LOCAL AND MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 43, 12 September 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MINING.

After such a gale as that which swept over Hokitika on tho night of Friday last and during Saturday, it would be only natural to suppose that much damage to at least somo of tho buildings that constitue the township would have been the result, and it argues well for their stability that they camo out of the trying ordeal absolutely scatheless. Not one case of blow-down having como to our knowledge, and instead of our business folk mourning oyer tho wrecks of their property, tbe effects of tho gnlo have been decidedly in our favour, it having caused such an excess of evaporation that our streets and byways which before were up to the ancles in mud are now agreeably passable. Wo paid a visit to tho spit on Saturday, and there, instead of n hoavy surf, backed by a scries of large rollers, we saw the surface of tbe channel, comparatively speaking, smooth as a mill pond, the heavy galo blowing off shore having fairly beaten down tho sea. This favourable state of the entrance has continued ever since, and that oft [quoted authority, tho oldest inhabitant, emphatically declined "he had never seen tho bar in such a favorable state as at present." On Saturday tho Lloyd's Herald succeeded in getting dear of the river, followed by the Wild Wave schooner, that for so long a time has been lying at the wharf. Yestorday tho William Miskin departed from our shores, bound to Dunedin via Nelson and Lyttolton. Sho made her exit by tho new channel which is now perfectly navigable, and it was a pleasure to sco her glide gracefully over the bar, whioh at the present timo has from 12 to 14 feet of water on it. It is much to be regretted that tho roadstead is so clear of shipping bound inwards, up to last night there not being one in sight, as the present facility afforded for entrance seldom occurs, and has never been surpassed.

Of all tho works of publio utility undertaken by tho Canterbury Government, not one has found so much favor in tho eyes of the Hokitika publio as the lino of telegraph between this town and Chri&tchurch ; and folks hero were beginning to congratulate themselves that soon we should be in direct and < close communication with not only Chiistchurch, but all tho principa' towns of the Middle Island. Our readers have been for some timo awaro that the work in question has been pushed vigorously forward, and wns completed as far as the Typo, and have no doubt thought that tho Telegraph Office now standing idle in Sewoll street would before long havo full employment attending to tho telegrams that would bo buro to pass between two such communities as thoso of Hokitika and the capital city of the Province. The rains and high tides of last week have, we are sorry to cay, cast quite a "damper" on our hopes, they having washed away no less than three miles and a half of tho line, causing great .lamago to the wire — in fact in some places quite destroying it. Wo cannot too strongly condemn tho carelessness that placed the posts in such close proximity to high water mark, moro especially when the height that spring tides sometimes attain on this coast is taken into consideration. Wo grumblo more at the loss of timo than the extra expense, although that will be no slight matter.

In a late file of tho " Otago Daily Timoa " we obsorved nn advertisement to tho offuot, that tho P.N.Z. and A.R.M.O. s.s. Egmont would leave Port Chalmers for Hokitika on tho 3rd of each month, oalling at the intermediate ports of Lyttolton, Wollihgton, Pioton, nnd Nelson. Too much credit cannot be given to tho above enterprising Company for tho prompt attention to a want long felt by tho inhabitants of the different towns enumerated, for some direct and regular line of communication that would connect th6m with each other, and that could at all times bo dependod upon— tho greatest inconvonience having hitherto been exporionced through, not only tho irregularity occasioned, littt absenco of any thing in tho shape of ftteam transport for paMengers And mersbnndin«, Instances hare com*

under our notico of steamers getting full fieight of passengers and cargo in Dunedin, and in consequence neglecting to call at some of the minor ports— thus entailiug great loss both of time and money on intending travellers. Most thankful are we for this increaso in steam communication, and trust ere long that the above moat enterprising Company will sco occasion, through our increasing requirements, to placo another boat on the lino to aid the Egmont.

On Saturday a publio meeting was held at tho Corinthian flail, to take into consideration the urgent necessity that existed for tho extension of the wharf beyond Rcvoll street. Mr Hawkes having been voted to the chair, opened tho meeting by stating tho puiposo for which it was convened, and the imperative necessity that compelled the originators of it to take notion in tho matter. A memorial had been addressed to tho Canterbury Government on tho subject, who declined the responsibility, on tbe grounds that the landing of goods was limited to within 1 00 yards each side of tho Custom-house. A deputation had since waited on Mr Sale, who, whilst ho upheld the action taken by the Provincial authorities, thought it was possible that liberal public subsoriptions would be increased by a proportionably liberal subsidy. Gibson's Quay, Wharf street and tbe lower end of llevoll street had been canvassed by gentlemen most interested in the matter for contributions, and the hrge sum of £1200 was promised by the residents of those places, and this success had induced them to call the present meeting, which he trusted would set them fairly going. Tho following resolutions were then proposed ami unanimously carried : — Moved by Mr Munro, and seconded by Mr Anderson — "That it was necessary for the preservation of property situated in Gibson's Quay that the present wharf should be extended as far as Bell, Rue and Go's timber-yard." Mr Munro, in support of tho resolution, briefly alluded to the prespnt stato of Gibson's quay compared to its condition two months ago. In that short period its width — through the action of the liver — had been decreased quite two chains. To preserve it fiom further encroachment the wharf must be extended. He was glad tho publio were so liberal, aud bad great hopes of further support as forty names alone represented the sum (£1200) promised. — Mr P.ilmer moved tho next resolution, which was seconded by Mr Beek — " That a considerable sum having been raised by voluntary contributions for the above purpose, it is tho opinion of this meeting that the Government should be called upon to subsidize it by an equal amount." In the support of this Mr Palmer significantly alluded !o the fact that there was no means of reclaiming property once washed away Tho third nnd last resolution was proposed by Mr Citing, and seconded by Mr Munio — "That a committee of Boven gentlemen bo appointed to collect subscriptions and carry out tho views of this meeting, by making the necessary arrangements for the speedy accomplishment of the work." Tho following gentlemen were elected to act as tbe committee :—: — Messrs Palmer, Hudson, Gwatkin, Hawkes, Munro, Ha worth, and Bell. A vote of thanks having been accorded to tho chair, the meeting separated .

The cfioctsof the hurrioane on Saturday last were severely felt by tho inhabitants of the Kanieri district, and the dwellers in tho township at one time thought the whole place would be shifted bonily into the river ; fortunately tho flat in tho immediate vicinity has been thoroughly cleaved of timber, so that ono souroo of unxiuty, tho danger usually apprehended from falling trees, was removed. The miners, however, were not equally fortunate, and on the terrace several very narrow escapes from instantaneous death was the result. Trees that had withstood tho storms of ages, but obliged to succumb to the breeze of Saturday, were torn bodily up by tho roots and thrown crashing along tho ground in disagreeable proximity to mon at work Two minors, named Mail: aud Haynes, engaged in cradling on the face of the terraco, were disagreeably interrupted in their occupation by a trco falling within six feet of them, the outside branches knocking off the hat of one of their mates. . Three tents also camo to grief, being completely levelled through tho forced submission of another monarch of the fojest to tho furious gale. On tho Flat, a miner who was industriously occupied sinking a paddook, and whoso head, luckily was some few feet below the surface, suddonly found himself in darkness, accompanied by a tremendous crash and shaking of the earth. On looking up he found that an enormous treo had fallen across the paddock, very nearly barring his return to the upper world. Had it been tho head of the tree instead of the butt that covered him death or severe injuries would have been tho result. Wo are surprised that MlO effect of these gales are not inoro fatal in their character, not ono death from fulling timber having occurred in the above district fince its opening.

Lnat Friday evening closed the sale of tho remaining lot of goods placed in tho hands of the Hospital Committee. Thero was a largo attendance on tho part of the storekeepers and diggers, and the bidding wns spirited in the extreme. The very handsome sum of Ll6O has been realised from the commencement of theso sales. The committee will furnidh a statement of accounts in a few days for the satisfaction of tho publio in genorul. Messrs. Isaacs and M'Lean were tho auctioned s last evening, ilnd through their efforts, combined with those of Mr Harding, wbo kindly gave tho use of tho Corinthian Hull for the occasion, tho success of the two last sales may bo mainly attributed.

The heavy rains by which we have been visited during the past week, have swelled the multitude of riveis and streams on this Coast to a serious extent, which renders travelling both difficult and dangerous. One of the chief obstacles between Hokitika and tho Groy, is tho Teramakau river, and many stories of mishaps and narrow oscapes from that fatal stream havo been related to us— ono of which we consider worthy of publication. On Thursday afternoon a gentleman of tin's town was being conveyed across tho rivor in tho ferry boat, his horse behind him, whon suddenly one of tbe thole pins broke, and tho boat wan at tho mercy of tho swift and angry current, which in3tantly hurried it towards the breakers. Fortunately, tho horse possessed sufficient "saveo" to sco something was wrong, and at onco headed back for the bank j and as the owner of tho animal kept tight hold of tho tether, whioh happened to be of oxtm length, the boat was towed ashore, and tho inmates saved from certain death.

Wo understand that Dr Beswiok has been appointed coroner for this district. He was sworn in on Saturday by O. C. Sobaw, Esq., J.P.

It is with much pleasuro that wo direct th° attention of our readets to tho fact that on Friday next will take place tho fust race mooting on the West Coast ; and although wo do nob oxpccfc to sco firflt-olnss cattle exhibited, wo feel fully convinced that tho amusement provided by tho committco will prove most acceptable, and will be thoroughly approcifttod by all lovora of|this poouliary linglioh paatimo. In this instance wo fool sure that tho speed of the respective Animals will be but a secondary

consideration, so long as the different races prove close ones. It Is not tho mere race itself that will constitute the chief attraction, but the gathering together of the scattered inembeis of a community all bent on one object — that of enjoying themselves ; and if the weather should only be propitious, we fepl certain that those who come with that intention will not be disappointed.

Another instance of the extreme difficulty that vessels experience in crossing tho bar of this river is exemplified in tho caso of the Travellers' Bride (kotch). She is 82 days out from Dunedin, has bcou off tho entrance five times, and on each occasion had to run for it through bad weather. She has been once into Nelson and four times to Tongo, and in one instance laid in our roadstead fouiteen days watohtng liol* opportunity to crosa. Sho was one of tho fleet of vessels that were caught in the fearful gale of the 30th July, and in which so many of them nearly came to grief. On Saturday and Sunday last she laid at anchor outside waiting for tho gale to moderate, and on Monday sho crossed tho bar and safely reached the wharf.