West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 341, 26 October 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1866.

The arrival of the A.S.N. Co.'s steamer Alexandra in tb* roadstead yesterday lias placed us in possession of news from Australia to the 19th v instant, the chief items of which we elsewhere produce. The " unemployed," who constitute as prominent a section of the Melbourne population as ever — though their numbers, judging from their " demonstra tions," are ridiculously small — have succeeded in obtaining an interview with the Chief Secretary, Mr M'Culloch, and explained their grievances, the sum total of which appears to be that a petty section of the " hornyhanded," grievously afflicted with the cacoethes loquendi, desire that the interests of the colony should be entirely sacrificed to their demands ; and having a disinclination to leave Melbourne in search of employment, require that the public revenue should be frittered away in the prosecution of works of more than questionable utility, to keep them in town. Mr M^Culloch very pertinently says :—": — " If we are to provide for one class out of employment, why not for another ? Why not provide employment for clerks ? There arc as large a number of clerks now cut of employment as any other class/ This seems a way of regarding the question that had not struck the intelligent " horny-handed ;" lor in reply to the question whether the deputation would consider that a proper course, they preferred to shirk a straightforward reply by announcing that they " only came to ask advice as to what rhe people might expect." It is needless to add that the interview closed without anything definite being said or promised. The " Age," a 1 paper which claims essentially to be the " working man's friend," in a very sensible article on the subject, remarks on the dangerdus idea prevalent in Victoria that the State is bound to find 'employment, and that it is the duty of the Government to s prosecute at the public expense works which are not required, . merely to relieve a pressure on th« labor market. " The only exception is where large numbers have been, induced to immigrate under State patronage. Then, there is an obligation to supply, at a minimum rate of wages, temporary employment of the lowest kind. Such a necessity was forced on Mr Duffy during his first teiuii'e of v office, seven years ago. Crowds besieged the Lands office with a wail of distress, aivi four shillings per day was offered to all who chose to accept a job at road-mak-ing. But if the four persons who thrust themselves on the Chief Secretary, oh Monday, are types of the unemployed, such assistance would not meet their demands. One, avows that lie deserted employment as a smith, at the Black River, because his wages were reduced from Lsto L 4 10s ! This individual i«, possibly, unaware of the fact that there are persons innumerable in situations requiring education, trustworthiness, and skill, whose incomes do not exceed that sum, and who would not lightly relinquish their means of livelihood. The man who refused such handsome wages now complains that, with a vvife and family dependent upon him, he has done nothing for ten days ' Mr Ryan, the spokesmau of the party, is a bricklayer's laborer ; he cannot find work, and if he could, seven shillings a' day is insufficient, because it will leave him nothing to put by. . It is intolerable to hear such pretensions put forward. In England there are millions of honest, hard-working men who pass through life without having saved more than will pay for decent burial. Once a weekthcirfamilies get a meal of butcher's meat, but they eat their crust in a spirit of thankfulness. Of course, it is not desirable that working men should be so placed, but we must take the world as we find it ; and certainly the condition of things which affords to mere laborers seven shillings a day is not to be complained of. We fear that, as a rule — and it holds good of others beside the working classes — savings do not always bear relation to the amount of earnings ; and, moreover, if men are to rise in the world, it will be less through parsimonious saving than by zealous, plodding industry and an aptitude for higher positions." ■ The other items of intelligence are few in number and devoid of any special interest, if we except the opening of the Melbourne Exhibition, which was -fixed for the 24th in&t. The enquiry into the loss of the ship Result by fire at Sandridge has resulted in au open verdict, there being no evidence to prove the cause of the catastrophe. The bushranger Burke has been committed for trial for the Diamond Creek murder,

and efforts aro being made to sui tally reward Mr Abbott, who so gallantly effected the capture of the villain. Amonjr the list of offences we observe a murder and suicide at Macldeford, the victim being a wo-nan, who had for some time been living with her assassin as his wife v The life of the murderer and suicide was despaired of.

Just now the polico are instituting active enquiries for a gentleman named Poole, who arrived in town from Okarita on Monday last. lie put up at the Shamrock Hotel, and tho following morning left to transact some business in town, and was last seen at Messrs Alcorn's store about midday, and since then all traces of him have, been lost. « Yesterday the police visited every hotel in town, but could hear no tidings of tho missing man.

The telegraph wires between this town and Christchurch have ngain collapsed, and in consequence the line was closed yesterday.

, A meeting of the Hokitika Literary Debating Society was held on Wednesday evening last, at the Fire Brigade Hall, which, in spite of the unpropitious state of the weather, was numerously attended. The President was called to the chair, and after tho transaction of the usual preliminary business, the debate on " Coal v. Gold " was opened by Mr Mowat. He referred briefly to the process of smelting iron by coal by Dudley,, towards the end of the seventeenth century, and the various effects and results which had followed its appliance to mqdern inventions. He contended, that with regard to gold, no new property had been discovered—no additional intrinsic value had been added to society — and that it was only beneficial as a circulating medium ; whereas, the world was but yet in a state of- infancy, as regarded the benefits derivable from coal. Mr Whyte questioned the conclusions of the former speaker, and submitted that gold had been of vast benefit to the world at large, and that its acquisition had been the end and aim of eyery power — . that coal had been of very recent discovery, ss legarded its extended application to scientific purposes. If the supply o! coal in Great Britain were to cease, its inhabitants would provide a substitute. State had obtained great power and influence before the discovery of coal, and he had. no doubt but that they could do the same again. Messrs Button, Moir, anc^ Clarke, supported Mr Mowat ; and Messrs Couzens and dimming, upheld Mr Whyte's views. As onany other members were desirous to express ' their opinion upon the subject, it was moved and carried—" That the further consideration of the question be deferred to Wednesday evening next." A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the evening's proceedings. The Arab ura boatmen drove a thriving trade yesterday, as the river was far too high to be forded with any degree of safety by horsemen. Attempts, however, were made by packers 4o cross the stream on horseback, which in one instance nearly resulted in the loss of a man named Donafd Cameron. He was travelling towards Hokitika, and entered the river at the usual crossing-place, but on arriving in midstream the current swept his horse away, and for a moment or two both horse and rider were completely submerged. Tho danger was imminent, as the curvent rapidly hurried them towards the breakers, aild in a few minutes their fate would have been sealed, had not two watermen, named John Leydon and James Howat, at great risk to themselves, boldly 23ushed off to the rescue, and succeeded in dragging the man into their boat, but not before he was within fifty yards of the surf. The horse managed to scramble on shore some thirty yards lower down. A number of people witnessed the occurrence which occasioned great excitement, as it was once feared that nothing could save either, horse or man. Great praise is due to Howat and Leydon for the courage they displayed, which was gratefully . acknowledged by Cameron, who was 1 much exhausted when he landed. The mails and passengers from Chvistchurch ' arrived in town yesterday morning, but not in the coach, which was left on the other side of the Arahura, that stream being so high that an attempt to ford it would in all probability have resulted in some serious disaster. The passengers and freight were, however, boated across, and transferred to an express waggon, which was in readiness to receive them. The road is reported to be in good condition, the detention of the coach being solely caused by the uuforrlable condition of one or two of the rivers. Wo notice on the way bill the names of Messrs Sharp, Bates, Harper, Montague, and Robinson. The yield of gold in the Waimea district is steadily increasing, every succeeding escort being an improvement on the one preceding it. Yesterday's escort showed a marked increase, as* the gold brought in amounted to 4900 ounces. Of this quantity a4OO ozs wa9 bought, by the Bank of New Zealand, and the balance, 1500 ounces, by the Union Bank. A heavy rush set in yesterday to a terrace on the right hand side of the Waimea track, and directly in a line with Scandinavian and Ballarat Hills. The prospect obtained was magnificent, as no less than half an ouucq to the dish rewarded the enterprise of the prospectors. Rumors of an exaggerated character were circulated in town yesterday, respecting the Pakihi diggings, says the '" Grey River Argus" of the 25th. We believe that a few parties of men who had arrived for the purpose' of buying tools and stores, brought a small quantity of gold, and, in to enquiries, gave very flattering accounts of the rush. We have been lit pains to gather reliable information, and we are justified in telling our readers that no definite intelligence has been received that may be considered reliable The excitement has in no way subsided, and large mun-. bers of nien continue to leave for the Pukih:. Several large cargoes of supplies have left and are about being despatched from this port, so that no scarcity need be apprehended. We notice that Mr Warden Jones has proceeded .to the new diggings, where his presence will no dou'»t be urgently needed. We expect in a day or two to have full details concerning the ritsh ; meantime, we abstain from giving currency to the rumors that are afloat. Information has been received from Wellington that another severe engagement has taken place at Ketemarai, near Wanganui, between the rebel natives and the Colonial force under Major M'Doimell. The troops were at first repulsed," but' being reinforced the next day they attacked- and carried -the rebel pa, killed 7 natives, and took 25' prisoners. Major M'Donnell wiw dangerously .wounded in the thigh,