West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7,1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 662, 7 November 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1867.

We publish elsewhere Mr Balfour's report upon the Beach, Harbor, and River protection of Hokitika. It will be seen, that he recommends works that will cost in the aggregate L 7330, but dpes not consider the whole of this expenditure immediately necessary. lie suggests that the plan of the works should be prepared ; that the funds required to carry them out should be held available ; and that they should be taken in hand pieco by piece, as the emergency arises. This recommendation refers to the river works chiefly. As to the protection of the beach against further encroachments by the sea, what is to be done ought to be done promptly. Mr Balfour con-

6idcrs that the works hitherto undertakon have been judicious and well calculated to answer their purpose. lie pays both Mr Rochfort fu}d the Town Surveyor the compliment of expressing in marked terms his approval of the plans they have advised and carried out. He suggests some improvement in future operations, but says that all works of the kind must necessarily be experimental. Wo have the satisfaction however of being told, that no great blunder has been committed, and no money recklessly thrown away. By tho addition of eomc comparatively inexpensive works, Mr Balfour thinks the beach may be effectively preserved at its present line. Some few additional groins and about thirty chains of double staking would form a safeguard agaius< the sea. The total cost of these addlti nial works Mr Balfour sets down at t 1 n . \ei y moderate estimate of LISOO. He rltaches great importance, however, <,o tuj policy of " leaving intact all the protection provided by nature," and strongly coni demns the removal from tV beach of any dril'two-d or shingle. Neither should, on any account, he says, be allowed to be taken away. ' They " form the cheapest of all protections, the removal of which has been frequently fouud elsewhere to involve the necessity of producing some more artificial and costly substitute."

Mr Balfour repeats his opinion expressed on the occasion of his former visit to the port, that nothing can be done with the Bar, and that we must make the best of it as it is, without attempting to seek aid from science or engineering art. He considers, indeed, thatany meddling with nature would only tend to make matters worse than they aro. Any works which might be attempted, he says, with the view of making a permanent channel would only have the effect of extending the bar further seaward ; whilst works within the sand spits constructed with the view of confining the river mouth, would not only be uncertain in their action, costly, and liable to be swept away by floods, but would greatly increase the difficulty of re-launching stranded vessels iuto the river.

One important recommendation by Mr Balfour is that landing-stages should be constructed for facilitating the landing of stock, as the present practice of landing them on the unprotected spit is objectionable from its breaking down the banks, and thus helping tho destructive agencies against which it is our great aim to protect ourselves. The danger which was once supposed to exist of the river leaving the town, and taking the south channel, appears to have been somewhat exaggerated. Mr Balfour considers, however, that it existed, and that it was necessary to guard against it. The pontoon works constructed for this purpose he admits have not proved a success, owing to his own plans and Mr Rochfort's instructions not having been carried out by the contractor. Had it been constructed in the cautious manner recommended, no doubt, Mr Balfour says, the datn would have been still in existence, and have fully answered its intended purpose. "All shingle rivers like the Hokitika, he adds, are most capricious in their action, and most difficult to manage ; even tlu heaviest masonry v-orks often failing to be of any effect. That the comparatively feeble and inexpensive works hitherto undertaken have been attended with any success at all in checking " natural forces admittedly so powerful and so immeasurable," entitles those who designed them to praise. From their total failure- no discredit would have ensued, while " their even partial success is honorable to their designers." We coufess there is a good deal in this part ot Mr Balfour's report that sounds very much like an amiuble disposition to '• let down easy " a department that has made an undoubted and costly mistake. Mr Balfour has been too long in the public service not to have learnt Iho rule of protecting brother officials. Whilst admitting, however, iv guarded phrase that tho up-river works have been to a great extent a failure, he considers that by *' careful watching aud judicious strengthening and extending, the river may continue to be successfully controlled." For this purpose, Mr Balfour names in his estimate a sum of L9OO. For river facings and additional wharfage accommodation, he sets down L 4900, making up in all, as we have said, the total of L 7300.

It may be presumed that we now know all that professional science can tell us of the best means we cau avail ourselves of for battling with those strong natural forces that are so hostile to the port. We are told that we have done well, and we are told how we may do better. The expression of opinion by a man like Mr Balfour, that the works already undertaken have been of some service, will render the public all the more willing to sanction a further expenditure. Perhaps the estimate of Mr Balfour will surprise many by its moderateness.

The Coach for Ohristchurch lias crossod the Arahura, but some "■ ' doubt is entertained whether it would be able to cross tho Teremakan, flooded as that river was yesterday. The telegraph was kept open by the Government until late last night, with tho view of ascertaining whether the Coach, with the passengers and mails for Europe, via- Panama, had arrived at the Bcaley, but no intelligence was received respecting it. Wo are happy to learn that tho proprietors of^the Arahura bridge, Messrs Aldrich and Co, and tho packers, hare como to an amicable arrangement respecting iho rate of tolls to be levied. An inquest was held yesterday at noon, at Casey's Ballarat Hotel, bofore Dr. Beswick. coroner, on viow of tho body of James M'Aulay, a packer, who lost his life on Monday last by the branch of a tree falling upon him on the Three-mile traok. The only witness exaininod was Mr Humphrey (of Bailie and Humphrey), who stated that deceased beforo ho died, told him that one of his horses became entangled in a supplejack, which laid

across the roacl, and which was attached to tho branch of a treo. In otruggling to freo itself tho horse pulled down the branch, which falling on deceased's head, inflicted tho injuries which resulted in his death. Tho inquest was then adjourned to this day, at noon, for the attendance of other witnesses.

Tho Resident Magistrate gave judgment for tho plaintiff yesterday in the caso of Clayton v. Klein, thereby affirming tho right of tho Corporation to recover the second moiety of the rates. Mr Rues, for defendant, obtained leave, a3 a matter of course, to appeal to the Supreme Court. The now ground belonging to the Hokitika Cricket Club is getting into capital order, and will shortly be close-fenced. A match will be pb-jd on Saturday, between eleven from Gheymouth and eleven of tho Hokifcika Club. A large and influential meeting of the lovers of the Turl' »vas held last evening, at Dyson's British Empire Hotel, Mr Carey iv the 'chair. It was finally si'fctled that tho Hokifcika Races take placo on tho 30th and Slsfc Docomber, an<l tho lab January next. The stewards wero chosen aud Mr Carey jvas appointed judge ;Mr Dyson starter ; and Mr Christian clerk of the course. A sub -committee was elected, tho membersof which willmoofctlus evening, to propare tho usual prograunno, which will bo finally settled at a meetiug to be held on Monday next. We beliove that thoro ia every reason to hope that the forthcoming meeting will bo tho most successful over held on tho West Const. A meeting of the ratepayers and inhabitants of Tancred streofc was held last evening, at Allen's Tancred street Hotel, for tho purpose of taking the advice of some practical gentlemen ns to tho best and most economical means of preventing tho destruction of tho work performed by the Corporation in forming Tancred street, and also for taking measures to covor in the drains. Mr Upjohn occupied tho chair, and Messrs Aldrich and Hirst wore present to advise as to tho course most dosirable to be adopted. Tho following resolutions were passed:— "That this meeting is of opinion, after hearing Messrs Aldrich, Hiref, and Con non, that tho drain iv TaucreJ street can be covored in and mado efficient aud durablo to tho extent of five chains (more or less), extending from Wold streofc to Hamilton street, at a cost of cay LIOO. This resolution to bo part of the instructions to the deputation to be appointed to wait ou the Public Works Committee." — " That it bo part of the I instructions to tho deputation to draw the attention of the Public Works Committee to tho destruction of public property in consequence of tho insufficient drainago in Weld street, which receives a quantity of water from Revell street, which iv its turn finds its way into Tancred street, and destroys both footpaths and roadways — filling up the drains and creating mhsraa." — " That Messrs Counon, Aldrich, lla .vkins, and Dick be the deputation to wait on the Public Worka Committeo." — The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

We are requested to call attention to the sale by auction, this day, at eleven o'clock, by Mr Q-. W. Binney, afc the stores of of Mr A. Cumming, of groceries, wines, spirits, &c, together with those premises known as the ".Old Bank Store."

The weather still continues in a very unsettled state, heavy showers Ml at intervals during yesterday, aud last evening thero was a violent storm of hail, accompanied by vivid lightning. Tho night then cleared, and the stars and moon shone oufc brightly. Such a ■accession of bad weather as wo have lately experienced iv Hokitika has not been met with since tho oarly dayg of the settlement of Westland.

Brandy Whiskey £33 12 0 3-10 0 Geneva 18 3 9 Tea G 18 0 Coffee 6 8 4 Sugar Tobacco 13 13 4 16 10 0 Provisions 23 12 10 Oiiinon's Stores r 4S 18 8 Drapery Timber JTancy Goods 230 18 0 25 5 3 2 11 S Grlassware 2 4 9 M.i co in t