LOCAL AND MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 52, 3 October 1865, Page 2

LOCAL AND MINING.

A Chmtchuroh correspondent writes :— " Tho escort, to tho establishing of which you don't appear to bo favourable, is not likely to troublo you for a long whilo yet, ns in this maj^or, as indeed in most others, excopt appointment of its friends to lucrativo posts, tho Government are slow to act. The ndvico, " What thou doest, do quickly," is noithor accepted nor noted on by John Hall and Company, who soem to havo a mortnl nvpv i.m to run any risks or go an inch out of tho dull routino of red-tapoism. Imagine, in v country 'liko this, abounding with young centaurs, enrolling a set of men who havo to bo taught lo rido, and— if folly can bo imagined to take a further step— ohooaing raon for

the service according to their height, nono undor 5 ft. 10 in, being accepted. Surely commonsense would havo dictated that light, active men would be desirable, men accustomed to rido rapidly over rough country ; but then, commonsenso does not seem to influonco our Government. A certain lawyer, who has, I bolievo, now left Christchurch, propounded in tho local papers that law and common senso wero opposed, and that this said common sense was the greatest difficulty lawyers had to contend against. Might it not easily be thought that the Executive believed Government and common sense to stand in a similar relation to each other I" Wo observo that tho Canterbury Government nro ndvertising for tho services of a medical man to nttend to tho men engaged on the West Coast road. This is a judicious and humane stop. Thoro havo already beon two sorious accidents on this lino, ono of them resulting in death; and in such cases tho danger to bo apprehended from them must be materially increased by the sufferers having to be taken to Christchurch to be attended to.

Tho first of what wo may vory reasonably expect to be a series of floods that will occur during tho spring and part of tho summer months came rolling down tho river yestorday morning, bringing with it in its headlong courso an immense amount of scrub, timber, and a few odd artiolcs that at a distance boro a suspicious rcscmblanco to sluice boxes and oradles. During Sunday night tho downpour of rain was incessant and tremendously heavy, nearly drowning the noiso of tho thunder, that was certainly more than usually loud. Until seven or eight o'olock this deluge continuing, wo wero not at all surprised to sco that tho river " had o'orleaped its bounds," reaching to the stores that lino Gibson's Quay, and threatening, at the rato it was then rising, to speedily encroach upon the lower floors of the buildings ; and that line of ditch and swamp facetiously termed Tancred street was converted into a canal, the water running up to Weld street, which speedily assumed the appearauce of a lako, and threatened to cut off the communication of its inhabitants with Ecvcll street. Tho view up the river wns somewhat singular, the, whole of tho beach on tho south side boing submerged, the water extending to tho beach on eaoh side and running down with such velocity that threatened to tear the vessel? at the wharf from their moorings, and obliged the owners of small oraft to pay particular attention to their belongings afloat 1 , as many of them wero, though the sudden rise at somo distance from tho shore riding at their anchors, and tho holding-ground in the river being somewhat of the loosest, fears woro entortained that tho current would carry them away, a mishap which wo aro sorry to say occurred to tho Lconidas, whose misfortunes it seoms are not yet over. Mr Edgnr, who had contracted to remove her from hor from her position on tho spit, had just succeeded in getting her into tho river, and doubtless was congratulating himself on tho completion of a work which, for rapidity of execution and caro displayed, refleots great credit on him ; bub when tho flood came down, thoro being no means of securing so heavy a vessel, excopt by trusting to her anchors, which wero, through tbo above cause, of but littlo service, sho once moro got adrift, was carried through the channel with amazing rapidity, and once more cast on the islaud, whoro sho now lies, hor stern high and dry, and her bows in the stream. We havo never before seen nuch an immense volume of water running through tho channol on tho north spit beforo ; it appeared to us that there was hardly room enough for it, for the surfaco was torn up into broken waves that jostled eaoh other as thoy passed along in their eagerness to reach tho ocean, and when that goal was attained, what a struggle took placo between the fresh and salt water) the salt water, howovor, had the worst of it, for the freshet drove it back, and for at least a milo along, and far out in the offing tho sea lost its natural tint, and rolled its surf upon tho bcaoh in long muddy waves. It w<vs not to be expectod, howover, that tho Protean entrance to the river should rotain its original form ; it has, indeed, materially altered, and much for the worso ; the rivor, having cut another channel through tho ncrth spit, is within sixty yards of the Flagstaff, and tho old one not being closed, the. force of tho river is divided, and neither of the passages aro navigable. This state of things, howover, cannot long oxist, for tho heavy fresh still running must, a? tho tide recedes, deepen ono of them, and fill up tho other. From tho appearanco of tho bar last night, wo are inclined to think that there will be a straight run-out at last, a very strong ourrent running across the Btorn of the Titnnia. In tho ovent of such being tho case, wo should most likely havo sixteen feet of water onco moro on tho bar, and sailing vessels will not be so entirely dopondent on the steam tugs as thoy have been ; and as tho only boats capable of towing are in serious difficulties, it would be of infinite service to us if such should be tho result. Soveral vessels aro nt anchor outside, and their masters aro doubtless wondering at tho stato of confusion our bench is in, and wishing they wero outward instead of inward bound. Tho Susannah Booth, Clara, and Craigiovar are still at their anchors, and tho steamer Rangatira joined thoin yesterday afternoon, Through tho high temporaturo of last night (tho thermometer standing at 60) we aro inclined to believe that a great dcnl of snow must havo como down from tho ranges ; for although tho rain wns certainly far heavior than wo havo known it to bo for tho last six months, tho rise in tho rivor was too sudden and violont to bo caused by that nlone. An avalanche, in all probability, had been detached from ono of tho lower snow-clad spurs of tho ranges, and consequently occasioned the first spring flood this year in tho Hokitika. Thoro aro more, however, yet to como, and wo would most earnestly impress upon thoso gentlemen who havo tnkon the mattor of tho extension of tho wharf in hand, tho necessity that oxists for pushing tho work forward with tho utmost vigour, or tho washing away of tho corner of Kcvell-stroot aud Gibson's Quay may bo tho result.

On visiting tho spit at 11 p.m. yesterday, wo found a material chango in tho position of two of tho vessels then aground. Tho Yarra has been washed over tho outer spit on to the main ono, and in a likely position to be got afloat onco more ; and tho Loonidas whoso caso at sundown wns exceedingly critical, is now lying in the river safo. Tho money-order nyatom was extended to

Hokitika on tho 10th of July last, from which dato there have been orders issued amounting to L 950 14s; orders paid, L 125 16s lOd. Tho transactions for September wero: — Orders issued, L 479 10s ; orders paid, L 54 11s 6d. Tho number of lottors despatched per overland mail to Christchurch on Monday, 2nd October, 1805 : 2276, (85 being registered).

Tho wreck of tho steam tug Samson was sold on tho beach yesterday afternoon, and realized tho sum of L 224 ss. It was divided into thrco portions, which wore each sold separately, the hull, boilors, rigging, masts, and engines, realizing LIOO, tho coal and donkey engines L 63, somo timber and tho hawsers LI ss. Just bofore coming down horo sho cost the Bum of L 4500, besides the amount of a lien held upon hor by ono of the Banks which had to bo taken up. So ends tho Samson I

On Sunday ovening, the p.s. Bruco left for Bruce Bay. Sho was not overloaded with passengers, miners apparently preferring to wait for a little more authontio intelligence ere they follow those who, with headstrong eagerness, rushed away last week. Wo quito uphold them in their lino of conduct, for to say the least, reports from tho far South havo been vague in tho extreme, and so [far as can be ascertained at present, tho Government aro tho only ones to whom any substantial benofit is likely to accrue through tho rush. There will, of courso, be tho usual amount of jobbing in township allotment!).

The s.s. Ballarat, which arrived hero only a week ago for tho purpose of participating in some of thoso good things which are to be had here by a handy steamer that can manage to keep afloat, has begun her carcor most auspiciously. She left for tho Grey last Thursday with a threo-hundred-pound freight on board, picked up ono of tho vessels lying in the Grey roadstead, and towed her over tho bar, which she crossed safely. Left the Grey with about fifty pounds worth of freight, and arrived off Hokitika on Sunday in time to receive nearly three hundred passengers from the Barwon, Omeo, aiid brigantino Susannah Booth. These sho brought in at ono trip, and, ns the chargo is ono pound per head, besides freight on luggage, sho hns netted a very nice sum on her fust trip out and in. Being heavily laden, sho steamed but slowly against tho heavy fresh, and on arriving at tho turn to tho entrance through tho North Spit the current caught her bow and sent her aground. A lino, however, was quickly sent on shore, and there being two or three hundred willing hands in readiness, sho was soon pulled off again, amidst the cheers of those on shoro and on board. Captain White informed us that the Grey bar (although there is a much heavier sea on it than is running on ours) is easier to cross, there being a straight entrance. Six sailing vessels followed him when he entered the Grey, and no mishap occurred to any of them. He reports the Grey township to bo in a flourishing condition.

Tho fato of tho steam tug Samson is now sealed, all hopes of her over being of service again being dissipated. On Sunday morning it was observed that the 'spit had considerably washed away under her bows, and that there was every probability in the event of a flood of her being swept into tho ohannel ; yesterday's freshet has | finished tho work, tho current catching hor bows and slewing her head out to sea , and finally taking her off altogether and casting her ashoro between tho Mount Alexander and John Bullock. Tho sheathing on her starboard side is torn off, and she seems to be completely water-logged. This position is so far favorable as there is now a probability of her engines and boilers being recovered.

Although the position of the John Bullock is almost a hopeless one as far as the vessel herself is concerned, wo aro very happy in being able to state that her cargo cameon shore in excellent condition, none of it being damaged in the slightest degree. Tho flour, especially, agrees ably disappointed thoso gentlemen to whom it was consigned, it being in as good condition as on the day it was shipped ; for in spite of tho severe shaking tho John Bullock has received, upon examination on Sunday it was found that sho was perfectly tight, not a butt end having started. This caused no small surprise, for, from hor appearance, it was feared her back was badly broken. Such, howover, is not the case, but there is no doubt sho is very severely strained ; for although sho lias been cleared of her cargo, there yet remains a vory ugly upward curve in her lines. It is the intention of her agents to take everything out of her that can bo romoved, and us sho has some excellent spars and gear, at is expected that tho wreck sale, should it tako place, will glvo good returns. The John Bullock is a Stewart's Island-built vessel and is only twelve months old.

Our old acquaintance tho brig Craigievar, which suffered such afflictions when first here, being first wrecked and thon sold with a broken back, has rccoived such benefit through change of air aud scene as to bo ablo to tako on board a seventeen hundred pound freight, and once incro try her luck on tho West Coast. Sho arrived off our port some days ago, and put to sea again, but she is now lying at anchor out* side waiting for a chanco to got in ; as, howovor, there is no tug to do the amiable for hor, wo fear her arrival inside will be indefinitely postponed. Sho has been .signalled to proceed to sea until tho •* springs," but seems inclined to remain at hor anchor for tho present.

Tho littlo schooner Dolphin is more than half way across on hor overland passage — that envious neck of sand that has caused so many of her sisters to come to grief. Tho utmost dispatch must have been used in her removal, ns tho distance sho has had to traverse is no small ono, aud tho worst part of her journey has been overcome. So far as outward appearances go sho is nearly as sound ns sho was on the day h\\e went nshoro, a slight wrinkling in her copper alono being perceptible. Wo expect, that sho will bo ready for launohiug at tho next spring tides.

On Bovoral occasions lately we havo had occasion to romaik tho excessivo carolessness displayed by Iho Hokitika draymen. Theso gentlemen, it sccins, aro not a bit moro careful than their brethren elsowhero, tho supervision of tho polico being constantly required to mako them pay duo regard to tho lives and proporty of hor Majesty's lieges. Wo can adduce two instances .of wilful carelessness ou their part that

have lately occurred ; the first happened last week, and fvpry nearly occasioned loss of lifd ■ — an unfortunate individual, who was repairing a sign board, being hurled to tho ground through tho wheel of a cart passing by catching the ladder on which ho was standing, and pulling it from under him. This occasioned a second outrage by tho same party upon tho hearing of the byestanders, the carter cursing tho unfortunato horses (who were certainly not to blame) most vociforously. Again, no lator than yesterday wo saw an instance of extreme carelessness on tho part of one o£ these individuals, which resulted in the partial destruction of a lamp post and a distressing onslaught upon Lindley Murray and good man-« ncrs. In this case, the horses, apparently at« traded by the savoury fumes emanating from tho Cafo de Paiis, edged over that way, and tho wheel of tho dray catching the lamp post tore a piece out of tho bottom of it. This, of courso, was resented by tho proprietor, who loudly demanded compensation for damage done to his " nocturnal illuminator ;" but tho carter, with many oaths, refused, in tho end offering the handsome sum of fivo shillings, which was of course indignantly rejeoted. Wo trust the police will givo an eye to theso gentry for tho future. We shall long remmember the night of the Ist October, for never in our liveo did we hear a heavier downpour of rain, .which was accompanied by heavy thunder and vivid lightning. From midnight tojO a.m. this continued, until we thought that the time bo long prognosticated had at last arrived, and that Hokitika was about to be carried bodily out to sea. On our visiting Gibson's Quay in the forenoon evidences were not wanting of the severity of tho storm, tho river being higher than we evef saw it before, it reaching very nearly to the top of the wharf, and extending right up to Louisa pn's bonded stores. Tho consequence was that draya were called into requisition to convey pedestrians across to tho finished part of the wharf. The greater part of Weld street was also under water, tho river having made its way up Tancred street on the one side and the ditch cut for drainage purposes by tho Post-office on the other, con. sequently the water ou the bridge that crosses Tanored street was waißt deep and reached up to the sido of our office, threatening to flood us out. Fortunately, however, at 10 o'olock tho water commenced receding, and now all danger of Hokitika being submerged has, for the present, passed away.