West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 573, 26 July 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1867.

What action will the Assembly take with reference to the sale of waste lands in this district? — is an all-important question at the present moment. "Will any action be taken, or will the matter be allowed to stand over to a more convenient season ? The position has, unfortunately, become more complicated since public attention has been generally directed to it. The Provincial Council has declared itself antagonistic to the principle of " right of entry." The Commission, whilst it recognised that principle, showed itself unwilling to act upon it fully, and the recommendations were faulty in other respects, and would, if carried out in their entirety, lead to endless confusion and delay when clearness and rapidity are imperatively required. Mr Moorhouse professes him- j self friendly to the *' right of entry" principle, but whether his own convictions have brought him to that conclusion, or whether he has allowed himself to be guided by tne avowed wishes of the people of Westland, we have no means of ascertaining. There" can be no doubt as to what his constituents want. The land question has been well ventilated, and it is unanimously agreed both by the niiuers and the commercial community that sales should take place as soon as possible, care being had so to frame the Act that gold-mining shall not receive any check. To this end it is necessary that liberty should be given to mine on purchased property — the miner compensating the owner for actual damage' done, and paying a further sum by way of special damage for loss of time and other contingencies, where they can be shown to be the bond fide result of his operations. Further, no land should either be sold or leased for agricultural purposes within a certain distance of active field-workings. On these points the people of Westland are tolerably well agreed, but there is-a little diversity of opinion with regard to the time over which the liberty to mine on private property should extend. Some have named 1870 as the limit, some 1880, or longer, but curiously enough, all confine themselves to the plan of making the right of entry clause simultaneously throughout Westland. It is a question worth considering, whether it would not be preferable to sell each block with the proviso, that for ten, or perhaps twenty years after the date of purchase, the miner should have the right of entry. However, as we observed above, everyone in Westland is convinced of the necessity for the land sales, with a reservation in favor of golimining, the chief industry of the district. But whilst our wishes are so clear, we are absolutely in the dark as to what will be done. Mr Moorhouse, as Superintendent of Canterbury, could not perhaps have been expected so tell us what course he intended to pursue in the Assembly, but Mr Moorhouse, as the sole representative of Westland might, we think, have deigned to enlighten his constituents on a point so vitally important to their interests. It is hard to believe that he will allow the recommendation of the Commission, the strongly expressed wish of a whole community, and his own personal ' conviction, to go for nothing ; but then on the other hand there are the resolutions of the Provincial Council, on which it was proposed to frame a Westland Land Act. We scarcely think Mr Moorhouse has done his duty by those who elected him in

going to Wellington without opening his mind to them. A journey to Westland was not to be thought of. The time was wanting ; but th.ere was surely nothing to prevent him waiting. If he concludes that his position as Superintendent would be in a manner compromised by so doing, we can only say that the sooner we get another representative the better. The worst of the matter is, that there remains very little time for the people to set themselves right. For anything we know to the contrary, a Bill not providing for the right of entry may already be drafted, perhaps, indeed, carried through its first stages. Once let it become law, and the mischief is done. The prosperity of the district will receive the heaviest blow it is possible to inflict. Supposing, again, that up to the present time nothing has been done with regard to this Land Act, would it not be wise at once to test the intentions of Mr Moorhouse and Mr Stafford's Government on the subject, and at the same time renew Westland's protest against land sales without reservation in favor of gold -mining. A petition to the Assembly, and a letter to Mr Moorhouse, both numerously signed, would meet the case. Other- points might be touched, on besides the right-of-entry principle. We cannot too strongly urge this matter on the attention of our fellow-citizens. We cannot be silent, knowing well how much a good measure would conduce to the prosperity of Westland, and how disastrous would • be the effects of a bad one. It is well enough to call for Separation from Canterbury, we have persistently argued for its desirability, and the movement now on foot shall receive our cordial support, but the land question cannet, must not, be neglected. Separation, or no Separation, government from. Wellington ov from Christchurch, or government of ourselves — no matter what the position — there must be land sales, if a settlement worthy the name is to be founded in Westland. If a bad Act be once passed, it will be a matter of time and difficulty to get it repealed and a better substituted. The Assembly are chary, and justly so, of altering the land laws of the colony. Nor must it be forgotten that we seek to introduce a priuciple not hitherto, so far as we are aware, recognised or admitted in New Zealand. There will be obstacles thrown iv the way of such an Act as Westland requires. The Canterbury members, with the exception, we hope, of Mr Moorhouse, will iv all probability oppose it, as dangerous and impolitic. They will recite the resolution of the Council, and argue from it that the province is against any such innovation. Let us be prepared to show that Canterbury has nothing in common with Westland, that our interests are not hers, and that a land law which would be objectionable and inapplicable to her is indispensible for us. But the first thing to do — the step which should be taken now — is to communicate with Mr Moorhouse, and ascertain what are his intentions on the subject. Westland has the right to question him as her representative, nor is Mr Moorhouse the man to withhold the required information.

We learn by a private letter received from Christchurch, that great distress prevails in the metropolis of the province of Canterbury, and that there are many men able and willing to work who, with their families, are enduring the pinching of great poverty simply on account of the lack of employment.

We desire to call the attention of the municipal authorities to a very dangerous locality iv Sewell street, almost close to the Post Office. The covering to the drain on the left hand side of the Btreot going to tho wharf has been broken through, so that a large hole, about two feet in length and one in width, extends nearly across the footway, and from this there is a drop of from three to four feet down to the bottom of the drain. A nice little trap this for an unwary passenger ou a dark night. We trust that immediate attention will be given to this matter.

The gold escort arrived from Ross on Tuesday .night, bringing down 1300 ounces of gold for the Bank of New Zealand, and 970 ounces for the Bauk of Now South Wales. The escort from the Waimea came in yesterday afternoon, with gold for tho Union Bank, the Bauk of New South Wales, and tho Bank of Ne%v Zealand j but we have boon unable to ascertain tho quantity brought down.

The weather yestorday was most delightful, and formed an agrceoblo contrast to the storms of wind and rain that havo lately prevailed. The early morning was chilly, but as the day advancod the sun shone out bright and warm, accompanied by a calm atmosphere.

A pretty robbery took place the othor night near the Hokitika and Kaniori Tramway. Some thieves gained access to a house which is building for Mr Abbott, tho Registrar of the Supreme Court, and stolo a quantity of carpenter's tools.

Yesterday afternoon, a seaman belonging to the brig Clara, now lying in the roadstead, but whose name is at present unknown, fell from the yardarm on to the deck and was killed. The body was brought on shore by tho steamer Yarra and taken to the Post-office Hotel, where it now lies awaiting the inquest.

Later accounts from Piper's Flat (Wahnea) confirm the good intelligence received a short time since from that locality. The rush is extending every day, and promises to be most important. Several parties of diggers were seen wending their way along the beach to-day en route for tho new rush.

The City Theatre, since the engagement of Mr and Mrs O'Neil, seem 3to be the most attractive place of amusement in the town. There was a crowded 'house last night, and " The Limerick Boy" and " Handy Andy" were received with roars of laughter, and elicited the loud applause of the audience. Mr and Mrs O'Neil start for Ross (o-morrow to fulfil an engagement of twelve nights, after which they will return and play at the City Theatre for a short season prior to their departure for Dunedin. To-night, tho Australiam Blondin, Signor Vertelli, will inako hi» first appearance in Hokitika at the City Theatro, and perform some of his marvellous and daring feats. We anticipate a vory full houso on the occasion. In our telegram, which we ' published yes-

terday, it was stated that a vacancy was likely to occur in tho representation of Christchurch in the Provincial Council. Since then we learn that Mr Garrick, of the firm of Garrick and Cowlishaw, solicitors at Christchurch, and who was the first Provincial Solicitor during the present reign of his Honor tho Superintendent, has it seems talked of resigning. Two local candidates are spoken of, viz., Mr J. C. Quentin, who twice Tinsuccessfully contested the representation of the Papanui District with the present Provincial Secretary, Mr Stewart, and Mr Barnard, who for some time was a member of the Christchurch City Council. In addition to this it is stated that the Government intend to bring forward the recently appointed Goldfielda Secretary, but we hardly think that Mr Bonar would consent to sit for any other than a Westland constituency.

It is really time that a hospital was established in town,, for the roception of cases that require immediate troatment, as at certain times and seasons the establishment on the South Spit is absolutely inaccessablo, let the emergency bo ever so pressing. We have several times alluded to this subject, and again have occasion to point out the necessity of such an institution, which could be built and maintained at a very small cost. To call upon the Government for aid in the matter would be simply absurd, but the Corporation might certainly do something to provide a small building, so that when unfortunate men suffering from broken limbs are, brought to town from the goldfieldsjtheycanbe at once treated instead of being constrained to a painful and hazardous trip by water to reach the inconveniently situated district hospital. No later than yesterday evening, a digger named Carlylo, arrived in town from the Waimea district, with one of his legs broken, a a tree having fallen upon him in the morning. His mates wished to take him to the Hospital, hut as tho tide was out were unable to do so, the poor fellow was therefore doomed to wait twenty-four hours before obtaining relief, as he is not rich enough to afford the services of a private medical man, and tho expense of a nurse, and hotel accomodation. He was taken to tho White House, where a doctor bandaged tho broken limb, but said that if it was not soon properly set, amputation would be unavoidable. It is not unlikely tho twentyfour hours delay may cause the loss of the limb.

A telogram from Wellington, datod the 22ud iustant, states :—": — " Thirty-nine mombors wee present at the Government meeting this afternoon, including several modorate provincialists, who had been invited. A statement was made, to the effect that no special opposition would be offered to tho provincialists' motion, and that Ministers would bo prepared, in a few days, to enunciate a policy iv some degree identical with it."

The Melbourne ".Argus" informs us that the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the question of mining under the Public Reserves at Ballarat laid their report before Parliament on the 25th ult. Most of the mining companies who had put in claims to any portions of the reserves had their rights recognised. The Commission recommended that permission be given to undermine the Cricket Reserve, Public Park, and Prince of Wales Reserve, subject to restrictions and regu^, lations to be imposed and approved of by the Governor in Council. The " Argus " says — " Great interest was taken in the report, and waiting for its production might be seen in the Stranger's Galleiy representatives of well known stock and shave broking firms, and managers of some of the mining companies interested. The Cricket Reserve was the one in which most interest was taken, and as soon as the recommendation of the commission relative to the division of tho auriferioua treasure in that supposed El Dorado was read by the clerk, a tubli was made for the telegraph office, in order to set the Ballarat agencies at work. A member of a well-known Collins street firm succeeded in obtaining first possession of the wires, and in order to securo all the advantage possible from so fortunate a circumstance, he, after sending his legitimate telegram, kept the office at work forwarding a considerable portion of yesterday's "Argus," and thus keeping his competitors out of the field for a far longer period than was at all congenial to their feelings.- The news, however, appears to have been known in Ballarat about seven o'clock pan."