WEST COAST TIMES, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 78, 2 December 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1865.

Extbacts from tho English papers, and tho report of an enquiry into the mysterious Southland murder case will be found in tho supplement. Wo aro compelled to hold ovor leador, and a mass of local matter.

We Lave made the stridtest inquiries concorning a rumor in circulation during the pa"»t day, to tho effect that 1200 ounces of gold dust had been offered for sale, and withdrawn on account of tlie low figuro offered, tho gold being in a remarkably impure state. We believe tho report to be a mere canard, without tho slightest foundation of truth to rest upon. Mr Carkeok, the Inspector of Customs, is at present on an official visit to Westland, and proceeded yesterday morning, in company with the Collector, to the Grey River. We understand that Mr Warden Price proceeds this morning to the scene of the late rio-t-ous proceedings at tbo Okirita to investigate tho circumstances, and to take such necessary steps as ho may feel it aclvisablo to adopt. Mr Price is to bo accompanied by the Superintendent of Police and a mounted constable. A distressing accident occurred at the Auckland rush at six o'olock yesterday evening, wheroby a miner, named Henry Tomlin, lost his lifo. It appears that the deceased was sinking a paddock, nnd when down about fourteen feet tho sides caved in, bringing tho poor follow under many tons of sand. Fifty miners at once set to work, and sank a paddook alongside tho body whioh they recovered nfter half an hour's labor, life, however, being quit© cxtinot. We tako tho following Invercargill items from tho " Southland News" of the 21st inst. :— " We understand that it is intended to hold a meeting of merchants nnd othors interested— as indeed all persons aro— to protest against the injustice sought to be perpetrated by the General Government in the attempted reduction of postal communication. — The Airedale has arrived from tho North. Judge Chapman is a passenger, — The Victoria, sloop of war, has sailed from the Bluff, for Melbourne " A correspondent of the Argus says s— " I read with intorest your short note regarding the analysis of the. black saftid from iliu West Const of New Zealand. It confirms an opinion I have long held, that tho titaniferous sands of New Zealand contain the precious metals, besides in their ordinary charactor capable of being rendered of immonse importance to the mercantile world. It is found in greater or lesser quantities in alnjost every province, but it is supposod by many that the great source of this ore is Mdunt Egmont. Without committing myself to any theory on this subject, the fact is patent that in Tarauaki, on tho west cost, and especially in front of the town of New Plymouth, and within a few miles of the mount, the largest quantity of this blaok sand is to be found. I know, from personal observation and survey, thit tho quantity is inexhaustible. Samples of this ore havo beon sent home to every important town in Europe where iron and steel form tho staple of their manufactures. A report from the Artillery Department, Royal Foundry, Berlin, states that the Taranaki sand possesses a quality which renders it very valuable. A report from tho foundry of tho Royal Artillery College of Paris states that the black sand contains iv itself the essentials of crude or cast iron, steol, and malleable iron, combined with charcoal, lithium, and a portion of oxide, whioh render it invaluable for every purpose of machinery, and without limits for commercial industry. It adds furtlior, that tho crystals of oxide and lithium which this sand contains, produce a metal capable of tho highest polish, and convertible into the finest instruments. Nothing has yet been done effeotually towards tho dovelopmont of this great field of wealth."