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West Coast Times, Issue 338, 23 October 1866, Page 2

/xhe laudable efforts of the Church of Engwincl community in Hokitika to provide a suitable house of worship have at last concluded, and the town can now boast of a well-situated and tastefully-erected church, which reflects infinite credit/ on the promoters of the movement, the architect who designed the building, and the contractor who erected it. The site chosen for the church reserve is in Fitzherbert-street, immediately below its junction with Stnilord-street, and a bettor could hardly be desired, as it is within easj reach of all parts of the town, and in lino weather the walk to and from it is most delightful. The church is unpretentious in appearance, 'being merely a simple wooden building, in form a parallelogram, with a high gable roof. The building is sixty 'feet in length by thirty in width, with nine feet walls, and from ground to ridge is twenty-seven feet in height. It is entered on each side through low Gothic porches, which lead into a spacious hall lighted by three Gothic windows, of ground glass, nt either end, and five smaller ones after the same style of architecture, on each side. At the eastern end is a raised platform, on which is placed the reading-desk and communion table, and facing it, at tho other end, is another platform, provided with beuches, and set apart for the acommodation qi Sundayschool children. This is flanked by rows of free sittings, which extend to the porch entrances, a distance of about fifteen feet from the end ; and between these, in front of the platform, are the churchwardens' sitttings. Three rows of open sittings, capable of iiccomodating one hundred and ninety people, occupy the body of the building. The centre now consists of thirteen settees, each constructed i o seat six persons, and fourteen settees make up each side row, each settee having sitting for four persons. A curtained recess in that corner of the building on the right hand side of the communion table

forms the vestry room. In connection with the church v very commodious six-roomed parsonage has been erected in one corner of the reserve. A well-forme.l pathway, Hanked by drains, leads from Weld-street and across and up Fitzherbert street to the church and parsonage ; and now that its labors are over we very heartily congratulate the church committee on the success whicli lias rewarded them, and the able manner iv which the details of a most arduous undertaking have been carried out. /

We have to correct an error which appeared in our report of (he lust meeting of thei Municipal* Council. Mr Thomas Kenrick's! name, instead of Mr Campbell's, should have been inserted as that of the person to whom alone compensation was granted by the Government for the loss of his section on land afterwards declared a reserve- j Wo believe tho compensation amounted to/ Ll5O. * We are once more in telegraphic communication with all* the provinces of the middle island excepting Nelson, the wires between Christchurch and that fowii having again broken down since Saturday.

A melancholy iustance of sudden death occurred yesterday morning at the South Spit. A miner, supposed to be named Johnson, arrived at Lagoon town from Ross on Saturday night. He complained of ill health, and stated that he intended to leave the coast for Otago, but being short of funds would be compelled to s-ell a fine bull and mastifl' dog, which acconrpanied him. He remained at Lagoon town that night, and left next morning for Hokitika, where 'ho put up at the Gridiron. Hotel, in Revell street. Yesterday morning he paid his bill and departed, and nothing more was heard of him until information was lodged at tke Police Camp that the dead body of a man was lying upon the South Spit. Sergeant Beattie was -despatched to take charge of it, and on arriving there, was informed by a Mr Farmer, a storekeeper residing at Lagoon Town, that he observed the deceased and his dog walking towards him, when, much to his amazement, he suddenly disappeared, and supposing that something unusual ha 4 happened, Fficmep proceeded to tho «spot, and

cvi lantly in a dying state. He was. unable to render him immediate assistance, a3 the dog jealously guarded his fallen master, and nearly i quarter of an hour elapsed before the faithful animal would permit any one to approach, and by that time the man was dead. Dr Ryley was immediately summoned, but his services were of no avail, life having departed. An inquest will be held upon tho body by Dr Beswick, the distriot coroner, at 12 o'clock today.

From private information we are }ed,to understand tliat Mr Millar, late Civil Engineer to the Dunedin municipality, will arrive here by the Albion, with the intention of offering his professional services to the Municipal Council of Hokitika. Wo sincerely trust they will be accented, as the abilities of Mi* -Millar are of tho highest order, and recognised throughout tho colonies.

A meeting of the friends of the late C. J. Don was held at Melbourne on the 10th inst., to consider what further steps should be taken to set up some monument over the grave of the deceased. It was decided to go on collecting funds, the money now in hand amounting to L2O. The" attendance being small, a fact probably owing to the inclement weather, the meeting was adjourned for a week.

The Melbourne " Age " of the 11th instant waxes wroth on the ignorance of Australian geography displayed by even well educated men in England. At a banquet given to Governor Eyre at Southampton, the Rev. Chns. Kingsley described the celebrated exploring journey of Mr Eyre along the southern coast lino from Adelaide to King George's Sound, as a march round the head of the Gulf of j Carpentaria ! — " when thus the * Age ' "— " What Australian voter under manhood suffrage would disgrace even a limited education by talking of Hull as a city on tbe west coast of Ireland, or Penzance at one of the Hebrides ?"

Rapid progress is being made with the un. finished portions of the new Exhibition building, says the " Argus." The circular hall, with the exception of a little of the decorations, is now completed, and the fountain in the adjoining enclosure is also finished. The iron building is in a very forward state, and in a fe a* days will bo ready for the reception of exhibits. The whole of the contributions from New South Wales have arrived ; and although tho commiesioners for that colony had little time in which to work, they have got together a very large and complete collection of goods, which, will form a prominent feature in the exhibition. »

The Sergeant iv charge at Ross comments as follows, iv his report for (the fortnight ending October 15th : — " Little or no change has taken place in mining matters since the date of former report, but there is a decided tendency 'on the part of sluicers to rate the 'value of their terrace claims at a lower esfci- ! mate than that which the first returns appa- ! rently warranted. This reaction is, in a great measure, caused by the high price demanded for water by the head race companies, L 8 per week being the figure charged for the use of an ordinary box sluice head. As this quantity is not sufficient to effectually do the work required, the weekly expense incurred for [water only amounts on an average to between JLIO and Ll2,and, in consequence, some of the I poorer claims have been abandoned, failing to I return even small Wages. A great influx of r the new arrivals, who lately landed at Hokitika, has added considerably to the already large population of this district. The greatest part of them, however, are doomed to idleness, no new ground having opened to give them employment. During the fortnight no crinie was reported as having taken place in the district. ' '

The officer in charge at the Stafford Town police station reports that the population of Stafford Town and suburbs may be estimated at about 100 Q. The place is steadily increasing in size, as at present there are twenty hotels open, an*d five more in the course of erection, licenses for whicli have been applied for. The number of stores and other business paces may be put down at thirty-five. Mining is not carried on to any great extent in the immediate vicinity of the tpwnsliij, 1 , but the few diggers who are at work make from L 3 to'L7 per man weekly. The population located' on the seven terraces on which are situated the Scandinavian rush workings, may be reckoned to number about 2500. The prospects of the .rush are very good, as, the average yield is high, many of the claims paying from Ll2 to LSO per week each shareholder. The miuers'generally have great faith •in the permanency of the place. There are , five hotels and forty stores on the seven hills. I The population of Ballarat Hill and adjoining cueeks is about 1000, and the average wages ; made may bo calculated at from L 5 to L2O I per week to each man who is working on the gold. Pretty Woman's Gully is turning out very well. The depth of sinking is from twenty to thirty feet, and several of the claims are paying very well indeed. Two hotels, and about a dozen stores have been erected there. Gold is beiug traced from Ballarat Ifill towards the Arahura Rriver, aud miners are sanguine that it will eventually form a junction with the Uo Ho lead. At the Bfo Flat

rush about 830 miners are assembled, and those who are working can make "from L 6 to LlO each man, perwock. The depth of sinking is from five feet to seventeen feet. Two stores arc doing a good trade there, and a license has been applied for uu hotel, which will open in a few days. The population of the sea beach is betweeu 400 and 500. A great many shafts have been sunk at the rush on tho line of terraces bordering the swamp, but the prospects obtained were poor, and caused many diggers to leave it. Many, again, are hopeful that the place will yet pay, and continue sinking in hopes of yet striking the lead — if one exist. During "the past fortnight no cases of crime were reported from Bnllarat Hill or Big Flat.

L4OO worth of gold was stolen" from a tent on Scandinavian Hill on tbe night of the 7th iiibtant, but the offenders are still at large at Stafford Town. A gold waMi was stolen from the person of one Andrew Logan, for whicli offence John Doniran was committed for trial. ' A purse containing L 9 18s 6d was also stolen from Michael Boy den on the 14th instant ; no arrest was made in this case, as when searched by the police none of the money was found on the person of the suspected party. The township at the foot of the Wainiea Track contains six hotels and 12 stores, and a fair am junt of business seems to be traiibacted tlnsre. It however, does not enjoy an immunity from crime,, as a cash box, cantaiqing LlO was Btolea fi'Qitt thp bar of tho Whtoi Uawm awUl, and muj *»fl etotfctoft *bi<>h

amounted in value to L 9 10s, wove abstracted from the tent of Hector Jenkins. The police made active search for the offenders and missing property, but failed in discovering the slightest trace of either.

From reports tarnished by the sergeant and constable stationed at the Kauieri township, it appears that during the past fortnight the population of that district ha? slightly increased and is now estimated at 4200. Mining matters have been very dull, owing to the compelled cessation of work in the flats by the late floods ; but as the river subsided the engines again commenced pumping, and in two days cleared the ground of water. The happiest results have attended the extension of the Pioneer race, as now there is plenty of water for sluicing and .other purposes, and in consequence thereof the terrace claims are again yielding good wages. From L6to ' Ll4 per man a-wcek is the amount quoted as the average earnings of those minors who hold ground there. The diggings at Woodstock and Arthur's Town are looking up, as a general belief is entertained that an extension of the workings at those localities is almost certain to take place. Tucker's Flat is still in the hands of fossickers and sluicing parties, who, when water is plentiful, make good wages. The Companies who hold ground there under the extended system purpose obtaining the aid of a boring^machine, to test the depth and quality of the second bottom, the attempt to reach which by sinking has resulted in failure after failure, owing to the I quantity of water in the low drift. The Ho Ho lead is again in high-repute, and the claims that were once abandoned on it are again taken up, and in many instances prove payable. The Three Mile Creek diggings are paying well-; the Blue Spur lead especially employs many , miners, who can make from L 4 to Ll2 per week each man, and there are exceptional cases of far higher returns. About 200 miners are settled at the ten-ace rush, one mile and a half below the township, and express themselves satisfied with the quality of the ground. The sinking is from 25 to 30 feet, the first 10 feet through hard cement and gravel, whilst the lower layers are sand. The wash-dirt is composed of cemented gravel, about a foot in thickness, and, being exceedingly hard, has to be^ burnt and crushed to prepare it for the final process of cradling or sluicing. The lead is' not more than 25 feet wide, but well defined, and very rich in places'. It is heading towards the Big Paddock, and on the 13th inst. a rush sot in to a terrace situated «close to the track heading from the Cemetery to the Three Mile Creek township. This terrace intersects the line of direction taken by the .lead, and rewarded the prospectors with nearly 1 dwt. to the dish. Auother shaft was afterwards bottomed near them, which gave fully .Vdwt. to the dish. Several duffers | were sunk, which caused but little discoiuagement, sis the lead is supposed to be narrow. The ground is taken up a long distance ahead, and many claims Vnarke'i out in the Big Paddock ; aud as the sinking is quite di-y, although rather deep (from 45ft. to 50ft.), testing the ground wilLnot be a work of much difficulty. Several hundred miners are already located there, the most of whom are shepherding, and* many of the business people have removed their stores from the Three Mile Creek township to the new one forming in the Big Paddock. The Kanieri district is very orderly, no crime worthy of especial notice having taken place during the fortnight ending the 21st

instant. ' We beg to acknowledge the receipt of the first two numbers of a new weekly periodical published at the " Chrqnicle " office, Wanganui, and entitled " Hutchison's New Zealand Pioneer." The editor says, in his prospectus — " Another Journal ! Why not ? New Zealand is wide, at least, it is long, which seems very much the same, in as far as our object is concerned. Ours is but the effort of a "Pioneer ;" we have no patrons, and do not wish for any, beyond what, the supply of a suitable article may gradually gain for up. Still we believe there is room enough for every one to elbow his way te the platform, where he may address the people, certain of an

audience, if he can speak common sense, freely

and frankly, in good English. This is what the Editor of the " Pioneer " will aspire^to do ; whether he shall succeed or not remains to be seen." — Judging from the specimens now before us, wo have no hesitation in saying tliat the " Pioneer " certainly deserves success, and will doubtless obtain* it. It is carefully got up, and contains a large amount of entertaining matter.

The Christchurch papers contain accouns of heavy floods in the Avon aud Wahnakariri, and which appears to have exceeded iv violence any with which they have been previously visited., The flood in the Avon was at its height about twelve o'clock on the night of Friday, the 12th, at which time large masses of watercress und other floating mattor were coming down with the stream, mid men were placed at phicoi where a block was likely to occur, with hooks and poles ready to clear any stoppage that might occur. Tho streets inundated nt Kaiapoi were, on the north side — Sowell street partially, BesWauk street entirely, Jones street, Charles street, nucLCass street, all partially. Ou tho south side — Raven street aud Rich street partially, Fuller street, Ackroa street, and Otaki street entirely, Peraki street, Ohoko road, aud Black street partially. The" flooding of all these streets was mainly attributable to culverts deficient in size, or> without proper floodgates, by which the water backed up on the low lands, while in the case of those on the north side the evil was increased by the lowness of the banks of the river. The "Wellington Independent" says: — "On Wednesday the mace presented by Sir Charles Clifford to the House of Representatives was formally handed over by the Speaker to that Assembly. It is of rather a lighter

and more tasteful appearance than that of the

House of Commons, though not possessing its intrinsic value, aud consists of a 'staff of p.ilished ebony, capped at the handle with richly chased silver, and bound with two bands of silver gilt. At the other end is a beautifully fluted capital, from which springs an oval head which has the arms of Great Britain cut on one side, and the seal of New Zealand on the other, with birds of this country as supporters, and surrounded by foliage. Around tho summit of this head is a band wi>h a relieved inscription in the following words : — '^Presonted to the House of Representatives of New Zealaud, by Sir Charleb Clifford, Knight, their first Speaker, elected 26th May, 1854.' The whole i? surwounM by » sUvw gilt- ovoffni the entir§ lingiU &f tkd ttfltt lifting thru* toti Thii

magnificent gift is the workmanship of Messrs Hunt and Eoskill, the celebrated jewellers. The mace will be used for the first time on the prorogation of Parliament."

The " Southern Cross " (Auckland) of the. 10th inst. sajs :—": — " Precisely at one o'clock this morning the ominous clung of the fire bells was again heard in Auckland, the locality of the fire being plainly indicated by the lurid glare in the heavens in the direction of Newton. The fire broke out in a threeroonied house occupied by a man named Riley, carter, and belonging to Mr Gunson> builder, who was also the owner of an adjoining house oe( upied by Mrs Foster. Mr RUey's children first discovered the fire breaking through the weatherboards in the upper storey froa. the chimney, and they at once communicated the fact to their parents. So rapid, however, was the spread of » the fire that the family had only time to escape in their night clothes before the house had burst into one mass of flame. The house occupied by Mrs Foster was quickly in flames ; as also a four-roomed house on the north side belonging to Mr M'Lennan, and one on the south' aide belonging to Mr M'Pherson. All efforts to pave these buildings were from the first deemed fruitless, but from the very energetic and most praiseworthy exertions of the volunteer fire-brigade under Mr Superintendent Asher, soldiers and civilians, the fire was most fortunately prevented from spreading further. Mr Holdship's private dwelling-house had an exceedingly naiTow escape, as well as houses belonging to Mr Conway, and residences on the opposite side of the street. There was a plentiful supply of water obtainable from the various wells in the vicinity.