THE WEST COAST.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 59, 21 November 1863, Page 4

THE WEST COAST.

" THE FIRST MAIL FROM THE WEST COAST." We scarcely thought that we should so soon be able to make this announcement: but it is, nevertheless, an accomplished fact. We have been visited by a party of miners just returned from the Kakapo Lake, who brought with them some letters from Dr. Hector's schooner, including one from the Doctor himself. They reached town on Thursday night, and posted the letters, having accomplished the journey in forty-three hours' actual travelling. Their report contains nothing absolutely new, but tends to confirm what has been previously stated in regard to this newlyexplored country. The weather they describe as having been very wet and stormy, and as much as three feet of snow had accumulated on the highest part of the track. They state that the reason they returned was in consequence of having no provisions, which want was the cause of some suffering to them during their homeward journey. We certainly think that a depot of a few tons of goods at the Kakapo Lake would be a good speculation. They might be taken up from Riverton or Invercargill at a trifling expense; and when the certainty of obtaining provisions was ensured it would lead to the thorough prospecting and settlement of the country. While on this subject, the following extract from the Age (Melbourne) of the 10th inst. may be interesting : "A preliminary meeting was held'at Scott's Hotel, Collins-street, yesterday evening, for the purpose of taking steps to form a settlement on the West Coast of New Zealand. It was decided, after some little desultory conversation, to form an association to be called the Martin's River association, to consist of

one hundred shares of £lO each, power being reserved to increase the number if necessary. The objects of the society are to equip and dispatch a vessel to the spot to select a site for a settlement in the new harbor, and to take up land. A provisional committee was appointed and the meeting then adjourned." THE ARROW. (from our own correspondent.) Satisfactory intelligence comes in daily from the various diggings on the river; good gold has been obtained from every claim that has yet been bottomed, and the returns in many instances have been very large. One claim on the Flat, known as the " German's" yielded 2 lbs. weight of gold for one day's work, and a party of four holding a claim on the Big Beach, cleared £73 per man for their last week's work. An eighth share in the Alabama claim adjoining has been sold for £BO. Above the Falls another company has been formed to work the river -at a point adjoining the Perseverance Company's claim, a very favorable opinion haying been given by competent parties as to the richness of that locality. On the ranges, towards Bracken's Gully, about one mile from the township, payable gold has been found on ground hitherto unworked, and a party has been formed to thoroughly prospect the neighboring points and gullies. Some men have been reported, as doing well near the Twelve-Mile Gully on the Duns tan track and several parties are trying to find their exact whereabouts. Flying rumors are still afloat as to some extraordinary discovery at Skipper's, but the exact truth, if any such exists, is kept a profound secret. The Upper Shotover track, which was opened for traffic some few weeks ago, by public subscription, having lately become impassable at one particular spot by the melting and drifting of large masses of snow, our townsmen have again liberally subscribed towards re-opening the track, and a contract has been accepted by the Township Committee from Messrs. Arlenshaw and Cork, who engage to cut a branch track at a lower level than the first cutting for a sufficient distance to re-open the communication, and keep the same clear for the space of thirty days ; after which it may be reasonably expected that the advance of the summer season will render any further efforts unnecessary. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday last, before H. S. Hickson, Esq., Francis McGuigan, landlord of the Albert Hotel, brought an action against T. W. Fawcett, comedian, to recover £2O, money due on an I 0 U. In evidence the plaintiff stated that some time since he had entered into partnership with the defendant to carry on a theatrical speculation at Queenstown, and had advanced him £35 for payment of preliminary expenses; afterwards they had agreed to dissolve the co-partnership on condition that defendant paid him £6O to clear out. In payment of this defendant gave him a cheque on Union Bank for £4O and the I O U in question for £2O, bearing date 13th October, 1863. The cheque was duly honored, but up to the present time he had been unable to obtain payment from defendant for the I O U. T. W. Fawcett, in defence, admitted entering into partnership with plaintiff, but finding the speculation was not a profitable one, and receiving no assistance from plaintiff in carrying out their business arrangements, he proposed to plaintiff that they should come to terms for annulling the contract. This plaintiff would not consent to do unless he was paid £25 as interest, in addition to the £35 originally invested; in part payment of this he gave him the I O U in question upon the distinct understanding that M'Guigan was not to press for payment of the money until he, defendant, was able to pay. The plaintiff had also promised not to put the IO Uin circulation. The defendant stated that he had not the slightest wish to repudiate his engagement to pay, but considering the amount of interest obtained, and the easy terms on which the plaintiff had been freed from what at that time could be only considered an unprofitable speculation, he certainly expected a longer period of time should have elapsed before any demand was made on him for the money. Mr. Haughton, on behalf of defendant, gave evidence as to assistance he had rendered in carrying out arrangements for dissolution of partnership, and stated that it was distinctly understood by all parties concerned that time was to be given defendant for payment of the lOU. His Worship was about to give a verdict for plaintiff, when M'Guigan unexpectedly admitted that he had put the I O U in circulation, and had actually obtained cash for the full amount from another party; the case was therefore dismissed, with costs, on the ground that plaintiff having negociated the document was not in a position to sue defendant for nonpayment.

FROM DUNEDIN TO AUCKLAND. ' (from otjb own correspondent.) I. To those who are so unfortunate as to visit Dunedin when the weather is in one of its ! weeping moods, there is nothing more dismal than the aspect of the hills which surround and overlook the city. Tired with wading through a sea of mud, whose depths require a constant look-out on the part of the traveller, lest he suffer partial submergence, you stop and endeavour to reinvigorate yourself with a view of the upland country. Mount Cargill is totally obscured; the hills towards Port Chalmers are covered with dense wreaths of mist, the dark green foliage of the trees that cover the peninsula seem almost black, and ever and anon your spirits are enlivened by the hoarse roar of breakers, dashed to foam on the Ocean beach. If, after looking upon such a scene you are not compelled to banish all thoughts of suicide, and dismiss from your mind some lingering ideas upon the dangers of shipwreck, by a recourse to a glass of warm—water; then gentle reader you must be a very Mark Tapley, in being, - jolly under such circumstances. The weather leaving Dunedin was of the kind I have indicated; and as we swiftly steamed to the Heads, it steadily became worse. Outside the Heads we had to steam through a heavy cross sea, the vessel pitching and rolling in such a way as greatly to inconvenience those who were liable to sea sickness. By night two-thirds of our passengers were hors de combat, and many were the ludicrous scenes that occurred. The successful editor of a daily paper might have been seen on his knees, hanging over the side, with an expression of countenance denoting the keenest while an erst high functionary of state, forgetful of his dignity, had secured himself to a backstay, and was making a series of involuntary offerings to Neptune. These are but types of what was going on all over the vessel, and yet the unfeeling wretches who were well, seemed to enjoy the prostration of their fellows as rather a good joke than otherwise. Sea sickness, like the toothache, although exceedingly painful and annoying, is by some perverse custom only looked upon as a subject for merriment at the expense of the sufferers. The thick and hazy weather prevented our obtaining any view of the land, and on the following day we had onlf a glimpsd of the peninsula as we rounded it and steamed up to Lyttelton. The entrance to the harbor is between high rocks, which are but scantily covered with herbage, being even more bare and desolate looking than the hills of the interior of Otago. The harbor is large and well sheltered, but the depth of water is not sufficient to enable large vessels to be brought alongside the pier. At the time of our arrival there were a large number of vessels in port, and Lyttleton was proportionately busy. The town has three good streets, and a few substantial buildings, but as a rule they are of the kind known as " packing case houses." The wool season is the busy time for Lyttelton ; at other periods it sinks into a kind of somnambulism. The inhabitants are, however, very sanguine of an increased trade when the railway to Christchurch is completed. This work is being rapidly proceeded with, but the great difficulty experienced in tunnelling the Dun Mountain tends to retard the completion of the railway. The tunnel is about half completed, and will it is believed be finished in about six months. As we only stayed a few hours in Lyttelton, I had no opportunity of visiting Christchurch, which is distant in a direct line about eight miles, but is more than double that distance by the ordinary road. It is to avoid the circuitous route that the tunnel through the Dun Mountain is now being constructed. It was night when we steamed away from Lyttelton, and by the following morning were abreast of the high range of mountains known as the Kaikoras. This magnificent range of mountains is one of the most striking features of the East Coast of New Zealand; rising to an elevation of some 7000 feet, its serrated ridges and snow capped peaks can be seen from Christchurch in the south, to Wellington in the north. As the morning sun began to tinge their white peaks with a rosy hue, the scene from the steamer was singularly grand and beautiful; bands of dark grey clouds hung gloomily at the base; while halfway up, a troop of fleecy clouds encircled as with a chain the mountain side. Towering above all their snow covered peaks, now glistening like burnished silver, shone like stars in a setting of azure. The wind which had lulled now began to rise, and lifting the dark grey clouds from the foot of the range, gradually carried them to the highest

peak, and, as with a curtain, the Kaikoras were obscured from sight. The coast line after passing the Kaikoras is bold, but broken by numerous indentations. Occasional clouds of smoke, with some traces of cultivation, betoken that some traces of what one would almost say is an uninhabited country, owns the presence of man—either civilized or savage. As we approach Cook's Straits, we begin to learn that we are nearing the Cave of the Winds. No matter from what quarter of the compass the wind may have been blowing, nor how gentle the gale, the moment you enter the Straits you are treated to a semihurricane. We did not escape the usual compliment, and for some time had to steam against a heavy sea, and strong gale from the north-west. Crawling along under shelter of the land we reached the opening of the bay, and protected by the high cliffs from the full force of the wind, steamed rapidly into the beautiful harbor of Wellington. The harbor was almost destitute of shipping, only two or three vessels being in port. As, however, I purpose giving you an extended account of what the WeUingtonians fondly call the Empire City, I will reserve my remarks for another letter. CHURCH OF ENGLAND. A meeting of the Committee of the Church of England was held on Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs. Wood, Jackson, Welsh, Beetham, Worthington, Gash, Turner, and Bruce. The following resolutions were passed Proposed by Mr. Welsh, seconded by Mr. Gash—"That the Committee provide tea, sugar, and crockery ware for the proposed Tea Meeting on Friday, 28th inst" Proposed by Mr. Welsh, seconded by Mr. Worthington—" That tickets be forthwith printed and distributed for sale to the different members of the Committee." Proposed by Mr. Welsh, seconded by Mr. Turner—" That Mr. Gash be added to the sub-committee, and that the Tea Meeting be advertised in the local paper." Proposed by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Beetham—" That the liberal offer made by Mr. Gash to the Church of a bell, be accepted, with many thanks." Proposed by Mr. Gash, seconded by Mr Welsh —"That the Secretary be instructed to convey the thanks of the Committee for the assistance rendered by those carpenters who helped to floor the Church; and that the offer of Mr. Dunn of timber for the belfry be accepted with thanks." Proposed by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Worthington—" That the Secretary be empowered to order the erection of the belfry as soon as possible." Proposed by Mr Gash, seconded by Mr. Welsh—" That a man be employed to ring the Church bell for morning service at eleven o'clock, and evening service at half-past seven •'dock." Proposed by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr; Worthington—" That the Secretary be instructed to write to Mr. Rees, as lay reader, requesting him to communicate with the Bishop on the subject of the appointment of Mr. Beetham as assistant lay reader." • Proposed by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Manders —" That a new reading desk be immediately provided, and an additional lamp at the reading desk." Proposed by Mr Beetham, seconded by Mr. Jackson—"That a public notification be made next Sunday morning, to the effect that a collection will be made after service the same evening, for the purpose of raising funds for the improvement of the interior of the Church." A collection was then made amongst the members of the Committee present, when about ten pounds was immediately subscribed. The meeting was then adjourned till Sunday, 22nd inst. ♦ The Maori King.—Potatau {i.e., a cry in the night) wan, as. far back as 1833, during the bloody battles between the Waikato and Taranaki tribes, a dreaded warrior and cannibal, who is authentically stated to have killed, at that time, 200 enemies with his own hand, and to have returned from the battle-field of Pukirangiora, rich in slaves, and over-satiated with human flesh. In his latter days he was a man of peace, and a friend of Europeans. When he died, in the year 1860, his son was chosen his successor, unoer the title of King Potatau 11.