West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1868.

West Coast Times, Issue 917, 31 August 1868, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1868.

,- ypWe cannot shut cur eyes to the inct tli«t Ilukifika has lost much of the elasticity **■■* hioh distinguished its earlier days. I'liu feverish excitement consequent on the first discoveries of gold has long since passed away, and the natural reaction has left us in a state of considerable prostration. Without exposing himself (o being classified among that very disagreeable part of the human genus that are always grumbling, or with the pitiable portion that are apt to perpetually suffer from unnecessary alarms, he must be a man of very sanguine temperament, who does not recognise in the present condition of Westlaud a state of matters requiring serious consideration and prompt and active remedies, if our future is to bear any resemblance to our past. While this is the stale of the whole West Coast or county generally, it is particularly that of Hokitika, the capital. Though we have just passed our infant stage, and emerging from o\ir chrysalis state of a municipal corporation, have, by virtue of the Governor's proclamation, become a full-blown borough, our condition is

is far from an assuring one. Our returns of gold, it is true, are not to be lightly esteemed. Man for man, we venture to say that no other miningpopulation is obtaining equal remuneration for their labor ; and in ordinary circumstances, and with the same facilities that minors can secure in other districts, Weslland would maintain the character it at no distant time justly held of being the most prosperous portion of the New Zealand islands. But how can any moderate or ordinary return of gold struggle against being cut off from all communication, except by fits and starts, with the world beyond ; or how can our resources bo increased when impervious forests, impassable rivers, and trackless wilds prevent the miner from extending, except under the greatest hardship and danger, the field of his operations? When the discovery of gold was confined within an accessible area, and its working afforded scope for a large and dense population, our wealth and concentration could command trade and necessary supplies, and could overleap the natural obstruet;ons which, as the original ground got worked out, and the miners were compelled to spread themselves over a wider range, have become almost insuperable. Our first flush of success called attention to us, and the enterprise of the trader, who at all hazards ministered to our bodily wants and opened up to us the markets of New Zealand, Australia and Europe, was a'uply rewarded. But we cannot not now so easily cope with our difficulties. We have not only to contend with our former barrier to free intercourse by the sea, but our miners, comj>elled to spread out over a wider area, are cut off from all communication with each other, and with the principal centres of population. Whatever the West Coast maj ultimately become, it is at present but a goldfield, and the miner, the real bone and sinew of the population, is forced to pursue his avocation, under the most discouraging circumstances. When he becomes a pioneer, and, it may be under almost unheard of difficulties, prospects some new ground and points the way to new riches, he receives no external aid. The tidings of his discovery ma}' draw some of his own class about him. In common- parlance, a rush may foilow, but except in very exceptional circumstances, those congregated together, being left to take care of themselves, without any attempt being made to open up communication with the settled districts, succumb to the difficulties that surround them. Even if ultimately got, much time and money is wasted in securing provisions and other necessaries, except at famine prices, that would otherwise be devoted to producing gold. Under such circumstances, no ordinary golden deposit would pay or keep the miner in the locality. Ho is compelled to move from place to' place, and yet every obstacle is put, or at least left, in the way of his doing so. This is no doubt a thrice-told tale. Its truth is universally felt, and the remedy lies in keeping this unpleasant state of matters before the public. Duty, policy, and self-interest call upou every man to look the difficulty boldly iv the face, and to

rc-oolveto do what inhimliesto overcome it ; and arjid our mining and mercantile depression, it is a gratifying feature, and augurs much future good, that among all classes there is a moving of the dry bones, a recognition of the necessity of doing something, and an apparent willingness to aid in doiug it; and it is to be hoped that, having once put ouihand to the plough, there will be no turning back. We acknowledge with satisfaction the movement that has led to the attempt to open up a navigable channel from the wharf to the sea, and trust the idea will not be let drop from any temporary discouragement. Equally important in another way is the very energetic movement that is being set on foot to drain Jones' Flat. A judicious expenditure of even a very moderate sum must lead to incalculable benefit, not only to the immediate locality, but to the whole district. Government aid may fairly be invoked in aid of both undertakings. But even should this be refused, much may be done by local enterprise ; and let the BorouG-h Council, and inhabitants of Hokitika, and the miners of Jones's Flat remember this. In the neighborhood of the Kanieri Township and Lake there are promises of a great desideratum being supplied. What offers to become an important and highly auriferous district has had attention directed it, and the intersection of it by tracks, if not roads, will be a great boon. The recent escape from starvation of the scattered inhabitants of South Westland may be the means of bringing good out of evil. We observe from the Victoriau newspapers that the Government of that Colony is to be called on to cut roads through a dense and extent sive scrub in the otherwise populous district of Bendigo. How much greater the claims of Southland. The spirited report of the County Engineer on opening up the Arnold aud Ne-w River districts, which we recently published, shows how much good might be done there at a little cost, aud we hope the matter will not be lost sight of or put aside. Not the least gratifying among the signs ot the times is the adjourned meeting which, if we mistake not, is to be held to-night, to receive the report of a committee on the best means of developing the mining resources of Westland. At the former

meeting many valuable suggestions were made for opening up new dis-

tricts and increasing the facilities of communication in settled localities ; for the establishment of prospecting associations, and associations for securing* increased means of communication and the development and advancement of the mining and other resources of Westland. To-night's meet-in-j, and there must be no shrinking from their self-imposed duties by the promoters will have a wide field before it if the Committee's report embrace all that was suggested at last meeting, and the only fear of their labors coming to nought is that they may attempt too much. We trust that their deliberations may be conducted with prudence, caution, and .mutual forbearance ; and every well wisher of Westland will bid not only them, but the other bodies who are undertaking measures for rendering available oui* great mineral wealth — a hearty God speed.

A general meeting of the shareholders in the Maori Reserve Gold Mining Company is called for this evening, at tho Swan Hotel, Wharf street, at 8 o'clock. The works of this company are now in a very forward state. Their largo water-wheel is finished, and is a first-cla3s specimon of workmanship. All that remains to be completed is tho flume.

The coach from Christchurcb, due on Saturday, did not arrive at Cobb and Co.'s office here until 3 p.m., yesterday. Passengers :—: — Messrs Stevens, Kenriet, KilgQiir, Wylde, and two waysides. Owing to the necessity of clearing the snow fr-ftn Porter's Pass, the coach did not leave Christchurch, until Saturday morning.

There was a rery high tide yesterday, which combined with the heavy fresh in the river has played havoc with portions of the North Beach. At the back of the houses in South Revell street beyond the Empire Hotel, hundreds of tons of sand have been wa»hcd away, in fact whore a short time since there was a gradual, now there is a precipitous bank seven or eight feet high.

During Saturday and parb of yesterday it rained heavily. Much ram must have also fallen iv the ranges, as yesterday afternoon a strong fresh came down tho river increasing in violence as the evening set in.

The following 'g the return of prisoners confined in the County G-aol Hokilika, for the the week ended 29th August : — For trial — males, 5 ; females 2. Penal servitude — males, 9. Hard-labor — males 27 j females, 1. Default of bail — i» pl ~, 1 ; females, 2. Default of line — ma 1 . debtors 4. Total, 48 males, and 5 females. ..Received during tho week 2, discharged during the week, 6.

On Wednesday morning a special service was held in St. Michael's Church, Christehuvcu, iv commemoration of the return of the Right Rev. Dr. Harper, Bishop of Chvistchurch, to his diocese. Afc the conclusion of the service an address from the clergy was preseutedto the bishop, and elicited a suitable reply. In the evening a social gathering and publ'C meeting was held in the Town Hall, the choir being takon by Mr R. J. S. llarmau. The meeting was largely attended by members of the Church of Englaud aud several geutlcmen of other religious denominations were present. Au address from tho laity was presented, to which the bishop replied iv a somewhat lengthy speech. Speeches were also delivered by Uio Very llev. tho Dean of Christ-chi'i-ch aud others of the clergy.

Tlie Committee of the Hokitika ]? : -o "Brigade mot on Saturday evening, at six o'clock,, to open tenders for the erection of a look-out and boll tower. Thero were four tenders opened, but that of Mr Gibson for £16 was accepted.

Wo notice that Mr Mark Sprot will sell by auction at the Arahura Newmarket Yards, this day, afc 2 p.m., a mob of first-class fat cattle.

A grand bal masque will bo held at the Casino do Vcuise, this evening, Monday to celebrate tho completion of the decorations of tho maguiQcout ball-room, which will be illuminated by Chinese lanterns, whose

softened light will be enhanced by a number of costly mirrors artistically arranged on the walls.

After weeks of what — to use a sailor's phrase — may in truth be termed a period of " slack water," so slight (consequent upon the effects of frosts nud dry weather) has been the freshet discharged by the river, the much-wished-for flood lias at last come down to, we hope, confer a lasting benefit upon the port by giving it a navigable entrance. This result, however, would have been at the best doubtful, if the Corporation had not wisely opened a channel through tho South Spit; and then again this action on the part of that respectable body might have been rendered nugatory by the surf but for tho thoughtfulness displayed yesterday by two of our fellow townsmen — Mr John White (Panama Company), and Mr M'Farline, of South Revell street. As our readers aro aware, tho new channel question has of late excited quite a controversy in town, as many voices being raised against as in faror of the measures adopted by tho Town Council. Unfavorable circumstances of weathor and tide all but gave the dissentients the best of it; for, lacking the wholesome opposition jthat can only be supplied by the scoui-ing power of the river, the surf twice half filled tho cutting again, and on the seaward side made up the beach to its original high water mark level. The second time this occurred was during Saturday night, to the immense discomforture of the supporters of the project, of whom not a few were inclined to pronouuee the experiment a failure. But the question was unexpectedly decided in their favor by the late warm rain fall, which melted the snow on the lower ranges, and so sent down a flood that commenced at noon yesterday, and in the course of a few hours raised the river several feet above its original level. The day being the sabbath, all ordinary work was of course suspended, whilst owing to the inclemency of the weather very few people were about, so that the rise in the river and the advantages to be derived from it were not reported in tho proper quarter until nearly tlfi'ee o'clock in the afternoon. Then Messrs White and Macfarlinc visited the South Spit, and ascertained that half an hour's labor would suffice to send a stream of water through tho new channel. They at once mado this known to Captain Turnbull, and the Town Surveyor, Mr Frew, who had been at work during the greater part of the day, preparing for auother attempt to blow up the wreck of tho Frederic, and they then hastened on shore, and reported the turn of affairs to Councillors Prosscr and Ecclesfield, who, with praiseworthy promptitude, set about mustering a gang of laborers to do tho required work. Meanwhile the news spread, and caused prodigious excitement. Fully alive to the urgent necessity of getting the port open, a number of the principal citizens assembelcd, and volunteered to go to the South. Spifc aud go on cutting until Mr Whittaker and his gang arrived. Their services wore accepted by tho Town Surveyor, and some dozen or fifteen, and a few laborers, were taken across the river in the harbor boat, and at once set to with a zeal that did them infinite credit, whilst some of them displayed skill that led us to shrewdly suspect they were not; altogether upractiscd in tho use of tho "longtailed monkey." Scarcely a class iv town but found a representative in that earnest working group. Merchants, shipping agents, publicans and drapers worked " cheek by jowl" sbovelling away the sand at an amazing rate. We noticed a well-known dispenser of drugs, and who also bears the weight of civic honors doft his coat and "go in as if he meant to win and no mistake ;" a quondam newspaper reporter laborod near him, whilst the barley form of the Harbor Master rising and falling to the action of the shovel was to bo seen a foot distant in close proximity to the lithe figures of the Town Surveyor aud Messrs White and Macfarlane, whose performance stamped them as worthy knights of the pick and shovel. Less than a quarter of an hour's work sufficed to send a a stream of water through the beach, and by that time the number of laborers was largely increased by the arrival of several boat loads of men who had been engaged by the Corporation. Soon between 60 aud 70 shovels were brought to bear upon the trench which in less than an hour was scoured by a stream, of water several yards wide, and from three to four feet deep. Tho woi'k proceeded right merrily until past sun-set, when, as no further good could be effected by manual labor, the workmen were knocked off, and the river was permitted to take its own course. From that hour up to ten o'clock the effect was not quite so marked as we could desire, the force of the current being much nutraliscd by the Hood tide, and the heaving surf that came in upon it. We, hoowover, expect that a grea I deal of good was done by the ebb tide, and that the new channel will be navigable in a day or two. Much, however, yet depends upon the weather, rain being an essential requisite to bring about this result.

Speaking of the Eight Mile Terrace rush, the "Grey River Argus" says: — "It is the most important which has ever taken place in the New River District, and from tho nature of the country it is believed by those competent to judge to be only the beginning of a series of similar discoveries. On the terrace proper, on Wednesday last, two additional golden holes were christened — one owned by Rico and party, called tho " Homeward Bound," aud the other by Whelan and pavty, called the "Shamrock and Thistle." The unfortunate scries of lawsuits between the prospectors (Couch and party) and Cavanagh and party, have greatly retarded the development of these claims ; but on Thursday tho prospectors washed out three loads of stuff, from which they obtained Boz. 15dwt. of gold. Parties are out prospecting in all directions, aud two new rushes are reported to-havo taken place in tho vicinity — one on tho Mauukau Flat, two miles from tho Eight-mile, and tho other over the New River. — From another source we learn that — Rico and party washed out of their drive on Friday evening, 22nd inst., 3dwt. to tho dish, and ldwt. off tho lop of their drive, aud above the drive, i.e., above tho laths, two or threo grains to tho dißh. Another new rush has set in about half-a-mile in a S.W. direction clown tho creek. Tho diggings arc shallow, about six foot deep, aud only capablo for sluicing purposes, but very good. Most of tho ground is takon up, and the wator-rights also ; tho prospects arc from three grains to a quarter-pennyweight, and will pay a. weekly dividend of £8 to £9 per man. A correspondent, on whose letter the above remarks are based, says : — ' But I would caution parties against going, unless well provided, with tho 'ueedful,' as, speaking plainly,

there is very little 'tick.' It is o.) 1 / cash, without which a man had better remain away.' "

Mr Schafer, the traveller, is on the road to the Thames gold Gelds. The Tauranga correspondent of the " Southern Cross" gives the following information with respect to his pedestrian exploits :— " Mr Schafer, the wellknown traveller, started to-day, with two companions, overland for the 1 Thames. He arrived here two days ago from Napier, to which place he had travelled from Wellington — a distance of 240 miles — on foot, alone From Napier he rode by way of Taupo, and was a month on the way, having stopped at one or two places by invitations of chiefs. Mr Schafer has walked eleven hundred miles iv New Zealand, and is by all accounts an extraordinary pedestrian, having accomplished some great feats in that way, in one case having walked six and a half miles in one hour and fcweuty-sevon minutes ; and in another* thirty-seven miles in a little less than five hours. He appeared to be delighted with the appearance and climate of Tauranga, which he said excelled that of any other place he had ever seen. This opinion from an intelligent observer, who had travelled nearly all over the world, ia no small tribute of praise to our beautiful district."

We take the following from the " Lyttelton Times" the 27th instant :—" The General Synod of the United Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand is appointed to meet at Auckland on Monday, October 5, under the presidency of Right Rev. the Bishop df New Zealand. It is thought not improbable that his Lordship will resign the predidency in the course of the session in favor of the Bishop of Clnistchureh. Each diocese is entitled to send three cJerieal aud four lay representatives to the Synod. The clerical representatives elected for the diocese of Christchnrch, exclusive of Otago and Southland, are the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch, the Venerable Archdeacon Harper, and the Rev. Canon Wilson. The lay representatives are — 1. For the Northern district, Walter Kennaway, Esq. 2. For Christchurch and the Central district, Philip Hannier, Esq. 3. For Timavu aud the Southern disirict, the Hon. J. B. Acland, Esq. 4. For the district of Lyttelton, Governor's Bay, and the Peninsula there was no nomination. Of the above, we believe, it is uncertain whether the Rev. Canon Wilson, and Mr Kennaway will go to Auckland. The others named above, it i 3 expected, will proceed northward with the Bishop of Christchurch about the 24th of September, and will probably be absent from the diocese a full month, if not more. It has been decided that the diocese of Dunedin, although not yet formally constituted, should return the same number of representatives as the older dioceses."

We take the following from Saturday evening's " Despatch" :—: —

The present strength of the Hokitika Fire Brigade, including officers, i 3 thirty-eight working members.

An interesting trial of smartness and skill took place at the Fire Brigade Hall, Revellstrcet, between two members of the brigade, viz., Messrs Alfred Rawlings and William King. The match originated in a challenge sent' by Mr Rawlings to hi 3 opponent; and the term 3of it were which would get the fireengine in complete working order in the least time. The challenge wag promptly accepted, and at eight o'clock the competitors, accompanied by their friends, entered the hall. Mr King first commenced operating, and completed his task in two minutes. Mr Rawlings' turn then came, but he occupied two minutes aud fifteen seconds, thus leaving his rival the victor by fifteen seconds. A trial of makingup then came off, but King still maintained his supremacy, beating Rawlings by thirty seconds. 'We understand that the contest will be renewed in the course of a few evenings, as Mr Rawling3 is by no means satisfied with last night's result.

Information has reached town from Okarita to the effect that on the 23rd instant Mr Woods, Chief Marine Surveyor, and party were quite well, and were stopping at Otokoru Point. They however had not been able to get their boat from Bruce Bay since being left there by the Yarra.

" The following recovery of a lost article," says the " Daylesford Mercury," "is as singular an occurrence of the kind as we ever remember to have read :— Four years ago Mr H. S. Hilton, foreman of this office, but then connected with mining, was one clay digging in his garden when he lost a massive Oalifornian gold ring, weighing about nine pennyweights. Knowing the spot whereabouts ho dropped the trinket, he looked for it carefully and finally passed the surface mould through a sieve. Failing, after the operation, to recover the ring, he gave up the search, and the matter was at length forgotten. Judge his surprise, however, on Friday when his boy presented him with the missing ring ! On inquiry, it appeared that the lad was preparing the son for some peas, and while chopping tho lumps of eacth with a hoe the long buried circlet of gold flew up and nearly entered his mouth."

Here is another view of Gympie by an experienced and well-known practical Ballarat miner : — " Gympie Creek, July 31. At Gyinpie at last! S wagged it 215 miles — clothes, tent, blankets, tools and tucker. By , it was awful. What made the road so long was that I landed at Brisbane, and started for Yabba Creek ; armed there dark at night. Off again at daylight to another 1 .rush, called Slippery Creek j — both duffors. Any amount of reefe here — some good and some bad ; but they really are plums, such as 1-JOO ozs for nine days' work for six men. Any amount of payable claims to be bought into for £20 or d£3o. The nieii have to sell the golden quartz, as there is nothing to crush it. There are too many people here at present. I believe Gympie will bo better this day six months than il is now. lam thinking about buying into a claim to-morrow."