LOCAL AND MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 32, 17 August 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MINING.

The Uno, belonging to Messrs M'Meokan, Blaokwood & Co., of Melbourne, which arrived here from that port on the 12th inst, is not intended to remain long idle, it being decided to put her in the Grey River trade, she being more fitted for that than towing vessels in and out our harbor. As there are no steam vessels running between here and the Grey at present, that poyt being almost solely supplied by occasional visits of the Wallaby and Eleanor, it will doubtless prove a very profitable speculation for her owners as well as a great convenience for the population at the Grey.

The mooting intended to have been held. at Bracken's Queenstown Hotel, on Tuesday evening, for the purposo of raising funds to ercot a schoolhouse in Hokitika, was adjourned owing to the inclemency of the leather, which doubtless provented many from attending who would otherwise have been present. We trust that the committee will not allow the matter to fall through, but to-night (that being the time to whioh the meeting is adjourned) do their utmost to provide so necessary and useful an institution.

One of those providential escapes from death that sometimes occur to men leading bush lives, happened on the Waimea on Wednesday laßt. A large tree immediately opposite Ross and M'Gill's boot and shoe store, suddenly and without giving the slightest warning, fell right across tho above store, levelling it with the ground, and making sad havoc amongst the stock thereof. Luckily no one was inside at the timo. Next to it stands the Bendigo Hotel, in which Mr M'Gill and three others were standing. They were disagreeably interrupted by suddenly finding themselves enveloped in the branches, which demolished the room they were in ; but, wonderful to relate, the limbs, though large enough to have caused instant death to any person they might have struck, fell dear of the inmates, who escaped absolutely scatheless, save Mr Gill, and he came off with a few slight cuts and scratches about the face. They have every reason to be most thankful for their miraculous preservation. We have seldom had to record a moro narrow escape. "■^Several members of the Wesloyair Church Building Committee met on Tuesday afternoon ]atk on the ground reserved by the Government for the erection of a church, and seleoted the site of tho proposed church, tenders for the clearing of whioh ground aro invited in our columns. We may state for the information of the publio that the Rev. G. S. Harper, from the Christchurch circuit, is appointed to labor here for eight or nine months, when it will be determined whether he remain twelve months'longer or a brother minister succeed him.

The following is tho list of prisoners to be sent down by the steamer William Miskin, whioh sails this morning, for trial in Christchurch : — John Higgins, alias Johnny Reed, alias three-fingered Jack, alias Jack Smith, charged with stealing a cash-box from the court-house, Hokitika ; Harrison, for stealing two casks of beer at the Grey ; Corsio, for stealing one cask of ale at the Grey ; Alfred Claridge, for burglariously entering the store of T. Collins ; Donovan, for assaulting the police at Hokitika ; Fred. Jones, for deserting his wife and family at Dunedin ; Wi'liam Keer, charged on warrant by Detective Howard with horse-stoaling in Otago ; F. Smith, for breaking into the store of Mr Green at the Grey ; Jackson, summarily convicted at the Grey for petty larceny, and sentenced to three months, this prisoner being sent down to Cliristohurch to servo his sentence owing to the Hokitika gaol (?) being full. The prisoners are sent down under escort of Constables Howard, Carr, Gleeson and Flannigan, leaving the extensive force of three or four constables to keep the peaco at Hokitika.

From the South we have received reliable information up to last Tuesday, and the intelligence from thence is most satisfactory. The rush on the whole is a decided success, and may bo classed amongst the payable permanent gold districts of the West Coast. Thero are four creeks in work, three out of whioh may be termed old workings, and although they have not in milling parlance, oven been run over, Btill good payablo gold has been found in each, such ground in fact that would pay far above the usual amount termed wages, even upon ft gold diggings. A party of men from the Kanieri, who left representatives in golden claims there, opened a new terrace in German Gully, sinking from three to four feet, and obtained a prospeo of between two" and three grains to the dish. Thoy also informed us that out of twenty hand barrows of washdirt they sluiced in an hour 14 dwts., and feel sure that if water were only availablo to sluice tho numerous terraces that surround the many creeks, wages could bo made out of ground now lying idle, but which has every appearanco, as fur as outward auriferous indications go, of being able to support a largo population, Thero aro parties even noww ho aro located fifteen miles from tho main gully last rushed, making as much as £15 per man per weok. Of the main creek itself wo aro cortiiinjy satisfied, nm^UhoughwoaUou^^jMfeMßfiu fov thutoxuMH|^|^^^^^^H^^^^^H>j>o)'ts dfl[^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Hlncing "best to tbe I^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H creek wot ;

shafts have been sunk to the depth of between twenty and thirty feet, and report aaith that payablo prospects have been obtained, oa much as a dwt. to the dish. The shallow ground is really excellent, if six and seven ounces off the bottom of tfi small shaft may be considered such ; of course, we would not wish our readers believe that such prospects are the rule, but the' very fact that such ground is found theref s sufficient to stamp the rush as genuine. Ground % being cleared on a low ter. race, situato at tho lower end of tho gully, as a site for a settlement ; and it is expected that in a week or two a street will bo formed, and another new name added to the list of West Coast townships. Just now, supplies of all descriptions are at a premium, but as communic«wßi with Hokitika improves and the means of transport becomes more plentiful, a decreaso in price will be the result. The boatmen on the Totaro-aro doing nn excellent thing, as much as £15 per.iiayis being made by one or two of them. Freight by dray to the Totara is quoted at £30 per too, and goods are thence packed to the rush. We unhesitatingly publish the above report as authentic, but in doing so wo would most earnestly impress upon our readers— especially those at a distance — that there aro shadows in every bright pioture ; and no rush, however good but contains a largo amount of duffer or poor ground, and if early attractive is sure to draw a population that in many instances eventually prove more than commensurate to its bearing capabilities, Tho one in question is no exception to the rule ; it is already over-rushed, and unless fresh ground opens numbers will "have to leave. We would, thoreforo, advise those who are on elsewhere to let woll alone, and not give up a certainty for a ohance, however glittering the prospects.

Ever ready to sacrifice our own convenience for the good of the publio, and having a wholesome objection to a continual cavilling at trifles, yet wo cannot restrain ourselves from passing a few stringent romarks upon, not only tho insufficiency, but the entire absence of all accommodation at the Court House for the reporters of the Press. It is a direct insult to the publio, for it seems as if every obstruction was wilfully thrown in the way of these very necessary members of the community. As far as our experience has taught us, we have always found that seats andatableare usually provided ; but here in Hokitika reporters must stand with the mob at the bar and take notes as best they can— jostled and elbowed by everyone. If the authorities here have not the means to pay for a chair for the reporters, or tho decency to provide one, we trust that no obstacle will be thrown in the way of private enterprise supplying the omission, and that a place will be graoiously allowed for a chair that the proprietors of this paper will havo much pleasure in furnishing.

The telegraph between Ghristchurch and Hokitika is in the course of formation, and at the latter place some half dozen posts are erected, and tho wire stretched upon them. We trust that thib most necessary adjunct to the above communities will be vigorously pushed forward to its completion.

The trial of William Dwyer, late second engineer of the unfortunate steamer New Zealand, has brought to light many faota in connection with the discipline on board that vessel sufficient to prove that fccenes were enacted and taken part in by those from whose position on board we should certainly have expected a greater amount of discretion, Their conduct was more immoral and disgraceful than it has ever been our lot to hear or read of beforo on board any vessel. We aro sure that the reputation of every officer on board will suffer materially in tho estimation of every, respeottble man, and we only regret that decency will not allow us to publish tho evidence given in full.

A correspondent on tho Upper Eanieri River writes as follows : — "Having noticed some allusion in your Five-Mile correspondent's letter about this quarter,, and as it is a sort of " terra incognita," a fow remarks regarding it may not be unacceptable to your readers, and as I observe that we are likely to have a considerable influx of population from the neighboring colonies, it may be the means of putting many of them in the way of remunerative employment. There are from eighty to a hundred men at work here scattered along the various creeks and tributaries of the rivor, the great majority of whom are doing very well. I know of several parties making from L 8 to LI 2 per weok for the last four or five months ; and I have no hesitation in saying that there is plenty of ground hero which would pay handtomo wages, if properly worked, for four or five times the population which are here at present. The rivor divides itself into three branches here, and payable gold is found in each of thorn. In the left hand branch the gold is fine, while in the other branches it is coarse—pieces, varying from 4 oz to 1 oz, being occasionally got, but the place is very little prospected as yot, except along the creeks, while there are miles of fine looking country behind without a hole sunk in it. After being at work here for a few months I could not resist the temptation of having a look at the Kanieri Lake, and an examination of tho country about it, as Dr Haost, when here, gave us a very favorablo opinion of the auriferous character of the country in that direction, and on arriving at the Lake, after a tramp of nine miles, I was not disappointed. I is the finest sheet of water which I have seen ou the West Coast ; it is about four miles long by two broad, bordered all round by gigantic pine t/ees, while the snowy mountains, with their white caps looming in tho distance behind, give this part of the country a most pioturesque and imposing appearance well worth seoing. It is distant from Hokitika, by tho traok through tho Five-Milo along tho Kanieri River, about 26 miles. The sportsman would find ample employment at the Lake with oither rod or gun. Eels can bo got in great numbers, whilo tho forest abounds* with pigeons and kakas ; and as regards the auriferous capabilities of tho country in that direction, I have very little doubt but an extensive and payable goldfield exists in the nighborhood. The formation is something similar to the country round Lake Wakatip in Otago. Traces of various minerals, tin, copper, iron, &c, aro frequently met with. I havo fouud gold in different pinces whioh w.mld pay from 10 to 15s per day, but owing to tho wetness of the weather and shortness of provisions, I coujd. <'*- '/.ftm in tho way of piospeotiagr rrom what I havo soon, howevj>>: J „!,. firmly of opinion that there j'b a wide ticld hore for the man of energy and enterprise, many miles of auriferous country, entirely unprospcotcd and only waiting development. As Untond trying it again, properly equlppod, on tho return of longer days and warmer weather, I shall defer Baying any more at present."

In a forraor issue wo 'adverted to tho very great injury and inoonvenionce that was likely to acoruo to the community if tho Government persisted in their insane policy of keeping this port under look and key to the entrance of cattlo. That polioy has for eorno timo borno most bitter fruit} and our mouths— if not exactly filled with dust and ashes, havo b"ben with remarkably tough and skinny mutton, and over-drivon, unwholesome beef. The price of animal food has been gradually rising, and we

most sincerely hope has now reached its climax, ix leg of mutton — which we mistook for the drumstick of a turkey — costing the enormous figure of 2s 4d per lb. On looking over our files of Sydney papers, in a lato issue we saw that good meitt is to be bought thero for Id, and prime cuts at 2 id per lb, and this abundance exists almost within cooey of our shores. Let the Canterbury Government only fill our stomachs and we pledge ourselves to cease grumbling. The inquiry that ocourred last Saturday ami Monday, on the circumstances of the wreck of the New Zealand, brought to light some very important facts, and the evidence given by tlio captain and cbief engineer induces us to believe, that to say the least, great want of judgment was shewn, if not carelessness, in the manner in which the vessel was handled after grounding. The captain in his evidence distinctly swore that he walked round the vessel at low water, and found several large rents in her ; and the engineer states that previous to her floating off he fouud a rent sufficiently largo.to insert his fingers in, Captain Kerley also confirms by his ' evidence the existence of rents in both sides of her, half-an-inch wide, and other evidence was given to the same effect. The New Zealand had on board over three hundred tons of valuable cargo that was much needed in this market, and we certainly consider that it was the duty of those in oharge, when they found the vessel in such a state, to have done the only thing consistent with her condition, viz, studied tho interests of the different consignees and striven to the best of their ability to save as much of that cargo as possible. Had they—instead of striving to get her off— endeavored to bind her stjll oloser to the shore, and by running out anchors and warps have hauled her up as the tide made, we feel certain that tho claims that were made upon the consignees for general average would have been more just. Supposing the evidence given at tho lato inquiry to be correct, it was an egregious error to allow the vessel to float at all. It is hard enough to have our port damned and ourselves continually in the position of the inhabitants of a city in a state of famine ; but it is positively unbearable to see valuable merchandize sacrificed to either the want of ability or wilful carelessness of those ia charge.

In the Warden's Court yesterday, Ilawkcs and party sued Itodila and patty, before Mr Warden Schaw, for removing a certain piece of ground adjoining the plaintiffs' claim, thereby flooding the same and causing considerable damage and loss of time to the amount of £l^^^Mr(VLoughlin, for the defendants, stated {noNMHury dono was caused by the acts of persons in a claim next the river, and not by the removal of the earth ; that the earth removed was a portion of defendants' own olaira, and that they had only worked, as the plaintiffs had previously done, up to their boundary. This being supported by evideuce for the defendants, the Warden dismissed the case.