WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1865

West Coast Times, Issue 45, 16 September 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1865

On more than occasion wo havo remarked on tho folly of tho Canterbury Government in reference to their revived bobby — the establishment of nn escort between Ibis port and Christchuroh, which wo have shown to be not only quite unnecessary but a useless piece of extravagance — a toy for the express delectation of tho Christchurch public, but which they have a decided objection to pay for out of tboir own pockets. Some months ngo the attempt was made to run an escort, and bad then to bo abandoned through tin 'absence of a road ; but now that obstacle has been partially removed — chiefly at our expense — tho project has been revived ; and judging from tho cool indifference hitherto displayed by the authorities to the public opinion of this side of the province, we have no doubt it will be carried out and continued at any expense. It is much to bo regretted — if tho Chrislchurch people cannot realise the possibility of a goldfield existing without tho accompaniment of an escort, and have so set their hearts upon being like other gold-producing countries— that they do not grant ono in places where it is most necessary ; and instead of giving us two modes of exporting tho produce of the West Coast, enable us to bring down securely to ono port tUe produce of the mines. It is generally tho first care of a government to establish means of ensuring tho safety of gold during ito transit from tho workings to the port of shipment, but up to the present hour no such provision has been made here, though many applications and representations have been made, and recent events have fully justified tho statements the urged. Tho only wonder is that tho need of an escort has not been fully and disagreeably exemplified long ago, when wo consider the large quantities of gold that have been brought clown by a singlo bank agent, who lias in the course of bis journey traversed country the veiy best that can bo -conceived for bushranging purposes ; and that robbery has not been more frequent, must be attributed to tho orderly character of the men on the West Coast fields rather than to the lack of facilities for the safe committal of crime. Take, for example, the position of ono of tho agents coming down from either the Waimca, or tho Totara — his horses sinking nearly to its girths in tho mud, or stumbling over Iho stumps of trees hidden far below the slimy surface, with dense bush on either side, offering alike excellent cover for the lurking thief and a secure hiding-placo when tho crime is committed. Tho chnncc of conviction is infinitesimal, and a " golden hole" is always a satisfactory solution to any difficulty in the way of disposing of tho plunder. The late robbery of Mr Walmsley, agent of the Bank of New South Wales, at the Groy, proves sufficiently, if any proof wore wanting, tho necessity of proper police protection in tho conveyance of gold; and the inability of the police hitherto to trace tho thieves, also shows the truth of what wo have stated above, and what we also urged quite four months ago. There were 800 07,8. of tho precious metal in tho charge" 1 of one man, over that amount and a large sum in bank notes on another, and a Ihird individual with (we believe) 000 ozs. belonging to another bank only missed by a few minutes sharing the fa to of his luckless successor. That Mich advantages for the easy acquisition of property should be neglected is enough to cause the ghosts

of Morgan and Gilbert to rise from their graves with sheer indignation, nnd utter nn anathema on the want of pluck or cash that permits such a state of things to continue. What would bo tho cost of an escort — weekly or fortnightly — to tho neighboring workings, compared with that of tho chase, capture and conviction of a band or two of bushrangers ? Tho promised rush hither has now begun, and amidst tlio crowds that will visit our shores during the ensuing summer, it will bo strange indeed if some importations be not made from Sydney or Tasmania that will bring with them more trouble than profit, whilo the increased yield that must take place with the additional number of miners located hero, will certainly ofFer even further inducements for robbery and outrage. If, then, the Canterbury Government must havo an escort, let it bo for somo purpose ; and however enchanting the sight may be of a dozen stalwart, wellmounted troopers, dashing into Christchurch with their reeking horses laden with the golden treasure, and filling with sanguine anticipations tho hearts of the good citizens there; yet we humbly submit that though perhaps they would not be quite so ornamental after ploughing through tho rivers of mud constituting our roads, they would bo considerably more useful if employed in escorting gold from the mines to Ilokitika — a service on which their presence is much needed, and would bo looked upon as nn invaluable boon, The matter has been allowed to go on quite far enough without proper stops being taken by those most interested — ■ tho banks ; but now that such a serious mishap has befallen ono of tho number, we should think they would arouse from their lethargy, and use the utmost influence of which thej' may bo possessed to bring about a better state of things.