SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 340, 11 January 1866, Page 2

SOUTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

THE WEST CANTERBURY GOLDFIELDS(S’rota the Correspondent of the Lyttelton Time*.) Hokitika, December 25, 1863. I DEVOTE the afternoon of Christmas Day to composing my usual weekly letter, which will leav© Hokitika a day later, in consequence of the mailman being delayed by the heavy rains we are experiencing, and the consequent freshes in all th© rivers. I trust you and your readers are enjoying weather which better enables you to keep up th© chief holidays of the year as they should be kept, better than that which we are afflicted with, and which renders days of rest from duty irksome and unprofitable ; and in paying you the usual Christmas compliments, I must add congratulations that you are where you are, and not in Hokitika, During the past week, the lovely days we had been for some time enjoying have suddenly coma to an end. In the place of a warm sun and s clear atmosphere, dark and lowering clouds are sweeping over us, driven by the force of a heavywesterly gale. The rain has been descending in torrents, almost without cessation, since Thursday ; and this, added to the warmth of the sun melting the snow in the ranges, has flooded the Hokitika in an unprecedented manner. Yesterday, at high water, not even the wharf, which is several feet higher than the original bank, could keep out the torrent, and the muddy waters of the river found their way into the lagoon, and rendered many of the streets dangerous for traffic. Boats were piling for hire just bslow tha police camp in Itevell-street; and the reserve, although very considerably elevated above the ordinary level of the river, was in some places at least two feet in water. Many amusing scenes occur oa occasions like these, but, at the same time, they give rise to rather grave apprehensions as to the result of heavier and long-continued down falls of rain, and it is impossible to divest ourselves of the feelings that a large portion, at all events, of this town has been built in an utterly insecure position, and is liable at any moment to meet with the same fate that “houses built on sand’ 1 do usually. From the south end of Eevell-street to the end of the spit there is no piece of grbund whatever which might not become the channel of the river yet, in the face of this, large and expensive buildings have been run up in a most incautious manner, in places which any nan in his senses would give a wide berth to. Mr Throckmorton, the agent for the steam-tug Lioness, has just completed a most commodious store —one of the largest in the town—on this portion of the beach, and he appears to be on tha eye of reaping the fruits of an unusualy indiscreet act. The torrent has cut away the sand-bank to within about nine feet of his front door ; and, in ail probability, should the fresh continue, ’his building will be partially undermined by to-morrow evening. The owner appears to have seen the danger he was in. and had already commenced to drive the piles of a wharf in front of liis premises ; and a similar work had been commenced at the end of Revcll-street, which for a time would have rendered the banks comparatively safe. The piles opposite Mr Throckmorton's stores, however, had not been driven properly home, and the force of the torrent has carried most of them away. What can save his bnil ing I do not know. Fortunately no accidents, either to mankind or shipping, have occurred in the river; and, 1 believe, to a very great extent, that this immunity from the usual disasters in similar floods may be attributed to the zeal and energy of th© Harbor Master, Capt. Turnbull, whose supervision over the fastenings of the vessels moored ui the wharf has been unremitting. The shipowners are fortunate in obtaining the services of a man so thoroughly up to his work. It is more than prob ible that these heavy rains, which have been very general in all the mining districts, will have a most untoward effect on those situated on the banks of the numerous rivers and creeks on the West Coast, and probably the damage done aud the loss sustained will be very great; at the same time, the old proverb “ 'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody good " is very applicable here, as in many places rhe terrace ground nas been suffering from tne recent dry weather, which has scarcely left sufficient water to keep the cradle in use. r

Nowhere is this want felt so much as on the main terrace at the Xanieri. Tlie ground always offers a certainty of fair wages, if a supply of water can be had, even though the proces of sluicing cannot be carried on; but I have left claims yielding excellent prospects simply because the ground had-bccomo perfectly dry. This want will, howeverf soon be filled, as I understand that the Pioneer Kace Company, who have been engaged at their work for many months will be able in a few weeks to complete their iluming aud supply the claims with some dozen heads of water. The river claims on the Kanieri, up to the commencement of this flood, have been increasing then- yield of gold staadily, but I believe that tno richest of them will shortly be worked out. They have in many instances. Hawkes and Co.’s, lor example, proved a fortune for the claim-holders. On Tuckers Flat and Commissioner’s Flat, the contemplated introduction ol machinery is likely to effect a great change in the return of gold, f understand that two engines of and 14-horse power have been ordered, and will shortly bo on the ground. This horse-power, iu connection with pumps of the orthodox description, wifi b* amply suliieient to keep down the water, aad enable the millers -to devote their time to their drivers ami cradles.

The accounts from the Totem and adjoining diggings inform us that mining there is entering on a new epoch, and that deep-sinking is being carried on with very considerable success. At the foot of the main terrace, a shaft, 120 feet deep, has been bottomed, and the result has been moat ■atisfactory, and will doubtless lead to many other trials of a similar nature being made as •oon as the easier worked and shallow diggings have been exhausted. Diggings of this description generally are very much more permanent than those where the gold is obtained at a very easy depth, and with a small amount of labor; and the experience of Bendigo shows, that for years after the shallow ground has ceased to yield, the deep-sinking is sufficient to support a largely populated town. There is a rumour to the effect that extended claims will be granted in the Totara district before long. They are much wanted, both there and in many places on the beach. An organized company would be able to render much of the beach available, by supplying appliances without the reach of ordinary parties of miners. The beach in many parts would enable the company to pay better wages to their employed hands than the men can earn on their “ own hook.” I have to chronicle two cases of robbery, both of which display a large amount of coolness in the chief actors. The first happened on the same track that was the scene of Mr Walmsley’s disaster, and probably the associations of the place were too much for the honesty of the packer, who this time turns out to be thief. A gentleman named Molloy, left o-Town, together’with a packer, carrying 140 ozs. on horseback. The packer suddenly left his employer, and rode on towards the Twelve-Mile, and on his arrival, directs his steps to the police camp, and gives information of his having been robbed of the gold by a party of masked bushrangers, who, he affirmed, had suosequently ducked him in a creek. His clothes being dry belied this p rt of his statement, and naturally gave rise to suspicion that the whole story was a fabrication. A mob having threatened to lynch him if he did not reveal a.I he knew concerning the matter,.he unwillingly confessed to having himself stolen the gold and deposited it St the foot of a tree, where, on searching for it, it was duly found. The man, whose name I am not aware of, has been committed for trial at the Kelson sessions. The second case is even more impudent than the one I have last mentioned, and consisted of a most audious burglary on the police camp at Kar.ieri. The amount stolen was £7O in notes, and some deposit receipts. Sergeant Clements was in the camp at the time, but so quietly was the matter arranged, that no sound was heard to awaken his suspicions. Some men, known to the police, were searched in their tent, and some property, consisting of a marked £L note, and a letter to one of the constables, was discovered. The men were arrested, and on being brouget before the Resident Magistrate in Hokitika, they were committed for trial. A very sad and fatal accident happened a few days since to the chief engineer of the Yarra steamtug. The unfortunate man, whose name is William Henry Williams, started on a short shooting excursion, with the master of his vessel, Kidiot. In tiie course of their rambles they met with a fallen tree, and in attempting to climb over it, the gun that Williams carried exploded, and the contents entered his right breast, making a large aperture in his chest, tearing a portion of the lung away. Dr Berdut was called, to the spot as soon as possible, and did what lie could for the sufferer, W.io was at once conveyed to tho Hospital. The case was a hopeless one from the first, and, 'after lingering for an hour, tho poor fellow expired. A few daya since I happened to notice a letter from one of the West Coast members—Mr Barff —in tho Hokitika Times, in which he calls on the miners to take advantage of a clause in the Coldfields Act, enabling them to form mining boards under certain circumstances. I think 1 already gave you my opinion of such boirds. They have been tried often, and as often condemned as cumbrous and useless machinery, the powers of which are invariably abused. Mr Barff, no doubt, imagines he has made a brilliant discovery j but most persons here were aware that the clause he refers to existed, and the good sense of the miners have led them to leave alone institutions which they know have always signally failed in the expected result. But Mr Barff’s letters are always odd. We had a couple published a short time ago, which his pen produced. The courtesy which gentleman invariably pay to all their fellow beings, was naturally extended to Mr Barff on his taking his seat in the Council; but it appears he thought he would be treated iu an entirely different manner, and expressed himself a astonished at the Speaker taking him round the House, and introducing him to the members. What did he expect would happen to him on the occasion ? There has been a good deal written and talked here with respect to the Gold-fields estimates. The financial staaement of the Secretary for Public Works was no doubt a very able and diplo matic one, but people here would like much to have tho details entered into more fully. They feel anxious to know how it is the West Coast Account is so heavily overdrawn, and how the revenue has been expended, and in what mannea the revenue is to be expended in future. Fair Wishes enough, I imagine. The town is crowded with people of all descriptions trying to make merry; miners in hundreds have left their claims to spend the Christmas here, and their ground has been protected for the week. The bars are doing a thriving business to-day. Some are closed, others are open; for the Gold-fields’ Act say# nothing about tho necessity of closing, except on Sundays. Few passengers are arriving now the weather having put a stop to regular coini unication. The Kemont is outside, and the Bruce succeeded in getting out to her and back again without accident, notwithstanding the surf and wind. During the week the inquiry into tho wreck of the s.s. Maid of the Yarra was held before the Kva.dem Magistrate, the evidence went to exculpate the Baptaiu and the crew, but-no report hat been published.

Heatv Fiopnsax Ca.vxEßßUKr.—Fora second time within two months, tho island and town of Kaiapoi have been visited with a oisastrous flood which has done very great damage. On this occasion the Waimakariri, swollen by heat/ norwest rains, rose higher than before, broke through a protecting bank which had been raised since tin last flood, and carried away every opposing object, laying the streets of the town and a large tract of agricultural and garden land under water for several days. At the same time, Christchurch received its first serious warning, the same river having overflowed its banks in several places some distance above Mr Tern piers station. Asmallportion of the overflow found its way into tho Avon, and the people of Christchurch were alarmed on Sunday last, by seeing the waters of that river rising rapidly and asssuming a discolored appearance. Fortunately no further cause for alarm showed itself, and no damage has ensued, but we can hardly suppose it possible that the Government will ignore the warning, and suffer these insidious approaches of the Waimakariri to continue any longer unchecked. A general feeling seems to be entertained by the non-professional public that the overflow of these rivers may be checked by simple means of erecting artificial banks at those places where the bed of the river is shallowest. We are glad to hear that the Government has forwarded a sum of money to aid in relieving the distress at Kaiapoi, and that a general subscription is being raised throughout the province. —Canterbury limes, December 30.