THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

Evening Post, Issue 252, 28 November 1865, Page 2

THE WEST COAST GOLD FIELDS.

We have received the Nelson Examiner of Saturday last, from whLh the following is extracted ; — We can only very briefly notice the news received since our last publication. The fine steamer South Australian arrived on Thursday from Melbourne, by way of Otago. She left Melbourne on the 11th, and the only news brought by her of importance was the fact that the Government of Victoria having at length felt itself compelled to abandon the position it had assumed, and to send up the Tariff, and Appropriation Bill, to the Council separately. La9t evening, the Barwon likewise arrived from Melbourne, having called at Hokitika. She brought a mail from the West Coast, and we learn that the Wallaby, in attempting to leave the Gre}', narrowly escaped going on shore. m The steamer had to return to the river. The continued westerly gales are greatly interfering with the West Coast trade. Later in the evening the Egmont returned from Hokitika, bringing ninety-six passengers. To the purser of the last named vessel we are indebted for a copy of the West Coast Times of Thursday, by which we learn that the Barwon, Auckland, and Egmont were prevented from I lauding their passengers and cargo at Hokitika for several days together. The steamers Bruce, Lioness, Yarra, and Ballarat, all went off to lighter them, but only a few of the passengers could be got on shore, in consequence of the heavy swell that rolled in from the westward. There are great cotuplaiuts about the weather both at the Grey and at Hokitika. When we spoke on Tuesday of the small quantity of gold brought from Hokitika by the Kennedy on Saturday last and gave as an explanation the cause we had heard assigned, we only stated half the reason, for we did not then know that the Bank of New Zealand, at Hokitika, had in its possession when the Kennedy left 5,500 ounces of gold, which it was holding to ship direct to Sydney, either by the Auckland or Claud Hamilton, daily expected there, and that the Bank of New South Wales had on hand a somewhat similar quantity, which it was keeping back for the like object. The Hokitika correspondent of the Grey River Argus gives a frightful description of the state of her Majesty's gaoj in Hokitika, We give publicity to the article/ trusting that Mr. Stafford's Government will at once take steps to remedy the evil complained of, the particulars of which are thus stated by the correspondent alluded to: — I cannot tell you the deep indignation which has afflicted every one in Hokitika when it was made public, through the newspapers, the terrible sufferings the prisoners were made to undergo in FT.M. Gaol here. Debtors, men committed for trial, and convicted criminals, all alike. There are four cells, the largest being only 12 by 10, the others 12 by 8, in three of whisb, almost without any attempt at classification, are confined 34 living human, souls, the superficial area for each man only being four feet by three. The prisoners at ni^ht lie on the floor, packed together closer than in a slave ship. The only ventilation of a night is a small aperture cut in the the roof or slides of the cell. The sufferings of the men are fearfu l , from the dreadful oppression caused by the hot sickening atmosphere within, and the stench of so many human beings huddled together within so narrow a space. Strong men are overcome and fall down in swoons ; the whole are covered with vermin, and are not allowed any onvenience for washin? their bodies or their clothes. The prison authorities are not so much blamed (or this deplorable state of things within the gaol walU. The fact is, nothing can be done or a penny spent without the sanction of the Government at Christchurch, and there all that is cared for is to •crew a* much at possible out of us and

give ns little as possible in return. People here now fully understand that nothing is to be expected from the Provincial Government, and an agitation is on foot to gain that sort of Separation which is to be obtained by requesting the Colonial Government to take the West Coast Gold Fields under its management and control. When the Government at Wellington learns from an influential deputation appointed by the whole of the people on the WestCWtofCanterbuty, the wrongs we have been made to endure, there is little doubt but that they will comply with our wishes.