WEST COAST TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16,1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 71, 16 November 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1865.

The present unnaturally high price of meat, is precisely one of those grievances which the " paternal government " to whose goodly keeping it is the fate of this community to be consigned, has the power of redressing if it have the will. The Superintendent of Canterbury possesses a delegated authority, under the Diseased Cattle Act, to remove the restrictions which have hitherto prevented the Hokitika market from being supplied with cattle driven over the boundary line of Otago and Southland, or brought b) r the seaboard. It is a notorious fact that on the rich pasture lands of Southland there are herds of fat beasts waiting to be sent to our shambles, if only permission be granted to land them here. If they came, we should have the opportunity of eating wholesome, tender, and succulent beef, instead of tough, fatless, halfstarved carcases ; and of buying the article at a reasonable figure, of something like fifty per cent under present j cost. And why i 3 the permission to I import this meat withheld, and a scale of famine prices maintained ? They say it is from the fear of introducing pleuropneumonia into the Canterbury herds. But this, surely, is a bugbear. Pleuropneumonia it is true is a very terrible disease. But if it does not exist already in the province, what danger can there be in i the introduction of cattle into Hokitika, for the purpose, not of mingling with the herds of the province, but of simply being sent to the slaughter yard and there prepared for the butcher's shop ? This is not the only province or colony in which the fear of introducing pleuro-pneumonia has prevailed. But elsewhere the dread of a danger which it is quite practicable to avert, has not for any long time been allowed to inflict a grievous wrong upon the meat-con-sumers. If we take the case of Tasmania, to wit, we see a system of regulations adopted which aflbrd the utmost protection to the pastoral interest against the chances of infection, and at the same time confer upon the piiblic the boon of cheap meat. A public abattoir

convenient to this, cargoes of imported cattle are landed. To this abattoir the beasts are at once taken, and never allowed to leave it until they are carted away by the butchers in the shape of dressed carcases. No provision against the importation of an infectious disease could possibly be more simple ; no precaution could, possibly be more efficacious. In virtue of the powers delegated to him under the Act of 1864, the Superintendent is authorised to make " regulations" for the enforcement of the provisions of the Act ; and we apprehend this authority is quite sufficient to warrant him in making effectual provision against the importation of cattle, except to be slaughtered for food. With reference to cattle crossing the boundary of the province overland, the discretionary powers of the Superintendent also seem to be ample to avert any danger. The 4th Regulation issued by the Governor in Council* is to the effect following :—: — "In the exercise of powers delegated under the 10th section of the Act, the Superintendent of any Province may prohibit the importation, either by land or by saa, of cattle into such from any other province or any particular port or place in any other province, or across the borders of a province or any ' particular part thereof.' " This piovision obviously confers the power of fixing crossing places on the boundary, and gives the opportunity of watching all cattle crossing, as effectually as in the case of those landed at either of the ports of the province. But the question of inland boundary need not be entertained at all. If the proclamation declaring Southland an infected district were alone repealed, an immediate and signal relief would be afforded to this market. Cattle from Southland could not cross the boundary of Canterbury without passing through Otago — so that the Provincial Governwent have, in the case of that province at least, the opportuni'y of exercising the strictest surveillance over every beast imported. "With Otago still under proclamation as an infected district, cattle from Southland cou.d only be brought in through the open ports. And whilst this would place large powers of averting any possible danger in the hands of the Government, it would sufficiently meet all the requirements of the case as a question of food. "What the public of Hokitika want is not the privilege of introducing herds of animals to intrude upon the squatters' runs, but the right to land cargoes of cattle for immediate slaughter and consumption. And seeing how easily this end might be secured without the remotest danger to the stock in the province, the conclusion cannot well be resisted that the cry of pleuro-pneumonia is a mere sham, and that the "object of the squatters and their abettors is not to protect their herds from possible disease, but to keep up' the price of meat and maintain their present monopoly of the market, To them the discovery of the gold-fields, and the presence of the thousands of hungry mouths they have brought, have been a god send. They have reaped a rich harvest from the artificial prices to which food has been raised, and they are reluctant to relax their grasp of the profitable monopoly. We may depend on it they will hold it until it is wrested from them. We repext, that no valid or tenable reason whatever can be alleged against the free importation into Hokitika, under proper regulations, of fat cattle from Southland ; that it would menace the herds of this province with no possible danger ; and that no shadow of excuse therefore exists for perpetuating a policy the only effect of which is to raise meat to a famine price The prohibitory proclamation is a standing wrong to the miners and settlers of the West Coast. It is one of the acts of administration of a selfish Government, that will be long borne in mind.

Eedress is in the hands of the Canterbury authorities. The Superintendent has a full discretionary power delegated to him. It is by bis proclamation that the ports are now closed. Hid proclamation only is needed to open them. There is no occasion for a reference to Wellington j no excuse for a long red-tape correspondence with the Colonial Secretary. The matter is simply and purely in his Honor's own hands. He has only to submit to the Governor such regulations as the exigencies of the case, and especially the necessity of protecting any interests that threaten to be endangered, may seem to require. And those regulations are of force immediately on their being proclaimed. ■If His Honor persists in keeping the West Coast ports closed, we shall be able to appreciate the value of the political system which ties Hokitika to Christchurch, and makes the people lean that the squatters may wax fat.

The letter which appears in "the supplement of to*day's "Times," signed "Fair Play even to Prisoners," reached us after the publication of our lastissue, in which we recorded the results of a personal inspection of the premises styled the Hokitika Gaol. Our reporter contented himself with stating what he saw> viz., that the cells were disgracefully overcrowded, and that it was evident that, when lying down at night, the inmates must be packed as close as the confines of a slave ship. It appeared, however, that the cells were clean, that the bedding was taken out to air as often as convenient, and that a change of clothing was given to the prisoners "as often as possible." As the information given to our reporter Was to the effect that " of clothing just now there is a scarcity," we may assume that the " as often as possible" really meant very rarely, if.it n! 1 ..

lished was merely a record of impressions received on the occasion of a casual visit, and that the letter in to-day's issue is a record of actual 'experience-, there is no substantial discrepancy between the two. It is Very clear that the Slate tof the gaol, and the absence of more suitable accommodation for confines, to whatever class they belong, is 'a disgrace to the Provincial Government. We should say> equally a disgrace to the local authorities Representing the Government, if wo 'could suppose that they had any discretionary power, and that the existing state of things was in any respect the result of their action or neglect of action. But the officials on the spot are no doubt tied down by very strict instructions, and under the necessity of referring to the Christchurch Government in any case in which the expenditure of a few pounds is required for any public object, in a district that contributes so largely to the Provincial revenue. Such partial and temporary allevfation of the condition of the prisoners as may be possible, will no doubt he 'effected without delay, now that the matter has been so forcibly brought under the attention of the Eesident Magistrate. Mr. Fitzgerald is a humane man, who exercises his office mercifully. The requests made to Mm by the prisoners signing the memorial, strike us as of a very reasonable and moderate character. They involve no insecurity of custody, no breach of discipline, no extra expenditure of money. A compliance with them is due to the health, and we will add to the comfort, of the confines. In the case of debtors and men under committal sm^ply-» the authorities are under every obligation to consult the reasonable comfort of the prisoners, so long as their hold of them is not imperilled. And even in the case of convicted men under actual sentence, it is no part of their sentence as pronounced from the Bench, that they shall be either suffocated, denied the opportunity of exercise, or subjected to the ravages of vermin or the attacks of dangerous disease. In England there is a system Of petting and pampering prisoners. But whilst avoiding this extreme in one direction* there is no reason why we should sin against humanity and common justice in the opposite direction. As far as the public interests arc concerned, it is surely of the highest importance that no place should be tolerated in the heart of the town which may possibly turn out to he a nursery of infectious disease. None of us know what the com* ing summer will bring forth. Hokitika is certain, during the Hottest months of the year, to have a population far in excess of its resources of accommodation, who will be closely packed together in its hotels or lying under scanty shelter in tents on low. swampy ground. The town is undrained, and for the most part constantly saturated and covered with stagnant water. The summer sun during the day is intensely hot, and under its influence vapors rise from the soil like thick fogs. It will tax to the utmost the energies and skill of all who have anything to do with the matter, to avert the inset of serious and fatal disease. It is not, under these circumstances, to he endured that a very uursery of pestilence should he actually maintained m the very centre of the town by the Government of the Province. It is hard to say which is the greater public scandal, the Gaol or the Hospital. Is it not quke as necessary to provide suitable esfcabJislrnents for the proper custody of prisoners, and the treatment of the sick, as it is to build costly court-houses, judicial residences, and gold-offices ? That the latter edifices are requisite, and that the Government are right in erecting them, we do not deny. But why should structures at least equally requisite he neglected? They would not involve a corresponding cost. A stockade, consisting of a high fence running round a square enclosure, with a day-room, dormitories, and officers' quarters, would suffice for our criminal population. We are not yet called on to try experiments on the different systems of prison and reformatory disciplne. The only thing necessary is to keep confines in strict watch and ward ; to carry out the sentences of those who have been found guilty, with some regard to humanity ; not to anticipate by unnecessarypunishment the verdict of " guilty" in the case of men merely under committal; not to confound the debtor with felons, or make him herd with them ; and not to menace society by sowing the seeds of pestilence. We acquit the local authorities of being in any sense active parties to the present most wretched ari& miserable arrangements. But they are of all men under the most imperative responsibility to bring the case in strong terms before the Christchurch Government. Their representations may be listened to where these of the people would be disregarded. Surely the letter which we pubsh. this morning will not be without its effect on the official mind. Its testimony, and the statements of our own reporter, certify to a condition ot things discreditable to a civilised and Christian community — or rather to the Government that rules it.

We have received the first number of a religious journal published in Christchurch. It is a reproduction, in an altered form, of the "Southern Record." From the nature of its contents, it may be anticipated that its circulation will be confined to the stricter religious circles . It makes some violent strictures upon the Stage, as an immodest, immoral and impious institution dealing with the topic from a narrow point of view tiat has now been almost universally abandoned, even by the classes by whom the Theatre was once held in most disfavor. It is evident that a writer who says that, "as a general rule, an actress is an outcast from society, and bears .a doubtful character and a suspected name ;" and goes on to ask, "who amongst us could endure to see their wives daughters, or si«tors, pacing the public stage to gratify the eyes of the multitude J embracing or being embraced by hireling strangers *"— can have little practical knowledge of the actual condition and incidents of the modern Theatre. A prominent feature of the " Guardian" is its opposition to the "liquor traffic." The journal will no doubt be welcome to the particular class for whom it is designed.

Many Invercargill residents in Hokitika will learn with muoh regret that Mr W. F. Tarlton died from the effects of cancer, at Adelaide, on the 3rd instant. Mr Tarleton was a man of undoubted ability, and of much energy and determination of characte.r Hp settled in Southland as a teacher, and nfierwurds received the

upon public life, he became a member of the Provincial Council, and was made Chairman of Committees of the House. On the dissolution of the Assembly in 1864 he presented himself as a candidate to the electors of Invercargill, but was defeated, after a close contest, by Mr J. R. Davies, the railway contractor, who obtained a majority over him, if we remember rightly, of seven votes, the other three elected members being, Dr ilenzies (the Superintendent), Mi Macdonald (the Provincial Solicitor), and Mr Calmer. Shortly afterwards a vacancy having occurred in one of the New River districts, Mr Tarlton was returned by a large majority, and resumed his seat in the Council. At this time, and for some months previously, he held the office of Provincial Treasurer, and was fairly entitled to the credit of having administered the duties of that responsible post during the ' trying political crisis through which the province was passing, with great assiduity and thorough honesty of purpose. Mr Tarlton was originally an opponent of the separation of Southland from Otago, but in the course of the extraordinary temporary prospertiy and development that followed that measure, admitted the wisdom of the step, and at a banquet given to Dr. Menzies, in honor of the anniversary of the event, he united with Dr. Menzies, Mr Heale, and other promoters of Separation, in dwelling in -unctuous terms on the rapid progress and the brilliant prospects of the young province. It was only a few months after that Dr. Menzies had ceased to be Superintendent, that the monetary crisis had arisen,that Mr Heale himself had forsaken Southland, and that Mr Tarlton, as Treasurer, had to face the financial difficulties which resulted in the seizure by the Sheriff of the public offices, the railway plant, and all the property of .the Provincial Government. Retiring into private life, Mr Tarlton rapidly succumbed to a cruel malady, and proceeded to Adelaide, hoping to find there a climate rrore favorable to the treatment of his disease. For some weeks past it has been known to his friends that death was approaching, and at last the melancholy news [has reached us of his end. Of a man with whom the present writer has hadjmany sharp passages of arms — never, however, begetting any interruption of friendship —it is pleasant to be able to record that Mr Tarlton was a painstaking, able, and honest public servant.

The Craigievar will soon be numbered with the things of the past, she being rapidly broken up. The greatest part of the deck and bulwarks is already removed, and her hold in all its naked deformity exposed to view, discovering many iron bolts sticking through her timbers in places where the skin has been stripped off. The poor old brig is a melancholy sight being twisted out of all shape, her port side stove in, the main and deck beams broken, and the portion of deck remaining forced upwards and burst in all directions. In every sense of the word she is a wreck, and we should imagine a rather unprofitable one too for those who have bought her, not a copper bolt of any size being visible in her construction. She has Blued broadside on to the surf, which every now and again as it strikes her forces its way through her rent timbers, and should the ensuing spring-tides be accompanied by a heavy sea she will most likely go to pieces.

Most satisfactory and cheering is it to watch the march of events in Hokitika, mark the progress we are making, and particularly the material improvements that are taking place in those mechanical appliances already introduced here — a sure sign of our steady advance. We are glad to see that steam power — man's greatest aid— is not only introduced, but seems permanently established in our midst. For some time past, one steam saw-mill, erected by Messrs Finland and Howett, a short distance from the town, on the north bank of the river, has been at work ; and on Saturday last, Messrs M'Beth, Nees, and Cornfoot, who purchased the engines of the Ruby and one of the boilers of the steamer NewZea* landed, and whom we mentioned in a former issue as having commenced the work, so far completed another as to be able to begin sawing; we paid a visit to the mill on Tuesday, and were surprised and gratified at the excellence of their establishmen, both as regards its situation and the skilful manner in which all its parts have boen constructed. The mill is built upon a small creek, up which at high water the logs which are rafted down the river, can be conveyed direct to the pit, and down wibich when sawn up canwith equal facility be sent to town for sale. This initself is no small advantage, as it is almost an impossibility for drays to reach the mill through the impassable state of the ground to wheeled vehicles. The engines, of which there are two (thirteen horse-power each) are capable of driving two three-feet-six saws, besides dress* ing, shaping, and ploughing machines, and as soon as the work is fairly commenced with one saw it is the intention of the proprietors to send to Melbourne for the appliances necessary to tongue and groove boards and forfii mouldings and Bashes, which they will be able to supply at rates considerably below present prices, With one saw going they can now turn out four thousand feet of timber a day, and when in full work with two are confident fo being able to cut t°n thousand feet in the same time. Tthere is no doubt they will be well paid for the enterprise and perseverance they have displayed.

In the police court yeterday, the business was of little importance, William Rowley for drunkeness. was fined the usual penalty. Clarence Borthwick waz commited for trial, on a charge of stealing 30a from the person of B. H Delaine 'at the Kanieri. It appeared from the evidence that the robbery was committed whilst the prosecutor was under the influence of liquor, lying asleep in a public house.

There is no doubt that the fears of the residents on Gibsou's Quay are thoroughly well founded, for the late fresh has committed sad havoc on the bank. The dray road is now narrowed to just barely sufficient space for drays to trrverae, and the side of the bank comes away in tons, carrying out at the same time large trunks of trees, logs, and debris of all kinds. Unless some check is put on this inroad there is no doubt whatever but that the whole of the jiver face will be taken away, and all the buildings now erected within thirty or forty feet of it will be destroyed if not removed. On this account it is well that the residents have taken action, and the old proverb that heaven help those that help themselves could not find a bettor exemplifi-

are blest declines to save a street from destruction, although the said Government have received large revenues frdm th 6 llistrict.

Yesterday ihe position 6f the* schooner Mount Alexander was anything but pleesant, inrsmuch, as 'the late fresh had undermined the bank on which she was resting prior to her being launched, and her stern o.grhang the rivßr full twenty f ert. As our readers are aware, this vessel has been brought over from the south spit where she was left through being cast off, when being towed out by the Tarra, and since then a large amount has been expended in making her again fit for sea. She was bronght to the bank, but the fresh compelled the contractors to attempt the launch sooner than was fnlended. Accordingly last evening she was realeased from the ways, but did not manage to get clear into the river, her stern jamming in the mud,and her bows obstinately refusing to slide off the bauk at all. The consequence is, that she is in a very nasty predicament, and unless she is got off soon it is probable that her second disaster will be worse than the first.

The three-masted schooner Stormbird, from Dunedin, arrived off the port yesterday afternoon, and anchored in the roadstead. She was the only arrival, beside the Katheraw, and will no doubt be towed in 90-day.

The work in connection with the re-launch of the John Bullock is being actively proceeded with, and if equal energy is shown in future she will soon have accomplished her overland trip. The Maria is in statu quo, and is getting deeper and deeper in the sand. It is said that a contract has been entered into for her being put over the spit, and if such is the case, the sooner the work is commenced the better.

A meeeting of those interested in the extension of the Wharf down the river, was held last night at the Albion Hotel, Revell street. Abont twenty persons attended, including many of our leading busines men, and Mr Throekmorton was called to the chair. After explaining the object for which the meeting had been called, the chairman briefly pointed out the necessity there was fur those holding sections along Gibson's Quay to take immediate action, as otherwise their properties would soon be absolutely swept" away. This very palpable fact was generally admitted, and those present expressed their anxiety to take immediate measures for their self preservation. Mr Munro stated that the committee had called upon Mr Sale in reference to wharf extension, but] that gentleman had positively declined to interferere, and had plainly intimated that the Government would do no more in the mattor than they had already done ; in fact the deputation could not even get a copy of the specification of the work done already. After considerable discussion it was resolved to set to work at once, Messrs. Cassius, Haworth, Smythies, Millard, Leys, Munro, Sheahan, Casssdy, and Throckmorton, were appointed a collecting committee. A finance committee, consisting of Messrs. Throckmorton, Cassins, and Haworth, were appointed, and it was determined to open an account with the bank of New Zealand. In order to allow the payments of subscribers to be as easy as possible, it was agreed that half the subscription should be had at once, and that the other half should be called up in a month, notes of hand for the latter being given by those contributing, Thi3 was all the business done, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. As will hd seen in cuother Column, the committee have not let the grass grow under their feet, for tenders are already called for for the work in quet* tion.

A meeting of the committed appointed at 'the pnblic meeting recently held in reference to the importation of cattle, was called for last night at Bracken's Queenstown Hotel, but a quorum did not attend and nothing coutd therefore be done. The chief object was to draw up a memorial on the subject and it a pity that those nominated should not have thought it worth their while to attend for an hour or two. If they could not spare time they should not have accepted the position, but having done so they should be prepared to carry out their responsibilities. We hope- a be'ter attendance will prevent farther delay when the next meeting is called.

Last evening a billiard match between Messrs Blake and Clarke, for £20, was played at the Queenstown Hotel, 500 up. The first of these gentlemen played the Champion, Roberts, in Dunedin, and earned laurels in the contest, although a loser ; so some degree of interest was excited in amongst the Hokitika billiard-lovers injthe match in question As will be seen,Mr Clarke carried off the honors, the scores being as follows :— ln the first hundred Clarke headed his opponent by 29 ; in the second hundred, by 75 (taking credit for his previous majority). In the third hundred Blake recovered something, the scores standing as 300 to 236. In the fourth century the state of the poll was 400 to 335, Clarke still holding a commandingjlead. In the last hundred Blake crept up extraordinarily, the score at the finish standing at 500 to 479 ; Blake thus losing by only 21 points. There were no particular features in the game worthy of special remark} the highest breaks being 26, each of the opponents scoring that , amount. The other average breaks Counted from 14 td 24 ; but a s a whole, the play was' far inferior to what was expected from such distinguished artistes. Wa understand that at the terminatioh. of the game the Sydney champion player, now in Hokitika, challenged the winner, and a match is now made for £30 aside, which will be played at an early 'date.

Professor Stevens' troupe of acrobats ahnoutißd a special performance, to be given to-morrdw evening, in aid of the funds of the Hokitika Hospital, when there will be an entire change Of programme. Reserved seats will be set apart, and the advertisement states that every accdmmodation is provided for the comfort and convenience of ladies. In addition to the real merits of this talented company,' th« object for which the performance ia given, should ensure a crowded house, md we have no doubt that the public spirit which has prompted the offer of a benefit for an institution which much needs help, will be cordially appreciated i

It is said that some 'mothers in America have grown so affectionate that -they gire their