West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1875.

West Coast Times, Issue 2927, 11 February 1875, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1875.

The proposed Road Board Ordinance, the second reading' of which is set down for this evening, is one of material interest to the country districts of the Province. As the number of copies of the Ordinance published in the first iustauce is only sufficient to supply the members of the Council, who arc to deal with the measure, we propose to summarise the contents of the Bill as it now stands for the information of those of our readers who may be affected by or interested in the contemplated measure, which is intended to abolish the existing Road Boards entirely, and to make provision for the appointment of others in lieu thereof. It is intended that there shall be in every district a Board cousisting of six members ; that the Superintendent shall appoint days for nomination and polling, and that the existing members of Eoad Boards in the several ' districts shall constitute the Boards I until the next election. The debts of 1 the former Boards are to be charged to the new Boards. Each district is intended to bo divided into three wards by such names and with such | boundaries as shall be assigned by proclamation. On the second Thursday in December of each year two of the members of each Uoard will go out of office, the members who thus retire being those who may have been longest in office without re-election. No person is to be eligible as a member unless he be a ratepayer of the district, and shall reside or have his ordinary place of business there, and unless he has paid liis rates up to the I time of election. The ratepayers only of the particular ward are to have the power of election whenever a vacancy [ occurs, and a penalty is provided in case of any member of the Board or voter at any meeting, acting or voting, who is not eligible to do so. The majority of the members present are to ' decide all questions, and three are to form a quorum. The Board is empowered to employ servants as heretofore, and to take security from them for the faithful fulfilment of their duties in regard to the custody and disbursement of moneys. The Superintendent is to appoint an auditor, 'whoso duty it will be to audit all accounts, and report to the Superintendent and Provincial Council. A ratepayers' roll will be framed in. alphabetical order of all persons holding 1 property liable to be rated, and an assessment, showing the net annual value at which the same might j reasonably be expected to be let from year to year. All land and buildings are | to be rateable property, except unoccupied waste lands of the Crown, and land in the occupation of the Provincial ! Government, or such as may be used exclusively for public worship, or for a public school. The Superintendent is to appoint for each district; a Justice of the Peace, to be tho Revisiug Justice to revise the ratepayers' roll. The qualification of voters, and the plurality | of votes, is thus described.- — "Every! person who shall appear on the rate- j payers' roll as liable to be rated in re- j specfc of property of net annual value not exceeding £20, shall have one vote; i in respect of property exceediug the value of £20 and not exceeding- £50, two votes ; exceeding ,CSO and not exceeding £100, three votes ; and exceeding £100, four votes." In respect to what roads, &c, are to be managed by the Boards, the Bill specifies that all roads, bridges, ferries, drains, ditches, and watercourses, not being private property except such as may bo declared main roads, shall be deemed to be under the control and management of the Board, with certain restrictions that the roads be maintained and kept in repair by the Board, failing which, that the Provincial Engineer may cause the work to be done, and be paid for out of any moneys voted to the Board by the Provincial Council. While the Boards arc to have the control of the roads in the manner specified, they arc not to be empowered to construct any now road or track without the consent of the Superintendent. The Bill provides for the levying of two kinds of rates — general and special. General rates may be levied for tho purnose of providing means for executing general works, that is works for the benefit of the district generally and shall be levied equally upon all rateable property within the district. Special rates may be levied for tho purpose of providing means for executing special works, that is works for the special benefit of any particular portion of the district, and shall be levied equally upon all rateable property within such portion of the district. Tho Board is to decide what are general and what special works. No general or special rate to be levied in any one year is to exceed one shilling in the pound on the full net annual value of tho properties rated, and no special rate is to be made unless the Board shall have first received the written consent of at least one half of the persons liable to be rated for such special rate. The concluding clauses of the Bill refer to the process of collecting rales, and to the recovery of the same, to the causing of rolls to be prepared for outlying districts, and tho revision of the

said roll 3by the Eesident Magistrate Also as to tho erection of toll-gates by the Board, and in respect to the leasing of tolls. Provision is also made that in the event of a Board refusing to act, the Superintendent may appoint a Commissioner for such district to not in placo of the Board. The schedule appended to the Bill, describes the boundaries of the four Road Board districts at present to be constituted, uarnely, the Paioa, Arab. urn, Kanieri, and Totara. It also coutains copies of ( the forms necessary for rating and the scales of tolls intended to be charged. The Bill as we have already said is one of the most important to be discussed during the session, and though we cannot hope to see the measure pass without a number of amendments being proposed and probably made, it is sincerely to be desired that the Bill will be got through after a few days careful deliberation, and the entire Road Board system, placed on some more satisfactory basis than has been the case for years past. As the Bill progresses, we hope to be enabled to comment on some of its more important clauses.

That a gold-bearing reef has heen struck at the Taipo is now beyond doubt. A party of men have been kuown to have been prospecting there for over twelve months, and as we have alreadj-- mentioned, they met with most encouraging prospects last week by striking two lines of reef, the one about two feet, and the other about three feet in thickness. The party who have been engaged, four in number, have been maintained in their researches by a company of twenty- four shareholders, principally residents of the Wivimea district, who have already expended nearly £500 in the undertaking. After j sinking a shaft of fifteen feet, they have . driven for a distance of 212 feet, when they I struck the reef, and they have now put in an application for a lease of twenty acres, and have made the necessary deposit accompanying the same, as required by the GoldI fields Regulations. Mr Griffith, the manager I of the eompauy, brought to town yesterday a large number of specimens, which give clear iudicitions of gold in nearly every piece. The manager describes the reef as well defined for a distance of six or seven feet. Tho locality w b23'oud the thircyJit'th mile stone, on tho Christchurch road, accessible by a track about three miles from Jackson's. The most convenient route at present is by following the creek to the top of the range, beyond Jackson's, and then dropping down an irregularly formed track for about a thousand feet. There is another route by wending along the Taipo river for about seven miles, but the former ia more desirable in tho meantime, until a proposed track is cut the other way. Several piospects have been washed out of the loose rubble adjoining the reef, which showed a prospect of about a grain to the dish. The maaarjer statss that gold appears evenly distributed in small particles throughout the stone similar to the specimens produced in town, aud shown at this office and elsewhere yesterday, and that any one visiting the ground can satisfy nimself of that fact by examining the few hundreds weight of stone already brought to tho surrace. Without being over sanguine as to the importance of this discovery, or as yet verifying the predictions "of a hopeful Councillor in his estimation of the yield per ton, there can be litlla doubt that inich a discovery in a new locality is a matter or congratulation, as the specimens already to hand will bear favorable comparison with many of the best brought from the Inangahua district. It is the intention of the company to hive a test crushing of half a ton of stone pufc under the stampers of the Kokatahi, or to have a few hundreds weight pounded at one of the Banks in town, when something more definite may be stated as to the probable out-turn and value of the discovery. A number of the friends of Mr Win. Evaus have arranged to meet him this afternoon at the Empire Hotel, at half-past three o'clock, to bid him farewell, previous to his departure by coacli to-morrow morning. A substantial testimonial and souvenir is to be presented throughhis Ilonor the Superintendent, and all friends of Mr Evans arc hereby invited to be present. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr E. Patten, J.P.; Richard Thorpe was charged on warrant, with assaulting his wife Ann Thorpe, but as the complainant did not wish to press the charge, the defeudaut was discharged. The Court then adjourned. To-night the anniversary ball in honor of the establishment of the Hokitika Eire Brigade, will be held at the Town Hall. It promises to be a success as a large number of tickets have been sold, and arrangements have been made to secure the services of a good baud, and an excellent caterer. 11 itlierto the Brigade have been wont to celebrate their anniversary by a public dinner, but the present innovation is a good one, insomuch as it ensures tho attendance of a large number of laches. Maila for Europe and the Australian colonies, via Suez:, for specially addressed letters only, close at the Post Office at seven o'clock to-niyht. Mails via San Francisco close on Saturday next at seven p.m. The Murray will sail for Nelson with the latter mail on Sunday morning. The usual monthly meeting of llio Board o£ Education will be held this evening at the Luids Office, the Supreme Court being occupied by the P-roviucial Council. At tliG Court yesterday, in bankruptcy, on the application of Mr Purkiss, an order of discharge was granted to James Burns, a bankrupt. There was no opposition. Tho jury were then discharged, aud the tines inflicted on the defaulting jurymen, J. Barrett aud J. Fenton vrero remitted, the former having been wrongly served, and the latter having been detained from attending the Court by an accident to his dray. Ilungerford against James A. Bonar, as Superintendent, Mr Purkiss for the plaintiff, and Mr South and Mr Newton for the defendant. This was a claim for £8G 5s for tolls for crossing plaintiff's bridge at thoArahura, by poisons and drays in the employ of the Government ; and also for £12$ 13s 3d for interest on unpaid vouchers for instalments due on a contract for maintaining tho Christchurch road. After argument between counsel, the Court held that the claim for interest must be abandoned, as tho arrangement to pay interest entered into between the County Chairman and the plaintiff was ultra vira, aud should have received the concurrence of the County Council. The defendant had, by perniisbion of the Court, paid the sura of £21 13s into Coutt for this claim. The claim for tolls was reduced by consent to £77 ss, and some evidence was taken. After addresses from counsel the Court reserved judgment until this morning at ten o'clock. At the Warden's Court Kanieri, on Saturdity last, before G. C-. FitzGerald Esq., Warden, Crces and party lessees of the Enterprise Kace Company, Arthurstown . objected to the granting of registrations for ' a tunnel and residence area to Edward O'Donnell, on the ground that the granting of the same would interfere with the objectors working their claim which they have recently taken 'up. The Warden after hearing both sides ref uded to grant registration for them, as O'Donuell had been working for two years past in the ground, and only applied for registrations when he found the ground had been taken up alongside him. Hibbert aud party obtained registration for a head-race and dam applied for by them at

Blue Spur. John Copper obtained registration lor ahead-race at Arahura, and J. Connelly t :egistration for a tail-r.tce at Lake Mahinapua t Mid J. Muir a residence area at same place. Thomas Bowden, and G. Beroz obtained registrations for head-races, the former at Bluo Spur, and the V,\tcv at Sunday Gully, * Arthurstown, Thomas Batchelor a tail-race I at Big Paddock, Faisou and party registration , of a head-race at Blue Spur. Thomas Cousins obtained a prospecting claim on Tuesday last of two men's ground, but on Wednesday the place was visited by about thirty miners chiefly from Kanieri, and , the pDspecfnr washed several dishfuls : of the washdirt from the holes sunk . by him, _ but he only obtained a color of gold in each caso, but the ground ' was thought to be patclry, and that there might be sufficient gold in it for a few men to work should they be able to succeed in getting a dam to Jiold water that would be able to command the ground. The place is a narrow gully between two spurs of the main A.rahura range, and even if good gold had been obtained, there would not be room for more than six men's ground. However, the prospector intends sticking to it, and will no doubt be able to support himself.

A correspondent writes as follows from Fox's :—": — " The late floods have done some good to miners and some harm to contractors about Fox's, causing several landslips into the Waimca race. The mining population here is fast diminishing. The progress of tho Waimefi. Water Kace is enough to make miners disgusted, for they are of opinion it will be years before completed. We lost six parties within a few weeks, two parties bought into claims at Kanieri, one party at Piper's Flat, Stafford, one party left for the C.ipe of Good Hope Goldiiekls, and some for the Palmer, aud others talk of leaving. The cry is no water, and five chains each side of race of touch- nic not. There used to be a little water always to be got in dry weather out of the Leviathan Water Race, and when we could not be all supplied .at clay time some would lake advantage of night, buL lately there i 3 none in it, it's gone to pieces, and if any party were to repair it il would bo at their own risk. Spence and party are driving their ground for want of water. Tierney aud party had a sidling slipped into their paddock. The want is water, water ! C.imeron and party had an action against Cullen which was settled out of Court, and are likely to have another, as there will be over a thousand loads of dirt out of tunnelling deposited on or near their claim, which will be carried on his ground by the flood." The roof Ju the Victoria Claim, Murray Creek, was struck on Saturday last. Mr E. B. Cargill of Dunediu, is now on a I visit to Greymouth. It i 3 now certain that Sir Arthur Gordon — who is the uncle of the present Earl of Aberdeen— is to be the first Governor of Fiji. Some Natives have bought up the Ilawke's Bay Times for £750, with the iuteufcion of publishing a p.ipcr in the Maori language. The following items of news are from the Ross Guardian — L'ho new water wheel, now in course of erection for the Douoghue's Drainage Compauy, is expected to be coaipleted within tho next fortnight "or three weeks; after which a month or six weeks will be required to pump out the water that has accumulated in the Flat. The wheel is being ficted with double action gear, and will bo much more powerful than the old one. At- Redman's, the claims are in full work; but if the dry weather continues much longer, a stoppage of operations at the Kohiuor claim is likely to occur. Mr Ed wju'd Keane, -a miner, while working at his claim, on the right. baud branch of. Donnelly's Creek, about four and a half miles from lloss, had rather a narrow escape yesterday. lie was engaged in removing tho earth from beneath a large stump, when the stump itself gave way, and, falling with' its accompanying mass of debris almost entirely buried Mr Keaue, lice downwards. Fortunately he was speedily extricated from his perilous position, and conveyed to the Hospital, where lie is now progressing satisfactorily under tho care of Dr Duff. A the last meeting of Directors of the Wcbtport Permanent Building Society, ! Messrs Rowlands and A. Stitt were elected directors to fill vacancies caused by tiie retirement of Messrs Kerr aud Dj.y; the former having resigned on account oi le-iviug tor llokitika. Record was made of a vote of thanks to Mr Kcrr for tho very valuable services rendered in organizing the society and attention to the business thereafter. The acting-manager of tho Bank of New South Wales has written to the G-reymouth Borough Council with reference to the state of the Council's account, more especially tho rate of interest on the advauce of £1000 midc to the Corporation, lie informed them that the interest to be charged would bo six per cent per auuum, the same amount to be allowed to the Council on the redemption account. Any further amount to be advanced to the Council would be 11 per cent., and it would be optional for the Bank to make any alteration of these term? on giving 21 hours' notice. The Colonial Secretary directs it to be notified for general information, that upon comparing "The Bankruptcy Act, ISC7," as printed in the Statute Book of ISS7 with the Bill as passed by both Houses o£ the Legislature, and assented to by His Excellency, it appc irs that there is a misprint in tho third line of the one hundred aud twehtyfifth section of the Said Act, as printed in the Statute Book, the word " or," where it appears the second, time in tho said line being printed instead of the word " on." Referring to the remarks of the Superintendent of Wcstlaud, on the subject of Provincialism, the Westport Times says: — " From the words of the Superintendent it may be anticipated that the Provincial Secretary of the Province, to whom, by tacit consent, apparently has been deputed the duty of moving the first resolutions condenvding Provincialism, will find in the Superintendent an able coadjutor and that, although powlerless as ihe Westland Council may be to give effect to any resolutions, the expression of it's opinion aud the consequent debite will have good effect in influencing the perfect shaping to a definite end of the imperfect proposals shi'loweJ forth in Mr Vogel'a resolutions of the last Parliamentary session. At the inquest on the body of Mis Verfcen (Jennie Anderson) held at O.imaru on the 18th iust., her husband, Frank Vertcn, deposed as follows :— When the express got some distance into the river, I haw the horses were getting out of their depth, aud threw oil my coat aud vest, so that I would be betiei. able to save my wii'e i£ an y thing happened. A few seconds after tins the horses went out of sight under the water, and the express turned over. Bently jumped off the box, and my wife fell oft after him. When she floated down to the girder where I was, I caught her by the left arm, but findiug her arm grating against the girder, I tried to catch hold of her on the other side with my disengaged hand Just then some person rushed past me and knocked me over, which made me relinquish my hold of her arm. Before I could get hold of her again she was out of sight, and I did not see her again till they brought her up to the hotel dead. The express at the time it upset was four or five yards from where I was standing on the girder, when it turued my wife floated down the river towards the girder. I was lying O n my breast on the girder at the time. Some one, either in stepping over me or trying to assist me, knocked mo over on the girder and 1 then lost hold of my wife's arm. When I recovered myself, I heard sonic- one shout out " There she is." I looked down the river, but could not see her. Whether it was uiy wife or some bundles wo had in the express, I cannot tell. The body -was recovered in about an hour. She was then quite dead.

The eastern side of the Dunediu Arcade is to bo rebuilt in brick, with a gla's roof over the eeutre.

Ihe goldfield of Ballarat, in Victoria— which lias been laboring under depression for some time— is, ire are glad to sec, far from being worked out. The alluvial, il is true, is not nearly so productive as it was even in later days than those of the famous "jeweller's shop" on Golden Point; but quartz-mining is extended and the yields improving, In the quarter endiug July last G,OsSozs 17dwts and 12grs were obtained; in that ending Septem her, 7,17.30zs 4dwts 3grs ; and in that closing with December, 8,0780z3 Gdwts 2grs. The latter was the yield of 26,931 tons of quartz, so that the Ballarat quartz-miners were content with the smalf average yield of sdwts 23-71grs to the ton. Even that low average, however, was an improvement on those of the previous quarters, that in the three months ending with June having been only sdwts l-57grs.

A correspondent informs tlio Wakatip Mail that a few little scenes between Bench and Bar occurred at Arrowtown lately. Mr Finn, who was present in the Warden's Court during thu hearing of several applications, objected to the acting bailiff appearing as agent for absent parties, as he (Mr Fiun) was present in Court and not retained on either side. Mr Stratford replied in an angry tone that be would allow Mr Barker to act in his Court. It is stated that the following altercation then took place :— Mr Finn : Perhaps you will give him his commission as a barrister and solicitor; but I shall certainly bring such conduct under the notice of the Minister of Justice. Mr Stratford : The Minister of Justice has no right to interfere with me when sitting in this Court as Warden. Mr Finn : You don't recognise the 9th section of the Warden's Court Regulation?, which protects th<: public i interest by protecting the profession. We will see about that. Mr Stratford : Very well. The matter then dropped ; but in the Magistrate's Court, shortly afterwards, during the progress of another suit, the bailiff was seen to pass a memorandum to the pi liutiff, who was in the witness box, advising him to ask for costs against the defendant (who did not appear), and that Mr Stratford would award them ; whereupon Mr Finn asked the Bench to impound (he document, as the bailiff was then acting as a professional adviser, and the Magistrate had neither the

right to grant him such a favor nor allow

such irregularities to be carried on his Court. Mr Stratford did so, admitting that the bailiff hud acted very improperly.