West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 339, 24 October 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1866.

After a prolonged discussion, lastevening, the Municipal Council granted permisjiou to the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company to proceed with the construction of the line within the town boundary, under the, supervision of the Town Surveyor — whenever such a functionary is elected — subject, also, to the appro, al of tlie Council itself. A determined opposition was mode by one or two gentlemen, and one so far forgot the dignity 'of his position as to descend to personalities, but was immediately called to order by the chairjnan. The satisfactory solution of this question cannot be more gratifying to the promoters of the scheme than to . the public itself, and the interest that the discussion excited was sufficiently shown by the large attendance at the meeting. Immediately following the above discussion, a meeting of the>. shareholders of the tramway was held, when the terms of the contract were discussed, which, we believe, is to be signed to-day, and the works, will be forthwith commenced, the contractor being bound to finish the line to the Aralnira by the 20th December. .

One of the three remaining outlets from Revell street to the beach, will soon be closed up, as yesterday the right-of-way between Mr Moffatt's butcher's shop, and Mr Maneon's drapery establishment, was sold to a firm, which, we understand, purpose erecting another dry goods store upon it. Mr Moffatt was the original owner of the ground, but at the request of the Government, kept it open for the convenience of the public. The marked and steady increase in the value" of street property in this town has, however, induced him to exercise his right of ownership over the section in question, which, we believe, realised a very handsome sum.

We would remind our readers that tbe talented comedian, Mr J. H. Allen, makes his last appearance to-night at the Prince of Abates Opera House, on the occasion of his benefit. A most attractive programAb sets forth the evening's entertainment, which we nothing doubt will be well attended.

The overland coach left town for Christchurch yesterday morning, with a heavy load of passengers. We noticed the following names in the way-bill : — Mr and Mrs Warner, Messrs John and James Wier, M'Konzie, Coster, Cobb, and constable Bastock with a prisoner in charge. ' ,

The following notice appears in the " New Zealand G-azette" of the ,15th instant: — " Notice is hereby given that the Marine Board of New Zealand having ceased to exibt, the duties hitherto discharged by the Board have devolved upon James Melbourne Balfoiu', Esq., Marine Engineer for the colony oi New Zealand.— Signed, John Hall." Ihe sanie " Gazette " also informs us that James Edward Balfour, Esq., Robert Johnson, Esq., and Joseph Nancartiow, Esq., have boen appointed inspectors of steam vessels, under the

that Joseph Nancarrow, Esq., h»U been appointed Engineer and Surveyor for the colony of New Zealand, under tho provisions of the same Act.

! -Saturday's " Westland Observer " informs us thai, nt the Oinoero Greek, some fresh parties have taken up ground, and have made n satisfactory beginning, having got upwards of au ounce per week per man, though'only able. to work part of ench week on account of the. broken weather. When fully nt work they expect to do much better, tlie ground promising well, though the layer of wushdirb is peculiarly thin. One party visiting the creek last week obtained, as thoir first prospect, a 'four pennyweight piece to the dish, and although it will not run anything like that, there, is no doubt i that there is ground there and in the neighborhood, which, iir more populous districts, would bo extensively wrought. '

Yesterday's " Grey River Argus" says :—: — " Tlie excitement regarding the Pakihi Siggings has in no way abated; in fact, it appears to be spreading, judging from the large numbers of persons who have passed through or left .Grey mouth nprthwaril-bonnd during the last two or three days. There cannot have been many less than 500 miners who have proceeded towards the Pakihi since Friday, und we hear that the rush is attracting 1 .a great many from the diggings south of tbe Teremakau. What may be the nature of the information that has been circulated amongst tho miners, besides that we published, we cannot say, but we certainly must express our 'surprise that the rush is becoming* so important. We of course 'earnestly" trust .that profitable employment will be found for the hundreds who are Hoiking thither, but we must confess that we cannot see that our report of the place is sutlicient to warrant the prevailing excitement. At the same time, we have been assured' by many respectable per- " sons that the private accounts are highly encourngiug, and are considered us satisfactory jby persons accustomed to new' rushes. All we can say is to advise caution, until more detailed and reliable accounts are to hand. Tlie supply of provisions will not be scarco, as we notice that, the cutter Dart, with a full cargo, has been despatched by Messrs J.fi E. Paul, for the Pakihi, and we understand that tlie schooner Fancy has been chartered for a similar trip. The Kennedy takes a large number of passengers to the Buller en route .for Pakihi.

In its report upon the celebrated Five Mile Beach, the " Westland Observer " of Saturday says :—": — " Fresh claims continue to" bo opened up at the lower end of the Five Mile Beaeli, and in sonte instances -very good vesultsare obtained, though the stripping is occasionally heavy. In all parts of the beach gold is obtainable, and these other parts which have hitherto been comparatively neglected, {are now, in the absence of richer ground, attracting more attention, with every prospect of affording sufficient employment to a population for many months to come." The " Nelson Examiner" says :—: — f f We have the best authority for saying that Levy's statement, where he alleged that the Superintendent patted the murderer Sullivan's cheek, promised him a pardon, a*-d told him to cheer up, is a falsehood from beginning to end. Mr Sharp also says that the. statement that he refused to take any trouble about Levy's witnesses is etuiully untrue, for he went out of his way in assisting him." • * In its mining,report of September 15th, the ''Laehlan Reporter" mentions that the fact of No. 26-7 north having obtained a prospect of h Avft. to the dish on Thursday, went far to ve-ass'ure those whom the very poor washing in No. 10 last week had dispirited ; and, although there is nothing excessively brilliant in the appearance of the lower p;irt of the leiid at the momout we write, yet the prospects of . its proving one of considerable length are decidedly more favorable than they were somedays ago. On Thursday No, 21 north washed a p/ospeet of 14 ilwls. to the dish, and the same day the claim below, 22-3, half an ounce to the same quantity of dirt. Further down the lead, 36-7 and 38-9, were reported lasf evening to be on gravel, but nothing further , was ascertained. Tho next prospecting claim, 47-8, arc down 124 feet with their- new shaft without any sign of bottom, and the Joint Stock Company at 117 are boring: The lead is shepherded to No. 150 in this direction, but during tlie last week a few have given up their claims at the extreme end through their means •being insufficient to keep them in idleness for the many, weary months that would probably intervene -before the lead' is traced this distance. On the south end, No. 3 finished up yesterday — three machines or 72 loads producing 185 ounces. Only six machines of dirt, or about 144 loads, have been takeii out of the claim, thy total yield being 510 ounces, of the value of Llß36— giving L 159 per man for something like two months' work, with comparatively no expenses attached. No. 5 1 south, however, bids fair "to be the richest claim on the lead, the quality of the dirt beiDg almost equal to that of No. 3, and the quantity much - greater. During the week they have washed about 100 loads in four I machines, which Rave realised respectively about 60 ounces, 107 oiuces, 88 ounces, and 60 ounces — making a total of 315 ounces, or upwards of 3 ounces to the load, irrespective of the gold nuggetted. No. 18 south washed 57 loads during the week, and obtained half 'an ounce to the load. X)n Wednesday, a couple of nuggets, weighing 9i

ounces, were picked crut io No. 13. We undershnid that No. 12 south averaged over 5* ounces to the load — or 125 ounces to 21 loads. I The St. Patrick lead party bottomed on Thursday, at 7.7 feet, on gravel, but without gold. There was, however, a, dip of a foot in the shaft, and they are now driving. "Languishing as the New South Wales golxlfields undoubtedly are, there arc yet rich patches occasionally met with. Luclmow api pears to have been the scene of the latest clis-

covery, as tlie " Western Post " of September 28th says :— " The news from this place is : cheering. The Uncle Tom. party, after months of arduous toil, have arrived at the ultimatum of their wishes. During the week they pierced the rock, not only giving vent to the water, but arriving at the wushdirt in great quantity and richness. The lead is stated to be abouf. three feet wide and about fifty feet in length, the depth beiug uncertain. The dirt is dim-ci-ibed jf great richness, the enormous average of forly ounces lo the ton haying been talked about. That, however, remains to be tested." The " Braidwoofl News " of Sept. 29th jbdjt, \ — " Our readers will understand to what a condition buslminging has fallen, when we f Anpf wlw » fpw tyofttyp ft|g to tip twaf

of tho (southern inland towns, and who'commit tod mjuio most audacious robberies, are now roduivd to such straits that their last exploit \\iuj ihe stealing and' killing of "a pig belonging to it fanner. They merely escape apprehension by loi-ating themselves amongsjt the mountains, Avhere'the police would lose themselves, did thoy attempt to follow."

Owing to the late hour (12 o'clock) at. which the of the Municipal Council concluded lost night, we are compelled to defer our report of its proceedings. -We may observe, however, thtiMhe salary of the Town Clerk was fixed at L4soj and Mr Lam* was elected to fill that office.