West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1887,

West Coast Times, Issue 6625, 1 November 1887, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1887,

There is something very much of grim irony in the announcement that the Union Company's steamer Pukaki has been chartered by a firm of Christchurch coal importers to carry coal from Newcastle, N.S.W., to Lytteltoo. The Pukaki is the vessel we were told the Union Company had built for the purpose of opening up a coal trade between Greymouth and Melbourne, and our neighbors were anticipating with much satisfaction her early appearance in the river inaugurating the new trade. Probably the hope deferred will not be for long, and the Pukoki soon take up tbe running for which she was originally destined. Not unnaturally, the circumstancs opens up once more the Bubject of our trade with the east coast. Iq the early days of our goldfield this

part of New Zealand was looked upon as a special preserve of Melbourne, nenrly nil our goods coming' across the water rather than round the coast. Giaduolly, very gradually, did our nearer neighbors compete for this trails until at length they have wrested from Melbourne a very large portion of it. At length the Coast makes a new departure, and as we are preparing for a coal export trade to Australia we find the vessel that was to coißmonco it ia firet of all to be employed taking coals from Australia to the east coast of this island. In all probability we shall in time drive out this Newcastle coal as completely aa the east coast farmers have driven Victorian produce from our markets, but to achieve such a result we ought surely to dep?nd upon ourselvo rather than upon the Government. Yet this latter is what Mr Reeves, the member for Inangnhun, wishes to do. He proposes to put a duty of five shillings per ton upon coal, co that New Zealand coalmine owners may have a monopoly of supplying (he ooal consumed in the countty, Wo can well imagine the fervour with which Mr Reeves would, in the early days of the Coast, have declaimed agaiust any attempt to make the miners pay a largely increased price for produce because prohibitive customa duties had driven the Victorian article out of tha market. And yet, with quitpfas much effect, could the artisans of the large cities inveigh against this monstrous proposal of Mr Reeves to cttack their fuel. Probably not much notice will be taken of this fresh Protectionist move, either in the House or throughout the country, although districts which derive a benefit through the employment of coal miners can see much in it to recommend. The Westport Times is in this position, and in support of its views advances the following novel and startling proposition : — " There is much therefore to be said in favor of protecting this native industry by imposing a duty on foreign co»l, which would give a great impetu3 to coalmining, and tend to reduce the Co3t to consumers by increasing the output." If the imposition of a duty of fire shilling's a ton is to tend to reduce ihe cost to consumers the coal companies would bo worse off than ever, Mr Reeves friendly offices only involving a etill lower price, when the presumption would be that they want to have the lower priced coal from Newcastle shut out. It is an enigma too difficult for ua to Eolve. But what an anomaly it eec-m?, that an industry which is at preueut displaying more vigor with the prospects of a rapid growth than any other in the countiy, which is already seeking an outlet for its productions in tha markets of iho world, should thus have a pica put in for & little coddling as if it was a tender plaot the first Eou'-west wind would wither up.

Ilia Honor Judge Broad will not hold sittings of the District Court here. The only business, an application for discharge in a bankruptcy matter, will be sent to Greymouth for decisiou.

In the E.M. Court, Kumara, on Friday last, the information of Eichard Brady v. R. E. "Wylde, for assault, was dismissed, and in the assault case, Wyldo v. Brady, the defendant was fined 5s and 7s costs.

In the Wftden's Court, Kumara, on Friday, N. Eothwell was granted 14 days protection for claim. — Tho applications of P. M'lfahon and party for frontage claim, Samuel Lee and party for water-race and tunnel at Acre Creek, and Salberg and party for extended claim at Kumara, were postponed t :i l next Court day.

It appears from tho Grey Eiver Argus that when our correspondent reported a gold watch was presented by Mr H. Lynch to the highest scorer at the recent costume match, played at G-reymouth, he was something wide of the mark, the watch being of that inexpensive kind wMch old Hokitikians will remember as once delighting Thatcher — until he examined it. The Argus is rather severe on our correspondent and says, "he must bo either a knave or a fool "; the only reason for such a sweeping condemnation being, apparently, either that he knew his statement was wrong or he ought to have known it. If the editor wil read further down the column in which ho bestows such a severe judgsment, he will find that he also has made an entirely inaccurate statement, which will carry sorrow to the hearts of many of his readers. In which category does he class himsell ?

The ordinary monthly meeting of the ladies branch of tho Hokitika Benevolent Trustees will be hold at the Supreme Court House to-morrow afternoon at half-paifc 2 o'clock. The ordinary monthly mseting of the Hokitika Harbor Board will be held this evening at the Board's rooms at half-past 7 o'clock. The quarterly meeting of tho Ilokitika Fire Brigade will be held at the Brigade Hall at 8 o'clock this evening.

Mrs Emira Field, a widow, committed suicide by dro-v\ jing in the Auckland Domain pond on Sunday. She has been low spirited Bince the death of her husband three weeks ago.

A fire yesterday morning at Mount Eoskill Auckland, destroyed Lyell's grocery store and dwelling, Fitches drapery store and dwelling, and a cottage owned and occupied by Armstrong. The furniture and stock were nearly all saved.

At a public meeting held at Tauranga resolutions were passed strongly urging Government to open Crown lands under a system o£ free selection, and asking the Minister for lands to set aside fire thousand acves of the Papatoa block, now being purchased from the Natives, as a Pensioner's Settlement under the proposed scheme for the introduction and settlement of pensioners. The block is excellent land and well suited for tho purpose.

"Rough on Corns." — Abls for Wella' " Rough on Corns." Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bunions. At chemists and druggists.

Guiltt op Wkong.-— Some people Lave a a fashion of confusiDg excellett remedies with the large mass of " patent medicines," ani in this they are guilty of a wrong. There are some advertised remedies fully worth all that is asked for them, and one at least ffe know of— Dr Soule's American Hop Bitters. The writer has had occasion to use the Bitters in just such a climate as we bare most of tbe year in Bay City, and has always found them to be flrst«claS3 aod reliable, doing all ttat is claimed for them,—- Tribunei

Teadera for the supply of stone and r und timber for tho Arabura protective works closo to-morrow at the Public Work* Office, GreyuLOuth.

A Ohristchurch exchange says tho Champion Lawn Tennis Meeting to be held under tho auspices of tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Aisooiation has been fixed for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Dec. 22, 23, and 24 next, to lako place at Lancaster Park. The progvammo will bo advertised as soon as the authorities havo definitely settled the events, but the ch ; of contests will be Men's Champion Singles and Doubles, tho winner of tho Singles to hold the Now Zoa'and Challenge Cup, value fifty guineas, and to receive a prosentai tion prize of ten guineas ; Ladies' Champion Doubles and Singles ; Combined Doubles for ladies and gentlemen not taking part in the champion meeting. Matches between Canterbury Clubs will also be arranged. Tke Canterbury players tad originally intended to fix the meeting for the latter part of the November week, but in deference to a strongly-expressed wish from the leading Clubs of Hawke's Bay and Auckland, they altered the date to Christmas.

Tho Buller Miner is informed that the aea is making very rapid encroachment upon the North Beach, in the vicinity of Mormontown. Its advance has been so great of late that some of the residents there havo been compelled to pull down their buildings to avert their being washed away. A large number of gold-miners have found profitable employment on this beach for some years past, and as the sea approaches the ground where the leads of the old " rush " days were worked, between the Orawaiti and Deadman's Creek, improved prospects are obtained. From this it would appear that "beachoombing" is still an avocation not be despised.

It would appear that some hitch has occurred between the contractors for the erection of the new Catholic chapel at Greymouth "and the clerk of works for the building, and, as a consequence, the contractors have suspended operations for the present at any rate. It will (says the Argus) be recollected that not long ago there Tvas a court case arising out of the strained relations between Mr Courtney and the contractors, one of whom was driven into such a frantic temper that he incontinently knocked Courtney down, for which little ebullition of temper he had to pay very handsomely. Since then matters do not seem to have in any way improved — have in fact become much worse — until at last this intolerable state of discord has ended in the deadlock that might well have been looked for under such circumstances. In the meantime the parishioners aro anxious to see the erection of their handsome chapel gone on with, not much caring by whom, so long as the chapel is built, and as the contractors have stopped at a very critical time — because the time within which the church was to be erected has not long to run — it is imp r ssible to say what complications may take place, or what the outcome may be. It might be worth the while of the trustees to inquire into the whole matter in order to determine where the blame should really rest.

A meeting of Iho Wesfcporfc Racing Club was (says tho 1 imea) held at Gt-ilnier's Hotel on Tuesday night. The following officers were appointed : — Judge, Mr Bird ; Starter, Mr Roche ; .Handicappers — Messrs Lynch, Lauiplough, and Eloy ; Clerk of Scales, Mr Jules Simon ; Clerk of Course, Mr Bley. It was decided to give away £200 in prizes, and a programme was drawn up, the principal events of which are the Christmas Handicap of 30sovs and Euller Handicap of dOsovs. Theie two events being open to all comers, they should attract some outside horses.

The following ib the text of a patition which is being signed in Dunedin for presentation to the Hods j of Representatives by Dr Fitchett, M.H.R.:— " To the Speaker and members cf the House of RepreieDtifivea in Parliament assembled; — The petition of the Duufdin residents who have hereto fignecl their names, representing all shades of poli* tical end economic opinion showeth — That, in tbe opinion of your petitioners, tbe nonrevision of the Tariff 1M; seasion will cripple legitimate trade, encrnrage illegitimate epeculatios, and intensify the existing de» pression. Your petitioners therefore hambly pray that you will l>e pleased to consider and revise tl-e Tariff during the present ses« sioja "' Parliament."

The Westport Times remarks : — Some curiosity was excited on Monday evening by the arrival iv town of a truck of coal beautifully decorated with flags and shrubs, the flags showing in figures "100,000." Upon enquiry we learn that the figures indicate tbat the Weatport Coal Company's output from their Coalbrookdale mine from Ist January to 24th October of this year had reached the respectable figure of 100,000 tons for 200 days' work. Their output for 1886 was 73,809 tons, and it is estimated their total for this year will not be short of 123,003 tons, and this for % single shift daily of eight hours> which could easily be doabled if required 1 When we consider the total production from the coal mines in the colony for 1885 (the returns for 1886 not being yet issued) was 511,063 tons, Westporfc may be proud of her coal industry, and when the depth of water on the bar increases, as the harbor works advance, a much larger trade may be looked for* as up to the present no foreign export has been done. The imports for last year were 130,202 tons, of which 126,197 tons camo from New South Wales, the balanco being from the United Kingdom and Queensland.

"Rough on Itch."— " Rough on Itch, cures skin humors, eruptions, ring worm, tetter, salt rheum, frosted feet, chilblains, itch iry poison, barber's itch.

No Moke Habo Times. — If you will stop spending so much on fine clothes, rich food, and style, buy good, healthy food, cheaper and better clothing ; get more real and sub. stantial things of lifo every way, and especially stop tbe foolish babifc of employing expensive quack doctors or usiug so much of the vile humbug medicine that does you only harm, but put your trust in that simple, pure remedy, Dr Soule's American Hop Bitters; that cures always at a trifling coat, and you will see good times and have good health.— Chronicle.

Advice to Mothers ! — Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural, quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and tho little cherub awakes " as bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentry and Oiarrhcea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs Winslow's soothing Syrup is sold by Mediw'ae dealers everywhere at Is l£d per bottle,

One hundred and fifty hands employed on the South Island railway lines are said to have received notice that their Bc-r?ices will not be reqqired The North Ofcago Times understands tint this gtep baa been tnken by tbc ijeada of department*, and does not come within the scope of any scheme of retrench* ment tbe Government may have decided upon carrying out.

A curious point has arisen in connection with tho licensing laws^at Wellington. One of the city hotels is found, Bince the recent extension, to stand in two licensing districts ; ifc is contended that a fresh license must bo paid, but there is no bar within the meaning of tho Act in the old portion and it may be possible that this fact keeps the licensee withiu the law. The point is under consideration hy the authorities.

Tho Brisba»e Courier of September 10 stateß that Borne heavy sales of Mount Morgan shares took place on tliat day, covering over £32,000. On October 1 the same paper says : — " a largo buying commisiion came into the market to-day, and shares rapidly rose from £6 odd to £7 15s, at whioh figure buyers stopped. Transactions took place to tne extent of between £80,000 and £100,000. Oae broker alone aold 8000 shares at prices ranging from £*7 to £7 18s.

It is stated that a, Ball dredger is to be Bet to work on the beach north of Mokihinui.

Throat Affections, Hoarseness. — All suffering from irritation of the throat and hoarseness will be agreeably surprised at the almost immediate relief afforded by the use of "Brown's Bronchial Troches." These famous "lozenges" are now sold by most respectable chemists in this country at Is lid. per box. People troubled wifch a "hacking cough," a "slight cold," or bronchial affections, cannot try them too soon, as similar troubles, if allowed to progress, result in serious Pulmonary, and Asthmatic affections. See that the words "Brown's Bronchial Troches" are on the Government Stamp around each box. — Pre» pared by John I. Brown & Sons Boston, U.S. European depot 33, Faringdon Road, London, England.