West Coast Times. AND WESTLIND OBSERVER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 28.

West Coast Times, Issue 1663, 28 January 1871, Page 2

West Coast Times. AND WESTLIND OBSERVER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 28.

The County Council met yesterday afternoon at two o'clock. All the members were present. Mr Robinson brought up a report from the Kanieri Road committee, which recommended that the road should start from the east end of Stafford-street, and that it should be formed by prison labor. The Council resolved itself into committee for the purpose of considering the tenders for printing and advertising. The tenders for printing \rere referred to a select committee. The following tenders for advertising were received :— West Coast Times, 2s 6d per inch; Evening Star, 2s per inch per first insertion, and Is 6d per inch afterwards; Emiing Star, Greymouth, Is 3d per inch ; Westland Independent, is per inch. The tender of the latter was accepted, the ayes being Messrs Bonar, 9dtto9» %#V Rotfawop, wfl $c Chafrpw ;

the noes were Messrs Guinness, O'Connor, Scaulan, and Barff. Tenders for the supply of gaol provisions, forage for police, &c., were referred to a select coinmiLtee. It was resolved that the lenders for the lease of the Tcrcmakau ferry be received, but that they he not accepted. The ferry to be open to ail licensed boatmen. Mr BarJE's motion that the Comity Chairman be elected by the people came on for discussion. Mr Bouar moved an amendment, referring the matter to a Select Cowmiltee, to memorialise the General Government, and to consist of Messrs Reid, Scanlan, Barff, and the mover. This was carried. It was decided that advertisements should be inserted in the Westland, Dunedin, aud Nelson papers, calling for a bi-monthly steam service between Hokitika and the Southern Ports. Mr Button's motion— that no more honorarium be paid to members— was adjourned until after the "financial statement was brought forward. Several motions for Committees were carried, and the Council adjourned until Monday evening next.

By telegraphic intelligence from Greymouth we learn that the polling for a seat in the General Assembly resulted in the return of Mr W. IF. Harrison, he having a majority of 186 votes over Mr Buckley. Mr Harrison had a majority of 225 votes in the town.

Mr N. Salomon, of Dunedin, is again on a visit to Hokitika with a really magnificent stock of jewellery. He is now showing it at the Cafe de l'aris, and will continue to do so until Monday next. Some New Zealand Quartz and Greenstone have been formed into brooches, earrings, pendants, and very chastely mounted in gold, and they form very pretty ornaments. The stock of diamonds is also worthy of inspection. All the articles are of excellent material and workmanship, aud the prices are very reasonable.

Inspector James brought to town yesterday a man named James Smith, whom he had arrested at Ross on a charge of horse stealing and embezzlement at the Greenstone. Smith will be brought before the Resident Magistrate this morning.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Mary King appeared, on warrant, charging her with assaulting Annie Lobeck, at the Woodstock, by stabbing her on the hand with a knife, striking her with her fist, and pulling out her hair. The plaintiff declined to press the charge, aiid the information was dismissed. The Court then adjourned until the usual time to-day.

The second innings of the match between the Hokitika Cricket Club and the Duke of Edinburgh Cricket Club will be played today on the Cricket Grouud. The Greymouth Club will come down sometime during the week for the purpose of playing the annual match with the Uokitika Club.

The Australasian of the 21st contaius as a supplement a splendidly executed view of Melbourne, of large size. There are also views of the principal buildings, such as the Town Hall, Post Office, University, &c. It is printed on toned paper, and if framed would be an ornament to a room. Mr G. HMoss, bookseller, of Revell-street, is the local agent for the sale of the above.

The telegraphic authorities notify that on and after the Ist February, prox., tin- Australian steamers will be roporh.l t'ir- rumo as Interprovincial shipping, and only steamers carrying the English Mail will be telegraphed to all ports.

On Tuesday, Mr Warden Whitefoord granted a prospecting claim to Thomas Thompson and Hugh "Woodhousp, three miles south of Razorback, alid two miles inland. The prospectors have beeSi at work in the neighborhood about two months, and the sinking is between 12 and 14ft. The prospects are stated to be a quarter pennyweight to the dish, the cement wash is between eight inches and one foot thick, and the width of the lead is about 30ft. The lead runs along a small terrace, the ground is scrubby and hilly, and the gold is fine and scaly.

Mr Warden Whitofoord visited the scene of the new rush at old Darkies Terrace North Beaah, on Wednesday, for there are already several disputes, which is always a healthy sign. There sire about 150 men in the neigborhood, so that the place will get a thorough prospecting. Besides the Darkies claim four other parties have obtained payable prospects. Robinson and party are erecting a puddling machine, and three or four dams are being built. The men appear contented with what they have got, and are erecting hutß and otherwise making themselves comfortable. The stuff they are going through is a stiff sort of clay, quite different from the old working five years ago.

The following notes are from a correspondent at Murray Creek, under date January 22 :— " O'Connor, Rafferty and party, at the extreme southern end of Anderson's line, have struck the reef 3ft. Gin. wide. The stone is said to be the richest yet found. This makes the intervening claims from the prospectors look well. The Murray Creek Gold-mining Company's machinery is at a standstill yet. If the Company ever hope to make anything out of their speculation they will have to lay out another hundred or two in the construction of reservoirs, a work of no great difficulty. The population is still increasing."

Gold is now seen in the new reef, 100 feet below the present rich one in the Golden Crown mine, Thames. The reef is seven feet thick.

A singular accident (says the Jkarllorough Express, of the 7th instant) occurred on Monday last to Charles Fabian, the telegraph messenger. It appears that a sodawater bottle burst while being opened, a piece of which struck him in the throat, cutting a severe gash about two inches in length. Dr Williams was promptly sent for, who sewed up the wound, and although in a precarious state for a day or two, we are glad to find that the patient is fast recovering.

The fluming of the Great Hohonu WaterRace oh the Duke of Edinburgh Terrace, Greenstone, was on fire on Wednesday, and a portion of it had to be cut down. Bush fires are prevalent all over the country, in consequence of the long-continued dry weather.

The long-contiuued spell of dry weather, says a Greymouth paper, has put a stop to mining operations, as far as the actual washing of auriferous dirt is concerned, throughout the Grey Valley. Similar accounts come from the diggings over the Saddle, aud if ra,iq Hold* oft; mu,ch. fonger, outers w UI hfr

come despcrato. There ha? bet'" a >u>h to Noble's, and another to ji small gully in the Upper Grey district, but the latter is scarcely worlli mentioning, tho ground it. so limited.

I The following i.-, an extract from a Idler f 1 from an cbkcmcd correspondent at Nobiu'h , ' with reference to the riihh there. The writer is an old resident, and his information may be relied upou :—": — " A rush has taken place on the Waipuna Terrace, behind the old township. The prospectors are Hates and party, and the gold was found while prospecting an old tunnel, which was taken in about six months ago by a party of Italians. It is supposed to be a continuation of the lead formerly worked by Watson and party, and if so it will be good. The ground is pegged out to Mackley's Run, and tlieprospocls are, by one report, six grains to the dish, and by another, three grains. A share in the prospectors' claim changed hands the other day for £50. There are already several disputes about pegs, boundaries, &c, a number of which will come before the Court at Ahanra next sitting. The sinking will be from 30ft to 50ft deep, and wet, to those who have not tunnel drainage. The ground is mostly held by local miners — grouad-sluicers— who have plenty spare time this dry weather. When wet weather sets in, these sluicers will have to put on wages men to represent their shares." The above was written ou January 20, but since that the rush has assumed extreme proportions, and numbers of miners have gone there from Napolean's, Duffer Creek, Half-ounce, and Mosquito Creek. The Grey River Argus says : — The lead, or what is supposed to be the lead, has, we hear, been struck in three more claims at the lower end of Half-ounce. Robert M'Laughlin and p.irly got on auriferous wash-dirt last week. J Samuel Hafford and party arc also on gold, | aud the Greek (Apostolosphy) is also said to J have touched the lead. In this claim and the adjoining one, Braithwaite's and party's, the drives are said to be too far below the washdirt to work the ground to advantage. The want of water is very much felt here, although not lo the same extent as it is in other localities. All the paddocks are filled to bursting with wash-dirt, and some of the claimholdera hnve been compelled to enlarge their receptacle for wash-dirt. The waterraces are nearly all dry, and consequently some of the wheels arc lying idle for want of motive power to work them. Mabillc and party, at the extreme lower end of the lead, are still driving away, and from the immense / pile of mullock thrown up, they must be getting through a deal of ground. A full description of this party's workings and machinery will be given in the uext report from this place. A movement is on foot to induce the Warden to hold a v'ourt at Half-ounce as often as may be convenient.