WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 42, 9 September 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1865.

We reported in a former issue a special meeting of tho Improvement Committee, cultad " to take into consideration communications from Captain Adams and others, respecting the present dangerous state of the port of Hokitika." There were two letters — one to the Committee nnd one to Captain Gibson — the first drawing the notice of the Committee to the subject in hand, and requesting that they would forward the second to its destination, and aid the writers in obtaining favorable consideration for its contents.

Some of the recommendations contained in the communication to Captain Gibson ought to meet with prompt attention, nnd perhaps it was not necessary to call in his ail at all to get what was required done. The lattice woik, moveable beacons, and a good supply of warp would bo great improvements, but we believe they have' both been previously recommended. With regard to the mooring piles on the spit, men of great nautical experience havo assured i.s they would be useless, so that on tbat point there is a division of opinions. The paragraph relating to the " signalising" is to say the least of it, superfluous. The depth of water on tho bar, tho state of the channel, the time of high, water — all these things are already attended to, although in one or two instances better signals might perhaps be substituted with advantage. As for being " more communicative in putting questions and giving answers to vessels lying in the roadstead, to ascertain if they are in want of any information," it seems to us that the person who recommends that a signalman should communicate further than is absflutely necessary with ships outside, knows very little about the subject he is speaking of. It is decidedly dangerous to encourage signalling to an undue extent by asking questions from shore. The more questions and answers the more likelihood that there will be blunders, nnd the experience of this port proves our words to be correct. We may add that it has never como to our knowledge thnt the signalman here has neglected to reply to reasonable questions from the shipping outside. Vessels generally arrive in little fleets, and at such times, from daylight to dark — until the coast is again clear, the halyards are rarely idle. We have alluded to this subject before, and will not weary our readers by going over the same ground a second time.

Whilst we arc of opinion that the gentlemen who have thus called in the aid of Captain Gibson to procure for them certain conveniences for the shipping frequenting this port, have gone rather out of their way in some respects ; it is certain that they have not, on the whole, made the best of their case with tho materials at their command. Some new beacons and some warp are no doubt very good things in their way; but to make them tho subject of a letter to Captain Gibson, and altogether to lose sight of matters of far greater moment seems a Very foolish way of going to work. It is not often that more is granted than is asked for— commonly not half as much, and if a couple of paltry beacons and some warps id all that the shipping interest enn venture to speak about, there is but a poor chance of Government undertaking those larger and expensive works which are imperatively required, and which tho growing importance of this port makes it reasonable to demand. The time bus arrived when the West Coast is to be permanently settled. The tvork hns already begun, for hundreds of those who came here to dig for gold have been thus far successful, and are now making enquiries concerning the time when they will be permitted to expend their savings in the purchase of land on this side of the main range. They came to mine, but they desire to remain and become bona fide colonists. Whilst this disposition to " settle" is being displayed in many quarters, is must not bo supposed that tho well-merited reputation of the goldfield has suffered, or is likely to suffer any decline. There is every prospect, as wo pointed out in a former issue, that the diggings will prove as permanent as those of California or Australia. Population continues to pour in upon us, and the number of those leaving is very small — almost nil. A batch of immigrants a thousand strong is absorbed in a lew days. Wo lose sight of them as idlers almost as fast as they land, but are reminded of them by the increased demand for supplies, and by tho rapid growth of the town. Tho West Coaot gold discovery was one of the most important events that ever happened in tho Mid.lle Island. The gold has done in a few months what would otherwise have remaincl for o/.-nturies undone. It has added to tho iraportanco of th* colony in a de-

gree which at present it is impossi 1 lo to calculate. It has dragged the West Const out of tho darkness and mystery which previously surrounded it, and made it the home of a population as great as that which inhabits the eastern portion of Canterbury. It has, in fact, created a thriving and powerful province out of what was a desert — a province cut oIF, it is true, from its neighbours on the land side hy a long tract of difficult country, and by a gigantic range of mountains, but possessing a port which if occasionally dangerous, is nevertheless capable of very great improvement. To the improvement of the port it is the duty of the Government tin dor which we are placed to turn their most serious attention. It is not their duty to spend all the revenue derived from the newly peopled territory in forming a road to connect it with the older portions of Canterbury. That should be altogether a secondary consideration. What the people want here, and what they have an undoubted right to demand is that t'teir interests should be first studied and not those of Ohristchurch and tho eastern side of the Island. It is evident that the cheapest and quickest method of communication with our neighbours is by water, and that that communication might bo vastly facilitated by improving the mouth of the Hokitika river. The present entrance may be marked out by beacons, and tho system of signalling may be improved ; but the main point for the' mercantile community hero to turn their attention to is the forming of a new nnd permanent channel — a work which has been successfully curried out elsewhere, and under more adverse circumstances. It is not t«jo much to ask the Government to undertake this, whereas the fact is they have never given tho idea a moment's consideration. They have never troubled themselves to have a proper survey of the entrance made, and no report has been furnished them, if indeed wo except Cupt. Gibson's ; and we leave all those who have read that, to say whether it exhausts, or oven fairly opens up tho subject. We would put the matter in this light : — There is a very largo population on the West Coast which may be regarded as permanent ; the communication with tho outside markets is bad ; can that communication )>o best improved by a road, or by an nlterotion of the entrance of tho harbor ? and which of tho two methods, if both are feasible, would most conduce to tho prosperity of the West Const population ? If our leading men would agitate the matter, bring it strongly before the notice of tho Provincial authorities, urge it in season and out of season, and procure all the information possible bearing on it, there would still bo hope that the Government Mould at least cause a copious and reliable report to be furnished to them. We should be content to rest tho issue on such a repot t.