LOCAL AND MINING.

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

LOCAL AND MINING.

Whilst admitting the truth of Iho adage concerning rumoivr, and Iho proverbial vevdnney of herbage at a dislanco, wo cannot altogether pass over in silence tho reports that aro reaching us from tho Grey district. Wo havo hesitated laying them beforo the public in consequence of thoiv lacking anything in the shape of authenticity, but tho plain straightforward statement of Captain M'Mcikan, of tho s.s. Uno, leads us to suppose that there is not only some truth in tho accounts, bub thoro is every probability that a now and important district has boon opened, and proved to bo highly auriferous. Tho intolligenco wo have alluded to was communicated to 11 10 abovo gentleman by somo canoo-mon, who had boon up at the Groy with provisions, and thoiv acco.int was that <15 milos from -the mouth of tho river, a country free from timber and well grassed, had been prospected, and good paj'ttblo gold discovered. Tho situation of these workings is within three miles of Macleay's station, and from tho " lay" of tho country it is fancied the gold is running towards tho head of tho Bullor. Tho report goes on to say that so free is the land from timber that a man can rido for miles without coming to a singlo tree. Tho boatmen also stated that they found a ready sale for their flour at oight pounds tho hundred. In giving publicity to this report, we would warn our mining readers against too implicitly relying upon it until further intelligence reaches us. Few who aro from tho Lake district but know what boatmen's rushes mean, and although in this instance their information may bo quilo correct, a little consideration boforo starling may not bo unndvisablo. It is quite certain that if it is a bona fido rush, wo shall soon reccivo information Ihrougii moro rolinbio channels.

Tho total disregard discovered by Iho inhabitants of this town to tho probablo consequences that may arise through tho collection and growth of heaps of filthy refuse close to their back doors, is perfectly inoxplicable to us, and wo ore filled with astonishmont that a gonornl raid is not set on foot against those who, in defiance of every sanitary law, and indiforenco to our most vital interests, will persist in allowing masses of putrid animal matter to lie and rot, and at times fill tho adjacent houses' with a stench pcr> fectly unbearable. Wo wonder what tho polico aro thinking about. Is it possible that wo are placed outside tho protection of tho law, from tho fact that our town has not been sold, and that in consequence of tho Government not having touched our moneys they consider us so low in Iho sealo of degraded humanity as io ho not worth an inspector of nuisances P 1 f Kiich is tho case, why is not Iho land sold nt once, nml this slnlo of Ui ings put an end top Wo remember hearing Mr Male from the .Bench distinctly stale that all offal and slaughtermen's refuse should be deposited at low water mark, and if Ihe sea refused to receive it, it would have to be either buried or burnt. How far this order has been complied willi uny

one may judge by visiting the vicinity of iho slaughloi'-ynrds, rtnd tins bade of the butcher's shop.* in Novell street, and if what he sees and smelly there does not make his gorge rise, and for over after give him a distasto for fresh pork — why, ho possesses a stronger stomach than we do. If butchers will keep hogs to oat tho refuse from their shops and shambles they should be obliged to remove them to a certain distance from other pcoplo's abodes ; and if they refuse to do so in consoquenco of living amongst a pcoplo who ai % e outside tho pale of tho law, a combined effort should bo made and a general crusade instituted against them. If somo of tho many respectable householders would only take the initiative in tho matter, and act vigorously, we feel certain that Inspector Broham would cooperate heartily with thoin, and these nuisances once removed tho thanks of the whole town would bo their reward.

Tho depressing influence of tho weather during tho early part of the week has been severely felt by all of us, tho downpour of rain was almost continuous, and a glimpso of tho sun not to bo obtained at any price. In consequenco Ilokitika is, at tho prcsont time, an unmitigated swamp, every hollow and gutter in her streets being fdled to tho brim and running over ; it is a perfect misery to walk through them, and in some cases ono needs to bo almost amphibious to safely cross thoso sloughs of despond. When pedestrians meet 011 their margin, courtesy is entirely sot asido, and ho who happens to bo strongest and most determined koeps tho wall, and thrusts his weaker brother into tho puddle. Wo are beginning to tako quilo an interest in tho Eovoll street lake, and observo with satisfaction that the constant traffic of horses and carts through it is increasing its depth and sizo, so that wo fully expect in tho courso of a mouth or so to see plcasuro boats on its suafacc, and the .Camp authorities amusing themselves with miniature regattas. Tho greatest credit is due to thoso who live in its immediato vicinity, for their unflinching determination to lot " well " alone, in epito of the facilities afforded for draiuugc through tho fall in tho ground toward tho beach, and the vory small outlay necessary to complolo it, ono man for ono day and a few stout boards being all that is required to convert it into dry land. Well, cvory ono to thoiv taste, say wo, and, thanks to tho gymnastic exorcises of our school days, wo are as well able to traverse the horizontal log as our neighbors.

Southland, it appears, has not yet given upallhopos of discovoringagoldfiold within its ownboundiu'ics. Wo extract tho following paragraph from tho " Southland Nows" ofarccentdate: — "The following fact may, perhaps, furnish matter for speculation as to tho 'probable direction of tho lead of gold from the present Ilokitika fields. A storekeeper in llivcrlon purchased, some two or three days since, a small parcel-^ about five ounces — of coavso gold, which had been obtained at a locality twenty miles distant — on tho Hiverton side — from Jackson's Bay, which is at least 160 miles from tho port, of Ilokitika. Any disposed to examine Iho map, roasoning, as a digger, upon " the lay of tho country," may readily arrive at Iho conclusion which appearances certainly warrant, namely — lhat tho Ilokitika goldfield terminates in tho ttivorton ranges."

A largo number of passongors woro landed yoslorday by the Yarra and Bruco from the steamers now lying outside. The Allmmbra brings 320 passengors; tho JDgmont, about 300 ; and the Barwon, from Melbourne, 105. Tho Egmont returns to Nelson, where a full freight of passengers already awaits her. Tho Gothenburg is also reported as crowded with passengers at tho samo port; tho Auckland having brought down from "iho Manukau 220 to swell tho numbers waiting to bo conveyed lo Ilokitika. Tho Lady Darling is roportcd full, and tho Otago, from Sydney, is crowded. A ship of somo 800 tons was also to sail direct from Sydney hero, A\ilh passengers. Wo may also expect — having already sailed, or being about to sail for tho West Coast — tho Susannah Booth, schooner ; Dart, schooner; Clutho, schooner ; Plying Cloud, Lloyd's Herald, Cymraes, Despatch, Mary Van Every, Midas, Eliza Simpson, Mary Ann Christina, Maid of Erin, Caledonia, Maid of tho Yarra, k.s., and tho steamer Samson, from Dunedin. From Molbouvno: — Maria, schooner; Craigiovar, brig; Omco, s.s., and Hero, h.s. Prom Nelson : — Tiger, schooner ; Thano of Pyfe, schooner, and Dovo, schooner. A largo number of minors avo also reported to be making thoiv way overland.

Wo havo to acknowledge with thanks the recoipt of fines^from Nelson, Molbourno, and Dunedin, hut regrot that tho crowded slate of our columns prooludo extracts from them in this issuo.

Wo notico with pleasure tho name of Mr Edwards among the list of passengors lately arrived from Melbourne. Our Victorian friends will remember his connexion with tho Theatre Hoyal in conjunction with Mr O. V. Brooke, and will learn with sni-isfnclion' lhat his errand is not unconnected with the subject of thoatrical amusomont. We understand it is hit! intention to introduce the Christy MiuslreLs to a llolcitika audience.

Tho very remunerative rales of passago for tho steamers running to tho Now Zealand ports, to a very great oxlonl shut

out many from the sister provinces). It lms come to our knowledge that upon Hie departure of tho Albion from Melbourne, at which povt she. filled up in throo hours, there wore at that time at least 2000 intending passongevs for Ilokitika. This is a pretty clear cvidonco of tho furore created in the Australian Colonies respecting these diggings. And wo aro much surprised that having at command, as tho Melbourne companies most certainly havo steamers in every wwarj r adapted for such traffic, that a want of such a naturo shonld exist. Pecuniary interests wo havo no doubt keep the most of our inter-colonial boats engaged, but there are many others that might bo as profitable employed in tho other colonies.