LOCAL AND MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 33, 19 August 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MINING.

Judging from tlio number of boats plying up and down our river all day, and tho quantity of goods they take, wo should imagine that thoy nro making a golden harvest out of tho digger ; and since tho commencement of this ruch, tho quantity of goods sent seem to iucreaso rather than othorwisc, thus showing that for overy one returning there must be two or three doparting.

Tho gale of last Monday was severely felt at tho Kiuiieri, and but littlo less than a miraclo has saved us fiom the painful duty of recording soiious''and fatal accidents. As it is, somo mishaps occurred, and one man was sovcroly injured. During tho afternoon tho wind increased in violence, whirling up tho rivor, and in tho gusts threatening to SAcep tho townshipaway bodily. About four o'olock Mr Lowrio'shouso camo to griof, a largo troo that was standing by its sido being violently torn up by tho roots and hurled right across it. Tho houso was divided fairly in tho iniddio, and tho csoapo of tho inmates was providential indeed, thoro being in tho houso at tho timo flvo persons— threo ohildron and thoir parents. Mr Lowrie is a heavy losor by tho catastrophe; ho had just finished his houso nnd was about to take out a publican's licenso. Wo hear a subscription list will bo raised for his bonelit. Mr Gibson's bakery was also injured by tho falling troo. On tho main torrace tho violoncoof tlio wind was also severely folt, and 'whs attended by an accident of tho samo nature, aud which took placo at about tho samo timo us tho above. In this instance Boswell's hut was partially destroyed, and a sick man lying in at tho tinid, narrowly escaping death, Outsido, and closo to it, n minor nainod Ilonry Abbott was engaged cradling, and by tho moiost olmnco escaped from sudden death, n biauch of tho falling treo striking him and breaking his left arm, He received tho nocoßsary medical attendance in town, nnd is now pro1 grossing as favorably m can be oxpected, Tlio

greatest sympathy was felt for tho unfortunate fellow, as he has been somewhat unluokyin his mining speculations ; and with tho most praiseworthy liberality and Christian charity Mr Spurling (of tho Dim of Spurling and Mitchell) and Messrs. M'Qregor and Tonkin, miners, started a subscription list in his bohalf, and up to four o'clock on Thursday tho sum of £20 was collected nnd the list not closed. We cannot speak in sufficiently high terms of this proceeding on the part of the community, storekeepers and miners working heartily together. Who shall for the future dare to assert that the miners are apathetic, and callous to tha woes and afflictions of their fellow-man ? In our next issue we shall publish tho subscription list, and tho amount collected.

The accounts from tho Kanieri on mining 'affairs are, on tlio Thole, satisfactory. Hinds and party on iho flat are doing well, their olaim paying thorn at tho rate of betweon £20 and £30 per week. Old Sandy's is still all there, tho results of their labor continuing undiminished ; and the many claims that wo liavo hitherto recorded ns being on the different leads of gold show no diminution in their returns. The claims in the main street that are on gold aro being persoveringly worked, and another party adjoining the Ballarat company havo obtained payable prospeots. The tunnel that is being driven in from tho river towards James' claim is paying well. Hawkes and party, and their neighbours, have overy reason to be satisfied with thoir ground, if not with tho decision of Mr Warden Schaw ; but miners aro well awnro that in all mining disputes there must bo a losing sido. On the main terrace, Marshall, Oliver's, and Boswell's claims may Yio quoted as standing highest in the market, but wo have reason to suppose there are others on the face, situated farther along tho spur that aro paying nearly as well. Return diggers from the South are dropping in by twos and threes, and setting in to tho deserted ground ; but much will be left untouched until the race is completed that is to supply water for sluicing, when quite a different stato of affairs will ensuo. Wo prophesy that n small fortune will bo mado by those enterprising individuals who will build tho tail flume that will carry into the river tho vast amount of debris washed from the terraces.

A rather exciting scene occurred at tho beach yesterday afternoon. A boat containing two men from the lona was perceived from tho flagstaff making towards the bar. The instant it was seen, Mr Lowry, the signalman, hastened to tho staff and signalled to tho men in tho boat to steer to tho right of tho bar, and bring the boat up on the beach. Tho pilot boat's orew immediately hastened towards the end of the spit, whilst two othors ran to tho beach, one of them hastily undressing himself, and with a lino fast round his waist standing in readiness to rush in to tho surf. Tho mon in the boat, being then very closo to the breakors, seeing tho preparations that were mado to receive them, immediately ceased pulling, and aftor a few moments turned tho boat's head and mado back for tho vessel. Had they attempted to land, tho chances aro, the boat being quite unfitted for entering tho surf that was running at tho time, sho would have capsized, when loss of life would have without doubt ensued.

That portion of tho surveyed overland routo to Christchurch, nearest to Ilokitika, is now in the course of construction, Mr Cahill, who has tho contract for clearing 20 miles of it having, commenced operations on Thursday last. A considorablo nuinher of men aro employed upon It. This portion of the road is situated upon tho south bank of tho river, and as the timber there is of a very light 'growth wo may expect that a considerable distance will be [shortly cleared. Mr Ryan, storekeeper at Kanieri, has the contract for supplies. Wo trust that the track so long proposed to bo cleared upon the north side of the river, to connect the very important Kanieri district with Hokitika town, and which has already been commenced, will bo vigorously pushed forward to its completion, as the situation of the new road completely excludes tho above plaoo from participating in any advantages attendant upon it. Tho Woodstock community, though rendered somewhat select through the counter attractions of the Into rush, have no reason to complain of the yield of gold in their locality. From Mitchell's claim downwards to tho fust creek all are getting payublo gold to a greater or less degreo. In this distnnco is contained twelve or fourteen 00 x 00 claims, a decided proof of a lead, in whatever direction it may happen to run for the future ; so fur, however, its courso has been straight, it having kept closo to the terraco in its downward career. Arthur, Hyde and party aro yet obtaining good wages, and the tunnellors next them aro blocking out, nnd the results aro satisfactory. Wo believe that Mitchell has a really good claim, and Charley, next to him, has driven on to four feet of dirt'thnt will g( is m half an ounce to thrco-quarters ot an ounce to the load. Willis and party have completed their tail-race, ami the prospects thoy hnvo since obtained are satisfactory, and tho claims in connection with tho lower race aro of good rep u to. No ground has beon tested on the other sido of the creek, but a beginning, it is expected, will bo mado in a few days, as soon oa tho shareholders of olaims in proximity to each other can be assombled. Wo would wish tho miners to understand that anxious as wo are to gather such information as will enable us to lay before our readcru good mining reports, wo would not on any consideration be guilty of a breach of confidence, or publish tho names of miners who have nn objection to sco themselves in print in connection with the claims they at tho time may bo working ; wo havo given strict instructions to our ropoitors to bo most particular in this respect, and whilst wo very heartily thank those liboral minded men who kindly supply us with information, wo would beg to impress upon tho minds of all our readors the absolute necessity of mining reports in such a journal as this, as much for the guidance of those engaged in the samo pursuits at a distance, ns to mako known to tho world in general tho auriferous capabilities of tho land wo live in ; and writing after twelro years' cxporiencoen tho gold fields of Australia, wo can safely assort that wo seldom know men suffer any loss from tho general results of their labors becoming known to tho publio. Tho nbsenco of charges in our Polico Court during tho last fow days must be vory satisfactory to tho residents nnd polico of our township, thoro not being a singlo caso on Thursday, and but one or two trilling cases on Friday. Forliaps now that four constables havo beon despatched to Christchurch to attond tho sessions thoro, wo shall havo tlio profession commencing operations hero again, or thoy may find a moro prolltablo field for thoir labours at tho now rushes that havo latoly broken out. According to tho old adago that "a lull is always followed by a storm," wo should rocommond our tradespeople to bo on tho safo side, and keep a vigilant oye on their proporty in spito of tho dearth of oharges at' the Polico Court. Wo aro requested to call attention to an advortlsemont announcing that tho drawing for tho prizes in Christonson's Art Union, will take placo on Mouthy ovoning, in tho Corinthian Hall,

Tho prisoners who are being sent down by tho Wm. Miskin will receive an addition to their number, by one Win, Francis Fordo/ who stands committed from the Grey for stealing from tho person of one Wm. Herdon two LI notes, and six nuggetsi value L 3.

Wo have had but scanty intelligence for some timo past from Tucker Flat. Nothing of any consequence has transpii'ed there in tho meantime. Some few are doing remarkably well, whilst tho great majority aro only making small and 'moderate wages. Mineis are, however, merely holding their own pending tho arrival of the water. We hear that tho Pioneer CompnnyYro making good progress with their race. Wo expect a detailed roport from their secretary shortly.

Constable Kilpatrick succeeded in arresting a gentleman, "wanted," at tho Totara Township, last Wednesday evening, dropping on him quite by chance. From tho constable's statement it appeared that, whilst passing a store built on the top of a terrace, ho observed the prisoner coolly warming himself at the fire, and upon a closer scrutiny discovered that it was no less a person than Charles Lear, who has for some time succeeded in evading the vigilance of the police. It will be in the remembrance of our readers that the prisoner's mate was arrested last week for aiding to rob William Tatton, miner, at the Kanieri. Tho prosecutor, ,in his evidence, stated that Charles Lear robbed him of every farthing he possessed. Should the charge be proved we trust that a severe example will be made of him, as it is through such rufliaus as these prowling about on our goldfields, living entirely on the gains of honest hard working men, that many a poor fellow is brought to grief. Constable Kilpatrick, aftor handcuffing the prisoner, lodged him safely for tho night, and brought him up to town on Thursday evening.

A subscription in aid of tho widow and orphans of Hie late Thomas Allen, of Nelson, who was drowned in the late boat accident on tho Hokitika bar, has been made ; and the sum collected, amounting toL44, has been handed to Captain Ogilvio, who leaves this day per tho Miskin, for delivery into the hands of Mrs Allen. Wo aro glad co notice the prompt response of the publio to tho appeal ; and great credit is due to Messrs Ogilvie and Bush for their exertions in the cause of benevolence. V Tho weekly meeting of tho Improvement Committee lapsed on Thursday evening owing to there not being sufficient members present to form a quorum. We understand that it was the intention of tho committee to have called for tendors for tho formation of a footpath in llevell street north. Messrs. Bracken and Prosser speak highly of tho manner in which tho rates are subscribed. On Wednesday last there was upwards of £G0 collected towards this desirable improvement, although they merely called on tho residents of that portion of the town in which tho improvements are to take place.

Tho schooner Sarah Pile, from Sydney, brought to Hokitika over fifty passengers who wore landed by the tug steamer Yarra yesterday This accession to our population, so aoon after the arrivals per the Barwon, from Melbourne, shows that the anticipated spring rush is not far distant, if not now actually commenced.

A correspondent signing himself "A Christchurch Skipjaok" Bonds us tho following con :—: — " Why is a certain lawyer like a man in bed ? Because he lies on one side, and thon turns over and Lisa on tho other."

The hinta- thrown out in our leading article of Thursday, have, wo aro happy to say been already acted upon, as we learn that several of our leading merchants and storekeepers are about to hold a preliminary mooting for the purpose of taking tho necessary steps towards forming a fire brigade. In connexion with the same subject, wo may remark that wo have been waited on by the purchasers of the engines belonging to the New Zealand steamer, with reference to affording a proper supply of water to the town — not only for the extinguishing of fires, but also for other purposes. They state themselves willing, if they can obtain sufficient encouragement, to construct a large iroii tank, raised on piles above tho height of any building in Hokitika, which they would keep filled with water, pumped from the river by tho engine in their possession. From the tank pipes could be carried through the town, and at stated distances — say fifty yards — stand pipes would bo erected, from which ample supplies of water could be drawn for general purposes : in the event of fire, hose could be screwed to tho standards, and water could be thrown on any given spot with sufficient force to oxtingnish any ordinary fire, and entirely supersede tho necessity of a fire-engine. We should bo glud to see this improvement carried out, as tho danger from fire increases with every fresh arrival and tho erection of ovory new building.