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Grey River Argus, Issue 251, 22 August 1867, Page 2

The s.B. Bruce, which has recently returned from a trip to the Haast and Okarita, arrived off Hokitika on Monday, but being unable to enter pwnig to the heavy surf, she was compelled to anchor in the roadstead until yesterday, when being still unable to get into Hokitika river she wap sent up north, with the intention of running in at either this port or the Buller. S,he passed Greyuiouth yesterday afternoon, but the surf was too heavy and she wenj; pn northwards, prpbably to the Buller. We have had two daj'3 of stormy weather from the S.S.W-» accompanied by rain and occasional thunder and lightning. The surf outside has been exceedingly heavy, and extended for a long distance seaward. There is a'partial fresh in the river, but no floocl is anticipated. . We have had no arrivals or departures since our last issue. The. Hokitika bar still remains almost entirely closed. Tho West Coast Time* of Tuesday, in an article on the condition of the b ir, says :—Depending as Hokitika does, in more senses than one, for its very existence U mn the action of the sea and river, alj who hwe the welfare of the place a$ heart must n iturally take the liveliest interest in any question that may be mooted with a view of either counteracting or aiding the influence of those poteut agents which have wrought during the'last six months incalculable in juryto the port, reducing it from the proud positjio i of mistress of the West Goast seaboard- - ace ssible at all seasons to vessels of heavy' t( n iage —to a mere gap ij} the. beac]i, scarcely Eft igab!g even at spring tides \o handy steamers of the ligh/tost draught. Such is its present sad state, but one which we hope will be consideia')ly ameliprated by the floods almost certain to come down next month, when the snows melt. At the same time the disease which is consuming us will be p,nly half remedied, unless immediate steps are takuu to assist nature in the work she is ready to,perform —by closing up one of the two channels that now divide the power of tho river—a power never atj any time more than sufficient to keep one bar permanently open. . . . Is it not possible, to close the south entrance altogether by filling up the apology for a channel, and compel the water of the lagoon to find a way northwards thiQ igh the gutway, and so put to sea across the north bar ? If once the outflow south were checked, we feel sure that in fproy-eight hours the Sonth Spit would be hove home upon the middle bank, and that in the course of a few days an unbroken line of high beach wpuld extend from the flagstaff to the north bar. In process of time the lagoon would be converted into dry land, alt hut a narrow channel sufficient tp carry the wafers of Hospital Creek and the south arm of the Hokitika ; and the port, would be again restored to its normal condition of excellence. As it is we—the entire community—are suffering enormpMS Ipssps through the stoppage of trade.