West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 595, 21 August 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1867.

We believe in another column a letter from Mr Prosser in vindication of the document signed by himself and nine other gentlemen, addressed to the Separation League, and in reply to some remarks of our own in yesterday's issue of the Times. It seems to us a very strange and unnatural thing to be at issue with Mr Pro'ser on this question,- remembering how earnestly he insisted many months ago on the necessity of absolute Separation from East Canterbury as the only hope of the district. At that time many gentlemen wh'» now profess themselves Sepaiationists, were averse to advocating so radical and extreme a reform. But Mr Prosser was earnest and determined in his tone ; and his leadership of the present movement might naturally have been counted upon. We may add that the report of his speech delivered at the great meeting at the Prince of Wales Opera House was interpreted in Christchurch by all parties, from the Superintendent dCW&wftydj, &o o, strong m$ fr<Hfle4

expression of opinion in the favor of the creation of a new Province ot Westland. The members for the distinct to a man put that interpretation upon it, so, we do not hesitate to say, did everyone else. Mr Prosser is now holding himself aloof from a movement he was instrumental in originating, and it is hard to find any intelligible reason for his doing so but this. During his absence from Westland circumstances forced the League to a decided course of action, and on his return, the members refused to admit the expediency of going back and re-opening the whole question. As Mr Prosser himself puts it, " When the League refused the adjournment of a meeting, when moved by himself, for the purpose of more fully discussing the important question of the kiud of Separation most desirable, I think it quite time to withdraw from the deliberations of a body, who seem so hasty and indiscreet in their movements.

Mr Prosser aud the other nine who have withdrawn from the League with him have had ample opportunity of discusssing the " kind of Separation desirable, although the League did refuse to assent to another adjournment of its meeting. Two of these gentlemen at least have had the absolute control of the columns of a journal which they are pleased to consider an influential organ of public opinion. And the whole ten knew perfectly well that this journal was open at all times to any deliverances they might have to make on this important subject. But what further discussion have they promoted ? What arguments have they adduced ? What single thing have they ever urged against the League and the Petition, except that it was long, and that it was not the product of '" leading men," and that its prayer was a bad prayer. Surely, if they had been in earnest in wishing to promote an exhaustive discussion of the question — what kind of Separation is most desirable ? — they would have been more explicit than they have been in enlightening us as to the " course of proceeding" to be adopted after Separation had been obtained. But notwithstanding all the earnestness, professed to discuss this subject fully, we have .been unable either by direct appeal by entreaty, or by satire; to elicit anything like a plain straight forward programme, to be set side by side with that set forth in the petition of the League. Finding in the original prayer of the petition matter with which he could not agree, Mr Prosser finds further reason for disagreement with the prayer in its amended form. A thousand persons he says have signed the petition in its original shape, and they had a right to be consulted before any alteration was made. Mr Prosser knows how little real weight attaches to this objection. The substance of the prayer of the petition is not altered. The alteration was made public, many days ago. A very general approval of it has been expressed. Not a single man who signed it, has signified his wish to withdraw his uame in consequence. It will be seeii that in order altogether to obviate this technical objection, attention is called to the amendment very prominently, by advertisement in our issue of this morning. Mr Prosser insinuates a charge of disingenuousness against us in omitting certain words in a quotation we made from the letter, and more directly accuses us of intentional misrepresentation. We shall see how far he is justified in throwing this grave irnpatation "upon us. We pointed out the absurdity of the suggestion that the elaborate petition of the League should have been subjected to the closest scrutiny and deepest consideration of all portions of the community before it was published," and Mr Prosser charges us with an " unworthy" suppression of the words " as the petition of the people of Westland." The fact is the Council of the League never presumed to publish the petition as "the Petition of the People of Westland." If they had done so, they would have fairly laid themselves open to the charge of assuming undue authority, The document was circulated as the form of petition adopted by the League, and recommended by them to the public for their signatures. It purports to be the " Petition of the undersigned Registered Electors, Electors, and other inhabitants of the District of Westland, in the Province of Canterbury." It depends not upon the will or dictum of the Council of the League ; but upon the number of signatures attached to it ; whether it shall be entitled to be presented to the two Houses of Assembly, as the Petition of the People of Westland. In the hope that it would attract to it such a measure of support, as might entitle it to be considered the petition of the people, it was circulated by the Council of the League for public in tormation. Mr Prosser's charge of an "unworthy attempt at misrepresentation" on our part, is one utterly without ground or justification. All other things apart, the fact appears to have escaped his notice, that the veritable letter which has caused this comment, was published ipsissimis verbis in the article in which we commented on its contents.

Fully convinced, after long fighting against the conviction, of the necessity of abolute Separation, with a view to the establishment of an independent Government, we make it our endeavor to meet every argument we find adduced against the action taken and the object aimed at by the League. Hitherto we have hud little of a substantial character to fight against, and this must be our excuse for dealing with merely the petty incidents of the controversy. By getting rid of these we trust we shall succeed in reducing the whole matter to a simple issue. But, in order to effect this, we must repeat once more our request that some explicit information be afforded of the practical action intended to be taken by those who avow themselves favorable to Separation, but not favorable to the " kind of Separation" advocated by the League. Surely they can be a little communicative op. that point, Mr Prosaer admits

the -force of our argument, that no petition for Separation will be eutertained unless it be part of a scheme for the establishment of a new Government ; but he altogether eludes the point of the argument, and he must forgive our saying he shelters himself behind words utterly without practical meaning, when he says tlie " course of proceedings" to be taken " after Separation shall have been obtained" may be " perfected as fur as possible before obtaining the division of the province." We cannot see ouv way to any tangible meaning through that fog.

We alluded in a late issue, to certain pile-driving works, commenced by the Government on the sea beach, and since then have been at some pains to ascertain for what purpose they were undertaken. Unable to obtain the desired information from the Public Works Department, we were compelled to seek enlightenment in other quarters, and can now state .on very reliable authority, that the Government has determined upon an effort to stay the inroads of the surf, and so preserve Beach street and the lower end of Revell street from apparently inevitable distruction. Far be it from us to cavil at so commendable a project, but we certainly object to the method proposed to perfect it, as being crude undigested and costly, and more than uncertain in its results. It appears that the mind of the District Engineer is possessed with an idea concerning the efficacy of certain works called " groins," to not only stay the progress of the surf, but also to induce the reformation of that portion of the beach which has been lately washed away. Now we take it that rows of piles driven in in the form of a square or parallelogram, the spaces between them being filled up with sheet piling, or horizontal planking, constitute a groin, which may be of any size according to the circumstances demanding itr. construction. Groins may be built of either stone or wood, and are often used to buttress delapidated wharves, and to protect river banks from the distructive action of the stream. As applied to this purpose the principle of groins is generally understood, as evinced by rough works in many of the New Zealand rivers — the Maitai, at Nelson to wit, the banks of Avhich hive been wonderfully preserved bylines of logs and brushwood, supported by stakes and projecting diagonally into and down the stream, which is thus thrown into the centre of the channel, and a strong whirl or eddy created iv the spaces between the groins. Much earthy matter was thus deposited, and in the coarse of time die spaces became filled by sand and silt and a new bank was formed, and so the river by a simple continuance was converted from a destructive to constructive agent. Groins might have been used to very great advantage at an earlier period in the history of this port to protect and reform the river bank and spit, but unfortunately they were not. Applied to effect a purpose of this kind, groins would be entirely useless without a lateral current to create an eddy between them. The stream must run side ways, for if the water washed directly upon the groins it would instead of filling scour the spaces between them and prove most destructive — because confined — in its action. We never beard of the application of the groin principle to preserve the sea beach in any part of the world from the wasting action of the surf ; and we do not think a single ease in point can be adduced in support of the scheme propounded, and now being carried out by the District Engineer. We have no hesitation in prophesying its titter failure, for although at certain seasons currents do run along the beach to the north and south their influence to create an eddy is more than, counteracted £by the direct onflow of the surf, which even when driven up by a S. W. or N.W. gale, seldom strikes the beach obliquely, but rolls straight home. West Coast beaches are much given to shifting, and waste and make according to the season of the year, as explained in a very able letter written by Mr Fraser, of the Survey Department, and which we had the pleasure of publishing in a former issue. In the spring and summer, when the rivers are in full flood, and come down charged with earthy matter from the mountains, the beaches make up, as the commingling of the salt and fresh water precipitates the silt held in solution by the latter, and this is afterwards thrown up by the surf in the form of sand, and so the beach grows. In autumn and winter the effects are precisely opposite, as the rivers at those seasons are reduced to half their summer volume and roll sluggishly along, bringing down little or no earthy matter to make good the wasting action of the surf, and so the beach shrinks. Unless by the expenditure of an enormous sum of money, we fear it will be found impossible to cunfine the approach of the sea to any given limit. In fact, we believe it would be impossible in any case, simply because there is no foundation of either clay or rock for structures of any substantial kind to rest upon. Let us suppose that groins hud been constructed twelve months ago, when the crown of the beach extended three chains seaward from its present position — where or what would they be now ? Either washed away or else standing ragged monuments of folly and fatal obstructions to any vessel that might drive ashore there. What would have been the consequence had piles lined the beach the other day when the Florence stranded 1 Why the loss of vessel and cargo, probably attended by the sacrifice of human life. Works of this kind should not be undertaken without mature deliberation, and the sanction of men experts in the profession of engineering. Experimentalising must not be permitted, for 'prentice hands, guided by head-strong brains, are liable to sadly bungle such delicate and costly undertakings. In days of yore works of the greatest utility, sanctioned by an Almost universal expression of public

opinion, were persistently objected to by the Government, and results the most disastrous have ensued in consequence, and now a work likely to produce abvsolute evil to the port is being pushed forward in direct opposition to the opinion of a large section of the public, comprising men whose practical experience enables them to form a tolerably correct estimate of its worth. Let these groins be constructed, line the beach with artificial rocks, and. woe to the hapless vessel, her cargo, and her crew, that may be unfortunate enough to be brought into contact with them by a heavy sea. As we before observed the question is one of vital moment to the town. If it is possible to give the beach a permanent character, let it be done by all means ; but first let advice be taken. The subject is worth discussing, and we shall be glad to receive and publish any suggestions that practical men may have to make upou it.

In consequence of the inclemency of the weather, the visit to Greymonth and Buthorglen of the deputation from the Separation League has been deferred until Friday and Saturday evenings next.

Cobb's Coach, from Christchurch, with the English Suez mail, will be due this evening ; but we fear it is very doubtful whether it will arrive to time in consequence of the severe weather which has probably been attended with a new snow fall on the ranges.

A meeting of the Committee of the Hokitika Literary Society was held last evening in the Society's Eooms, Eevell street. Mr C. E' Button, the President, in the chair. It was determined that the fortnightly meetings of the Committee should be held on Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays, as heretofore. A course of Lectures is also to be given in connexion with the Society. The opening Lecture will be delivered by the Venerable Archdeacon Harper, on Thursday evening week.

A concert will be given in aid of St. Mary's School, iv the Court House, on Thursday evening, when the children of the School, under the direction of Mr H. Friend, will assist, supported by several lady and gentlemen amateurs and the members of "The Liedertafel."

We are requested to call attention to the sale by auction, this day, at the rooms of Mr Cohen, Camp street, of the remaining stock of watches, jewellery, and silver articles, recently brought from Chvistehurch, from the niamifaetory of Messrs B. Petersen and Co. Mr James Craig is the Auctioneer.

John Vincent, aguinst whom sentence of death was recorded at the late sitting of the Supremo Court at Hokitika, lias had the sentence commuted to twenty years' imprisonment with hard labor.

On Sunday last, tlie new building for the Church of England afc Eoss was opened for divine service by the Eev. G. P. Beaumont, who preached morning and evening. The building is a very pretty one, and the interior very effective. It is from designs by W. B. Armson, Esq., of this town, and every way worthy of its purpose. It consists of a nave and chancel; its total length is forfcy-seven feet, and extreme breadth twenty-four feet. It is lighted at the west end by a large threelight window ; in the chancel by one similar but smaller, and by two light windows on the sides. On the north side, a neat porch, surmounted with a cross, is erected, and on the high-pitched roof a picturesque bell-tower is placed near the western gable. The roof is simply ei'oss-ticd with diagonal braces, and the framing open throughout. The fittings harmonise perfectly, and when tbo church is lighted the effect is excellent. The building will seat 150, and on this occasion "was well filled. The beautiful service of our church was rendered in a style which many have not had the opportunity of hearing since they quitted the home of their fathers j anthems were performed by an. effective choir, Mr Gutheil presiding at the harmonium. At each service, collections were made, and about Ll3 obtained. The total cost of tlie building ami fittings is about LIOQ, exclusive of the harmonium, which cost L3O. We congratulate the Building Cominittoe on the result of their labors in producing a building overy way worthy of its purpose, and an ornament to the town of Boss.

A very gratifying and deserved compliment was paid to Mr Whitehair, the manager of the Scandinavian Gold Mine, Hoss, a few days since, by the presentation to him of a very handsome hunting watch, accompanied, with a very nattering testimonial from his fellowworkmen in the mine. It must be very flattering to the recipient that while he has so succesfully managed the mine as to pay handsome dividends to the shareholders, whose confidence he enjoys, ho also has the good will of those who have served undev him.

There was another good house at the City Theatre last evening, when. Mr and Mrs O'Neil, supported by a talented company appeared in "Barney the Bavon," and the "Sprig -of Limerick." There was also a musical melange, and dances by the champion dancer Johnny Bui'gcss. The |whole entertainment was of a very varied and pleasing character, and was loudly and deservedly applauded by tbo numerous audience. This evening there is another very attractive bill, and we doubb not, that should the weather prove favorable, the City Theatre will be crowded, especially whon it is known that Mr and Mrs O'Neil are now paying their last visit, to Hokitika, and that their engagement is only for a limited number of nights. Wo understand that arrangements have been made for the engagement of a number of " stars " to succeed Mr and Mrs O'Neil.

The Criminal Sittings of the District Court commenced yesterday morning, before His Honor the Judge, E. Clarke, Esq. The following prisoners were tried. John Havtey, was convicted of stealing in a dwelling house, and sentenced to twelve months imprisonment with hard labor. William John Price, pleaded to a charge of larceny, and was remanded for senteuce. Joseph Sutton was acquitted of stealing money in a dwellinghouse, but was on a subsequent indictment convicted of stealing a gold watoh and chain, and was sentenced to nine months hard labor. Grorard "Wagner received a sentence of twelve months hard labor for larceny. The crimiual sittings will be resumed this morning at cloven o'clock. We hear that the trial of Charles E. Gundry, for the robbery of the Bank at Greymouth, and that Mr Button has boon retained by tlio Sank, to assist the Crown Prosecutor, lav O'fcougUlin,

The following is the return for the Hokitika Gaol, for the week ended August 17, 1867 :— Eemaining last week, males, penal servitude, 5 j'hard labor, 29 ; for trial, 11 ; imprisonment, 1 ; debtors, 7 ; default of bail, 4 ; default of fine, 5 ; total, 62.— Females : hard labor, 4. Grand total, 66. Eeceived during the week, 1 male, a debtor. Discharged— males : debtors, 2 j default of bail, 1 j total, 3. — females, nil. Remaining — males : penal servitude, 5 ; hard labor, 29. ; for trial. 11 ; imprisonment, 1 j debtors, 6 ; default of bail, 3 ; default of fine, 5 ; total, 60.— Females, 4. Grand total, 64. Eight of the males sentenced to hard labor aro employed at the Police Camp.

That delicate little fish whitebait is again appearing in the river, sure sign of the near approach of the Spring season. Fishermen have already commenced an onslaught upon them, as yesterday we noticed a Maori with a a basket full of the finny spoil, which h« was retailing at early spring prices. • We are glad to hear that the man Smith, the victim of the late brutal assault committed by Griffith Jones, is progressing slowly towards recovery. He is, however, far from being out of danger. - .

Compared with that of previous weeks, the number of cattle and sheep driven overland from East Canterbury during the week ending August 2lßt shows a slight falling off, as only fifty-eight head of the former and three hundred and seventy-five sheep passed the Eangiriri Station en route for Westland markets.