West Coast Times. MONDAY. OCTOBER 29, 1806.

West Coast Times, Issue 343, 29 October 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY. OCTOBER 29, 1806.

A qukstiojt of considerable interest to the public of Hokitika has been mooted during the past few days, the satisfactory solution of .vhich must influence to a considerable extent the numerous works — many of a- expensive nature — that we are looking for at the haiu/s of our Municipal Council. It has been endeavored to be shown that the anticipated revenue will- be nearly half swallowed up in salaries, so as to leave a sum totally inadequate to the ivqui-e-ments of the Council. We will not quarrel with the figui es by which it has been attempted to prove this disagreeable position — they may be true, and they may not — but we shall take the

liberty of pointing out at least one source of revenue that appears to have been entirely overlooked, but which we think of quite as sufficient import nice as the number of houses and sections now rateable in llokitika, and which calls for as speedy and decisive action on the part of the Council.

It may be in the remembrance of our readers that the Provincial Council of Canterbury, just before the close of last session, parsed a measure of considerable importance to the commercial portion of the inhabitants of Westland, intituled "The Gibson's Quay Ordinance, 1866." The object of this Act was the collection of wharf dues on goods landed, and on vessels " discharging and refitting" at Gibson's Quay, Hokitika ; and described the boundaries of the quay, the power of the Superintendent iv the collection of the dues, aud a schedule of tke amount to be paid on each description of merchandise. Following the appearance of the Ordinance in the " Gazette," notices were published in this journal calling for tenders for the letting of the wharf, and detailing the powers delegated to the lessee for the collection of the dues. But on examination of the schedule it was discovered that, many 'of the items were so irmbiguously worded that intending tendeiers were at a loss to find any basis on which to make their calculations. Numerous enquiries were made at the Commissioner's office here, as to whether (for example) the tug-boats of the port were included in the number of vessels on which tonnage dues were levyable : whether sailing vessels would be charged during tlie whule time that they might lie at the wharf ; and similar queries, to which of course Mr Sale could furnish no satisfactory answers. A very considerable number of tenders were nevertheless sent in ; but it may be taken as an evidence of the loose and unsatisfactory manner in which the schedule was drawn up, and the uncertainty existing as to the amount of revenue to Jje derived from the clues, when we state that some of the tenderers reached as high a sim as L3OOO : whilst others thought LSOO quite enough. So considerable a* difference of course caused a representation to be sent to the Provincia 1 Secretary, the result of which was that a notice appeared, stating that for the time no teuder would be accepted, nor dues collected. There the matter rested and during the past four or five mouths we have heard nothing further of the " Gibson's Quay Ordinance, 1866."

When the Superintendent was on his last visit to Westland, the subject of these dues was discussed by one of the deputations who waited on his Honor for the purpose of laying before him various matters affecting the public interest. Mr Moorhouse on that occasion informed the deputation that among the sources of revenue to be at the disposal of the town on the formation of the Municipal Council, would be the wharf dues. \l\s exact statement then was, that ' so soon as the quay was finished, it would be handed over to the Municipality ; " and that valuable body having at length been formed, we think it time that steps be taken to obtain the fulfilment of the Superintendent's promise, as well as to more clearly define *\\c dues that are legally payable to the lessee of the wharf The Ordinance imposed one penny per ton per day on all vessels ''loading or discharging " at the wharf; but it would be rendered more equitable, as well as more remunerative, if it ran " on all vessels lying alongside the wharf," as it would then include the steam vessels engaged in towing and transhipping, which we doubt if the former wording does. Such a tax as this we think just and equitable, and will doubtless meet .with the ready concurrence of the parties concerned. The steamers tlnit ply in our harbor are owned in other provinces — some in other colonies; they have a wharf constructed for their safety and accommodation, a signal station, a harbor-master and efficient stuff — in short, all the adjuncts of a well regulated port : yet the owners of these craft have in no case contributed one farthing towards the revenue — not even the price of a business license. It it. only fair that such a state of things should be altered, and that those who derive a positive benefit from the wharf should contribute to keep 'it in an efficient condition. Ship owneis and agents are a class that have been benefited as much, if not more than any oilier, that has been attracted to the West Coast — witness this time last year, when LB, LlO, and even Ll2 per ton, were the ruling lates for freight, and when a couple of trips of some vessels more than paid their cost; and they cannot accuse the Council of injustice cr unfairness if it nails upon them for the future to pay for what they enjoy.

Cobb's Christchurch coach arrived in towu at the usual hour on Saturday night, bringing us passengers Messrs Maxwell, Couglilan, and Taylor. The road is reported to be in excellent condition, no difficulty being experienced in fording the various rivers met with.

Not to be deterred by the flooded state of the Aruhum on Friday last, three horses and a dray, in which were three men attempted to ford the river in the ovenjng, and but for the prompt assistance rendered by some boatmen they must have perished. The dray entered the river at the upper crossing place, and barely reached mid-stream when it was swept into the rapif's and capsized ; the body being broken up, the wheels and shafts alone remaining attached to the horse. Tho three men were of course washed out, but held fast to the wreck, and were rescued by boats which immediately pushed off to their assistance. One of the parties named Butler clung to one of the wheels, but exhausted and numbed was on the point of releasing his hold when he was seized and dragged into a boat, almost in a helpless condition. After a desperate struggle, the unfortunate horses succeeded iv gaining the shore, but iv such a state that one of them has since died. Wo cannot too strongly condemn the absurd foolhardincbs which latterly has been displayed in a very marked manner by carters and packers who tfi'.l persist iv attempting this moat

dangerous in or at limes wliou such an ac is nothing more or less than a wilful tempting of lVovidonuo. It is to bo hoped thut the lute I'nUil occurrences will for the future act as a salutary cheek upon su-jh mad attempts. \Vo have to correct an error which appeared iv our police report of Saturday la it. Instead of Elizabeth Heine it should have been Mary Fleming who was fined for making use of abusive language. We regret to state that Mr Eager, Oclonial Treasurer for New Soutli Wales, was stricken by paralysis ou board the Claud Hamilton, on Friday last. The unfortunate gentleman has for a long time been sutl'ering from ill health, and left Sydney for the purpose of trying what benefit was to bo derived from the more bracing clime of Now Zealand. The non-appearance of, the s.s. William Miskin occasions great anxiety, although experienced seamen Jvlieve she lias merely run short of coals and is detained in consequence by the light northerly weather which has prevailed lately The public generally are inclined to fear that something more Berious has happened. As can be seen by the report in another column, a public meeting was held on Saturday at which a Committee was appointed to collect subscriptions for the purpose of sending a vessel to her assistance. Lists were at once opened, and we are happy to say that nearly two hundred pounds are already promised, with every probability of treble that sum being collected. Since its appointment the Committee has held three meetings, and yesterday despatched a telegram to Dunediu asking«if any news of the missing vessel had arrived there. An answer would have been received last night but unfortunately the line broke down at half-past five o'clock, the' committee then being in waiting at the Telegraph Office. It is hoped that the damage is but trilling, and that to-day the desired information will be forwarded. On Saturday last, Dr Beswick, the district coroner, held an inquest upon the body of the unfortunate man Henry O'Reilly, who was drowned in the Arahura on Friday morning. The evidence adduced furnished no information touching the causes which led to his death further than we have already made known to our readers. A verdict of " Accidental drowning" was returned by the juryThe deceased was a vocalist by profession, and a native of Ireland. His mother is at present residing at rit. Kilda, near Melbourne.

We hear that during the last few nights the streets have been > infested by a gang of disreputable young blackguards, whj make a practice of insulting respectable passers by, whose business compels them to be abroad at a late hour. We trust that the police will be on the alert to arrest these offenders, who would doubtles.B be much benefited by a little w holesomo correction at the hands of his Worship.

It. is gratifying to notice that the products of native industry in this town are steadily increasing, a? many articles for which we have hitherto solely depended upon foreign markets are now turned out of hand here in a style which would do no discredit to the very best colonial manufacturers. The latest home production which has come under our notice is a very handsome spring cart belonging to Mr Dooley, the well-known ginger-beer and cordial maker. The cart in question was built by Mr Harvey of Beach street, and it is as strong as wood and iron, can make it, and yet light withal. It is tits 1 efully painted and finished off by Mr Griffiths, also a Beach street resident. We trust soon to see many more carts of the same make running in the streets of Hokitika.

Wo are informed by the " Grey River Argus " that a boat accident, which resulted fatally to one man, occurred on the Buller River on Friday, the }2th inst. Tiu boat was coming down from the Inauguhmi, and capsized iv one of the rapids. All the men in her but one managed to save themselves ; the other, a miner named Charles Bodle, formerly a storekeeper on the Otago, diggings, being drowned. Hjs body had not been recovered when tho iufornialion left.

We extract the following from Saturday's '* Grey River Argus :"' — " A terrible and fatal accident occurivd at Nelson's Creek on Thursday, resulting in the death of two well-known miners named Charlew Vincent Hamilton and David Farquhar M'Leod. The particulars of the occurrence are as follow : — .The deceased were partners in a large race in course of construction. The race is curried along a perpendicular cliff of rock about fbrty feet above the creek, and necessitated some very heavy cutting. At noon on the day in question, Hamilton and M'Leod were on the race, consulting as to the best means of removing a large mass of overhanging rock, whether to blast it or lever it down. Whilst standing considering, a large piece of rock, weighing about 100 tons, suddenly tumbled down, and knocked the men over the terrace. Hamilton was buried iv the debris, but M'Leo.l was precipitated on the surface, falling on some slumps. Alarm was at once given, and a number of men promptly reached the spot mid commenced to dig Hamilton out, but on the superincumbent mass being removed he wus found to bo quite dead. M'Leod, though ulivc, had sustained frightfnl injuries, and suffered great agony. Ho was conveyed to the township, but he died in about an hour. He was sensible to the last. The bodies are expected to arrive in towu this morning, and they will be interred on Sunday afternoon. The funeral will leave Johnston's Melbourne Hotel at two o'clock. Both the deceased were well known and respected in Greymoulhj They wore formerly shareholders in a claim on the Darkies terrace, and one of them, Hamilton, was proprietor of the Empire Hotel."

Mr Crosbie Ward, who is on his way to Sydney, with the object of settling, if possible, the differences between the Government of that colony and our own respecting the contract for the Panama Mail Service, called in at Ilokitika, en route, and was present at the tramway festivities on Saturday, at which he spoke, and was well received. Our Government is quite right in attempting to get these differences settled, as it is mischievous in every way that the misunderstanding that has arisen should be prolonged ; and we know of no one more likely to succeed in the task than the gentleman we have named. It was stated lately by t) % e Uhristchurch papers that Mr Ward was about lo return to England in consequence of ill health, and that he had taken the precaution of placing his resignation iv the hands of Mr Moorhouse, to bo sent in if he should not be able to return by next bession. We sincerely trust that the voyage will restore Mr Ward to health, for the colony can ill sparo the services of «o able a politician.

We havo received the following from an individual who signs himself "An Escaped Lunatic" : — Tho boauty of tho sunset last evening was a sight to be witnessed — not described. Vast masses of golden cloud lay piled in gorgeous splendour around the declining orb, and in wreaths and flakes and countless cloud-forms, radiuted far into the eastern sky. Low down on tho western horizon, as tho suu dipped into tho sea, it was one mass- of molten mantling fire, relieved only by spaces of almost transparent pale green sky, the depth and purity of which was rendered more intense by the golden bars that spanned them across. Fantastic fleecy clouds, delicate and filmy as a poet's dream, lay scattered or grouped over the entire zenith. The mountains, too, had caught .up some of the glory of the magnificent scene, and in rich deep russet reflected back some of the rays of the expiring suu. Nothing even in imagination could bo more beautiful ; the splendour of the hues — the endless and various forms assumed — the gorgeous coloring — all combined to form such a scene of loveliness as will not soon fade from memory.

We learn that a now scale of telegraph charges is to take effect from Ist November next. Ordinary telegrams will be charged at the rate of 10c). per ten words, and press telegrams at tho rate of 6d. per ten words, if the distance is uuder twenty-five miles. Beyond that distance the rate rises by a graduated scale, until, when the distance is -over 700 miles, the charge will be for ordinary telegrams 3s. 4d., and press telegrams Is. per ten words. It will be seen that in the case of ordinaiy telegrams the price will vary from Id. to 4d. a word, but in no case however will a message be considered as having fewer than ten words.

A notice has been issued by the General Post Olfice that " from' and after the despatch of the European mails via Suez, in November next, all letters and book packets from NewZealand, addressed to the United Kingdom, the Continent of Europe via the United Kingdom, America, and the West Indies, will be transmitted invariably by way of Panama, unless specially directed to be sent otherwise. The balance-sheet of the New Zealand Stenm Navigation Company shows a loss on the halfyear of £2651. A most impudent robbery was' committed at Greymouth on the premises of Messrs J. and E. Paul, between the hours of seven and ten o'clock on Tuesday evening, the 23rd hist., "and a cash box containing money and several deeds and documents of value, abstracted from the counting-house. The thief or thieves hud i-Uecled an entrance through a small side window which looks into Tainui street, from a small room usually occupied as a bedroom and sitting room by Mil? Paul. It appears from the indications presented that the robber had first thrown a large lump of mud from the street through one of the panes of the window, and finding that this created no alarm he must have con eluded that no one was on the premises. The window had then been opened by pushing back the latch inside, and the thief appears to have proceeded direct to the counting house, and opened the desk containing the cash box. It is evident that the robbery has been planned or committed by some one well acquainted with the premises and the arrangements of the office, as no other desk .was disturbed but the one containing the cash box. The police are making active enquiries into the matter, and it is probable they will find the suspected person to be the real culprit.

An illustration of tho manner in which cheap drinks are provided in Melbourne was afforded at the district court, on the 17th insf., when the inspector of distilleries summoned John Thomas, landlord of the Royal Cioorge Hotel, a " threepenny " house iv Bourkestreet, for having in his possession spirits on which the duty had not been paid. On the 15th inst., Mr Moody, from information which he had received, weut to defendant's house, and there found two casks, containing ninety gallons of spirits, which, from their character, ho believed had never passed through the Customs or p-.uM duty. He asked defendant for information as to where ho lutd ob'nined tho spirits, but failing to get a sari.-fictory reply, he took possession of tho liquor, and procured tho present summons. Tho spirit Mr Moody believed to have been recently distilled ; it was of two kinds, one of which was colorless, and about five or six degrees below proof; the other was tinged to resemble pale brandy, and was reduced to some four and twenty degrees uuder proof. However, both kinds bore the same character as spirit, and seemed to be the same material differently adulterated. Mr Moody said that he considered it a spirit tha' would be injurious to drink, as it was badly distilled, nud tho fusil oil had not been extracted from it. He and also Mr Heap, inspector of dUtilbries, expressed their belief that no such spirit could have passed the Customs, or that any merchant would import liquor of such a quality. Mr Hackett remarked that it was doubtless of such materials as that that the "threepenny drinks" were- made, defendant's house, it appeared, being one whero liquor was retailed at that price. Tho defence raised was rather a singular one, consisting of the allegation that the stuff had been originally jmrchnsed as spirits in bond, and after, wards adulterated and reduced by defendaut to its present condition. The evidence called failed, however, to support this defence. Oao witness had sold certificates for brandy to defendant at 6s per gallon, in bond, an inferior brandy, suitable for " mixing "" — uot so bad, however, as the sample of the so-called " brandy " found on defendant's premises by Mr Moody, but perhaps capable of being reduced to resemble it. With regard to the colorless spirit produced, the same witness could not tell what to call it— it was not Scotch whiskey, aud it was not Irish, but ke had known some even worse than that pass tho Customs, sent probably from Hamburg. The Bench considered that tho defendant, upon whom by the law the onus lay to prove that the spirit had duly paid duty, had tailed to do so. They accordingly inflicted tho penalty of LSO, with L 2 2s costs ; in default of payment, six months' imprisonment.. Notice of appeal was given on behalf of the defendant.

The " Calorimeter system" is an invention to prevent the spread of tiro in ships. Indicators are fixed in the captain's cabin, and when the temperature in any part of the vessel is above tho ordinary degree, a loud-sound-ing bell is rung, and the indicator iufallibly tells in what quarter the fire burns. An experiment was recently made at Portsmouth, in the presence of the learned and tho great, and the ellicacy of tho invention was so completely proved as to induce the Admiralty to order its adoption iv the British" fleet.