WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 63, 28 October 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1865.

The uncertainty as to who nro and who nre not duly qualified to be elected members of the Provincial Council under the recent Act of the General Assembly, has had the effect of deterring several useful men from coming forward. " There will be time enough" they say, "to declare our opinions and solicit votes when it becomes known that we can take our seats, if elected." But the nomination day is drawing near, and it would bo aa well that the public should determine without delay in what direction our representatives will be principally called to use their energies. It would be a gross piece of folly to send into the Provincial Council anyone, however talented he might be, or however high his personal character, without ascertaining, so far as practicable, his views on the principal questions affecting the West Coast. No one objects more than ourselves to the practice which generally prevails of taking innumerable " pledges " from a candidate for legislative honors, — of fettering his action on a multitude of minor points. There is no surer way of •curtailing a man's usefulness and defeating the very objects for which he was elected. But there never was an election yet wore there were not two or more parties, each holding opinions opposed to those of the others —not only on minor points, but on matters of the greatest moment. The difference will be not only on questions of detail, but on original lines of action, if not on first principles. It is absolutely necessary that on these last a candidate should undergo a strict examination, and that his promises of to-day should be compared with his acts of the past. The West Coast community forms no ■excerption to the rule. It is true the bona fide settlers on the West Coast aro as yet very unanimous in their ideas -about what requires to be done ; but we havo here what may bo called a Christchurch party, not ft very large or influential one certainly in relation to the whole of the population, but likely to be troublesome when we take into consideration tho limited number of those who are qualified to vote. The heads of the belief of this party may be summed up in a few words, .and somewhat in the following manner: — " The West Coast goldfield belongs to Canterbury — that is, ancient Canterbury — and was created entirely for the advantage of Christchurch merchants and tho squatters on the eastern side of the range. To make the goldfield available a dray road, or perhaps two, and certainly a railroad, from Christchurch to Hokitika are absolutely necessary. An escort is required for the conveyance of the gold from the diggings to Christchurch. Matters must be so arranged that when any land is sold on the West Coast, Christchurch speculators shall have the advantage by obtaining a priority of choice — the land being sold in the office at Ohristchurch. The importation of cattle at Hokitika and other places on the West Coast must be strictly prohibited in order that the herds of tho squatters may command a good price. The West Coast revenue must be expended on the Christohurch road, on tho railway, and on tho establishment and maintenance of the overland escort. All matters relating to tho West Coast shall bo settled in tho mantier best calculated to put money into the pockets of tho Christchurch people." The above are the principal articlos of belief of the Christchurch— or ancient Canterbury party — with reference to tho West Coast. The community hero hold opinions of a rather different character to tho above, and these opinions may bo oxpressed somowhat as follows ;■—" Tho persons whoso interests ought to bo chiefly consulted on matters relating to the West Coast aro those who took tho trouble to come hero and open tho gold-field, and in fact rendered the country valuable — a work which would not have been accomplished by tho pilgrim fathers of Canterbury for sorao centuries. The roads, and the railway to Christchurch are totally uncalled for. and the money spent on them wasted. The escort will be useless both to Christchurch and the West Coast, and will involve a further losa of many thousands. The land ought to be sold in such a manner that, if possible, those who really require it for occupation should get a preference— but that,, at all events no facilities should be given to Christchurch speculators. That the road works between Hokitika «nd Christchurch should be paid for by

Christchurch — or Ancient Canterbury, they having been undertaken solely for her benefit. Generally, the West Coast ought to bo governed with a view to the prosperity of the people hero resident, and in order to effect that' a liberal expenditure On roads from Hokitika to the various diggings should at once be commenced." It is usual elsewhere, when elections are about to take plaoo, for the candidates to appoint certain times and places to meet the voters and non-voters and fully explain their views and opinions, and offer themselves for catechetical examination. The custom is an excellent one, more especially where the candidates are entirely unknown to fame. The constituency can then judge, not only whether a man's opinions are' sound, but whether he is able to express himself in a creditable manner. We havo up to the present time heard nothing of election meetings in Hokitika, and if it is proposed to hold them there certainly is not a day to be lost. There will be no occasion, as we bofore remarked, to exact many pledges from a candidate, but lie should bo able to give some account of himself and his claims and show the electors that their interests will not be likely to suffer in his hands. No man should be returned who ventures to defend the absurd expenditure on the Christchurch road, or the still moro absurd contemplated expenditure on tlie railway. We should moreover, look with suspicion on any one who hails from Christchurch, no matter how fair he may promise. Once on Ihe othel' side of the range and amongst old friends, he may be tempted to forget his promises to the West Coast electors, and may contribute towards the passing of those very measures he most loudly denounced on the hustings. If he .did not so far disgrace himself as to do that, it is probable that his opposition would be feeble, and effect but little for those who elected him.

Whilst on the subject of tho elections we will take the opportunity of punting for the information of such of readers as may not have had an opportunity of seeing it before, the clause in the Constitution Act naming the " Qualification of Members," merely premising that there is nothing in more recent Acts which bears on tho subject : —

Every person within any province hereby established, or hereafter to bo established, who shall be legally qualified as an elector and duly registered as such, shall be qualified to be elected a member of the Provincial Council thereof, or to be elected Superintendent thereof : Provided always that it shall not be necessary that ho reside or possess tho qualification in the particular district for which he may be elected bo sorve as a member.

After all, it appeal's there is some truth in the rumors that havo lately been in circulation to the effect that tho township allotments nre to he sold, nnd tho inhabitants thereby given a legal status as freeholders ; for at tho meeting of tho Improvement Committee on Thursday, tho attention of tho publio is called to tho fact that " the Government have decided to sell the land by publio auction to the highest bidder ;" and also of the advisability of calling a publio meeting to give the matter their prompt consideration, We sincerely trust that the publio will give this matter prompt consideration ; for it appears to us the Canterbury Government seem inclined to indulge in a littjo rapacity, quite cbaracteristic.of them we admit, but whioh it is our duty to check, if possible. It is evidently their intention to induco unhealthy competition, in order to more easily bleed us, instead of putting a certain value of ss much a foot upon all occupied frontages, and giving the occupants the first offer. All unoccupied frontages might bo very profitably disposod of by auction. Wo feel sure that section-holders would cheerfully pay at the rate of ono hundred pound 3 per acre, and we certainly think such a sura amply sufficient for land which but for the enterprise of tho prosent holders would havo been comparatively worthless to the Christchurch clique.

The prospect of a sea voyage is to a landsman at all times disagreeable, evon when he has ample time allowed him to make due preparation for it ; but when a gentleman suddenly finds himself compelled to undortake a journey by water of twelve hundred miles without even so much luggage with him 03 a toothbrush or chango of linen, the unpleasantness is aggravated in a tenfold degree. Mr Bonar, of tho firm of Henderson & Bonar of this town, was, we aro sorry to say, placed in this disagreeable position when on board the Claud Hamilton yesterday morning, and now, instead of standing in the receipt of custom in his store in Wharf-street, is some considerable distanco on his road to Sydnoy. The circumstances that brought about so untoward a result to his trip outside tho bar, as related to us by Captain Malcolm, of the Bruce, are as follows. On Thursday last the Bruce went out to deliver passengers and mails on board tho three steamers, and to receivo passengers and cargo from the Claud Hamilton as well ; and in consequonco of not being able to got into the river again the name day, sho lay alongside tho latter all night. Mr. Bonar nnd one of the clerks of the Bank of New South Wales, who bad gone out with her, feeling the discomfort of remaining cooped up in the Bruce all night, accompanied by Captain Malcolm, paid a visit to the Claud Hamilton, with the intention, no doubt, of making themselves as comfortable as possible, and passing a few hours agrcoably with her captain and, officers. In such agreeable company timo Blipped quickly by, and midnight arrived ero ono of them expected it, and preparations woro immediately made for a return to tne Bruco.' The hot pitablo captain of the Claud Hamilton would not, howovor, hear of such a thing, but pressed thorn to remain and Bleep on board his craft instead of suffering such discomfort as would bo experienced amongst tho crowd of ono hundred and twenty' souls in the Bruce Nothing loth they consented, excepting, of courso, Captain Malcolm, who was far too old a soldier to be caught napping in such a roadstead as ours outside the bulwarks of his own vessel. Still the night looked fine and the glass had not fallen, and thoro certainly was no indication of tho heavy blow that immediately afterwards sprung up from tho S.W, On getting on board tho Bruco, her captain, after seeing that all was right for tho night, turned in, but had hardly timo to tuck tho blankets round himself when the mate poked his head insido tho door and stated that more chain would havo to bo givou hor, as it was coming on to blow from tho south ; and sure enough, in less than an hour it was blowing a whole gale of wind and both vessols riding to their anchors bows under. Morning came bringing with it no^ cessation of tho gale, the Claud Hamilton being under steam having lost nn anohor and fifty fathoms cable during the night, and ranging alongside the Bruco, hor Cnptain shouted that it was impossible to tranship passongers in such weather, and that he should put to sea at onco. Accordingly away sho went, bearing with her our worthy fellow townsman and his equally unfortunate companion the gentleman connected with the Bank of N. S. W.

Another death through drowning has occurred on ono of tho many rivers which intersect the road between this town and tho Grey, and tho victim in this instance is James Smith, tho well-known driver of Cobb and Co's coach. The sad event took place yesterday in the Saltwater Creok, during the upward journoy to tho Grey. On arriving at this Creok the passongers loft tho coach and were ferried over in tho boat, whilst Smith chovo the former aoross tho river, whioh was then ia high flood. In spite of this, however, no mishap would havo occurred had not tho king-bolt given way, when coach and horses wore in tho middle of tho stream, the consequence of which was, tho vehicle was immediately swept into tho surf, upset, and poor Smith drowned, whilst tho horsos swam over and landed safely at the othor side. We hear that a considerable amount of property was lost with the coach, and our latest advicos gave no information of tho recovery of tho body of the unfortunato driver. j In anoihei column will bo seen a notice to (he effect that a public meeting will bo held at tho Corinthian Hall, for the purpose of giving expression to tho indignation felt by all classes at the arbitrary manner in whioh those miners who are working on tho township resorvo havo been treated by tho Government, and which has resulted in the imprisonraont of two of the nunibor, in default of payment of a fine inflicted in tho Warden's Court yesterday. The indignation wo fcol on this subject induces us to particularly call tho attention of the miners and publio generally to this meeting, and trust it will be hold and numerously attended, and such stops be at once taken to appoint a committee for the purpose of waiting on Mr Salo, and, if necessary, to forward a momorial to the Superintendent at Ohristchuroh. Our opinion of the advisability of permitting miners to work on this ground has already been expressed, as well as our reasons for it, but we again must emphatically declare that to us tho idea of reserving a milo sqimro fora township in such a place as Hokitika is absurd in the extremo ', an area of half that extent would bo amply sufficient. We trust the most perfect order will be preserved at the meeting, and that the miners will show their right to consideration by adopting straight forward measures with dignified consistency. The necessity that exists for efliolent policeprotection in the outlying districts whioh aro not of sufllciont importnnco to demand tho presence of a residont Warden, was exemplified on Thursday last, in the caso of a miner, at the Waimea, named 'I homas Brown, on whom had been committed a most murderous assault, by his mate, Francis Sill. Porno words had arisen between them in the hut whilst they wero settling some accounts, when tho one deliberately struck tho other and then seizing a long handled shovel, oruclly thrust tho blade with all his strength in his face — inflioting a ghastly wound just abovo tho oye. The unfortunate fellow at onco proceeded to tho polico cam]), but in consequence of there being no magistrate to sign a warrant, and the police not having seen the assault committed, they deolined to interfere. A jouinoy to Hokitika was thus necessitated to procure tbo necessary document} and the chances aro that when he returns armed with it, the offending party will havo made hiinsolf scarce. Wo really think that an officer in charge Bhould bo appointed to each place, armed with power to issuo warrants of apprehension in such extreme cases as this seems to be ; othorwiso tho wilful neglect displayed wilh be neither more or less than directly offering i. premium for tho commission of orimo,

A Warden's Court will bo oponed at tho Kanieri on and after Monday, the 30th instant, and for tho future the miners of that district will be saved the loss of timo occasioned through tho necessity of having to bring their crscb to Hokitika for adjudication. We aro glad to [see this Court at last established, but at tho same time trust such amicablcness will exist as to ronder Mr Sohaw's office a jnero sinecure.

Wo were yesterday shewn a splendid samplo of^gold, by Mr Procter, that tho samo party who wero the lucky finders of tho hundred weight brought in to be smelted. This gold was taken out of the same claim ns tho other, and the lucky owners assert they havo still a good deal of ground yot to work.

Tho s.s Claud Hamilton, George Parole, commander, left Sydney on tho 19th inst., at 6.30 p.m. Experienced strong southerly and light wosterly gales during tho run over, whioh sho accomplished in 4 days 19 hours, arriving in tho roadstead on the 24th at 4.30 a.m. At 3 a.m. the same morning, sho passed the s.s. Hero, and also sighted a largo steamer to the north, steoring westward,

M'Landresa, Hopburn, & Co., yesterday hold, at their rooms, a long sale by auction of groceries provisions, oilmo'ns stores, &o. Tho atteiulanco was good, and prices iuled higher than has been obtained for some time past A continuation of eamo salo takes place this day.

Tho risk attending the working of old ground in the vicinity of abandoned shafts is pretty woll understood by our miners ; still occasionally accidents do occur in spite of tho utmost care taken to prevent thorn, although we fear that in too many cases the fault lies with the men themselves in neglecting to properly Beouro their ground. Yesterday a miner named Jamea Pringle met his death through the caving in of one of these old shafts, which brought down in its fall tho roof of the drive in which the unfortunate fellow was working. His mate, who was working with him at tho time, was forced out into the shaft and rescued comparatively unhurt, but in spite of tho consttint efforts of nearly two hundred men, a who had quickly assembled at the sceno of the disaster, it was not until mx o'clock in the evening that the body of tho othor was recovered. Dr. Vernon, who was in attendance, at once pronounced him dead, and expressed it as his opinion that death must have boon instantaneous.

Tho Bruco had a remarkably narrow escape from shipwreck when crossing the bar yostorday She had a heavy cargo of passongeis and cargo whioh she had shipped from tho Claud Hamilton, and tho bar having considerably silted up through the strong S.W. winds we have been favored with lately, there was hardly water enough evon for her. The consequence was, sho took the ground, and for some fow minutes remained hard and fast. Full speed, however, was kept up, and wo wero glad to sco this smart little steamer drag herself over the bar and got into deep water insido. A serious acoident occurred to ono of the passengers whilst she was on tho bar, whioh resulted in a broken limb, and anothor unfortunate had his toe orushed at tho samo timo. It Booms, when sho struck, soveral seas fell on board of her, one of whioh washed the poor fellow into tho port souppors, and a small carronade at tho time breaking away from its lashings struck him and broke his leg just above the anolo. Ho was at once removed to tho cabin, and every attention paid him that circumstances pormittod, and on the Bruco arriving at the wharf ho was taken to tho hospital

Our Australian neighbors seem fully inclined to recognise our increasing commoroial importanco, and aro apparently determined to take every advantago of it, lines of powerful steamers being laid on direct to and from this port, so that at last there seems a reasonable probability.'of uninterrupted and rapid communication with all tho ports of Victoria, and Now South Walos. Our communication with Melbourne has for some time been tolerably well assured, but savo by sailing vessols wo hnvo had no direct communication with Sydnoy. Wo aro, howevor, glad to sco that a stop in the right dircotion has been taken by tho Panama and Now Zoatand Company, who have placod ono of their steamers, tho Olaud Harailtion, on tho borth as a permanent trudor to Hokitika, This will be an immenso boon to all of us, but especially to our business men, who will thus bo enabled to send and rocoivo advicos to and from Sydnoy onco a fortnight. Tho Claud Hamilton is protty woll known, but hitherto has always bcon considered a slow coaoh, which uuonviablo reputation wo aro glad to sco she has, through very groat improvements •(Tooted id her raaohinory, boon enabled to shako off, making the run from Sydney in a little over

four days and a half, thus asserting her right to rank amongst the fastest boats in the colonies.

Hokitika has onco more had a very narrow escapo from destruction by fire, tho roof of tho kitchou attached to the Shamiock Hotel being destroyed on Thursday last through, wo bolievo, a spark falling through from the Chimney, We trust that this warning will' havo duo effect upon tho inhabitants, and induce them to at onco organize an efficient body of inon to act as a Fire Brigade. Wo aro glad to sco that the Improvomont Committeo have recognised the paramount importance of this movement, for at their usual weekly meeting, held at Bracken's Hotel, on Thursday, a resolution wa? put and carried— "That a publio mooting be held in the Corinthian Hall, on Wednsday ovening next, at 4 p.m., for the purpose of taking preliminary steps for the formation of a fire brigade." Wo hope this appeal to the publio will bo well responded to, and that immediate steps bo taken to provide the town with a fire engine, for with an unlimited supply of water so close at hand, wo should then bo enabled to check at the outset that which might otherwlso provo tho total destruction of the town.

At tho Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Catherine tflannigan, Peter Pagan, and Michaol Gavan, for being drunk and disorderly, were each fined LI, or in default thereof, forty-eight hours, J. Gandol, for committing a violent and unprovoked assault upon his wifo, was fined LI, or forty-eight hours' imprisonment. William Woods, charged with an assault upon Louisa Miggs, waa discharged, thoro boing no appearance against him. F. A. Conquest, indicted for larceny of a cash-box, was, on the application of tho police, remanded for three days, in ordor that further enquiries might bo made, tho larcony having only been committed tho previous evening j bail allowed, himsolf at L2OO, and two sureties at LIOO each.

At the meeting of the Improvement Coramitteo on Thursday, it was agreed that Mr Salo be written to on the subject of mining near the cemotery reserve, requesting him to reconsider tho Warden's deoision, prohibiting miners from working there, and suggesting that they bo allowed to do so, on tho same conditions ns those applied in similar cases on tho goldfields townships in Otago and Victoria. * The affairs of the hospital will soon, we trust, be brought to a satisfactory issue. At a special meeting of tho Improvement Committeo held on Monday, Mr Prosser was deputed to wait on Mr Sale to ascertain the intentions of the Government with regard to the hospital, the result of which visit is, that Mr Sale has agreed to add another wing to the building, and appoint a houso-Burgeon to attend exclusively to the hospital patients. The funds in tho hands of tho Committoe have been handed over to Mr Sale, and we hope immediate Bteps will bo taken to place the Hokitika hospital on a footing commensurate with tho importance of tho district, A t Christohuroh has at lost unbont, and under the pressure of publio opinion has permitted us to transmit our letters to our friends over tho water by tho route whish our practical experience teaches us is the surost and most speedy. Our precious epistles will not for the future (save thoso few wo send to our correspondents in Christohuroh, and thank Heaven I we have but fow there) have to suffer tho misery of tho overland route, but instead will be packed snugly in mail bags and transhippod from our handy harbor boats on board those magnificent steamors that aro now trading regularly to our port, and whioh will transport them direct to Sydney, Melbourne, and Dunedin, in spaces of timo varying from four days and a-half to forty-eight hours. We have really muoli satisfaction in directing tho attention of our readers to the fact, that an order has been received by our Postmaster from tho office at Christohurch to withdraw tho advertisement that for so long has appeared in our columns under the head of mail notices ; to tho effcot that, unless specially addressed, all letters would be forwarded overland to head-quarters. That order has bosm rcsoinded, and onco moro (in this respeot at loast) all are free. Tho following baro-faccd oxaggoration wo havo oxtractod from the columns of tho fPakatip Mail : — "The news since received is confirmatory of the finding of an extraordinary rioh goldfield. The gold seems to consist of nuggets varying in woight from two to six pounds weight each, or else to lay in a deposit of about tho sixteenth of an inoh thick, and as fino as flour. There is room for some thousands of miners at Bruce Bay alone, and probably tho West Coast of the Middle Island will eclipse as a goldfield all tho stories told of California, British Columbia, or of Australia. At Hokitika, the Grey, and at the Totara, tho returns aro increasing every week, and, so far, a stretch of coast country with an ocean faco of 170 miles and a depth of from ten to thirty miles, is known to bo auriforous." The most roprehensiblo practice, too often, wo are sorry to say, adopted by newspapers, of publishing, without due consideration, every flying report and monstrous rumour that happens to reach thorn, is one whioh ontails upon hundreds much misery and disappointment ; and although allowances should bo made for a certain exoitemont under whioh they labour at the time, glaring instances of inconsistency do sometimes ocour which demand prompt contradiction and rebuke from cotomporaries. In tho case now before us there seems but little excuse for such an unparalleled mistatoment ; and wo trust that, for tho future, our Wakatip cotemporary will be moro cautious in propagating accounts of distant fields until well assured of thoirauthentioity. It is now well known that Bruce Bay is a " duffer " j rush, and at no period of its existence waa it hold in very high estimation by tho miners ; and as for the West Coast of tho Middle Island eclipsing as a goldfiold Australia and California, tho writer, to convince himself of the contrary, has only to take a month's tour round the various Holds oponed to perceive how egregiously ho has been misled, Wo hope this will act a* a warning to him for tho future.

Our Okgan neighbors seem determined by evory means in their power to fostor that delectable routo to the West Coast overland, whether it bo via Lako Wanaka— by whioh, if rumor be correct, our friond Vincent Pyko has just returned — or that still more agreeable journey from the Wakatip via Greenstono and Von Tunzelman's- Of course, the Queenstown folk aro to a man in favour of tho latter, and, by the manner in which they mention it, aro evidently impressed with tho idea that such a jaunt wonld bo nothing moro or less than a pleasant country oxoursion, tho s.s Expeit being advertised "to leave Roes' Jotty every Thursday morning for tho abovo river and station." Wo certainly havo suoh confidonco in the Banity of intended visitors to our shores as would induce us to beliovo thoy would rathor come round comfortably by steamer or sailing vessel than tako a weary tramp to Martin's Bay with the cortain prospoot bofore them of having to tramp baok againi A daring robbery waa committed on Thursday ovening, on tho premises of Messrs Morison, Law and Co., in Wharf street, which has occasioned theso gontlomon considerable loss and much trouble During tho tomporary absonoo of tho olork from tho counting-hotiso, tho door of whioh waa loft open, somo scoundrel (who must havo been prowling about watching bis opportunity) ontored, and abstraotod tho cash-box, which contained L2OO in gold and notes. Suspicion has fallon upon a party who, it will be seen by a reference to our police roport, has boen remanded for further ovidonco. tt is to bo hoped that tho roal offender will speedily be brought to justice, and summarily dealt with. Wo would caution our business-men that, In conaoquoncd of tho groat influx Of people from Australia, we havo at present amongst us somo-of thoso con* summato villains and old offondors who aro so woll known to tho police, and> theroforo, that tho gi'eatesb oaro is required to guard thoir promises.

A Yankoo. showman has addressed a noto to Socrotary Stan ton, offering 5,000,000 dollars for n loase of Jeff Davis's body, whom ho will exhibit allvp. He is willing to onter into bonds .to return the oaptive in a year.