West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 574, 27 July 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1867.

Ix is greatly to be regretted that any part of Revell street west was ever recognised in the Government survey of the town of Hokitika. The first comers, of course, squatted on the most accessible spot they could find, namely the highest ridge of the sea beach. Their example was followed, without much thought, by subsequent arrivals, and so in a few months Revell street sprung into existence. It was not, however, the Revell street of to-day, but a long irregular line of miserable shanties. Had the Government at that time made a firm stand, and notified to occupiers on the Western side, that they held their sections on sufferage only, and temporarily, and that so soon as the township was sold, they would be compelled to move into the allotments as laid off by the Gomernment surveyors, and had the surveyors exercised a little common sense, and refused to be guided by the irregular zigzags they found ready made to their hands, Hokitika would have been, a more healthy and sightly place than it is. The excuse for the authorities, and the surveyors, must be that they were entirely new to their work — that they had no experience whatever in dealing with a population hastily brought together on a recently discovered goldfield. In Otago similar blunders have been made — as witness a portion of Queenstown ; but in Australia they manage things differently. The surveyor there takes no heed of what has been done before his arrival, unless by some chance the lines have been marked out as he would have marked them himself. One notable instance recurs to our memory : Before the Government surveyed the old township of Bendigo — since named Sandhurst — a very large and thriving population had established itself on the best site that the locality afforded. There were lines of streets, and many of the buildings were of a superior class — that is as wooden buildings ; but although the site was good, the surveyor was not satisfied with the manner in -which it had been improved. • He laid off a town of wide streets and good approaches ; the section-holders received notice to quit, and when the day of sale arrived- the whole face of the township was changed as though by magic. There was no difficulty in getting the people out of the surveyed allotments ; there was a little grumbling for a few weeks, but the thing was done, and instead of a collection of narrow lanes and filthy rookeries, such as may be found leading from Revell street — which is but a lane itself at the southern end — the cheerful and well built town of Sandhurst arose. The Canterbury Government allowed the opportunity to slip by. Persons invested large sums in buildings and improvements. They were encouraged in the belief that they would be permitted to remain ; so that when at length it was rumored that the western side of Revell street would not be sold, a very determined spirit of opposition begun to manifest itself. It avouUl, in fact, have been impossible, at that time, to have compelled the evacuation of the ground. It was not, however, too late to have prevented the occupation of the western side of Revell street North, but, although the Government had no intention to sell the land, they gave no notice whatever. They allowed sections to be marked out and occupied almost to the northern town boundary. Substantial stores and dwel-ling-houses were erected, and now the improvements at the north end of the town rival those at the south. We believe it was intimated some time since that those sections on the west side of North Revell street would be sold in due course, it being the opinion of the Municipal Council that that would be the best plan to pursue ; but now comes the inexplicable part of the story. We could have undepstood the policy of summoning the occupiers of these sections in North Revell street, for "obstructing a public thoroughfare." had the Government from the very first refused to recognise their right to occupy, and warned them off. But this was not done. There was, if po verbal consent, at least a tacit one, and in consequence the street has been gradually built up as we see. Now is the time, of all others, for the police to step in, and lay information against the section holders, now, at the eleventh hour, and ■when at last it has been determined (so we are informed on tolerably good authority) that the sites shall be sold. Not only have the informations been laid, but the cases have some of them come on for hearing, and the luckless defendants fined. We can fully understand why proceedings should be commenced against persons who take up sections at the rear of the j>resent line of Revell street, North, or on the continuations of the cross streets leading to the beach, but we are utterly at a loss to account for the'fact that persons being summoned for obstructing the thoroughfare, when what is called the thoroughfare was never so in fact, and has for many months been built upon, and when the intention is to sell the land to present holders. We feel convinced there is a mistake somewhere, but it is a mistake exceedingly unpleasant for the defendants, These proceedings have

already done mischief in inducing a a feeling of insecurity and distrust. The people are alarmed lest matters should be pushed to extremeties, and all of them resident on that portion of the town not laid off in sections on the Government map, be called on to reremove.

Our principal object in writing has been to ally tliis feeling, and at the same time to draw the attention, of the authorities to the fact in order that no more such proceedings may be taken in the police court. We have heard that in was the intention of some members of the Municipal Council to lay the matter before the Resident Magistrate, and endeavor to get the fin.es remitted. Whether this has been done, or not, we do no not know.

In our leading article yesterday the following errors occurred : — In tho sentence ending " all confine themselves to the plan of making the right of entry clause simultaneously throughout Westland," for clause read cease. In the sentence ending " but there was surely nothing to prevent him waiting," for waiting read writing.

We learn that the Scandinavian Gold Mining Company, working at Ross, are week by week becoming more successful in their operations. This week the yield of gold has been 1350z, which compares favorably with the yield last week, which was 11940z.

We hear moderately good accounts of the Big Paddock diggings whero two or three hundred mines yet remain. Not a few of the ' earliest opened claims are worked out, but those in hand continue to pay very fair wages and promise to last for several months. Another lead has been opened in the Big Paddock, but so far is not turning out very richly, the best prospect obtained at sixty-two feet being only 2 grains to the dish. Tho Blue Spur and Hau Hau miners are. doing exceedingly 'well, from L 7 to Ll2 per man per week being about the average yield. When his Excellency the Governor visited Hokitika he promised to send a number of English trees to be planted as ornaments to the town. His Excellency has fulfilled the promise ho gave, for last nighfe his Worship the Mayor stated that a number of willow trees had arrived, and would be planted where the Council should direct. The question was referred to tho Public Works Committee. It is probable that an inquest will be held during the day on tho body of the seaman who was killed by falling from the yard-arm on to the deck of the brig Clara, it would have been held yesterday but the Yarra had no occasion to go out, and thus the necessary witnesses could not be brought on shore.

We observe by advertisement elsewhere that tenders for lightering the Hannah Newton, as she lays upon the Spit, are called for. A musical melange and the astonishing performances of Signor Vertelli on the tight-rope constituted the entertainments at the City Theatre last evening. The Signor is very clever in his particular line, and must possess great nerve to execute the sensational feats with which he astonishes those who go to see him. His performances must be witnessed to be appreciated, for it is almost impossible to describe them.

Yesterday morning we announced that Willaim Carlyle, a miner from the Waimea district had been brought into town on Thursday night, suffering from a brokan leg which had resulted from the fall of a tree upon the limb. The man was removed to the Hospital yesterday morning, and on examination it was found that a compound fracture of both bones of the leg had taken place just above the ancle, the largo bone protruding fully an inch through the flesh. The Surgeon Superintendent Dr Riley immediately called in other surgical advice from town, and on consultation it was determined that the only reasonable prospect of saving the patient's life was by amputating the limb, and the operation was accordingly performed by Dr Ryley, assistod by Dr Rosetti. We are happy to learn that tho patient is likely to do well.

The " Grey River Argus '! says that " A rush, which is stated to be of considerable importance has tnken place to a terrace, about two miles from Razorback, distant about twenty miles from Cobden, on the road to Fox's, The workings and prospects are similar to thoso at Welshman's terrace, at Fox's, and large numbers of men have proceeded to the spot during the last few days."

As one of the "signs of the times," we (" Grey River Argus ") may mention that thebanks in Greymouth now hold about 20,000 ozs of gold for shipment by tho next favorable opportunity.

Wo are delighted to hear such good accounts of the Grey District as are Bupplied by the following paragraph taken from the "Argus" of Thursday :— " Facts speak volumes, and all that we could say about the prolificness of Moonlight Chilly could not carry talf the influence that must attach to the circumstance that a party of miners have brought down 700 ounces of coarse gold, preferring not to sell until they come down again with a like parcel, which they expect to be able to do in a few weeks. Another interesting fact is that a nugget weighing 30 ounces was found in the same locality a few days ago, and is now in Greymouth, where, we believe, it is the intention of the owner to raffle it. With such facts as these before them, our mining readers will be able to see that the attractions of the Grey district are still equal to those of any other place on the West Coast.