WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 18G5.

West Coast Times, Issue 65, 2 November 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 18G5.

We extract the following from tho New "Zealand Herald" of tho 21th October .—"The Egmout, we perceive, has brought up 17,500 ozs. of gold for the Bauk of New Zealand. The gold will be shipped by the John Temperley, about to sail for Auckland. Wo trust tho other Bahks will follow the examplo and send homo their gold through Auckland, our revenue would thus be largely increased. This small shipment Will produce to tho Auckland ; revenue a sum of over L2OOO, the duty being at the port from which tho gold takes its final departure from the colony." Our Auckland friends seem to labor under a slight misapprehension respecting tho manner in which' tho export duty oh gold is collected, they 1 evidently supposing the provinco in which the 'final shipment for England takes place' •ill bo the one which will benefit by tho revel, .'collected upon it. This is quite a raistnko, tho tax upon gold being always placed to the credit of 1 the provinco out of which that gold was taken ; 'and we 'have yet to learn that tho cnstomß in 1 Auckland have a right to tax that which has already paid duty at Hokitika. Moreover, what inducement have pur shippers to send their gold to Auckland when there are other poits so much more advantageously situated to which wo could forward our dust ? Wo are inclined to think that Melbourne or Sydney, from which wo receive such direct benefit would havo tho proference, rather than a provinco which hat throughout shown itself to be esnentially'solfish nnd exclusive. These nre only slight mistakes ; they, however, require correcting, as it would be uncharitable on our part to allow our Auokland ootemporary to remain enveloped in such .a dense -fog of error,

Wo weie on Saturday last shown a very fiuo sample of gold by Mr Spurling, storekeeper, on the Kanieri Terrace, which was sold to him by somo diggers who stated they had obtained it out of ono of the beaches tw elve miles up tho Kanieri. Tho parcel was only a small ono, there being but 4* ozs., but its peculiarity consisted in its dark color, and the samplo being what may be termed a mixed one, consisting of scaly, shotty, and ragged gold. Wo have nover seen any liko it before in tho district, nnd shonld imagine that at no very great distance from where it was found a quartz reef exists. Ono of its most remarkable features is its specific gravity, for from tho bulk of the paved wo should certainly not have supposed it to weigh more than three ounces.

The charge sheet of Tuesday bore but a light list of offenders, who were quickly disposed of by his Worship. James Wilson and Win. Compton, charged with exceeding' the limits of decorum in their cups, were each fined LI or 48 hours' imprisonmont. Francis Fill was charged with violently assaulting Thomas Brown. Tho prosecutor, who presented a woeful appearance, his head being bound up and face ranch disfigured, deposed, that tho dispute aroso upon the division of porno mining property, the prisoner and himself having been mates. On a suddon ho found himself violently struck in tho face. Ho seized a tomahawk to defend himsolf, when one of their mates held him back, upon which prisoner caught up a shovel and gavo him a severe blow over the head. T. Donnelly corroborated this statement. The prisoner made a rambling and improbable defence about the prosecutor running against tho point of tho shovel, nis Worship, however, considered tho charge proved, and fined him L 2, or in default thereof four days' imprisonment. Tho next offender brought up for judgment was charged with an offenco which wo are glad to say hns never hitherto been heard of amongst us ; and, from tho statement mado by the prisoner, Elijah Hoskins, we trust he was in such an inebriated state as not to know what he was doing > for, not contented with violently assaulting a- man by knocking him down, he deliberately throw himself on him, and bit a part of his left ear off. Sergeant Clements deposed to witnessing the assault and arresting the prisoner, Tho assultcd party had promised to attend, but had not clono so, having gone to the Kanieri that morning. Ho was well known up there, his namo being Michael Walsh. Tho prisonor, who expressed tho deepest penitonco, was let off with tho very moderate fine of LI, or forty-eight hours' imprisonment. Charles Seers, charged with assaulting Georgo Hayward, was fined LI, for taking tho law into his own hand.

Wo understand that the Bank of New South Wales is erecting an office at tho township of Ross, Totara ; and tho New Zealand having already done so, wo may presume that affairs " down south" nro looking up Mr. Trenery, builder of tho Custom-houso, Hokitika, has tho contract.

A case of some importance to tho residents in tho township of Ilokitika was decided in tho Warden's Court yesterday, in tbo caso Merrington v. Harris. Tlie plaintiff resides in Nelson, and through his agent lot a piece of ground, in Revoll-strcot, to tho defendant, at L 2 per week. The defendant paid two weeks rent, and then repudiated his liability to pay more, requesting tho plaintiff's agent to remove tho building, as ho intended to keep the ground — as tho plaintiff had not resided on the ground personally, in complianco wi'h tho gold-fiolds' regulations, are Hie main facts of the case. Tlie Warden, Mr. Schaw, gavo judgment for tho plaintiff, and issued an order that defendant should removo off the ground within 21 hours. This decision will givo general satisfaction, and it may induco persons to erect buildings for tho occupation of thoso who cannot spare tho necessary capital from their business, and at the same time remunerate tho parties investing, who will feel confidence in being protected against thoso pests of Ilokitika, named ''jumpers."

Tho Panama, New Zealand, and Australian R.M. Co.'s steamer Egmont, Jamos Hagley, commander, left Mnnuknu October 25th, at one p.m. j crossed the bar at noon tho following day. Experienced strong S.W. and W. winds and thick, foggy weather tho wholo passago, nnd arrived off Ilokitika at two p.m., October 29th. Brings 03 passengers and 10 tons of cargo. We understand from a gentleman who left the Totara yesterday morning, that nothing definite was known concerning tho Okarita rush. Three hundred men wero engaged' in prospecting the district, and a rumor was rife that one party had washed two pounds weight of gold out of tho saud on tho beach ; tho report, however, will not justify usin recommending men to rush thither ; we should rather suggest tho advisability of awaiting m6re authentic news.

Tho same gentleman who furnished \n with tho information concerning tho Okarita rush also reported that tho body of a man was picked up yesterday morning on tho beach, by a restaurant keeper named Cochrane, who stated that it appeared to have been washed ashore about threequarters of a mile below tho refreshment house on the beach. The body had not been identified.

A wonderfully narrow escapo from sudden death happened yesterday at tho Kanieri to a miner named Edward Clements, whilst ho waa working in his claim on tho Terrace. From information wo havo received, it appears he was driving in a tunnel, which was in about 40 feet, nnd at the timo was working by himself. Ho had just put a false set of timber in, when through come causo unknown the set gavo way, bringing down tho points of the laths nnd a large quan tity of earth,which forced out tho two back main sets. Fortunately for him ho had just timo to Bpring backwards sufficiently far to escapo tho heaviest part of tho fall, but waa struck by tho falling timber and a largo stono upon tho baok and sido. Ho, however, managed to crawl out and get assistance, when it was found his ribs wcro broken nnd his back badly bruised. Although ho was suffering great pain, it was not expected tho accident would be attended with fatal results.

From information which wo havo received yesterday from tho Kanieri, wo aro given to under-i stand that a heavy rush has set in 28 miles up tho river that promises to bo an cxtonsivo ono, Wo havo not heard any detailed accounts, only that payable gold has boon struck in tho prospectors' claim and tho ono adjoining, nnd that about a thousand people had already assembled thoro. The Kanieri storekeepers wero already sending up stores, nnd tho utmost excitement prevailed. Nino pookhorsos were mot yesterday going up to tho now Dorado.

Thero seems not tho slightest probability of a dearth employment for those parties >vho con" tract to transport vessels across tho spit, ftftor Iho sea has washed them up j although we considered quite enough vcs-ols were lying high and dry on tho north spit for eithor ornamental or othor purposes, room has been found for another unfortunato oraft in that roost notorious locality. The schooner Carolino sailod for tho Gfroy hot Monday evening, but delayed her departure until the tido had bogan to obb and daylight had departed ; conse'|uontly she could receiveno assistance from the signal-man, it being too dark to sco tho sotnaphore. Tho wind boing light at tho time she found hergolC when sho got into tho break unable to stom tho roJIeiH, nnd in consequence went on shore close to thor John Bullock. Havo loss of time and Iho expense

attending tho overland passage, her ownois will not suftbr 'through the mishap, tho vessel being quite uninjured. A crowded meeting was hold at tho Harp of Erin Ilotol on Wednesday ovoning for tho purpose of forming a Fi.*o Brigade for the town of Ilokitika. Mr Prosser was oalled to tho chair, and it was unanimously resolved that a brigade bo formed and 68 gentlemeu at once enrolled their names, twelve of whom were formed into a committee, and districts assigned to them to canvass for subscriptions. It is unnecessary for us to dolate on the importance of this movement, as" tens bf thousands of pounds are in constant danger of being lost— risked on the chance of a a spark not falling in one of our inflammable buildings. Wo trust that tho imminence ot tho danger will induce all applied to — which they will be on Friday — to at once subscribe freoly and liberally. Election matters continuo to progress favorably. Tho committee appointed at the publio meeting held at tho Corinthian Hall last Saturday, have had sevoral meetings during tho week. Wo learn that besides the Chvistchurch party already in the field — Messrs. Young and Hawkes — another gentleman has como forward to contest tho legislative honors. Mr. E. Prossor, in answer to a munorously-signcd requisition, has consented to stand. The meetings of tho commitleo were mainly occupied in organising measures for tho return of that gentleman

The steam tug Lioness lost no time yesterday but took full advantage 6f both morniug and evening tide. In the lhorningsho towed out the schooners Rifleman, Moteor, md Aparina ; and in tho evening the Prince Consort and Spray received her assistance in crossing the bar. All theso vessels got outside without tho slightest mishap, although tho channel is very narrow, and runs parallel with tho set of the surf. Tho Lioness sounded going out, and reports eight feet of water on tho bar on tho tail of tho South spit.