LOCAL AND MIMING.

West Coast Times, Issue 50, 28 September 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MIMING.

There was a considerable exodus to the south yesterday por the steamers William Miskin nnd Airedale, both of which were advertised to call at Bruco Bay, en route for their respective destinations. The Bruce was announced also to leave for tho same place, but subsequently arranged to place her passengers on board tho Airedale. She was crowded by miners and others bont on trying their luck further south ; and on passing tho Miskin — which was lying, similarly crowded, next the coal-hulk Euby — her passengers comm-

enced to " joe " and yell most vociferously, which they continued, with an occasional variation to cheering, till they got into the surf, when a dose or two of salt water induced them to alter the tune a little. The Miskin subsequently started on her voyage, but kept too far to the south side of the channel, and grounded there. An effort was made to shift her, and she moved slightly, but again stuck fast, and there is now eveiy probability of her remaining there till tliis afternoon's tide, when she will no doubt get safely off.

Yesterday a carman had a narrow escape of losing Ms horse and dray in the Holdtika river. It appears that he "was backing the vehicle near to the edge of the wharf, in order to take in some cargo landing from the steamer Eleanor, when by some means it went a trifle too far, and rolled fairly over the edge. Fortunately, the steamer was lying close enough to the wharf, to check the dray when half down, and after a sharp struggle it was again got upon terra firma. Had the steamer been another foot or so further from the wharf, both horse and dray must have been lost.

The Yarra in going out the second time yesterday, turned rather too sharply to cross the bar, and got aground for a few minutes. The surf, however, which was pretty rough, carried her over, and she got safely to sea.

There seems every chance of Wharf street remaining in its primitive state of filth for some time longer yet, as we learn upon inquiry that the successful tenderer has thrown up the contract, so that the whole affair will have to be gone through again of calling for tenders. Yesterday being a fine warm day, the stench from the recking soil was something frightful, and unless something like cleanliness is enforced in the town, fever in its most virulent type may be confidently expected. --iTJie Wesleyans have at last determined to build their church at Hokitika ; but to Kanieri belongs the credit of opening the first place of Christian worship, exclusively for that purpose, on the West Coast. It was bought and fitted up by several diggers themselves, and though rather small and rough, it is well seated and comfortable. It is hoped, ere long, that a larger and more fitting building, in a more central position, will grace this rising township. It is their intention to open a Sabbath School in the present building on Sunday week. TMs body have also been the first to visit with religious services the Woodstock Diggings and tlio Grroymoutli townships, and at the latter place it is hoped they will erect a church ere long, where it is hoped they will be liberally supported by the public. The Rev. Gr. S. Harper intimated, on Sunday last, that it was his intention to preach, next Lord's day, at 11 a.m., and 7 p.m., in the Corinthian Hall, when collections will be made in aid of expenses incurred in lighting the hall during Divine worship for several Sundays pasfco

The roadstead presented quite a holiday appearance to-day, dotted, as it was, by vessels, large and small, and the weather being, for a wonder most beautiful, there was above the average number of visitors to the spit. It was a pleasant sight to see the harbor steamers plying to and fro from the ships to the shore, bringing with them each trip fresh thews and sinews for the West Coast. The Ballarat made her first trip to-day, crossing the bar on her outward passage quite two hours before high water. She ran alongside of, and lightered the brigantine Clara, from Sydney, landing from her sixty passengers on oiu- shores. The Ballarat seems to answer very well indeed ; we fancy, however, that she would be none the worse for a little more power. The Yarra devoted her attentions to the Alhambra, bringing from her a heavy load of passengers. But in consequence of her agent, who wsnt out in her, missing his passage back, tho Yarra, immediately she landed her cargo, leavingagain, we have been unable to get either a list of passengers -or a late file of papers.

The heavy rain of the past few days has caused a corresponding rise in the river, which is now discharging a heavy freshet through the channel ; this is doing good service, effectually clearing array the bank of silt washed up by the gales of tho last week. The old channel is now quite shut to navigation, although a small portion of the river still runs that way, and it is to be hoped that- soon it will bo entirely closed, and the whole of the river directed through the new one, which will be most conducive to extending and deepening it ; as it is there is rather a ticklish turn in it for vessels going in and out, and great care is requisite both ways to avoid running on tho south spit.

From one of tho passengers by the Alhambra, we have received some few particulars of her passage round, and we are sorry to have to record loss of life on board of her through tho heavy weather she experienced. Tho ALhainbra, when off the West Cape, fell in with a tremendous gale, which happily for her was of short duration. In the height of the storm a heavy sea broke on board, washing one of her passengers down tho main hatchway, and killing him. For a time all was in confusion — officers and men working, jig seamen only know how under such circumstances, to gat the hai/ches balloned do.-»n and the ship made snug. Whilht so employed a tdrrhlc soa 'Came on board, washing both sides out of the captain' -•-•■nu, i'av,*ying overboard

a quantity of books, papers, and instruments, and another monster wave immediately following it, swept into eternity the unfortunate second mate, who was never seen afterwards. These distressing occurrences threw quite a gloom over both crew and passengers, and on Tuesday morning, the Alhambra being then off Jackson's Bay, the captain determined to run in and bury the unfortunate passenger .killed as above. The remains were consigned to the earth with all due solemnity, and the Alhainbra once more proceeded on her voyage, and arrived here without any further mishap. Twelve of her passengers, however, decided upon remaining at Jackson's Bay to prospect for gold, as four men were found there who stated they had been some time employed testing the country, but had not succeeded hi striking gold, and were only waiting for the return of their cutter, wMch had gone round to Eiverton, to leave the place. In spite, however, of these discouraging accounts, the new comers could not be induced to alter their determination, but remained there, and we trust that success will wait upon their plucky determination.

We have to rectify an error wMch crept into the columns of the issue of the 23rd instant. There under the head of exports per Wallaby, will be seen 2600 oz of gold from the Bank of New Zealand, instead of which it should have been 4600.

The progress made by Mr Edger since Tuesday night in lifting the Leonidas has greatly surprised us, she then requiring a further elevation of quite three feet, while now she is sufficiently Mghto allowtheways to be laid under her, wMch operation is almost completed, and it is expected that this evening, or at the farthest to-morrow will see her once more afloat.

A serious accident, that might have been attended with fatal consequences, happened to Mr. Quinlan, of the firni of Rhodes and Quinlan, stationers and newsagents, of this town. On Monday morning last Mr. Quinlan went to the stables of G-. B. Young and Co., to engage a horse for the purpose of proceeding overland to CbxistchuTeh, important business having suddenly called him away. An answer to the question of "could he be accommodated " was quickly found in the form of a fine upstanding mare, that of course would carry him like a lamb. But on mounting her, the unfortunate rider found that there was more of the devil in her than he had calculate.d on, for she set to work bucking at such a rate as to burst the saddle-girth, and throw Mr. Quinlan heavily on Ms head and shoulder. He was taken up insensible and at once conveyed to the Lord Nelson Hotel, and a medical man being immediately in attendance pronounced him to be not fatally injured, but his shoulder was dislocated, and Ms body very seriously bruised. We cannot too strongly condemn such unprincipled conduct on the part of livery stable keepers in allowing strangers to mount such vicious animals. It must have been very well understood by those best acquainted with the brute in question that she was unfit to be ridden by any one save a Centaur or New South Wales stockrider, and yet, deliberately, and perhaps mischievously, a gentleman was permitted to risk Ms life, — and very narrowly escaped losing it. The law should take cognisance of such jn'oceedings, and punish sevei'ely those guilty of such practices.

The little cutter Heather Bell, one of the two whose expected departure for the south has caused such a furore amongst our miners, is still lying in the river, unable to get outside. She should have started last Sunday morning in company with the other boat, which was towed out by the Yarra, but through other and more X^rcssmg business, the Captain of the tug was unable to fulfil the engagement, and the Heather Bell, in consequence, will, in all probability be the last to arrive at the supposed new rush. Mr. M'Gregor informed us that the towage money had been paid hi advance, and he mought it rather hard their departure should be so long delayed.

At last the work of making Revell street has really commenced, and our eyes are gladdened with the sight of sundry wheelbarrows and a gang of men busily employed upon this long neglected and much used thoroughfare. Quite in opposition to the usual tactics adopted on such occasions, the worst part of the- street has been taken in hand first, and that long standing nuisance — the Revell street lake — has now become a thing of the past, a good ditch having been cut which has most effectually drained it. Of the wonders found at the bottom of this fine sheet of water wo shall make no mention, other than we were informed that the bones of some antediluvian monster had been fished out, together with a policeman's overcoat, several fine eels, and an antiquated anchoi*, bearing the almost obliterated date of 1675. We, however, cannot vouch for the authenticity of the foregoing, but shall content ourselves that the bottom of it has at last been discovered.

It must be admitted on all sides that tho position of our Post-office, whatever may be tho merits of the building itself, is exceedingly inconvenient and oub of the way ; end if a mistake was made in the selection of a site for it the sooner it is rectified tho bettor. We do not moan that tho building should be removed — there it is and there it must remain iv company with its big brother the Supreme

Court-house, but the miisanco of having to walk a quarter of a mile through mud knee deep, might be avoided by a receptacle for letters being placedin the centre of Revell street, andaproper personappointed to empty it early every morning. Such conveniences are to be found in all towns worthy the name ; at the corner of nearly every street is to be seen the letter-post, and the inhabitants are thus saved the time necessary to reach the main office, which is usually built in the most central situation that can be selected. We certainly think that our community is of sufficient importance to warrant the extra expense that would be incurred were tMs plan adopted, and we trust that the matter will receive that attention its iirgency demands. "■f~Our energetic contractor, Mr R. Edger, is busily employed with the preliminary operations necessary for the extension of the wharf downwards. A quantity of heavy timber is already on the ground, although the work of- getting it out of the bush is no slight one, the horses employed to drag it continually bogging in the soft ground for which Hokitika is so celebrated. The iron work that will be required' in the construction of the wharf is being prepared in Nelson, so that there seeni3 a probability of delays occurring, through the detention of vessels or other causes. We must, however, hope that all will go well, and that soon we shall see the present most convenient structure reach to a point opposite Hall and Finlay's, in Wharf street. We understand that Mr Keogh, the Postmaster, has felt it Ms duty to lay an information against the Captain of the Alhambra, for needless detention of Her Majesty's mails on board that vessel after her arrival at the anchorage. The case, we are informed, will be heard at the Eesident Magistrate's Court on Monday next, though to us it seems improbable that the captain will put in an appearance. In making known to our readers the above we consider it our duty to give the other side of the question, more especially as this is a matter that is of the utmost importance to us as a commercial community, the detention of mails under any circumstances being most liable- to occasion us heavy losses, and to many that "hope deferred," which is still harder to bear. Captain Malcolm, of the Bruce, made the following statement to us : — He said that the Post Office authorities here, unlike those in other places, refused to pay the steam boats anything at all for the conveyance of mails frosa the large boats the consequence was that the captains of the small ones were determined to sign no receipt on delivery of mails into their charge. They say, and we tMnk justly, that great responsibility and much trouble is incurred by them, and that they ought to receive some adequate remuneration. In the case of the Rangitoto, which brought- mails from Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Nelson, for tMs port, the captain refused to deliver them to Captain Malcolm without a receipt, although they were alongside the Bruce in a sin-all boat ready for delivery ; Captain Malcohn as obstinately refused to sign for them, and the result was that they returned from whence they came, and for all we know may be now in the Nelson Post Office waiting for re-delivery.