WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 74, 23 November 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1865.

The difficulty of holding communication with Hokitika from the sea has been unpleasantly illustrated during the past week. The steamer Auckland, from the north, en route for Sydney, had to lie outside for several days, and the Egmont atld Barwon, the former from Dunedin, via Cook's Straits, and tho latter from Melbourne^ which arrived in the roads at an early hour on Tuesday morning, could not succeed in putting their mails or the wholo of their passengers on shore. The swell of tho sea was so great, that although the steamers Bruce, Lioness, Ballarat, and Yarra all put off to them, thoy succeeded only in bringing away a few passongers,which were put on board by tho fillips' boats. On Tuesday evening the captain of tho Auckland, wearied of his long detention, put her mails and passengers on board tho Egmont, whero they now wait the opportunity of landing. The tug-boats were successful in towing out tho

schooners Alma, for Melbourne, and Wild Wave, for Lyttelton, and in bringing tho Mimmie Dyke, from Melbourne nnd the Jane Lockhart from Sydney, over the bur. Tho Lioness took the schooner Stormbird, from Dunedin, in tow, but owing to the strong sea which prevailed, tho hawser parted, and the schooner again inndo her way to sea. Yesterday,, although tho day was remarkably fine, tho sky clear, and the sun shining brightly, there was a heavy surf on the beach and the bar, and m consequence no 'steamer ventured out to either the Egmont or the Barwon. Three mails thus wait to be brought on shore, and we are without our usual files of papers. Tho absence for so long a period of shipping and commercial intelligence from Dunedin is especially tantalising. Through the courtesy of Captain Nichol of the Yarra, we are in possession of late Melbourne papers, which he was enabled to obtain from the Barwoii. These are the Ago of the 9th and 1 1 h, and the Argus of the 13th inst. We quote the principal items of intelligence in our other columns. The steamship Omeo, was announced to sail for Hokitika,* on the same day as tho Barwon. We understand, however, that she was at that time on the slip. The steamship Gothenburg was to leave on the 14th, and the Souchays was advertised for the 15th. This boat had been at Newcastle coaling, and sailed from Sydney on tho morning of the I lth on her return to Melbourne. It is rumored that in consequence of the little inducement offering she was to be taken off the birth. Up to the hour at which tho Barwon left; the English September mail had not put in an appearance, nor had the arrival of' the branch mail steamer been telegraphed from Adelaide. The mail was then four days overdue, nnd there is a probability of the news being brought on by the Gothenburg, although we presume the mail bags for liokitika will in any case be sent by the contract steamer to tho Bluff, Port Chalmers, and Lyttelton, from which distant capital of our province we may at some remote date hope to receive them. The Egmont, we believe, left Ditnedin on tho 11th inst., tkil as her letter mail for this district was forwarded overland from Christchurch, no communications of later date than thoso received in town on Saturday last, can bo expected by her. She Wings, of course, a week's later Dunedin papers. The Melbourne news, so far as the few papers to hand supply it, wili be chiefly of interest to commercial men. Th.c long drought from which stock both in Victoria and Now South Wales had been suffering, and which threatened to de stroy tho crops covering vast areas of country, was at last broken. Tho gentle rains which had begun to fall at tho date of our former advices have fulfilled their promise, and both man and beast are rejoicing in the refreshing and fertilising downpour. The political situation in Victoria has little new light thrown on it. It may be inferred that tho conference between the two Houses of Parliament has resulted in the abandonment to somo extent of tho high ground so long and so obstinately maintained by the Ministry and tho Assembly, in opposition t3 the constitutional claims of tho Legislative Council. We learn from the Ago that on the Bth inst., tho Tariff Bill, apparently severed from the Appropriation Bill — and thus divested of its " tacked" character — had been read a second and third time in tho Assembly, and ordered in that shape to be transmitted to the Council. The Commissioner of Trade, Mr. Francis, entered into an elaborate defence of the protective duties the Government had been levying on tho authority of a resolution of the House, and denied that thoir effect had been to diminish the commerce of the port. He said : — u The customs entries were not reliablo, from the fictitious entries importers were in tho habit of placing on their goods, in order to magnify their business ; but a reference to Stables' Circular showed what the character of the exports made fi'om England to Victoria really was. It was said there was a falling* off j there had been an increase during the last seven months of the present as compared with the preceding year, of .£34,000 . t . . . . Any falling off in tho imports was chiefly attributable to the importations to Now Zealand, English • exporters having found it more advantageous to send their goods in a direct line. Ho denied that there was anything in tho operation of the tariff to justify the unfounded statements put forth ; and he believed if tho tariff was passed tomorrow, all tho objections to it would vanish." Wo shall, no doubt, before our next issue, bo in possession of our complete files from tho North, from Dunedin, and from Melbourne, and possibly in receipt of tho English news by tho mail.

We have endeavored to learn all tho particulars that aro known in reference to tho now rush to tho South, which has been moro or less tho topic of conversation during tho last two days. Our informants tell us, that it is situated about eight .miles from Jones's, up what is known as Donnelly's Creek. Tho best, and only reliable, rou to to it from Hokitika, so far as is yet known, is by way of Jones-, whoro fuller and moro exact information can be obtained, Tho gold found is of the heaviest character yot discovered on tlio West Coast, arid is what is oalled nuggotty. Tho prospectors have, wo beliovo, been for somo fortnight at work on tho ground, and it was in consequence of tho roports brought down by them to the Totara that n largo number of miners started for tho now field. If wo aro correctly informed, parties Who woro " old chums" of tho prospectors, woid offering about Itoss as muoh as a pound a day wages for minors to go on tho ground. Tho Warden's oilico at tho Totara lias been besieged by p'orsbnß anxious to get information as to tho real prospoots of tbo place, and it is estimated that at least fifteen hundred persons ho vo loft for it from that dis-

trict. A large number have also quitted liokitika, and it is probiblo that at this moment there aro upwards of two thousand miners on tho ground. Not unduly to increase nny temporary excitement this intelligence may occasion, Wo will only add, that we shall take tho earliest oppoitunlty of verifying tho truth and nccuracy of tho roports that are current. Tho facts we havo "now fetaWl, aro founded on what wo havo every reason to believe to be reliablo testimony. Tho reports from the Totara diggings themselves; aro 'of tub most favordblo character, although of course, in this as in other instances, tho temptations of a now rush aro to many irresistiblo, especially if tho ground is reported to bo unusually rich.

We wero misinformed in several particulars, in connection with the appointihent of a new Harbor Master for Westland, as it is now tho humor of tho OhriaU'hurch peoplo to call this district. Tho Captain Turnbull who has been nominated to this responsible post, is not the brother of tho ex-captain of' tho Geelong steamer, but that gentleman himself. We wero under the impression nt tho tiirto that ho had proceeded to England to superintend the building of a now steam boat for the New Zealand trade, and to take charge ,pf her on her outward passage. Siloh was Captain TurnbuU's intention, but cirenmstances occurred to alter it. Tho new Harbor Master instead of having arrived in Hokitika on Saturday last, and commenced tho disohargo of his duties, is a passengor from Dunedin on board the Egmont. now lying in tho roads. Wo understand that tho duty of superintending the port arrangements of tho province will in fnturo bo shared by Captain Turnbull and Captain Gibson, tho latter taking charge of the East Coast, and tho former of tho West Coast. Both gentlemen will hold the same status nnd recoiVo the samo emolument. Wo learn that Matthew Price, Esq., recontly Resident Magistrate at Invercargill, and Sheriff of Southland, hns been provisionally appointed Warden at tho Waimea, and. has already entered upon his duties in that important district. We congratulate the miners and othor residents upon the appointment of a gentleman of great experience on tho bench, who has always enjoyed the imputation of being an able and just magistrate. Our youlhfnl contemporary, 'ho "Argus," i already threatens to abandon tlio "district, to tho task of upholding whose virtues' as a long way a-head of thoso of Hokitika his first two numbora wero devoted — unless tho weather behaves belter. Hear him:- -"On our first arrival on these shores, and while making enquiries as to the weather and season, wo could scarcely credit the statement then given us that November and part of December would, in all probability be tho most prolific months in produoing our staple commodity — rain ; but wo are now beginning to arrive in our minds at the samo conclusion, Lnst week hns been enough to give us a fit of the blues, and should it continuo so all tho threatened time we aro afraid we shall be compelled to call for a separate room to bo occupied by us as a prison, and prevent us from bolting to somo moro favored clime."

A few further items of American news havo been received in Melbourne, via the Mauritius and Sydney. Tho " Argus" has the following: — " The inventor of greenbacks has come to grief, A certain banker of Now York, hight Kotchum (ominous name, bringing back tho Beggar's Opera" in full floWer) advised Mr Chaso in the crisis of the national trouble to adopt the expedient of issuing greenbacks, _ by which tens of thousands of people have since been brought down to penury. Mr Ketchum himself is now in tho same plight as tho myriads of his countrymen whom ho had helped to ruin. A few weoks ago ho was supposed to be worth from L 1,000,000 to L 1,500,000, 500,000 sterling 5 to-day ho' ia a pauper. Mr Ketchum had a handsome son, a pay, fast young man, who spent monoy with both hands, and who, not being content with an inheritance which halt tho princes of Europe might envy, sought to make muoh more by wild and daring speculations, spending all tho time at a rato with which no conceivable amount of success could keep paco. Iho result is tho 'old story' — sudden collapso, immediate discovery, and secret flight. Tho amount of the frauds and forgeries nnd defalcations of Mr Kotchum is Baid to reaoh tho enormous total of five millions of dollars, equal to ono million English pounds sterling. Tho wholo property of Mr Ketchum will be swallowed to answer ton theso depredations, and yet leavo an enormous defioioncy unsatisfied. But nobody seems to pity Mr Ketchum. lie is said to bo a hard man, a man whese moral nature is shrivelled up, and who has no interest in lifo beyond the nccmmilation of gold. The eft'pct, however, of theso monstor frauds upon publio credit has invested his namo with extraordinary notoriety. Tho newspapers aro full of tho Kotchums and their doings j and until tho heavy wave of bankruptcy that comes of tho youthful Kctchum's misdeeds shall havo fairly rolled away, wo may expect to hear of little else from America. New York is in a state of the highest excitement, nor is it possiblo yet to antioipato to what extent beyond tho omplre city the consequences of tho Ketchum operations may havo extended." A special meeting of the Fire Brigade will bo held to-morrow evening at tho Harp of Erin Hotel.

Mr Sale acknowledges the receipt of L 8 la lid collected after evening service last Sunday at the Corinthian Hall, in aid of the Minors' Hospital. Wo tako tho following items of local nows from the " Groy River Argus " of yestorday :— " On tho Nelson side of the beach, and past the spot whero tlie unfortunato Bteamor of the same name is lying, tnero have been washed ashoro on Friday niglit and Saturday last, a largo quantity of gobds, consisting of flour and othor stores, Btich as would form a boat-load for an up-country dealer. Tho heavy freshets that havo of jato prevailed'havo no doubt brought thorn down, nnd the northerly set of tho current closo to tho bar Having carried them so far, has then onst'thom up —Tho impiovements at Cobden aro going on as fast as tbo stato of tho weather will permit, and the streets aro being formed and metalled with all possiblo dispatch. At present, from tho heavy fall of rain which lias takon place since Sunday lust, some parts of Cobdon aro almost impassable, and planks are thrown across the streets for tho accommodation of tho pedestrian, Tho wharf is intended to bo completed by tho end of tho present month, Houses of accommodation, hotels, stores, &0., aro boing rapidly run up, and much spirit is evinced by those nt present connected with this township."

Last night tho Stevens' troupo gavo their farewell performance at tho Shakespore, nnd announced their intention of proceeding to Nelson, by the Egmont, Thoro was a very good house, although tho Ilall was not bo crowded as on the previous night, when tho two young sons of Mr Stevens took thoir benefit. Wo hopo tho troupo will meet olsewhero with tho patronage which they vory richly deserve, and whioh has been awarded, to thoni not grudginly hero. Tho billiard match for Ll5O, 500 up, between Mr Olarko and Mr. M'Konna, tho Sydney Champion was played iaat night, at Bracken's Hotel, und was won by Mr Olnrko by Cd points.

Wo oxtract an account from our northern contemporary of some accidents land hair-breadth escapos on tho ltivor Grey : — " On Saturday ovoning last a canoe, loadod with wood, started from Coal Oreok, on tho opposito side, to mako its way to Groy mouth, having only ono man to manage it Ho paddled safoly across as far as tho Mo no schooner, but unfortunatoly, just ns ho wat within arm's longth as it wero of tho shoro, 1 is frail craft caught tho warp" from tho Bohoor.vV to tho mooring post, toppling it ovor and leaving him in a very dangorous predicament. The rivor was at that momont a raging toiTont, and had ho missed catohing tho chain it might havo gono hard with him ; in making a grasp for his hold ho got his arms bbtwoon tho warp nnd tho chain nnd was thoro fairly jamn:ed; from that position

he could not get, and it was really terrifying to sco him each moment as tho strain slackened, submerged and struggling, unable to alter his position, or escape fi'om what seemed inevitable death. Two men in a boat went to his assist < nnco, and they also, catching the samo warp, experienced the same fate, getting alongside tho first unfortunate. The sailors of tho Moyno at length got hold of the last two, and released the first from his unwelcome embrace, and commenced to drop down to tho schooner ; but as if fate were determined not to bo done with them yet, through tho carelessness of all pressing to one side, tho third capsize took placo, but each getting hold of a lino thoy suffered nothing more than a severe ducking. The first unfortunate, after experiencing tho exhilimting effects of a a glass of Ilennessy's, was pronounced all right, minus his canoe, which had gono forward in joyous career, to the ocean, and has not yob icturncd to tell vi • what the wild waves are saying.' Later on tlio samo day a waterman's boat in crossing the river to the Nelson sidp, came unfortunately in contact with tho bow of the Kiwi, and was in a momont smashed in two. Luckily all except one got on board that vcssol, and only rccoived a momontary ducking, but tho poor fellow that was not so fortannte, had a very narrow escape, A ropo from tho vessel was thrown to him. but he missed it, and only in the nick of time caught a warp belonging cd tho John and Jane lying further down tWriver. To this ho was enabled to hold on untjl a boat put off to his assitance and rescued him, to the great relief of tho bystanders. To v no blame or oarelessness of tho waterman can this accident be attributed."

Mr Norton took his benefit jafc the Corinthian Hall last night, and had the moiitedoompliraent paid him of a full house. Tho Christy's Minstrels announce their last four nights' performances, after which, we arc sorry to say, wo shall lose them.

The "Groy Rivor Argus" of yesterday acknowledges Melbourne papors, brought by the Florence, to the 11th inst., two days earlier than the dates brought to Hokitika by tho Barwon. The Florence made a very rapid passage. The "Argus'* of the 13th, reports the number of persons who had arrived at the port of Melbourne by sea during the week at 483, of which 422 were from the neighbouring colonies. Of theso 119 wero from the various ports of New Zealand.

Tlio Melbourno papers contain later Mauritius nows to the Bth October. Sir Henry Barkly had opened the Legislative Council on the 3rd. The estimated revenue Mr the year was L 719,706, and the estimated expenditure L 716.806, promising a surplus of about L3OOO , The following is the only other item of news of any general interest : — " The planters of the upper part of Grand Port, and also those at tho foot of the Creole Mountains, suffered immensely by tho heavy rains which have fallen during the week. Tho rivers have overflown, us in tho rainy season, and on several estates they have been obliged to suspend sugar-making altogether, the juice of the canes being bo impoverished that it was a mero waste of fuel to continue boiling. Canes which yielded a few weoks ago from 4,000 Jo 5,000 pounds of sugar to the acre do not now givo half that quantity. Without umisnally favourable- weather for the next two months, this district will scarcely furnish half a crop, though it promised extremely woll at the beginning."