WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1805.

West Coast Times, Issue 47, 21 September 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1805.

It appears that a glimmering of the true value of the road in course of construction between Ilokitika and Christchurch is beginning to dawn on the minds of the people of Canterbury — so much so that tho " Lyttelton Times," which Las all along been a strenuous supporter of the road scheme, has at last arrived at the conclusion that it is a " work of doubtful utility." The representations made by those most competent to judge, at the commencement of the work — " that the merchants of Lyttelton and Christchurch can never hope to compete successfully with those of Dunedin and Nelson for the Hokitika traffic," have, now been proved to be correct, and the " Lyttelton Times" acknowledges its error. But while doing so, another course is recommended, exceeding in absurdity even the construction of a dray road— namely, the formation of a railway. Sixty or seventy thousand pounds was not enough to fling away to indulge the hobby of the Chmtchurch public, but they must, forsooth, now seek to pledge the credit of tho Province to construct a railway, that when finished will only stand '„€ a monument of extravagance and io\\ ' and be as the •• Times" says

of the road, "of doubtful utility" to all concerned. It is a pity that Christchurch will persist in pitting land against water carriage, and endeavor to compete with other places more favorably situated for the Hokilika traffic. Surely, in the matter of railways, the position of Southland should act as a sufficient warning to deter Canterbury from throwing money uselessly away, when there are so many purposes to which it might be applied with profit and satisfaction. Suppose the railway is taken in hand, how long will it be before it is finished ? A year or two, perhaps, when trade will be flowing through channels established long before, and from which it will bo somewhat difficult to bo diverted. It is strange to what extremes cupidity will reach; and after the public disclaimer of any intention or design to mako money out of the West Coast goldfields, it is especially ludicrous to 'observe tho many spasmodic efforts on the part of Christchurch to benefit its If at our expense. It is rather rich to read that tho " eastern part of Canterbury must submit to bear all the trouble and expense of its new acquisition without sharing any of its wealth," when the acknowledged basis of their programme, on the opening of this field, was that nothing should be spent on the West, but what was derived from, the West, and when their first exploit was to tako money out of our pockets t ) form a road for their benefit. We will quote the chief arguments of the " Lyttelton Times" in favor of this railway mania. It says —

Tho merchants of Lyttelton and Christchurch can never hope to compete successfully with those of Dunedin and Nelson for tho Hokitika traffic. Even when tho telegraph is opened tho caso will not bo materially improved, as telegrams from tho West Coast will bo forwarded on to Dunedin within a few minutes of thoir arrival in Christchurch. We may fool certain of this, that it is by tho road only that we can ever hope to obtain a share of tho traflic which is now sotting in to Hokitika. If wo are right in' supposing tlyvt our goldfiolds are oxtonsivo and lasting, that they will carry a largo population, that wo havo no chance of maintaining a traffic with them by tho coast, but must look to the road, wo cannot bo far wrong in assuming that it will be tho wisest course to carry out tho road works in such a way as ty insure what we desire — a method of competing successfully with tho sea-borne traffic from othor provinces and from Australia. Nothing short of a perfect road communication will answer this end, and for no other purpose but successful competition is it worth while entering upon tho exponso of a road at aU. This is not a caso wherehalf a loaf is belter than none. On the the contrary, if we do not intend to construct a road by which wo can land passengers and goods in the heart of tho diggings cheaper, more safoly, and with greater expedition than thoy can be carried by sea, then we had better not spend another shilling on tho Wost Coast Road. It would be cheaper in the end to throw away the LGO.OOO already expended or pledged, thnn to go on a certain length and then stop short for the purposo required. In tho former case wo should have tho satisfaction of knowing tho extent of our loss, and resigning ourselves to circumstances wo do not care to control ; in the latter, we should become subject to indefinite expenditure and certain disappointment.

It is then suggested that tho works on the Great Southern Railway be stopped, and the line diverted towards the Bealey — the necessity for which step the writer considers a sufficient excuse. He then adds : —

The main quostion is, shall wo have a railway to tho West Coast P Shall wo spend £100,000 on a dray road, a work of comparatively doubtful utility, or shall wo mako certain of what wo want by spending three, or perhaps four timos that amount P By constructing a railway to tho Boaley Lytlollon will bo brought within a fifteen hours' journey of Hokitika. This, coupled with telegraphic communication botween tho two ports, must definitely fix the course of traffic for all time and boyond any dispute. If tho future of tho West Coast is to be what geologists, diggers, and all experienced travellers have predicted, then there cannot be any question about what should bo our policy. If wo invest half a million in permanently completing tho work of communication, wo shall Do doing tho most 'sensible thing that wo can devise with our credit and our monoy. Tho eastern half of Canterbury must open up communication with tho west quickly and completely, or it must submit to boar all the trouble- and expense of its new acquisition, without sharing any of its wealth.

That the Provincial authorites will carry out the insane notion comprised in the above extracts of course we arc unable to pay ; but if they do, doubtless we shall be called upon, as in the case of the present roadfto pay- for the portion on this side of the range—that is, for the most expensive one — though we think that even Christchurch effrontery can scarcely say that the railway is to be constructed for our benefit We trust, however, that calmer counsels will prevail, and instend of wasting a large amount of revenue on a wprs'6-.than useless scheme, thut the provincial

authorities will devote thoir energies to the improvement of our port, which will return them indirectly a larger dividend than their proposed line of railway, which is much needed, and which will be looked upon as a real boon by every resident of Ilokitika.

Mr Albert Hunt, who is well known by most minors as the pioneer of the West Coast, has, wo havo boon informed, despatched a petition to tho Provincial Council, claiming tho reward of £1000 offered by tho Canterbury Government for tho discovery of a payable goldfield. It was Mr Hunt who prospected tlio Greenstone — a field which has been in high favor by tho miners for some considerable timo, and was tho first minor who mado the journey overland from Christchurch to tho Wost Coast. With tho exception of Mr Rovoll, then Government storekeeper at tho Groy, Mr Iluut was the only Europoan on this coast, and for a lengthened period was ongagod in prospecting — alono and unaided. If enterprise and onergy, combined with a disregard of hardships and danger entitle Mr Hunt to the reward, wo may say that ho has fairly earned it, and trust that ho willbe successful in his application. $ It will bo 'observed by an advertisement which appears in another column that additional facilities for tho education of tho young are now at tho command of tho public — Mr Malcolm, who wo understand has boon highly recommended — having taken up his abodo in Hokitika and annouueed his intention of opening a school for tho education of cbildi'en of both sexes. Tho steamer Lioness, long employed as a tug iv Hobson's Bay, has been sold at auction for £3500, and purchased by a Melbourne firm for tho Hokitika trado. A vory strango fish indeed was found on tho Kanicri tcrraco tho ' other day by somo diggers who wcro working about tho roots of a largo tree, amongst which it was discovered alive and frisky. Tho men took it to Mr Spurling of tho Otago store, who provided a herring-tin half full of water for its reception, in which it was placed, and whero it couductod itself in a manner peculiar to fishosi It is destituto of fins, but has a vory wido tail, and a finny membrane oxtends from tho tip somo distance towards tho head, both on tho back and belly ; it is about fivo inches in length, and from our inspection of it should imagine it to belong to tho Blackfish species ; but • its most striking peculiarity is its amphibiousnoss, for several timos tho tin has boon capsized and fishoy somo time aftor found lying on tho ground quite uninjured, only waiting to bo replaced in tho elomentmost congonial tc it On one occasion the box was upset during tho evening, and no notice taken of it, and in the morning tho fish was found in tho dog's kennel quite comfortable amongst tho straw, and on being placed once more in water swam about with undiminisliod vigour. Wo certainly nover saw one of the kind before.

From the Grey, information has reached us" that the rush up tho river has considorably reduced tho population of No Town. A fight botween a baker and butchor had come off there, which resulted in one hundred and sovonty-fivo rounds being fought, lasting three hours and a-half. Very good gold has boon struck some fivo miles tho othor side' of Red Jack's gully, which was causing groat oxcitemont.

Quito a novel source of power has been introduced by Mr. Gordon, blacksmith, of tho Kaniori. It consists of a large fly and ovorshot watorwheel in one, and is intended to work two pumps. Tho wheel to bo so placed that tho wator from tho pumps shall bo discharged into tho buckets at tho top of tho wheel, and when onco set going, Mr. Gordon maintains, will be kopt going by the water thrown up alone ; thus, aftor a fow turns of tho spindle bj r a man it will provide its own motivo power, from that foi'co it is especially intended to overcome Tho idea is as ingenious as novel, aud reflects tho greatest credit on tho originator, and if it is a success, and wo sincorely trust it will bo, will provo one of the cheapest and effectually aids to mining in wot, shallow ground that has ovor boon introduced in New Zoaland. Tho wheel is not yot in position, but as soon as tho tail race is completed that is to carry off tho waloi*, will bo fixed, and its first trial made. Messrs. Hankin aud Co., whoso claim is at the back of the town, close to Lyttolton street, are tho parties for whom it has been made.

Want of spaco in our last issuo compelled us to omit all comment on tho race ball of last Friday. Wo woro present during a groat portion of tho ovoning, and can truthfully assort that nothing was loft undono that would prove conducivo to tho comfort of tho visitors. Tho room was most taslofully decorated, and the inusio vory good indeed. Tho supper providod was excellent, and showod what can bo dono at tho Corinthian Hall whon circumstances requiro it. Wo were sorry to see so sparso an attendance and trust that tho next timo Mr Harding cators for tho public enjoyment his labors will bo hotter appreciated, and meet with tho success they merit.

Wo learn from Wellington that a bill to allow distillation in tho colony is to bo brought forward. It will be a copy of tho Victorian Distillation Act.

The trotting match, notified iv our last, between Mr W. Fox's horse Touch-mo-it-you-can and Mr Dunn's mule Chili, came off on the beach yesterday. They started from tho Two-mile Crock, and tho horso sprung off with tho load, which, in spite of tho ofForts made by tho mule, ho kept to tho end of tho race, winning easily. A good deal of money changed hands, and a considerable number of spectators, both horsomon and pedestrians, attended. Afterwards another match was got up between three of our townsmen for a two milo spurt, and altogether a very pleasant afternoon was spent on this occasion.

A hospital mooting was announced to bo held on Tuesday ovoning, but did not tako place, in consequence of tho scanty attondanco.

Wo are glad to loam that contracts have boon entered into for tho formation of Rovell and Wharf streets, and also for tho construction of a footpath from tho Nelson Hotel to tho Post office— a work which cannot fail to bo appreciated by all who have enjoyed the .pleasure of ploughing their way through tho soa of mud, which is by courtesy termed Gibson's Quay. Work under this lattor contract will, wo are informod by Mr Gille3pio, tho contractor, bo commenced this morning.

At tho W avden's Court yesterday, the only caso of intorcst was that of Glen v. Shaw, in which tho complainant alleged that the latter had forcibly taken possession of a building in Beach-street. Tho evidonce showed that tho defendant had accepted tho responsibility of tho late proprietors of tho Evening News, in reference to renting a piece of ground from Ritchie and Co., of whom Mr Glen was tho representative. Owing to tho sale of the paper to Mr Shaw, the plaintiff refused to recognise him and jumped the ground, As thore was no dispute of ownership, and a s the whole matter hinged upon a question as to title on tho land, the Warden dismissed tho caso, confirming what was not previously disputed.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday thero woro soveral civil cases tried, but none of any peculiar interest. A case of assault, Shaw v. M'Carthy and nnothor, was dismissed. The circumstances of the caso were as follows . the late proprietors of tho Evening News sold their plant and interest to Mr Shaw, but a dispute arose as to tho building and ground on which the business was carried on, and it rosulted in Mr Glen, as agent of Ritohio tnd Co , taking forcible possession' of it. Mr < Shaw recovered possession, but in doing so was assaulted by persons hired for tho purpose by Mr Glen, and it was for this that tho action was brought. Mr Sale, after hearing the case, oime to tho conolusion that no assault had been committed, and had his first fling at nowspapor peoplo by dig. tnisbing the charge. A clearer case of assault was never brought before a court, bub justice in this oase waa blind, and the result was what we have stated.

John Mutton wag charged on Tuesday, at the IlesidentMigistrato's Court by Mr Wagner, of the Shamrock Hotel, with assault. It appeared that the defendant had been in the employ of the complainant, and some dispute relative to a balance for wages had arison, when tho assault in question had been committed. The Bench after hearing the case, considered that it was of a trifling character, and fined defendant 10a., or twenty -four hours imprisonment.