LOCAL AND MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 48, 23 September 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MINING.

Tho schooner Tiger, from Nelson, which has been lying off tho port for tho past week, was wrecked yestorday on tho north spit, iv trying to enter tho river. Sho was lightering tho s.s. Alhambra last Saturday, when sho was so violently struck by tho steamer as to start hor starboard sides fore and aft.* Sho has been leaking considerably ovor sinco, hor pumps scarcely keeping hor afloat, and her preservation during tho rough woathor that provailcd at tho early part of tho wcok is miraculous : had tho wind blown off shore, thcro can bo no doubt sho would havo gone down bodily with all hands. Yosterday tho captain tried to enter the river as ho must havo othorwise beached hor, whon sho was thrown on to tho north spit. Tho cargo is vory seriously damaged by salt wator.

Tho necessity for increased hospital accommodation is daily becoming moro obvious. A poor follow, ill with fevor, was brought in to town on Thursday night, and was carried about from placo to place, to find proper accommodation for him — tho miserable sentry-box dignified by tho name of a hospital being of com*so too full. Sovoral ineffectual efforts were mado to obtain shelter for tho sick man, and God knows whether ho is abovo ground or not now.

A sergeant of police and three consta--bios .started yestorday morning for tho Totara, which has hithorto been left without protection of any kind ; and a warden, wo boliovo, is also to be stationed at that important and rapidly-increasing goldfiold. Tonts, for tho tomporary accommodation of thoso officials, aro at onco to bo erected, pending tho completion of tho court-houso and police barracks, tho' contract for which was signed last week. Theso buildings will not bo constructed boforo thoy aro wanted, as wo havo been informed that tho only accommodation that Mr Fitzgerald, who has paid tho Totara ono or two visits boforo, could find, was a digger's common " 6 by 8," kindly vacated by tho patriotic proprietor, to bo used as a court-houso and warden's quarters.

Tho building committee of tho Wosloyan church met last night, and decided on at onco commencing thoir church. Wo notico that tenders havo been called for, and trust soon to sco a Christian place of worship erected in Hokitika.

Thoro scorns, aftor all, to bo somo ground for the rumors constantly in circulation hero, of hoavy finds to tho southward, wo having been informed yesterday, by Mr. Hawlcos, of tho Christchurch Store, that a man known to him named Henry Mason, formorly of Windmill road, Christohureh, and now digging at tho Totara, had shown him a splendid spocimon of nuggotty gold, tho smallest picco of which weighed 7dwts. Ho also showed Mr. Hawkcs a nuggot of two pounds woight, and said that ho had sold anothor to ono of the banks weighing six pounds. Should this information bo confirmed by subsequent discovories, wo may oxpect a rush to tho southward rivalling that to tho Groy, and tho opening of an almost now goldfiold.

Wo aro informed by Captain Bovoridgc, lato of tho schooner Tiger, that on Thursday week, when off tho Grey, ho spoko tho brigantino Dart, from Duncdiu, bound for Hokitika. Sho had oncountorod heavy wcathor, had lost two men overboard, and was then leaking considerably. As wo havo heard no further news of tho Dart, and tho woalhor having proved so boisterous lately, wo havo roason to bo alarmed for hor safoty.

Wo havo been requested to notify that tho Rev. Mr Drako, Independent minister will hold Divino sorvico every Sunday evening, at tho Hall of tho Empire Hotol, till further notico.

Tho credit of first erecting a place 'of worship on this coast is cortainly duo to tho Jewish community, thoir synagoguo having boon latoly finished and divine worship hold thoroin.

Tho steamer Samson, Captain John Robertson, lato of the Favourite, has been roported to havo arrived at tho Grey yosterday aftornoon.

Wo understand that Mr Fitzgerald has boon gazetted a magistrate for tho colony of Now Zoalaud, that gontloman having officiated in that capacity for tho last few days. Mr Salo has therefore been released from tho Bonch, which wo can woll understand intorforod with tho moro important duties of his position.

Wo rogrotthat that tho prcssuro on our columns provont us giving moro than a cursory notico in our present columns of tho performances at tho London Concert Hall, which is woll worth a visit from all lovors of amusemont; it has boon rocontly fitted up and ombellishcd in ' a maunor whioh ronclors it second to none in tho township. In our noxt wo trust to givo tho full critique on tho performances that our present want of spaco compols us to hold over.