LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2081, 1 May 1883, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[united press association."] Auckland, April 30. The City of Sydney arrived at Auckland wharf from San Francisco at 10.30 p.m. The passage was uneventful. Passengers for Auckland—Saloon : A. M‘Gill, Hutton, Troutbeck. Steerage : James Singleton, W. Clela, John Simpson. There are 92 tons freight for Auckland. For Sydney, 26 saloon and 20 steerage passengers and 600 tons cargo for Sydney, Of the cargo for Auckland there are 100 cases salmon, 275 cases canned goods, 224 cases paint, 25 sacks peanuts, 24 bails broom coir, 71 boxes merchandise. THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY. ♦ The West Coast Railway Commissioners, Capt. W. R. Russell, Mr J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., and Mr C. N. Bell, Middle Island Civil Engineer, accompanied by Mr C. Y. O’Connor, Middle Island Inspecting Engineer, and Mr J. Grey, Secretary to the Commission, arrived from Hokitika yesterday evening shortly after five o’clock. They at once proceeded to the Town Hall, where they were met by Mr R. J. Seddon, M.H.R., the Mayor (W. Barnett, Esq.), and Borough Councillors Anderson, Horne, Rudkin, Carey, and O’Hagan. Mr C. Y. O’Connor, M.1.1.E., and Mr J. Gow, race manager, were also present. The object of the meeting was to lay before the Railway Commissioners such reliable information concerning the minerals and general resonrcs of this part of the West Coast as might assist the Commission in furnishing a Report to the Government of the probable cost and economical or commercial value of the several lines of railway proposed for the connection of the Provincial District of Canterbury with the West Coast of the Middle Island. Fourteen different routes have been proposed, so that the Commissioners have, a very heavy task before them, in the taking of evidence and traversing the various routes proposed. These routes may be seen by reference to our last Friday’s issue. At a meeting yesterday morning with the Borough and County Councils and Harbour Board at Hokitika the Chairman (Capt. Russell) stated they had gained some very interesting statistics of the resources of the West Coast, not only of gold, but coal, timber, general merchandise, and stock; also passenger traffic and parcels. He would be happy to hear Councillors express their opinions on these matters. The Mayor briefly stated that the estimated amount of goods brought into Elumara was 250 tons monthly. The yield of gold was about 2000 ounces per month; and the future yield would he doubled. The population would not probably decrease for the next thirty years; but if a railway were made direct to the East Coast it would increase importation direct from England, and tend to lessen the cost of goods to consumers here. Cr. O’Hagan, in reply to questions, estimated that the average of known and proved auriferous ground was about 500 acres, which would probably take 40 to 50 years to exhaust, independently of any fresh discoveries; though with increased facilities for working the ground to those at present in appliance the time to work it out would be shortened. Mr Seddon, in r-eply to questions, stated that a large quantity of ground had already to be proved which would no doubt prove auriferous, especially between Callaghan’s and Eumara. This would be worked if the cost of provisions were cheaper. The miners of Waimea and Stafford were extending their operations into the country from the original settlements, and the yield of gold was greater there now than it was when there was a larger population fifteen years ago. Cr. O’Hagan stated he he had no doubt this goldfield would support a larger population if the supply of water were inci eased. The Chairman inquired if this supply could not be increased with private capital. Several councillors expresssed the conviction that if the value of the alluvial ground were better known, private capital would .meet with good investment to the benefit of the colony generally. A ho there was a large block of land between Kumara and the ocean beach suitable for agricultural purposes, as the Commissioners would find on their way by tram to Greymouth. It was nothing but a plain, though at present covered with timber. In reply to the Chairman, who inquired its extent, it was stated to be five miles deep by seven or eight broad.

Mr Seddon stated there was scarcely any limit to the auriferous ground; from the Taipo river or reefs to Okarito, a distance of some fifty miles the country might all be said to be auriferous, and he believed it would pay, under the present system of working, about 15s a week. It had been tapped only here and there, and found payable. The Chairman then inquired of the Mayor if he had any decided opinion as to the best route for a railway from the West to the East Coast. The Mayor replied that he had no personal knowledge of the best routes; but he considered that to be the best for the West Coast'which was the shortest and most direct. Mr Seddon said he had no doubt the Arthur’s Pass route was decidedly the shortest and best for the Coast. The proceedings then closed.