PORT OF HOKITIKA.

West Coast Times, Issue 641, 14 October 1867, Page 2

PORT OF HOKITIKA.

High Wateb, This Dat. — 10.0 a.m. ; 10.25 p.m. Moox (vvtsl) to-day. — 0.57 p.in Oct. 12 — 6 a.m., wind, variable, very light ; barometer 29.'70 ; thermometer 56. 1 p.m., wind N.E., light ; barometer 29.70 ; thermomctor, 60. 6 -p.m., wind, N.E., light ; barometer, 29 65 ; thermometer, 56. Weather during day, mueli rain and very thick. Oc. 13. — 7 a.m., wind E., light ; barometer 29.76 ; thermometer 50. 1 p.m., wind W., light ; barometer 29.75 ; thermometer, sun 86, shade 08. 6 p.m., wind W.S.W., light ; barometer 29.74 ; thermometer 56. Weather during day — forenoon, heavy rain, squally ; afternoon fine, but threatening. ARRIVED. Otober 12.— SiL SAIEED. October 13.— Otago, b.s., Symons, for Melbourne. John White, agent. EXPJSOTED ABBIVAIS. Jane Lockharfc, brigantine, from Sydney, early. Beautiful Star, s.s., from Dnncdin, early. Lloyd's Herald, ketoh, from Duuodin, early. Alhainbra,s.s. from Melbourne, early. 10, schooner, from Melbourne, daily. | Mary Anne, sehr., from Melbourne, early. Valiant, brig, from Melbourne, early. Ceres, schr., from Melbourne, early. Favourite, p.s., from Dunedin, early. Excelsior, schr., from Dunodiu, early. PBOJBOTBD DBPABTURB3. Egmont, 8.8., for Sydney, to-day. Ahce, schr., for Pox's early. lona, schr., for Pakilii, early. Alhambra, b.s., for Melbourne, early. Gothenburg, s.s., for Melbourne, to-day. Tasmanian Maid, p.s., for Buller, to-day. Bruce, p.s., for Buller and Fox's River, today. VBS3BL3 IV IOBT. Brigs — Nil Desperandum. Schooners — lona, Star of Tasmania, Sea Ripple, William and Julia, Matilda, "Flying Cloud, Nile, Alice, and Three Friends. Cutter — Hope. Ketches — Mary Aline, Brothers and Sister, Standard, and Cymraes. Steamers — Challenge, Golden Land, Yarra, Bruce, Huntres3. IX THB KOAD3TBAD AKD OKPIITG. Jolui Bullock, schr., from Melbourne. Isabella, lighter. Bungaree, schooner, from Wollonga. Lizzie Coleson, brgtn., from Sydney. Gothenburg, s.s., from Nelson. Ocean Wave, schr., from Melbourne. Day Dawn, schooner, from the North. Sarah, brig, from Melbourne. Mary Cumming, schooner, from Melbourne. Esperanza, brig, from Melbourne. Elizabeth, brigantine, from Sydney. Pilot, brgtu., from Melbourne Christina Thompson, schr., from Melbourne. Egmont, s.s., from Nelson. Percy, schooner, from Sydney. Tho weather is playing most unaceountablo freaks, never before on this coast do we remember it as more unsettled, or, we may add, more unfavorable for bar work. Torrents of rain, with occasional hail squalls of intense' severity, alternated with fitful gleams of sunshine, during Saturday and until noon of yesterday, when the skies cleared, and a genial pleasant afternoon succeeded. To give place, however, to a dirty night, for the heavy storm clouds which lined the western horizon at sunset, spread over the heavens and discharged occasional drenching showers up to our closing hour. Light variable winds from north to east prevailed from Saturday morning to yesterday morning, and then the breeze shifted suddenly to west in a terrific storm of hail and sleet. It must, however, have been blowing hard from tho westward a few miles from land, as a very high sea ran in, and together with the flooded state of the river, kept the port closed, for we regret to say that no shipping business has been transacted since the publication of our last issue. We fear to speculate upon the chances of this morning's tide turning out workable, as the appearance of the weather last night anything but warranted a supposition that il would bo so. Very little businoss of any kind was transacted on the wharf during Saturday, in conEequence of the inclemency of the weather. A little cargo was landed between the showers from the ketch Huon Belle and schooner Dancing "Wave, but the bulk of their freights are yet on board, Wo may observe that a portion of the cargoes of both vessels was sold by auction on Friday last, by Mr W. 11. Binnoy, and fetched fair prices. Steam was got up on board tho p.s. Huntress on Saturday morning, and at high water ■ho left the lagoon and paddled up to tho ■wharf We understand that the return of tho Huntress to Auckland is not an unlikely event. Being bound by contract to leave Wellington on the I7feh inst., the s.s. Otago was unable to prolong her stay off this port boyond yesterday afternoon, when she proceeded on her voyage northwards, but before leaving transhipped passengers and mails to the s.s. Egmont, which will bo detained here to land them. In the event of the bar proving workable, the Egmont will be tendered by the Yarra this morning, and leave direct for Sydney on the same tide. Besides tho steamers Gothenburg and Egmont, only seven vessels were at anchor in the roadstead last night, viz. : — the brigs Esperanza and Sarah, brigantine3 Lizzie Coloson, and Pilot, schooners Ocean Wave and John Bullock, and tho lighter Isabella. Preferring open water under canvas to jerking and straining at their anchors in the roadstead, the brigantine Elizabeth, and schooners Mary Cumming, Percy, Christina Thompson, and Day Dawn put to sea, and were not in sight from the beach last night. We understand tkat the members of the Civil Service in Hokitika have formed tbcralelves into a boating club, and sent an order to Sydney for a four-oared racing gig, in anticipation of the coming Christmas holidays, during which some pretty racing is expected to come off on that beautiful sheet of water the Mahinapua Lake. So far aquatics, in a sporting sense, has been entirely neglected in Hokitika, but the initiation of the movement having at laßt taken place will, we hope, excite a healthy spirit of emulation in other sections of our small community. The departure of the screw steamers Gothenburg and Egmont for Melbourne and Sydney has been unavoidably postponed, in consequence of the bad weather and heavy sea. Passengers, however, will do well by remembering that they will start for their respective destinations on this morning's tide, should the the Yarra bo able to clear the river. In a former issu« wo gare a brief telegraphic notice of tho wreck of the schooner Manukau, and we now give a fuller account of the disaster us published in the " Wellington Independent," of the oth inst. That paper says : — " Intelligence reached town yesterday afternoon to the effect that the N.Z.S.N. Company's three-masted schooner Manukau was lost on Wednesday night, and now lies a total wreck about four miles from Manawatu Heads. The mate and a boy were the only persons drowned ; but when the person who brought the intelligence into town left Mana"watu, the carpenter of the vessel remained in the ringing, aad thcro seemed very little hope of saving him, owing to the heavy Boa that was punning. Most of the crew got ashore in o, boat, but Captain Bryant tract a colored »«

saved their livc3 by means of pieces of Trreck. The survivors were stopping at Mr Langley's, and were much exhausted by their sufferings ; otherwise Captain Bryant would himself have ridden into town with tho sad news. Tho Manukau wa3 a three-masted schooner of about 500 tons Lurthen, and was l-.itely refitted at a ccsb to the company of £1000. She wjis, when wrecked, on a voyage from Newcastle, N.S.W., to this port, with a cargo of coal, which is insured to its full value ; the vessel herself being partly covered by insurance." We regret to hear that a serious disaster Ims befallen the brig Clarendon at Greymouth, as we are informed by a gentleman, who arrived in town on Saturday, that she broke her back though grounding in the Grey river on. Thursday last. This statement is, to a certain extent, confirmed by the Grey paper, which informs us " that she was brought in by the Dispatch, and, when crossing the flat in the river below the Government Township, she took the ground, and as the tide was fast ebbing she was allowed to lie there till the evening's tide, when, having been lightered of some of her cargo, the Dispatch hauled her up to the usual mooring place. She must have got on a log on the river, for many of the bolts are started, and she is strained considerably about the main hatch. Consequently during the last two days of bad weather a quantity of water has poured its way into the hold," and damaged a portion of the cargo. She brings a large general cai-go of merchandise, and is consigued to Messr3 Gleuu Bros." The Islaxd of Opatja. — The Island of Opara was first seen from the lluahine at 9.30 a.m., distant twenty-five miles W. j-S. Its appearance was very remarkable on a nearer approach, consisting of a number of sharp rugged peaks from 2000 to 3000 feet above the level of tho sea. On closer examination they appear to have been thrown up up by volcanic action, as the shoulders of the mountains avo covered by soil lying in those peculiar layers known to geologists as of aqueous formation, and through these layers the rugged peaks appear to have been violently thrust, disarranging and twisting the strata in an extraordinary manner. The harbour is protected on three sides by high land ; in fact it may be described as a ravine running towards the centre of the island, becoming very shallow as it go.*s inland, and protected to seaward by coral reefs rising up almost to tho surface of the sea. Tho whole harbour lias been surveyed, and the passage through the reefs buoyed by Messrs Qnayle and Lusher, officers in tho Panama Company's service. The Biuahine proceeded into the harbour at half-speed with tho greatest ease, and was at once placed alongside tho coal-ship Midas, aud with the assistance of her excellent steam machinery the coaling proceeded a!; the rate of 25 tons an hour. Many passengers visited ! tho shore, and scaling the hills were rewarded by a most magnificent view. Tho harbour was seen to extend inland about two miles, with many waterfowl sporting in the calm waters in the western end, while to seaward the coral reefs, with the passage through them, were as plainly visible through the blue sea as in tho best delineated chart; Tho valleys aro filled with dense scrub, amongst which were some splendid specimens of tho tree-fern. The-island contains about 7000 acre 3of land available for grazing purposes ; tho grass is •oarse and scanty, but the wild goose seems 'to thrive upon it. 2he natives are a simple* harmless race, about 200 in number. Upon the summits of tho highest peaks are the extensive remains of native fortifications,* constructed of hewn stone, well squared and smoothed, Some of these stones are two tons weight, and a cemeut has been used to unite them which is of great tenacity and hardness. Tae natives say these were creeled many moons ago, when tho natives were very numerous and made war upon each other. They say they are determined to have no more wav, and have therefore sold or destroyed their weapons. They aro very intelligent, and many of them are being taught to read by native missionaries. Their language is much like the Maori, and they are readily conversed with in that language. Excellent bananas, yams, taro, and cabbages are plentiful, and upon these and fish, particularly crayfish, the natives subsist. A seam of indifferent coal exists in a part of tho island, which is almost inaccessible, but still the natives get enough of it to use for cooking purposes. Ia the centre of the island stands a huge mass of rock, having the appearance of columns cemented together. A remarkable tunnel was observed to perforate this curious relic of by-gone convulsions, and the sky being visible through this window as it were, gave to tho whole the semblance of a huge half-rained tower. Tho cocoanut formerly abouuded, but they were all killed a few years ago by a blight. A supply of nuts has been sent for to Tahita, to be planted in suitable situations. In May last, the French man-of-war Latouche, Captain Quentiu, called at the island, and having bought the sovereignty from the King for a gallon of rum and some old clothes, hoisted the flag of the Tahitian Protectorate. Tiu's flag was kept flying at tho missionaries' house aud chapel during the Ruahine's visit. His dusky Majesty, having drunk all the rum, now begins to repent of his bargain, and says he hopes tho English will always come to his dominions, and preserve them from all intruders. — "New Zealand Times," Oct. 4. TO THE EDITOE OP THE WEST COAST TIMES. Sir — I beg to enclose a copy of a letter which I have addressed aud forwarded to the " Grey River Argus" and will feel obliged by giving it insertion in your, next issue. Yours, &c., JonN WniTE. ______ | To the Editor of tho " Grey River Argus." Sir — My attention has been directed to an article in your issue of the Bth inst, and to a paragraph in your shipping column of the same date, reflecting on the" conduct of tho business of the P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company's agency at Hokitika. With becoming deference I submit that your position at Grey mouth scarcely entitles you to set yourself up as a judge to decide upon and condemn the management of the Company's business in Hokitika; and if, further occurs lo n.e that you have not judiciously used tho liberty allowed to the Press in the article and paragraph to which I havo referred. Erom yoar stand-point it is barely possible to be in possession of facts lo enablo you to judge correctly of tho conduct of this agency, and it is pretty clear that you have not much exerted yourself to acquire such facts. You have committed an indiscretion by publishing upon insufficient premises an attack upon my reputation as tho Company's agent; and I feel sure that when I havo demonstrated that your article from beginuiii}» to end misrepresents tilings, you will readily make the amende honorable. To follow your article proposition by proposition ; lo refute untrue allegations, aud to expose sophisms, and explain tho circumstances from which they have arisen, would require moro timo than I can devote to the subject, and moro space than you wonld probably allow. Tho most puny understanding can realiso the fact that a baseless charge contained in ono line may require a column or more to refute. ]for this reason I must beg of you that if at any future time you should select me as a fit and proper subject for a "loador," you will bo good enough not to base your arguments upon ex parle statements and moro opinions unsupportod by facts. I will now prooeod to touoh upon tho moro salient points of your article. You itatsthut

" the deshe of the Coaipany lo cultivate tlu> West Coast trado is being constantly thwarted by my iclions." I m ight reply to this by four simple monosyllabic words, but I prefer to treat the editorial chair with courtesy. I ask you on what grounds you base this sweeping assertion ? I challenge you to bring forward ono instance in which the Company's interests have suffered at Greymoulh, or elsewhere, through my neglect, mismanagement, or want of judgment? ' Tho Airedale affair I will presently deal with in exlenso. Your readei-3 will then know what weight to attach to the other portions of your article. You further state thai, through my actions the interests of tho Company aro allowed to suffer to an extent which you " fancy " is hardly appreciated at head-quarters. The reference to hcad-quarLers falls upon me as a brutum fulmsn, for there my superiors are in possession of data from which they can deduce sound conclusions ; aud their estimate of my capacity and fitness for the position I hold is not likely to be seriously disturbed by allegations unsupported by facts, even though they emanate from the great unknown " we." That portion of the article referring to the uncertainty of the arrival and departure of steamers, and the disappointments sustained by passengers, I intend to pass by without further notice than to remark that the difficulty of working the West Coast bar harbors, should sufficiently account for the irregularities to which you refer. Bub ib seems to be a foregone conclusion to placo every uncertainty, every disappoiutment to my debit. I neither second the Company's desires, nor the GroymouHi agents efforts, to cultivate tho West Coast trade! Misrepresentation can go no further than this. Its effect, however, is neutralised by its extravagant absurdity.

I shall now refer to the only specific, and come-at-able charge you have preferred against the management of this agency. All your other charges are vaguo, and quite unworthy of notice, only that their plausibility might deceive people at v distance. You say — " The most glaring instance of mismanagement that has occureJ, is that relative to the Airedale." I shall Sprocccd to give a brief history of that vessel's la-t visit here, and what was dona during her stay. Tho facta will speak for themselves. Tho Airedale arrived her j on the 30th ult., too late for tide. The following day her inward p.-useiigei's were landed. As the weather promised lo be unfavorable to working the bar next day — which was the clay advertised, and sot down iv the time tables for leaving — I sent out word to tho Captain, that I thought tho weather was going to be bad ; that there were 10,000 oum-es of gold for London at Greymouth, that I expected to secure :i good many outward passengers here, and that it would be desirable to wait — should the weather continue unfavorable — until tho latest possible moment. Tho Captain's reply was to the effect that he would not, unle-33 absolutely compelled by want of time, loave without the gold and passengers. On the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, what with wind, high sea, and freshets, the Hokitika bar was absolutely impassable. On the slh matters had slightly improved, but there w«s still so much frosh in tho river, so ht<;h a sea running, and so undefined a channel^ that all tho tug masters declined to venture ouv. I succeeded, however, about 3 p.m. that day in inducing Captain Souter, of tho Tasmunia.n Maid, to undertake the ri-ks of crossing the bar with his vessel, and at about 5.80 p.m. tho Airedale, having embarked some forty jrassengors, of whom two were for New York, proceeded on her voyage. Now, Sir, tho Airedale's tiolcn tion here on account of bad weather*extended from tho 2nd to tho oth — four days inclusively. You slate "she might have been tendered ab Greymouth on two or Ihreo days during the time she was waiting unpro.'itably outsido Hokitika." I would be gla'l lo know which wers tho two or three day» ? On the 2nd, 3rd, and sth tho company's agent at Greymouth telegraphed me, in tha most positive terms, that on none of those days could the Airedale be tendered. A gentleman who so " industriously consults the company's interests," and to whose "assiduity iv furthering the company's welfare" you yourself testify, would not, I am sure, deceive mo in a matter of such vital importance. lam forced, t hen, to conclude that you have misstated the case in this very important particular. I have yet to deal v.illi another day — the 4th. On that day the Greymouth asrent telegraphed as follows : — " Heavy freshet here ; Dispatch will tender Airedale if bar not worse, and she leaves at once." Although her being tendered was contingent upon these two eircuinstanoes, I promptly decided upon trying the chance," and within two minutc3 from the receipt of the telegram I was at the signal-hta-tion, ready to signal the Airedale "Procoed to Greymouth forthwith." From defective arrangements at the signal station, explained in a letter to . the West Coast Tijies, which you havo quoted, I was unable to signal iv timo to be of any service. This, although strongly deprecated at tho timo proved to be a fortunate circumstance for the Hokitika public and tho company ; for, had the Airedale been sent to Greymouth that day, not only would B*io hare raisasd tho shipment of gold at that port, but also tho mails and passengers from this port. In fact she would havo left the West Coast without earning a cent. And why ? Because the Dispatch was sent out during a heavy froshet, when tho chances were a thousand to one against her getting back that day, without tJie gold onboard. Nor did she'geb back until the next afternoon (sth), and then I received a telogram — '•' Gold cannot bo got on board tonight; Dispatch just in, paddlo- wheel damaged."

It is clear that Airedale's mission to Greymouth would havo been fruitless, owing to the bar being unworkable on tho 2nd, 3rd, and sth, and to the chauco afforded by tho Dispatch on tho 4fch, not being seized upon. My mismanaging proclivities forced upon mo the conviction that under the then existing circumstances whatever was to go out to the Airedale, must go by the first chanco that offered of crossing the bar. Nor did I wait until one turned up in tho ordinary way. I mado one by earnest negotiations with Captain Souter and his agents, to which both can testify. That i 3 how I mismanaged ; this is how I neglected tho interests entrusted to mo. Had the Airedale gone to Greymouth on tho 4th she would havo found the Dispatch outside with nothing for her ; would have renvSuied until after tho Dispatch wont in on the sth, in expectation of her coining out again with the gold, &c. But the Dispatch went in and could nob conio out again. Telugram absolutely stale 3 " gold ranuot bo got on board tonight." This boing the case, the Airedale would doubtless huvo proceeded without returning here, and her wholo mission to Iho West Coast would have been uselosa to tho public, and a serious loss to the company. It would bo a waste of timo to answer all the charges contained in your extraordinary concoction ; but there is ono other demands, and shall receive, notice. You charge mo with ordering the Airedale to proceed from here lo Nelson direct, to tho entiro neglsct of the requiremeuts of Greymouth. Where in tho name of fortune- did you got this piece of information ? I cannot understand such rockless statements heing published iv a newspaper, especially as they would, if true, clearly show that I am unlit for tho position I hold. So far from my ordering her to Nelson, this is whaL I did. When I learned by belcgmin " gold cannot be got. on board to-night," I immediately roplicd, "Any chance for Airodalo morning's tide ? If so, will signal. She ia' still in roadstead. Bo very quick replying." I received, for answer, "Bruce, just in'j wjU

not go out again. Will do her best iv the morning. Reply immediately what is to be done ?" Without leaving tho telegraph-office, I promptly replied, " Will signal Airedale Greymouth gold in morning." It was now past four a'clock. I hastened to signal-station, and signalled as above. I received tho answer by signal, "I cannot:" and shortly afterwards the Airedale steamed away. By tho time the signalling was done it was past five, and the telegraph-station was consequently closed. You will now readily admit that your charges of neglect and mismanagement entirely disappear before the light of facts ; at all events so far as "the most glaring instance of mismanagement" is concerned. Your vague charges aro equally groundless, as I will undertake to prove if specific instances are given. I regret exceedingly that the feeling should have got abroad in Greymouth, that in conducting the business of this agency I am unmindful of the requirements of that port. Thero is really no just ground whatever for it. I have seen instances which have led me to suppose that many of tho residents of Greymouth entertain tho notion that every Hokitikian is hostile to the welfare of the Grey district. Some such feeling as this, in my opinion, accounts for the merciless onslaught on me. Even if the two districts were at open war, I should do the be3t I could to favor the Company's vessels getting all the traffic possible from each. It matters not to me where the traffic comes from so long as wo get it; and if you will look closely into my actions, and not judge of them through the medium of local jealousies, you will find that then- end and aim is to faithfully serve tho interests of the Company which I represent. It is with the view of setting matters right, as it effects the Company; to show that its Manager has not erred in the selection of a representative to conduct this ageneyj; and to allay theSsuspicion that' Greymouth is slighted by tho Company's steamers, that I have addressed you at so great a length. Apologising for so doing, I am, &c., John White, Agent P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company. Hokitika. October 12, 1867. .—.— »