WAIMEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 64, 31 October 1865, Page 1 (Supplement)

WAIMEA.

October 29th.

Mr. Sale paid us a visit on Tuesday, for the purpose of adjudicating upon the long pending cases in tho police and mining courts. As tho day of his arrival was extremely wet, Mr. Sale was no doubt enabled to perceive that our oft-repeated complaints concerning tho state of the track were not made without sufficient cause.

In the Police Court, there were no cases of interest ; with the exception, perhaps, of a conviction for sly grogselling, in which the defendant wns fined £10. Mnny of the mining disputes had been settled out of court, in consequence of the plaintiff and defendant having appeared several times at court, when no magistrate appeared to decide their differences. Several cases in Ayhich disputed water rights wore the subjects under discussion, were heard at considerable length, and the decisions appeared to give general satisfaction. I am glad to be able to state that a resident Warden lias becu appointed for this district. Mr. Kendrick's naiuo is mentioned ns having been nominated to fill tho office. Tho Camp Reserve has, by Mr Snlc's order, been extended, and a building is about to be erected for the future Warden's residence. Another event which it gives me great pleasure to record, is tho commencement of work upon tho track. Twenty men aro at the present time engaged upon it, and a considerable addition will doubtless tnke plnco to their numbers when wages men can bo obtained, and as there are so many men in town doing nothing, I by next week hope to be able to report that the work is undertaken in eninest.

A rush wns reported on Saturday somewhere up tho right-hand branch of the Waimea, but although several parties were out in that direction they neither found the rush nor obtained any further information upon the subject. As tho season advances it is of the most vital importance that a sum of money should bo placed iipon the estimates by tho Government for ■ the equipment of prospecting parties. A large tract of unexplored country lies between this goldfield and tho Snowy Ranges, from which tho gold has beyond doubt been transported, as there nre no gold producing rocks in this locality. Such an undertaking as the one I have mentioned has innumerable difficulties in the way, if viewed in tho light of private enterprise, which would fade away into mere insignificanco if the expenses were defrayed from the public revenue. In the opinion of all the practical men who havo penetrated to the " terra incognita" 1 have alluded to, a vast goldfield exists in that direction, and on more than ono ocension I have been told of payable prospects having been obtnincd, but nt such a distance from where stores could bo had (tho Waimea being tho nearest point) that tho search had to bo abandoned. A public meeting was held nt the Bendigo Hotel on Saturday evening, for the purpose of bringing forward a candidate to. represent the interests of the We3t Coast in the Provincial Council of Canterbury. The proposed candidate (Mr Barff) who was loudly cheered by the meeting, wns then proposed as a candidate nt the ensuing election. Tho resolution was then seconded, and carried by ncclnmntion. Tho meeting which throughout wns conducted in the most respectable manner, wns addressed by BCVCVIII speakers; nnd after a hearty promise of support the proceedings terminated with a vote to tho chairman, Mr. Lawford.