LOCAL AND MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 29, 9 August 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MINING.

As auything relating to the improvement of the port must be of particular interest to the public, we make no apology for publishing the following communicated to us by a gentleman fully qualifiei by his eminent professional position to express an opinion: — "From surveys which have been made of this coast 'it appears that Hokitika is the best harbor in the immediate vicinity of the mines, and several projects have been spoken of for the purpose of furthering its progress as a supply depot for the West Coast goldfields. The bar in its present state is the greatest drawback under which the place labors — it is dangerous to coasting steamers, and much more so to sailing vessels, even with the assistance of a tug, and although the immediate employment of a good and powerful steam tug is now an absolute necessity, it would only partially remedy the evil. It seems to have been overlooked that the entrance to the river is capable of being permanently improved and rendered safe in comparison with its present state at an expense certainly not greater" than the importance of the object deserves. The waters of the Hokitika River, if properly directed into the ocean, are amply sufficient to keep the bar open at all times for vessels even of a large draught. The present state of the bar and the formation of the south spit may be traced to the course the river is now taking, and especially to the deflection of the current from a point of the south spit nearly opposite the south signal station, by which a direction is given to it at its junction with the ocean, nearly parallel with the line of the coast, and in the same direction as the current of the ocean outside. If the river is allowed to take its course 1 naturally it is probable the bar and entrance will bs worse than they now are, until the river cuts its way through the north spit, from the present wharf, to the ocean, in the vicinity of the wreck of the Oak, which it is now gradually doing. Why not cut a channel at once and give the waters of the river a direction best calculated to keep clear a deep water.entrance from the river to the ocean. The whole' length of cutting would not exceed 150 yards, and the expense would be small in comparison with the value of property lost in attempting to enter the river during the la3t month. If such a channel was opened, the present entrance would sand up in. one or two tides. The river would have a direct and unbroken sweep into the ocean. The difference* in level between the river at the wharf and the ocean at low water would be expended in one twelvth the present distance,- and the gradient increased in the same ratio inversely. The velocity of the stream at and near the period of low water, whea the river is exerting its greatest influence in clearing a channel across the bar, would be greatly increased, and as the power of a body of moving water to transport sand and gravel increases in proportion to the square of its velocity, the effective force of the stream would be so greatly augmented that a good awi deep entrance might be safely relied on as the result. , A plan of the place, with judiciously chosen cross' sections, might be forwarded to the engineer of the?' Christchurch and Lyttelton Railway, or some other" engineer of undoubted ability, and his advico acted, upon at once, as the subject is becoming too serious for farther delay " A "smart." rnr!h' :; }tn I . whose nnme we will in mercy to hir'^i -'H.pie>.y, «oU b!< share in a widen claim »n thp K»ii'<ni flat, -uul apparently not being at all t.r/ibk-4 will' it „(!•< •prlUiity of con-K-iev, (lie- iif-.l murmug deliberately walked down to the claim and jumped his old mate's snarj' on the plea that he did not possess a miner's riglif(

!! r !he Wi-.tde.- -.-•.= r ; ,i) t . i j.j v , .i ci;c , ( t!lil> ,jp l)T j '• jc-iri'is? lie cws-- hiK.d *lj,. jnuipej gl' 1 Tor not -naving a right, but' declined 'to confiscate Es share. This decision gave universal satisfaction, and such a judicious exercise of the discretionary powers in- - vested in him has raised Mr Schaw in the estimation of the mining community. A general verdict of "served him right" and shame was given against the jumper. We have received information that J. E. Fitzgerald, Esq., during the present session of the General Assembly, will endeavor to obtain proper representation of the goldfields in the Provincial Council — the qualification to be the possession of a miner's right or business licence, until a proper electoral roll of the West Coast district can be prepared. He will also endeavor to obtain such alteration of the land law of the province as will entitle the present holders of sites in Hokitika to the pre-emptive right to the land at an uniform upset price. However sincere Mr Fitzgerald may be, we have great doubts whether he will be able to carry his point ; but at all events he deserves the respect of the community if he only makes the attempt. The Kanieri Pioneer Race Company are industriously prosecuting their undertaking. They have already completed a mile of their ditch, and will shortly commence the fluming across Tucker Flat, of which there will be some 500 yards, at a height of between forty and fifty feet. Shares in the speculation are already sought after, and we hear that LI 50 was offered and refused for one. The returns to the' lucky shareholders will no doubt be extremely handsome when the race is completed, and-it is anticipated that it will be in the course of three months. We have been requested to publish the following regarding the late fatal boat accident : — "We, the undersigned passengers per Lady Darling steamer, beg to state that from the time the Lyttelton steamer struck on the bar until sundown the signal — 7980, meaning, " can boats land in safety" — was left flying on board the Lady Darling, but did not receive any answer from shore. A deputation waited on the captain requesting him to land passengers in boats, but he refused. On Saturday morning, an hour before the boat started the same signal was hoisted but ne answer was returned ; had an unfavorable one been received, the boat, we believe, would not have been allowed to leave the ship." Signed by 27 passengers. On Monday morning an accident that might have ended very seriously, occurred on the Kanieri Flat, in a claim tliat was being paddocked. Whilsthis mates were removing a heap of dirt upon the surface, a man was down in the cutting taking out some slabs used as supports to the face, when suddenly a large mass of earth slipped, and before he had time to step aside, it caught him and buried the lower part of his body, Prompt assistance being at hand, he was speedily extricated, and luckily quite uninjured. We would strongly advise miners to be extremely careful of themselves, for through the present disgraceful state of the Hospital an eptry in case of severe accident, may not be easily effected. There is every probability that much trouble and many disputes will occur amongst the holders of claims in the Maori Beserve, a great many claims having been taken up, and £1 on each paid tft^ihe, Mnoris fo r fioeays&ion- rk*s-£? c^uslftered liy many of the miners as right to hold the ground in fee 'simple, and the consequence is that many are working golden holes elsewhere, or have le£t for some of ! the new rushes now on. Whether there will be any j 'cases of jumping is an open question,- and if so, who will decide them ? The Government decline to interfere unless upon the suggestion of the Surveyor General, who, we hear, can prosecute for the illegal occupation of Maori lands, and the fine in each case reaches from £5 to £100, according to the state of the exchequer. We understand that Mr Sale promises io take action in the matter : we trust it will ibe prompt. However 1 , as we are to have Maoris in the Upper House, a darkie commissioner will not be such an anomaly. The accounts from Woodstock (Arthur's Town) are of the most cheering character. A lead of gold is being traced through the Maori Reserve. The tunnel next to Arthur's claim first struck it, and the old veteran from the "Point" was the next to pick it up, and from thence downwards it was fol- < lowed in patches until it struck the inner terrace, where it has formed into a distinct lead in the Maori ground, through which it has been traced for a distance of eight or nine claims. Tail races are necessary to effectually combat the water, of which there is abundance, and the men at work on the lower race, on breaking through into the wash on Friday last, were rewarded with a prospect of one pennyweight to the dish. Willis and party, the race next above, received sufficient encouragement, on pricking the ground, to go back to the river and deepen their drain.

The main terrace on the Kanieri, which at one time was considered the principal attraction, although now occupying only a secondary place in the estimation of the miners, is yet giving employment to three or four hundred men, and when the Pioneer Company have completed their race, every yard of ground at present unoccupied will be eagerly sought after. The present style of working it is erroneous, for it is essentially sluicing ground ; in most of the claims cradling only gives meagre returns, but when sluice boxes are in fashion, the results will be quadrupled. There is, however, much really good ground in work. Jack Marshall, and Oliver and party, and the claims immediately adjoining them, are rocking through considerably more than a pound weight per week, and odd parties up r.nd down the face of the terrace, some half mile over, are favored by the like Buccess. The opinion of our correspondent for this district is, that the miners are only working a surface layer, the depth being only 42 feet, and that at a much greater another bottom will be found richer than the top one. One hole is sunk to the depth of 40 feet and no sign of a bottom, the strata being a heavy wash with a strong colour in it.

From the Kanieri the account still continue favor, able, and although there is no fresh ground opening the old claims still keep up their good repute, Sandy's claim continues A 1, the returns being from 40 to 50 ozs per week, and se7eral others in the same line yield equally good results. The duffer (?) ground, as it is termed, between the good xuns, 5 will pay wages, say from L 3 to L 7 per week, in fact, there is very little of the famed Kanieri Flat but pays more or less. We could adduce many instances of success, but men object to have their names published, in connection with the returns from their claims. Concerning that portion of the flat immediately adjacent to the township, we are sorry to have to record that nearly all the claims are left through excess of water. Peter's claim, in Lyttelton sfcfcet, is yet producing to the satisfaction of the shareholders, they are making good wages, and James and party moderate ditto, and have hopes of better things to come. On the river bank, where, by the way, the main bottom' on this side the river only has been found,' shareholders have evpry rea-

j rep to i'c saUiiif!' T/iih tV re^,.i'<. oi.ii<iiicd ; L-jo j an.: i/, 0 per ;,i,-ci a "-'eek is being made fere, i Hawkins and party are amongst the luclnp ones, and Tommy and his crowd sing for joy every Saturday night. We would advise them to > male hay while there is an opportunity to do so, fpr thi .-water that is at present bound in icy chains upon Ihe bills will materially affect their progress by and bye. ' Our readers may doubtless remember the fatal boat accident which" took place on the Hokitika river about two months ago. We bave much pleasure in publishing the following extract from a' letter forwarded to us by the secretary to the Cour* Pride of Dunedin, Ancient Order of Foresters, relating to one of the victims of the accident, named M'Cann, who belonged to the above Order ;—"; — " Our late Brother was barely entitled to the funeral bene. fit ; but you will be glad to hear that his Court' voted the sum of twenty pounds. This sum, together with the balance ot subscription raised at Hokitika — L 5 12s— brought by Brother Saillie, was paid over to his widow. This case shows the necessity of men providing for the future-r-we know not when the day of adversity may come. ' The whole of the payments made by this Brother amounts to L 4 16s, and the above is the reward of his forethought." The Jeannie Dove and Leonidas, driven to sea by the violence of the storm of Monday night week, have arrived at Nelson— the latter having lost her bowsprit, and the former having had to throw overboard a large quantity of cargo to lighten the vessel. Of the Lloyd's Herald nothing has been heard, and it is indeed much to be feared that she went down at her anchor during the gale. The John Bullock, we are informed, has returned to Dunedin. As we expected, we i r e . after all indebted to the enterprise of Victorians for of «i tug _ boat, a serviceable and handy craft, ~sio Tarra— having arrived here yesterday from Me^oar^e, and is to be stationed hero to tow and lighter vessels. She is a paddle-wheel steamer of 68 toe's (gross) of 25 horse powei, and drawing from. 5 ftjto 5 ft 6 in of water. The Yarra was the fastest tugtoat but one in Hobson's Bay, steaming 9| knots 'and ten in smooth water ; her consumption of fuel is about 3 cwt per hour. She is the property of k'Meckan, Blackwood and Co., and is commanded i)y Captain Nicoll, late chief officer of the s.s. Alharabra. .The Tarra left Melbourne on the 21th ultimo hvith light N.W. winds and fine weather ; put into Seymour. (Tasmania) for a fresh supply of coals onitho 30th, and left the following day. »She experienced, fine weather with southerly winds all the passage, arid arrived off this port on Monday at 3 p.m., having accomplished the run from Seymouv to Hcikitpta in seven days. She crossed the bar safely yesterday, though considerably after the time of high water, and brought eleven passengers from th*& schooner Susannah Booth, now outside. The Uno, a screwsteame 1 of 33 tons, belonging to the same owners, ss the Yarra, _is houily expected. It is with no small pleasure we note the arrival of the Yarra, which will doubtless prove of infinite value to thfis port^ and our satisfaction is in no way lessened by the fact that she^is a Victorian, and not a Canterbury ,craf t. Messrs. Henderson & Bonar are the agents ior the Yarra. It is announced that the firm of Messrs Mm Jones and Co. have announced that they willSa," ?'* ' -claims due for io 'w-.-iyj-empioyea in he ill- ] fated City of Dun\>di:x ap to the day of tbc wrsc/, to their representatives on or ai^r the V s f, of August. i \ Tnere ara iiiain^ "liicu- m tb-: '•-! f :*■■ O I the Camp lleberve (Lliauiea} being vigorously workd, but the miners aro sacny ir^itßZctr^STsHVar^gßl^gg^ of the returns, however, are very good, F^^uneeH ■ off the bottom of a small paddock, as. ajj^ij. y tV6 and six feet of washcirt that will prospect frc\ m * WJS grains to half a pennyweight to the disli.- «S f e jj - eilieve this gold to be a continuation of yhe 1 ia( j on the old flat, a creek and a fall in tho gsroun \ on ] T separating them. Machinery will be all the^i [g e by and by: when men get more settled, and iM $& ;t is necessary. We consider the future prosfs jts of the Kanieri to be bright in the extreme: Wi , hear of a new rush nine miles further up the river, (fourteen miles from Hokitika) but authentic i nformation is wanting. The meeting of the Hokitika Steam Tug CJommittee again lapsed last evening, there being- no quorum, Captain Robertson and the secretary h'eiog the only persons present one hour after the^ advertised time. It is to be regretted that the undertaking should be allowed to fall through frot^i the apathy of the committee, when it is patent t< > all of what advantage the undertaking would be to the port in general. The following is an extract from the log of the p.s. Lady of the Lake, Thomas Zealand, master, from Dunedin to Hokitika: — " Wednesday, .July 26th, 1865, Thompson's Sound, 11 o'clock, h. m . When on shore for wood, found nailed on a tree two pieces of tin, marked ' Schooner Helen .6i Hobart Town, prospecting party, from and to ; llelbourne, Thomas B. Habbott, master, Timothy 3 'ennett geologist, Nov. 17th, 1864. Sailed from Dees Cove, 18, 11, '64 j left on shore at his own req^sst, T. B. H. Watson. Signed by him in ink.' We found traces of other parties having recently visited \the Sound." Signed — Thomas Zealand, master. Every exertion is being made to launch the I ady of the Lake — which, unfortunately, recently got on shore — over the spit. She has been raised » : ore than four feet yesterday, and the ways and all /ac- - cessary appliances are now at hand, so that we t-jay .hope soon to see this handy little vessel afloat in 'tho river. She will no doubt prove an acquisition to.-)ur« port. An inquiry into the wreck of the MoatezuTru -s?aa held on Monday ; but as nothing wag-elicited more than our readers are already in possession of, ;we refrain from publishing it. A rather amusing affair happened yesterday j at the camp. Tenders having been called for in t&is journal from persons willing to undertake the 1 establishment of a ferry at the Typo river, whea the particulars were applied for, intending contractors were informed that some person unknown, supposed to be a storekeeper, had carried away the specifications, &C-— the only copy then in possession of the government. Consequently, others' have to dance attendance at the camp perhaps until the time for tendering expires.

An Irish GentlmAk ! — A curious prerentm&Dt case has been tried at Kilkenny. A man naa|ed Patrick Doyle was presented to the grand jury W er a statute of Queen Anne, which enacts that "toll loose, idle vagrantß, and such as pretend*~Eo'Tbe Irish gentlemen, and will not work, &c, >|ut wandei 1 about demanding victuals, and ' coshieriug' from house to heuse," shall be required to find beourity for good behaviour, or in default, be tent )>n board her Majesty's fleet, or be otherwise disposed of. The jury found that Mr Doyle, who had livjS| on what he could extort from the poor, was fl ''Irish gentleman, and would not work,', acd 9 was therefore sentenced to find two securities in £ >fl each for his good behaviour during seven yeaig^M to be imprisoned for that period.— -"Mite helS Maritime Register." • ■