The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 241, 14 October 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1867.

The chief object of the Superintendent's visit to the Southwest Goldfields is pretty generally understood to be to judge for himself whether the lavish expenditure which Mr Commissioner Kynnersley has incurred can with propriety be continued. We- understand that the large sum of money voted by the Council during the last session for the Southwest Goldfields for the curreut financial year has all been spent, although there are still some months to expire. And beyond this we are informed that a considerable overdraft (£20,000) has beeu made on the Bank. These circumstances, coupled with the unsatisfactory explanations furnished by the Commissioner in his correspondence with the Government, reudered it very desirable that the Superintendent should pay a personal visit to the district, aud see how far Mr Kynnersley _ extravagance has beeu justifiable. Some time prior to his Honor's departure orders had beeu issued by the Government to stop all public works ou the goldfields with the exception of those for -which, contracts had already been made, and we are informed that these instructions have been obeyed. It is not at all improbable that we shall soon hear some growls of dissatisfaction from the goldfields, and probably, if the Government find it absolutely necessary to cut down the expenditure generally, we shall have the population of the mining districts calling out for separation, just as tbey have done iu Canterbury. The Government must.be prepared to act with firmness and decisiou, and not to be deterred by the fear of popular discontent from adopting and pursuing what may seem to be the wisest and safest course under the circumstances. One thing must be insisted on, and that is, that on uo account whatever must the expenditure on the goldfields be allowed to exceed the revenue. It is surely sufficient for every purpose that the revenue of the goldfields is expended in the district. ludeed we think that a share might with good reason be devoted to other parts of the province that need opening up. However, we are willing to concede to the goldfields the use of their own revenues, for a time at least,

but we must protest against the province getting into debt on their account. It is as well that the curb should at once be applied, or else we shall probably find ourselves drifting towards the quicksands into which Canterbury has fallen.

It is not at all unlikely that the stoppage of public woi-ks on the West Coast will create discontent there, and that the opportunity will be seized by a few demagogues and pothouse politicians to foment disunion. With the example of Westland before them, and with the knowledge that the General Government could be looked to for encouragement in dismembering the province, it will not take much to set an agitation at work that may possibly result in Nelson losing her West Coast territory. But whilst we are ready to extend the utmost liberality towards the goldfields consistent with wise prudence, we without hesitation say that the province had far better lose its goldfields altogether, than get into debt on their account. We would give the inhabitants every encouragement; we would admit them to a larger share of represeuta-

tion ia the Council, and import an elemeut of reponsibility.into the administration of the goldfields; and we would give them the use of their own revenues. But beyond these limits the Government cannot po with safety to the province.

We are happy to state that, as we aunounced same time since would probably be the case, a revision of the pilotage dues levied ou vessels visiting this port has taken place, a return having been called for by the Government with that object. It is now determined that all vessels entering the port more than once in a year, shall, after the first visit, be charged only half the published rates. To the many steamers and the various other vessels which regularly trade to this port this reduction will doubtless be of considerable importance, but viewing the fact that at Wellington and Dunedin, and, we believe, at almost every other other port in New Zealand, the pilotage dues are still lower than the charges now made under the new arrangement at Nelson, and the loss to our trade which would inevitably result from the threatened withdrawal of the Panama steamers, we are of opinion that a still further reduction in the rates would have conduced more to our interests. A circular has been issued by Bishop Suter, addressed to the members of the Anglican Church resident in the western parish of this city, announcing that an opportunity has presented itself of securing the undivided services of a clergyman for that district, a desideratum which has been long felt, snd which has necessarily only to a certain extent, by reason of his duties at the College, been supplied hitherto by the ministrations of the Rev. C. L. Maclean. The Bishop expresses a wish to meet such of the parishioners as may be interested in this matter, in company with the churchwardens and vestry, on Tuesday (to-morrow) evening, at the Bishop's Schoolroom, when a plan for the achievement of this lesult will be laid- before them.

y. We learn from the Buller that although business at Westport is., very dull, the news from the diggings is satisfactory. The number of payable claims at Waite's Pakihi is increasing and the yield of gold is assuming a considerable amouut. About 1500 ozs of gold weekly may be said to be produced on these diggings, but as the bulk of the precious metal goes to Charleston, through the arrangements of the banks, not' much good effect is felt at Westport, which is really the depot of the district. At Charleston the diggings are yielding well, the average weekly production being about 3000 ozs. Mining matters at Brighton (Fox's"* are dull and the population is falling off seriously, but still confidence is felt in a good summer season. We are glad to learn that the prospects of the Grey goldfield are improving fast, the population up the river is increasing and several rich discoveries have taken place.

>/L The first number of the Westport Evening Star, which appeared on Monday last, and which claims our congratulations as a creditable accession to the ranks of journalism in this province, states that the Mokihinui bids fair to prove one of the richest fields cn the West Coast; even professional croakers, men who consider it their peculiar mission to disparage and discourage where the majority are sanguine, admit that its prospects of permanent prosperity are promising. The sinking varies from six to forty-five feet, and the prospects obtained average one pennyweight to the dish, which is undeniably rich. The miners generally express themselves satisfied and have evinced no inclination to dispose of their shares. Small parcels of gold have been offered for sale, which is. all that can reasonably

be expected when it is remembered that it is but little more than a month since the rush took place. An unanswerable argument in its favor is that many daily find their way there, but none or only a few have returned since the rush first took place. The township of the Mokihinui was visited by a gale, which afterwards

assumed the shape of a whirlwind, and

tents, clothing, &c., performed sundry. .rotary movements, not at all gratifying to |ithe owners of property— who in more than j tone instance lost sight of some personal effects, which are supposed to have been > fclown away to sea. Everything in the V^hape of teut or tenement was completely razed.

We are happy to learn that there is every probability that the attempt to establish a C:icket Club in this city under new auspices will be crowned with success. The members of the Provisional Committee have uot been idle since the meeting on Thursday evening, and the names and support of so large, a number of our citizen's have already been obtained, both as subscribing members and players, that the inauguration of the new club is now placed beyond a doubt. Our readers will perceive from an advertisement which appears elsewhere that a meeting, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Provisional Committee, to elect the officers of the club for the current year, and to frame rules, will take place at the Trafalgar Hotel on Wednesday evening next, which is likely to be numerously and influentially attended.

The Empire Dramatic Company make their first appearance this evening at the Oddfellows' Hall, and we understand that Mr W. H. Newton has left nothing undone in regard to the arrangements o the house which can tend to the convenience and general comfort of the audience. The lighting of the Hall, which is frequently very defective, has received especial attention. The pieces selected for performance this evening are, as we have already stated, Tom Taylor's capital three-act play « Piot and Passion/ an adaptation from the French, and the afterpiece of the. 'Rough Diamond,' and we trust to find that Mr Newton's efforts to place before the Nelson public dramatic representations of irreproachable character in as effective a style as our present local resourses will allow, will be fully appreciated. Our readers will perceive, from an advertisement in another column that Mr E. M. Moss, the engine-keeper of the Fire Brigade, is authorised to call upon the honorary members, the insurance agents, and others for the purpose of obtaining their subscriptions for the current year. The claims for adequate support which the Brigade has upon the commuuity at large are too obvious to require comment at our hands; and it is equally plain that without proportionate co-operation on the part of the public, it is impossible that its efficiency can be maintained ; we therefore trust that this subscription list will present a very different appearance to that of last year, and that the people of Nelson will show by no niggardly contributions their appreciation of the services which the Brigade has already rendered, and which their assistance will enable them to render even more effectually whenever occasion may require. Mr Harrison, the delegate appointed by the Annexation Committee at Greymouth to convey their petition to Wellington and explain the various reasons which have led to that agitation, arrived by the Kennedy „ on Thursday, and proceeds on his mission , by the first steamer to Wellington. We understand that, although the passing of the Westland County Bill prevents the carrying oat of the scheme for annexation to Nelson this year, it was deemed advisable that Mr Harriaon should go; 'up to ;

Wellington and obtain from the Government some assurauce that they will next session rearrange the boundaries of the county of Westland, so as to exclude the. Grey district, aud thus euable it to be attached to the Province of Nelson.

The Hokitika papers publish a telegram from Wellington, stating that the Government had nominated the Hon. John Hall as its representative in Westland, and that, as such, he will exercise all the delegated powers of the Governor under the Goldfields and other Act3. We understand that it is also reported that, as we have already stated, Mr Hall would retain the portfolio of Postmaster-General, aud moreover that he will exercise his functions in that capacity from the West Coast. This latter statement however is hardly likely. The appointment, we understand, has given great satisfaction iu Westland. In reference to this appointment we may remark that although the passing of the Westiaud County Bill effectually disposes of the Greymouth annexation scheme for the present, still the inference is net to be drawn that it is entirely at an end. The County Bill is only a temporary measure, and we have the best authority for stating that the inhabitants of the Grey district are still determined to use every effort to give effect to their resolution to an ilex themselves to Nelsou, and moreover they have the assurance of the Government that their wishes in this regard will not bo opposed. There is little reason to doubt that, had the Greymouth petition been presented in time — and ifc was only owing to the accident that several consecutive steamers were unable to call at Greymouth that this was the case — its prayer would have been granted. We are therefore justified in regarding the measure as only deferred for the present. It rarely happens that so prosaic an incident as the arrival in our port of a coal barque is provocative of a ' jeu de mots.' Nevertheless our readers will find amongst our shipping intelligence an announcement which might fairly challenge the comments of our local wits. We allude to the arrival on Saturday last of the Leonidas, with 326 tons of coals from Newcastle, N.S.W., having also on board a solitary passenger bearing the very appropriate name of * Burnham.' y-~

It has been decided by the House of Representatives that all boys educated at schools wholly or partly maintained by public money shall be trained to military drill when possible.

We understand that Dr Giles has been recommended by the Provincial Government to his Excellency the Governor, for the post of Resident Magistrate at the Buller. It is expected that his appointment -will come by the next mail from Wellington.

We are glad to observe that the proposition made at the late general meeting of the Nelson Fire Brigade has beeu adopted ■with reference to the affixing of metal labels to the residences of the various members or the Brigade, so that, in case of an alarm of fire, efficient assistance may be rendered with the least possible delay. These labels, which are very neatly executed, may now be seen iu every part of tbe city, and constitute, as we believe all our readers will agree, a very honorable badge, oh the possession of which we are happy to think that so many of our citizens may pride themselves.

Fiji advices report that the Rev. Mr Baker, Wesieyan missionary at Novora, and a native catechist and his students have beeh murdered by a tribe of cannibals, Prompt measures were taken by the king to punish the murderers. Mrs Baker and family have arrived in Sydney. . We find that telegraphic communication with' the South is again interrupted, owing to a break upon the line between Kaikourai and Christchurch. . The cause of the interruption has not yet been ascertained, but probably arises from the very high winds which have prevailed in that district for some days past. It is probable that communication will be resumed this ©*eningY