in the way of providing all these supplies. The somewhat greater length of water-carriage required by sailing round from tbe East to the West Coast is compensated by the facility with which a merchant can follow his goode. He can cross overland, meet his vessel, dispose of his freight, and return to bis Christchurch business in a few days. Ve,ry shortly, we doubt not, will be added the advintages of return cargos' of timber and coal which will at once reduce the freights and in c/ea«e the profits of the merchants." Eeferriug to the late division on the Separation question, and the attitude assumed by tho Otago members, the " Daily Times" of the 6th inst. has the following strictures :— "lt wu% no doubt, be a source of muoh dissatisfaction that, contrary to anticipation, tho Otago members have not worked together. It is difficult" to say with whom the blame lies. Hustings pledges, notoriously vague, are especially unreliable when they are made to apply to subjects so indefinite as a reconstitution of the) system of government. It is very hard to draw the line between opposition to a principle, or to the details by which it is* sought to give it effect. Especially is this the case with men young to political affairs. r The Otago members probably meant all they promised on the hustings ; but they did not know what

they promised. They read of tho opinions of others, and they thought themselvos safe in giving in their adhesion to tho saruo creed. They meet in session, and tlu-y are told they should form opinions of their own ■ — and then tho same glittering assurances to the d&zzling nature of which only years of disappointment havo closed the eyes of old members, are shaken before Ihom. Tho difficulties are all over, they aro told — the haven j just reached— should the colony draw back hi the very hour of its triumph ? Old members have heard the same promises, till they have learnt to laugh 'at thorn ; new members may require to go through the same ordeal. We cannot help hoping that the defection of some of the Otego members from what undeniably is the interest of their Province, proceeds from this cause.' There is ono gentleman, of whom, of course, tho same cannot be said, and for whose conduct it is difficult" to find excuse. Unfortunately for him, his pledges were of a specific nature. We alludo, of course, to Mr Paterson, who has been consistent only in the proof he has afforded of the lengths to which men will go for the sako of political aggrandisement. When Mr Paterson sought to be re-elected, he was met with doubts which had been raised respecting his opinions and intentions on this same rcconstitution question. More than, any other candidate for any other district ho found it necessary to bind himself, and he did so irrespective of the indefinite nature of thd subject with which he had to deal. So ended the first chapter ; he was rewarded by the attainment of his wishes.^But his seat in tho Assembly was but a means to retaining his seat in the Q-overnmont, and when before him rested the . alternative of departing from his political pledges or forfeiting that seat, he preferred the advantage of place to tho keeping of Ids pledge, and sacrificed tho one to retain tho other. But for the evil example and baneful precedent, ono i 3 almost tempted in pity to express the hope that ho will not find he has lost both his placo and his self-respect." The " Southland Times" of August 1 says : — "Some time since we intimated thai tho establishment of a Stewart's Island Fishing Company was contemplated. The gentlemen ■ who first initiated tho movement wisely resolved not to put the project before <ho public until, at their own cost, they had proved the feasibility of the scheme. They have gone to work in right earnest, and wo have the satisfaction of knowing that between three and four tons of haddocks, rock cod, and other choice 'fish, have been exported. They are carefully packed in casks, and from personal examination we can express an opinion that they are well cured, and will arrive at Melbourne and the West Coast — the markets which it is proposed in the first instance •to test — in an excellent state of preservation. There is every reason to believe that the undertaking will prove a success." The following report on the Riverton dfggings has been furnished by the Southland Commissioner of Police, under date July 25, to the Superintendent : — " I have to report for your Honor's information that seemingly no increase nor decrease of population has taken place on the Paihi, Oripuki, or Longwood diggings, since my last report, the estimated population at present being 250. The weekly yield of gold is about 300 ounces ; but I find that it is rather difficult to arrive at any very correct estimate of the yield of gold, as the miners are dissatisfied with the price offered on the diggings for gold, and prefer keeping it to bring to town, and dispose of as best they can. It is rumored-thafc parcels of fifty and |one hundred ounces have been sent to Dunedin, where a better price, viz., L 3 16s per ounce, has been obtained for it. Some time ago, I was led to believe that when winter fairly set in these diggings would be nearly deserted ; however, such has not been the case, but on the contrary, the minei'3 have prospected a good deal of' the country, and are now spread over a large district; and it is not at all improbable that by next summer an important goldfield may be developed." An American has invented a she ep-shear-ing machine, which the " New York Tribuno" describes as follows :—": — " With two men td hold the shears and one to turn the wheel, the machine ■ clips sheep with an almost unimaginable rapidity, as there is no expenditure of muscular labor beside turning the wheel, which is not harder than a small spinning-wheel, and the whole machinery does not occupy more room. *hau such a wheel. A new principle in mechanics has been developed in this invention, which is the secret of its success. This is a flexible shaft, through which the power is communicated from the driving-wheel to the shcar3, which are kept rapidly clipping as long as the driving-wheel turns, no matter in what position they are held, nor how much the driving shaft is contorted, even to bending it round the body of a sheep. This driving shaft, about three feet long, is a spiral brass wire, one end of the coil being connected with a small wheel attached to the butt of the blades of the shears, and the other to a pully driven by a band on the end of an arm, which is partially flexible, attached to the small frame that holds the driving wheel. On the opposite side is another arm and shaft and shears, for another shearer, each working independent of the oilier. The shears are made with guards, so that. all that is necessary ia to hold them level and steady- on the skins, pushing them forward as fast as possible."