WEST COAST TIMES.

West Coast Times, Issue 73, 21 November 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1865.

O' f u latest files of Dunedin papers are now us old as tho 4th inst. No steamer has arrived in Hokitika from Port Chalmers since the Alhambra, and ns newspapers are not brought by the overland mail wo are denied the opportunity of publishing any intelligence except such few items as wo may glean from private letters in the hands of residents iv town. The completion oSf the electric telegraph through to Christchurch, where It will connect With tho line to Dunedin and theßluff, wiUbehailccl with great satisfaction, especially in mercantile and shipping circled. It will put us in possession of nows many days in advance of the newspaper files, which reach us through circuitous and uncertain channels. Wo have already directed attention to the fact that tho telegraph i« now oppn from LytlcltoD, which

means in effect Port Chalmers, Dunedin, and the BlufF, and that the Govern- j ment undertake to receive and despatch messages for the Bealey Station by tho postman who carries weekly the over■land mail. We learn that the posts are erected and the wires fixed to a point several milos nearer to Hokitika than Bealey, and that there is a tolerable' certainty* of tho line being opened right through in sufficient time to enable us to exchauge pleasant Christmas greetings with our friends in the neighboring provinces. The lino northwards is also progressing, and as it is probable that tho projected cable across Cook's Straits will be proceeded with without any unnecessary delay, we may anticipate that, at an early dale, the two islands of New Zealand, even to their extremest points north and south, will bo brought into a material connection that will ldng survive their political unity. The extension of the - telegraphic system throughout the whole of the Australian colonies, is one of the latest signs of tho rapidity of development which has marked their history since the gold discovery. The capitals of Queensland, New' South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, are in communication with each other, and the net work of magnetic wires embraces all tho considerable towns of tho several colonies. The system, in process of rapid extension, covers the whole surface of the settled districts with its ramification's The latest work in hand, is from tho EdvVard and Murray Rivers in New South Wales, ft point distant 320 miles from the border of South Australia, to Adelaide ; and it is proposed to extend the line up the River Darling as far as Foft Bourko. Tasmania has ! been for years in the enjoyment of the electric telegraph connecting the northern and southern capitals of the island, and the Government, in connection with that of Victoria, some time since, expended a large sum of money in laying down a cable across Bass's Straits. The unfortunate selection of points of coast for the reception of its shore ends, soon had tho effect of rendering this cable useless, and added another item to the list of failures in the art of deep-sea telegraphy. Possibly the time may como when New Zealand will be telegraphically connected with the Australian Continent. But it is a consummation that belongs, wo fear, to a somewhat remote future. When the great and difficult experiment of maintaining a cable in operation at the bottom of the Atlantic has been brought to a successful termination, we may begin to dream dreams of establishing an electric current that shall make New Zealand a participator in the system of rapid inter-communication which is annihilating the distance between England, India, aud Australia. So far as the inland telegraph is concerned, there are no insurmountable nor indeed any very grave difficulties to be encountered. The line from the BlufF to Dunedin and from Dunedin to Christchurch, has been in uso for many months, with scarcely a day's intermission. It has been of infinite service to shippers and commercial men. It is difficult to estimate the advantage it will prove to this district when it is extended to the West Coast, and tho publio may be congratulated that the work is so far advanced as it is. The present unsatisfactory postal arrangements will cause the boon to be all the more appreciated. Our principal interprovincial trade lies with Dunedin, j and the opportunities now loft us of holding communication with it are extremely rare. The Alhambra brought papers of the 4th, — the latest dates to hand. Letters have been received over- ( land to the llth, which were delivored in town on Saturday afternoon. It is a just cause of complaint that the steamers are often compelled to leave Dunedin without letter mails. The Star of the Evening, on her last trip, steamed from Port Chalmers on a Saturday evening and arrived off this port and had communication with the shore by the Bruce on the following Wednesday. The Post Office authorities in Dunedin refused to forward a mail by this steamer, preferring tho overland route, and tho consequenco was that tho Dunedin letters did not reach Hokitika until the following Saturday night. Under some circumstances this overland communication might prove a public accommodation. It would be so if it were a subsidiary or supplementary mail servico, but it is tho reverse when made the means of withholding from tho public the option of sending 1 their letters by steamers that they know are likely to make quick passages. It is another ground of complaint against tho present postal arrangements, that tho most is not made of the overland mail, notwithstanding its costly subsidy. Whero, for instance, is the reasonableness of the regulation by which tho Christchurch and Dunedin mails are closed at 7 o'clock on Monday morning — which to business men means on Saturday night, as in a commercial sense, Sunday is ft dies non 1 It is t, matter of public notoriety that the mail is never despatched until twelvo or one o'clock oh Monday, and tho bags might well bo kept open until ten or eleven o'clock — an arrangement that would bo a great convenience to businoss men. Wo refer to these circumstances becauso, whilst they will render tho rapidity of telegraphic communication all tho moro valuable, will not cease to bo of practical importance even when tho telegraph is opened. Letters will bo required to supplement its brief fend costly messages. Excopt for mows of publio interest, for which tho journals uso it, the tologmph is chiefly employed by business men for tho transmission of intolligftnoe of urgency. Indeed, one of its

surest eft'octs is to create impatience and irritation at" the tardiness of ordinary communication. It stimulates tho appetite for fuller information. Its messages avo the foretasto, not tho feast, of news. And no practical mistake could be committed greater than to suppose that the opening up of telegraphic communication will in any way compensate for an irregular, tardy, ov otherwise defective postal system. We congratulate the district upon tho prospect of being brought at an early date into telegraphic connection with a large extent of the colony, especially with Dunedin and theßluff. But no effort must bo relaxed to make the postal arrangements moro adequate than they are to meet tho public requirements.

We publish in another column a letter from Mr. James Edward FitzGerald, in which that gentleman explains the causes of tho error which threatened to result, and may indeed still rosult, in the practical disfranchisement of the West Coast, notwithstanding the enactment by tho General Assembly of a measure purporting to confer upon it tho boon of representation in tho Provincial Council. So far as Mr. FitzGerald is the unwitting author of the error, his manly and straightforward explanation acquits him of all blame. Thouo v Westland" "aimers and settlers will not hesitate to accept his assurance that ho framed tho Bill and carried it through the Assembly with the honest purpose to " obtain an act of justice for tho West Coast," and that ho overlooked tho fact that tho measure made no provision for tho bona fide Representation of the people by the election of delegates chosen from amongst themselves. Mr. FitzGerald himself will not fail to appreciate the natural irritation whioh prevailed hcie, whon it became known that the election was likely to turn out nothing hotter than a farce. To this he must attribute the hard things said about him, nnd the fact that he and Mr. Crosbie Ward were put in nomination, as a climax to the farce. There can be no doubt as to the strict legal bearings of the question. Mr FitzGerald is quite right in saying that tho provision which disqualifies Mr Prosser and Mr Barff cannot bo legally evaded, should tho question of their qualification be raised. But why should it bo raised % By what strange freak of official ingenuity was the fact discovered, that there was any question or doubt on tho subject at all 1 The point has never been mooted in Otago,whero,as Mr FitzGerald says, tho miners have enjoyed tho privilege of representation both in the Provincial Council and tho General Assembly. It is surely passing strange that here, of all othor places, tho microscopic eye of official inspection should have been brought to bear on tho detection of disqualifying flaws! We have already pointed out the law which secures Messrs Prosser and Barff in their seats so long as tho interference of the Supremo Court is not iuvoked to distui b their possession. And who wilj move the Supremo Court on the matter? Will the Provincial Solicitor? Will tho Returning Officer ? Will either of tho defeated candidates ? Will any of the Christchurch politicians ? It may be safely assumed not. And we hope Mr FitzGerald will be allowed the satisfaction of feeling that tho turn events have taken, has corrected his involuntary error and saved the West Coast election from being simply a " farce."

Captain Turnbull, of Port Chalmers, who is a brother of Cap'ainTurnbull, lately in command of tho Geelong steamer, has received the appointment of Harbor Master of Hokitika, and arrived in town on Saturday to enter upon the discharge of his official duties. This announcement will doubtloss give great satisfaction, to tho mercantile community. Tho Wairoa correspondent of the nawko's Bay " Times " writes :— Tbe supposed imminenso of hostilities at Tauranga (Poverty Bay) has of course stirred up tho natives horo pretty considerably, and we have had two largo meetings, — tho one of the inland tribes, under To Wnru, on Saturday, the 21st ; #nd tho other of the Government natives, und°r the auspices of Kopu and Paora to Apatu, at Kopn'a new pa, Hiora, on Tuesday, the 24th. The Hauhau meeingwas held at Wukamoo on tho Waiau branch of tho river, whero some 250 to 800 natives assembled, to ercot a flagstaff and talk over the news from Turang. Their deliberations have resulted in a determination not to let the Turanga Hauhaus fail for lack of support ; and should war actually break out in that distriot, Te Waru will not unlikely havo the opportunity of distinguishing himself, as ho did at tho defence of Orakau. To Waru, although a rebel, is, I believo, an honorable enemy, as ho certainly is a bravo and able one. Ho is the man of roost influence among all tho tribes inland of tho Wairod and it wonld be woll worth while to secure his allegiance by fair means if possible The inland Wairoa and Turang tribes are badly off for food — so say tho messengers who havo re* turned from thoso districts. The natives here heard through thoir own sources the news of tho fighting nt Waiapn, anil Opotiki several days since. At the meeting at Kopu's pa our eido mustered protty strong, and nearly all the whites in tho distriot attendedThero was abundance of feeding and talking as usual, and the flag sent by tho Government was hoisted and saluted. Kopu, Kohea, and eevon others did oratoiy j amongst tbe party Ihakara — who has abandoned tho Huu-haus, as ho before abandoned tho Government side, and who is no great acquisition to either parly, — who gave his reasons, &o', for bis change of viows. The prinoipal topic of the meeting was the uspeot of affairs at Tutanga ; and it was proposed, and for a timo agreed to, to send a deputation to Turanga ; but upon subsequent debate among tho elders the project is abandoned for tho prosont, and Turanga nffairs will bo allowed to develop themselves. The natives horo aro pretty clear to keep quiet, and as they have a good deal to lose, and not much prospcot of gain, we jiave material guarantoo for their peaceable behaviour. It is, howovcr, legarded as a bottled thing that thero will bo fighting at Turanga, The Hauhaus report that they have built toven fighting pas, and intend to take a deal of "licking" before they givo in. Wo aro sorry lo lioft'r that the steamer Uno, which left this pott on Saturday last for tho Groy, ifl on shoro there . Tho whole of hor cargo, h6wovor, has bebn Safoly landod, and no doubt is entertained of her been again floated so as to resumo her rognlar trade in tho course of a fortnight. The necessary urrangomonta for potting her off Iho bur havo been, made by tho agents,

An inquest was held on Saturday last, at the Si Lawrence Hotel, Camp street, upon the body of a man named James Keehan, a digger, who died on Thursday last on his way to town, through eating some poisonous plant. Dr. Bcswick sat as coroner. Tho jury having proceeded to the Camp to viow the hotly, tho following evidence was takon :— Thos. Barton, miner, said ho was a mate of tho deceased, who bolonged to a party of prospectors. On Thursday morning, after breakfast, they started on their way to Hokitika, sinking several hoh's as thoy camo along. Tho deceased had formerly boon a sea-, man. Near tho Arahura he went into the bush and cut a long stalk of soino plant, which ho peeled, offering tho rind to some of his mates, who rejected it. He ate somo of the inside part and said it was good, and no one netd starve in the bush whilst such stuff as that could be had. About an hour after eating it ho complained of being giddy and ill, and used his fingers to produce vomiting. They all got him on as fast as they could, but he fell down in a fit. They wont to a tent which wai about a quarter of a mile off and tried to got some hot wator and mustard to givo him. They could not obtain this, but got somo hot water and salt, which they g.vvo to tho deceased, and it had tbo effect of making him sick, but he did not get better. His limbs became contracted and convulsed, and he foamed at tho mouth. Shoitly aftor ho became insensible, and continued so until his death, wliitli took place between 7 and eight o'clock in the evening, about four hours after he had eaten the plant. Witness remained with tho corpso all night, somo of his mates coming into the Camp to givo information to tho police Tho next morning thoy brought tho body into town. Tho doccased was about 28 years of ago, and a native of Dublin. Ho had lately arrived from Auckland.— John Graves, ono of tho party prospecting, had known tho deceased six days, and saw him eating some green stuff which he had brought out of tho bush. This witness and another mate, named Samuel Smith, gavo evidonco to precisely the same effect as Barton Smith, adding that tho deceased appeared to mistake tho plant for ono commonly used by the natives for fcod on the North Island, to whioh, however, it bore no resemblance.— Dr. Young deposed that he had examined the body, which exhibited uo symptoms likely to produce death from natural causes. He should say, from observation, and after listening to Iho evidence, that death had resulted from tho use of some narcotic poison. A pieco of vegetable eubstanco, similar to what Keehaw had eaton, was produced and examined by tho jury. It somewhat resembled, in appearance, a stalk of green rhubarb.— -Tho jury returned a verdict of death from ea'ing a poisonous vegetable resembling toot. Wo learn from private letters received in town by tho overland mail that tho Star of the Evoning, which passed this port from tho Groy, whore sho had coaled, on her way to the South on tho 7th inst., arrived at Dunedin at 4 p.m. on the ovening of tho 10th, thus making tho run in tin co d.iys and two hours, being one of the quiokest passages on record. The "Argus" of Saturday says: A case of sticking up was reported at the Police Camp at Greymouth, on Wednesday, the 15th inst., by James Fi*z K era,ld, who stated that, whon returning from No Town to the Twelvo Mile, two men camo out of the bush, and ono of them asked him for a match. On putting his hand into his pocket to give one, he was seized by one of tho miscreants, who endeavored to throw him ; the second caught him from behind, holding him while ho was robbed of his pocket book containing 29 ono pound notes. After thoy had takon his money he pursued them and endeavored to got it back, but thoy both turned, throw him i clown, kicked him unmercifully, at the samo time striking him several times with a pick handle. He is now suffering from the ill treatment received, and desires admission into the hospital or some place of rcf ugo. On Saturday last an accident occurred on tho River Grey, which resulted in tho loss of a fine boat and tho narrow escape of tho boatman himself from drowning. Tho rains of the preceding night had considerably swelled tho volumo of tho^ river, which was running down with great rapidity, necessitating the utmost caro on tho part of thoso boatmen plying on ono bide the rivor to tho other, to nvoid fouling tho vessels moored on its bank. One of tbo watermon. howoYer, was unfortunate enough to get his boat athwart-hawse of a schooner, from which position all his efforts were unable to oxtricate her. The crew of the schooner, came to her assistance ; two of them jumping iuto the boat to help shove her off. This extra weight proved more than tho craft could bear, for she at onco heeled over and sank. Two out of the three men caught hold of tho back ropes and reached tho deck of tho schooner safely. The othor, howover, was not so fortunate, succeeding only in grasping a rope, by which he hung for some minntes, at first without being observed by those on board. A considerable crowd had by this time assembled on the bank, and their excitement was excessive, for tho position of the man was one of extromo peril, encumbered as he was with fin oilskin coat and knee-boots, and a pejfcot yell arose when the poor fellow was obsorved to suddenly let go his hold, and, of courao, was immediately swept down tho river, but being ablo to swim managed to reach the cable of another oraft lying astern, to which he clung with the tenacity supposed to be possessed only by those in imminent peril of drowning. Luckily for him, however, a boat was close at hand that pushed to his assistance He was takou on board s tfety, but nut a bit too soon, boing evidently much chilled and exhausted through his long immersion. Yesterday (says the " Grey River Argus" of Saturday) between 12 and 2 o'clock, a party who had como from the Arnold, bringing with him a fair amount of gold, took bis possago from the Coal Mine in a boat proceeding here. Unfortunately, in its courso down the river it camo in contact with a sung and the result was a capsize. Ho, howover, stuck manfully to tho bont, and evon got hold of her in the several ovorturnings sho was experiencing in her downward courso, and eventually got safe to land. Tho rest (for fivo mon were in hor) had previously reached tho shoro safely. In consequence, wo suppose, of this, we avo pleased to hear that tenders havo been called for removing the cause of the above accident, and also that woll-known eyesoro, known as tho Nolson snag, opposito the Governlront township, This takes ono of the grievances from tho hands of tho Improvement Committee. Mr Pablo Fanquo's benefit at the Shakspere Hall last night was a very decided success, tho houso being crowded, notwithstanding tho unfavorablo weather inflifoncea. Tho i>atronago bo liberally bestowed was well deserved. To-night Professor Stevons's two sons tako thoir bonefit It is not too muoh to say that these very olevor and interesting lads have contributed greatly to tho success of tho Company during their stay in Hokitika. Thoy aro universal favorite's, and to-night will no doubt prove tho fact. The beach from tho town northwards to tho Arahura, presented a very busy speotaolo yesterday, as destribed to us by travollors. Upwards of a hundred claims have been marked out, and thoro scorns every reason to hope that tho riohness of tho auriferous sand will bo fairly tested and developed. Considerable excitement has, we leaVn, beoji caused at tho Totara by rumours of tho discovery of somo vory good poyablo ground lying towards tho Snowy Ranges, and something liko a rush has set in to tho spot. Soveral parties loffc town yesterday for tho s.imo destination. Wo beliovo tho now field is situated somo Iwolvo miles from. Jones' Crock. Our correspondent grinds' us infirulatiou of a ' boat accidont ut Toromakuu. It appears tljat a whaleboat, whilst crossing tho river from north to south, was upset whon oloso to tho south sido by a heavy roller. Tho orew consisted of four mon, who managed tosavo thomaolvoa with somo difficulty. Another boat aud a cliay wore about the htuno time washed out to sea.

The public will be sorry to lose the Christy's minstrels, but their stay in Hokitika is now very rapidly drawing to a close. They continue as attractive ns ever, and present an entertainment of very superior excellence. Mr Morton takes his benefit to-morrow night. He is undoubtedly the most accomplished dancer that has yet appeared on tho boards on tlio West Coast, and in his particular lino has very few equals in the colonies. It is to be hoped that as both the companies now performing hero willshortly leave the district, tho patronage bestowed on them will be sufficiently substantial to induce other artists to visit Hokitika. Wo take the following gold items from the Ore;/ River Avgus :— The news from the diggings on the beach, three miles south of the Grey, is of a satisfactory nature. A party of eight, who have been doing well since first they set in to work there, had the satisfaction of dividing, on Saturday last, an amount avernging over L2OO per man, or more than LI6OO among the party. Circumstances of a liko nature are reported by other parties, and corroborate the above statement. During the last fortnight there has been a smothered excitement, unsettling a few of our town diggers, regarding a rumored rush about to take place to the TJuller. We have made every enquiry into the authenticity of suoh a report, but can find no definite accounts of any good finds being made, or even new ground being opened up. The existence of gold at the Bullor bus long been a fact patent ; but the field has always proved a comparatively poor one, and men doing well here should not be led by that ignis fatuus, a new rush, from a certainty to an uncertainty, Let well alone is a good proverb, and tho Grey diggers had better apply it. In this instance a few Maoris returning homo, and accompanied by a few men who intend prospecting southwards, seem to have been tho causo of tho excitement. We hope to hear nothing more of it until something tangible can really be shown. Mr Samuel Simma, who has been long connected with mining enterprise on tho New Zealand gold fields, has issued an announcement, which will be found in our advertising columns, of his commencement of practice as "Mining Agent" in Hokitika. Wo take the following from tho Hawlce's Bay Times, of tho 4th inst. :— By the arrival of the sohooner Tawera from Poverty Bay this day (Saiuulay) wo havo some late intelligence from that district. The news she brings is of the utmost impoitance ; for although hostilities had not actually commenced, affairs were in a very critical state. The natives were doing all sorts of damage ; burning down the settlers' fences, plundering their houses, and driving their cattle up to their own pa (Pa Tutahi) — killing thoso (tho cattle) that wern in any way refractory. About 8 o'clock on tho evening of Thursday, the 2nd inst., the settlers living on the left side of tho Tauranga river were somewhat startled by hearing a terrific yelling, apparently oloso at hand ; and deemed it advisiblo to abandon their houses, and take refuge on the other side where a redoubt is. A picket was Bont out, but after dillgout search failed to discover any trace of the Haubaus. At 6 p.m., just as the Tawera was leaving, a paity of about 30 Pai Ma vires made a great demonstration on tho hill opposite tho redout— and were evidently rcconnoitcring our position. They were not fired at. A report had reached Tauranga on the 2nd, from tho interior, that the natives had detained several Europeans at their Pa, and would not let them go ; at the same time destroying their property before their faces. This, however, cannot be vouched for. For the above few items we are indebted to the courtesy of Captain Kennedy, of tho Tawera. The intelligence to hand this day cannot be regarded as anything but unsatisfactory ; tho next will doubtless bo worse.