WEST COAST TIMES. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 79, 5 December 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1865.

The speech of His Honor tho Superintendent in oponing the Provincial Council on the 2 1st ulfc., which we publish in another column, will bo received throughout the Westland district with one general feeling of dissatisfaction and disappointment. Wo will venture to say that but for tho passage of Mr Macandrew's Act destroying the right of any province to demand separation by petition signed by a majority of settlers, Mr. Bealey and his advisers would never have ventured to put forth such a programme as is now submitted to the Council. Had the opportunity still been left us, the undisguised selfishness of the Cluistclmrch Government would have given an impetus to tho Separation movement which would havo made it irresistible. As it is, the district is helpless. It has no longer the power of saving itself, Its only chance is an abject dependence upon tho generosity of its masters — at all events, until it can invoke the protection of tho Assembly. Wo may notice with what complacency His Honor refers to " the repeal of tho New Provinces Act of 1858," as " depriving the outlying districts of tho power to separate from the rest of the province, unless by means of an Act of the General Assembly." In the very terms in which this reference is made, there is something closely bordering on insult, or, if not insult, on defiance; and the sting of the offence is not taken out by the gracious and condescending intimation which immediately follows :—": — " This appears to me to be no reason for neglecting the recognised claims of the settlers resident in those districts." Suppose Mr. Bealey had put the case somewhat differently, and had said frankly that the fact that the outlying districts were now helpless in the hands of their Christchirch mastoi's, rendered it incumbent on the Government to give a specialy generous consideration to their claims — it would have sounded more graceful and becoming, but it would doubtless have been less honest. Tho actual words employed are the truest index to the policy which it is intended to pursue towards Westland. When we find His Honor talking about recommending appropriations to satisfy " recognised and reasonable claims," Aye natnrally turn to other parts of his speech in search of some assistance to the interpretation of these ambiguous terras. We can best understand what weight to attribute to these promises for the future by comparing them with the language in which Mr. Bealey describes what has been done in the past. Tho Governmeut evidently think that thus far, " every recognised andreasonableclaim >> onthepart of West- | land has been met. The development of the goldficlds, His Honor says, has engaged the " unremitting attention of the Government, with a view to making provision for those who have engaged in the arduous work of gold mining." Mr. Bealey adds, that without sanctioning an excessive rate of expenditure, which could only have resulted in embarrassment, it has been his endeavor to provide amply for " tho efficient administration of tho gold-fields, and for the formation of tho necessary roads and other public works." Lot the residents of the West Coast answer— what has been done by tho Government to justify this loud flourish of trumpets 1 In what direction lie " thoso necessary roads and other public works," to the prosecution of which we are told so much assiduous atteution has been paid? Are our diggers able to discover any traces of them in their arduous and perilous journeys in search of gold? Is it not notorious to every one that the richest portions of this auriferous district are rendered absolutely impervious to mining population through the want of passable tracks, and that where the Government have pretended to clear tracks, they have left the second stato of things infinitely worse than -the first, and substituted treacherous bogs for the native bush ? Wo, on tho spot, who know so much of lives lost, both on land and in rivor crossings, and of mining enterprise constantly baffled in every direction, can only lift our hands in amazement at the unblushing assurance with which the Christchurch Government instruct His Honor to refer in these terms to tho past benefits conferred upon Westland ! It is not indeed upon the construction of roads and other necessary works in this district that tho heart of bur masters is set. His Honor announces plainly tho intention of the 'Government to do nothing for tho improvement of the West Coast harbors, but to force us to receive all our traffic through Christchurch ; to prosecute the costly harbor works at Lyttolton ; to push on a dray road, preparatory to a railway, from that port to tho West Coast ; and to confiscate tho Westland royenucs to this end 1 This is the literal, linked, meaning of this speech. Tho Council is leminded unctuously of "the dangerous character of these harbors," of the " great destruction of shipping which has takes place"- -facts that "scorn to make it deal" that the trade of tho goldfields Cnnfidt be carried on with reafi6n£.bl6 security until a road fitted^ for heavy traffic has been completed, connecting the eastern %vith tho western side of tho intervening range," It is ndmiltcd that "tho difficulties arising out of the natural features of the country" will make the outlay " no doubt heavy." But thcn,/tho burden is to be "adjusted;" not to fall " wholly upon tho agricultural districts of tho pro* vince." The " goldfields shall contri-

butiisomo shnve of the expense." Yes, the lion's shnve, and reap the mouse's shave of the benefit, if they pavtieipatp in it nt all. If we bad had representatives present in tho Council when the debate on this address came on, armed with authority to speak in tho name of this people, and qualified to speak with power and effect, they would have told tho house that the miners and settlers of the West Coast do not want this road, that they can never look to Christolmrch as the depot of their trade, and that they regard the appropriation to such a purpose of their contributions to the provincial revenue as nothing better than a gigantic job for swviug selfish interests. If what His Honor calls '• the real wishes and views of a population employed in pursuits so different from those which engage the attention of residents on the eastern side of the range" were consulted, they would demand that their revenues should bo devoted to the most necessnry &nd primary work of O2)ening*up the country to enterprise by the fdi motion of Ideal rdads, and the improvement of tho West Coast harbors, so as to facilitate those direct commercial relations with tho Austalian colonies which their geographical position favors. To this general subject, however, we must return, and will only, in conclusion, direct attention to the two clauses in the Speech, one of which promises an amendment in tho Land Regulations to allow sales and to promote permanent settlement in Westland, and the other refers to the power the Provincial Counoil possesses of giving us, if we ask for it, an enlarged representation,

We are very happy to think that tho Hokitika Improvement Committeo aro neither idle nor discouraged ns their work expands before them A meeting of the committee was held nt the Queonstovvn Hotel on Tuesday evening list, Messrs. Cassius (chairman), Prosser, MP.O, Bracken, Clarke, Reeves, Bonar, Palmer, urnl Ecclesfield, were presont, and the following business was transacted :— The account of Messrs. Craig and Cameron for work done in Wharfstreet, with extras, was presented, when a citscussien took place respecting the manner in which the coutraol had been carried out ; after whioh, iiwas moved by Mr. Bonar, seconded by Mr. Prosser, and carried — That this comraitteo having full confidence in tho committee of works already appointed, refer the matter to them, and leavo the decision in their hands. It was moved by Mr. Reeves, seconded by Mr. Bonnr, and carried— That Mr. Clarke be added to the committee of works. It was moved by Mr Reeves seconded by Mr. Bracken, and carried — That an additional rate of Is. per foot bo levied on the frontages in Wharf-street instead of the Cd. per foot levied on tho 6th inst. It was moved by Mr. Prossor, seconded by Mr. Bonar, and carried—That in consequence of this committee having received no pecuniary aid from the public towards paying tho incidental expenses connected with their proceedings (tho rates already levied being only sufficient for carrying out tho works for which they were intended) } the clerk (Mr. D. W. Purdon) be requested to collect the 6d. per foot levied on tho frontages in Rovell-stroct, and Is. per foot on Wharf -street, at a commission of ten per cent, on the said ra'es. On Saturday morning last one of the prisoners confined in the Camp monaged to effeot his escape. His name was George Arthur Harris, and he had only been committed for trial the previous day, on the chargo of stealing a watch and moneys "From on board the schooner J. M. D, Stuart. Tho cell in which ho was confined with six othor men, is one of those lately ercoted to meet the pressing requirements of an increasing criminal calender, and is most inseourely built, being erected on piles and floorod with soft wood full of joints, the planks composing which are so wide as (when one was removed) to present a space sufficiently large to allow the passage of a man, In this instance tho flooring was cut through, and a board lifted, and when the gaoler next visited the cell the bird was flown. Searoh for him was at once instituted in every direction, but withont succoss, and it is very doubtful whether ho will bo again captured. Time and space prevent our now commenting on this occrrrence ; we shall not howover fail to do so in our next issue. In our Thursday's issue wo alluded to the very narrow escape of a person from being gored to death by an infuriated bullock just landed from the -Maid of tho Yarra, and we havo again to record another escape from death still more extraordinary than tho former. On Sunday afternoon Mr Winter, a gentleman connected with the Treasury department here, was sitting on the sea beach reading, (littlo dreaming of the sudden interruption so close at hand), when a ball in n high stato of excitement, not to say insanity, which it is supposed was ono of the late arrivals by tho Claud Hamilton, suddenly made a rush a him, and before he could escape, or indeed make the sligh'est movement, knocked him over into tho surf. Fortunately tho brute's hprns were so placed as to render goring impossible ; he, however, butted Mr Winter, rolling him over and over, bruising him seriously. The gentleman, with great presence of mind, managed to soize hold of one of his horns, and with the other hand threw, sand into tho eyes of the animal, nt the samo time calling loudly for assistance. This quickly arriving, tho beasts attention was diver' ed, and his victim seizing the opportunity made himself scarce as quiokly as possible. We aro happy to hear the only ill effects whioh ocourred to Mr Winter were a few bruises and contusions, and he may consider himself most fourtunato. new Wesleyan ohurch was oponed for divine service on Sunday last, when three sermons were preached to largo congregations, viz., those in tho morning and evening by the Rev. Mr Harper, and that in tho afternoon by tho liev Mr Drake A tea meeting, in aid of the building fund wfll bo held in the church this evening, at half-past six o'clook. Should tho weather bo favorable no doubt a largo attendanco of friends will be present. We notice that a very convenient raised footpath has been made from Wold-street to the door of tho building, whioh faces Tuncrcd-street. On Sunday morning last the sound of tho church-going bell broke very sweetly and pleasan'ly upon the still air. «, Tho wcathur, during tho past few days has been very unsettled, heavy storms of rain alternating with intervals of bright, worm, sunshine On Sunday night tho rnin fell in torrents, and a considerable fresh in tho rivor was tho consequence. This has h.vJ the offeot of oponing a new and very straight channel across tho bar, Yesterday was, on tho whole, fino and agreeable, but there were frequent showers, which became moro heavy towards nightfall. Repeated efforts were made by the Lioness on Siiturdny last, to tug off the Wotiga Wonga from her unplesant situation' on tho spit, but without success. Sho, howover, had moved ahead some little distance which placed hor in a belter position For KOino hours on the oveninj,' of tho above day, her sorow was kept constantly going at fu'l speed, and tho vessnl absolutely out a pnssngo through the soft nand, and nt half-past eleven o'clock the curienfc catching her bow sent her off once moio into deep wator. Right glad wore wo to see hor safely nt anohor in tho rivor, imd hcarlily congratulate nil parties con corned on this speedy deliverance Captain Turnbull, our new harbot master, was on board at the time, and rendered effective assistance dis- '

coveting the most untiring energy the whole of that day in hunting up the necessary material for heaving her off Wo are glad to see tho post filled by a gentleman possessing such zeal and ability.

Now that tho freo importation of cattlo is permitted to Hokitika, and consequently we may reasonably expect tho arrival of constant and heavy shipments, steps should bo at once taken for tho ercc ion of a stockade, outside tho precincts of tho town for thoir immediate reception, when landed from the harbour boats, and the present indiscriminate bundling on shore by which tho lives and limbs of Her Majesty's lieges aro placed in considerable peril, be put n stop to. We wero on tho spit on Sunday morning, at the timo tho steamer Bruco landed the remaining part of the Claud Hamilton's cargo of cattle, and certainly must confess the method adopted on tlio occasion was primitive in the extreme, tho unhappy brutes being forcibly thrust overboard, several of them turning half somorsaults in their descont. Fortunately they wore very quiot, their sudden immersion in cold water acting, no doubt, as a " cooler" upon any little exuboranco of spirits thoy otherwise might havo indulged in on first landing. One, however, the first loaded, caused some littlo excitement, tho few spectators assembled to watch the proceedings quickly transferring themselves frcm terra firma to tho bottoms of sundry boats lying on the sand upside clown, and other convenient elevations where they would be out of reach. We were somewhat amused Hi the remarkable quiokoning in the nib'vemonts of soveral portly and scdato -looking gentlemen, evidently doing a "constitutional" on the spit, who moved with an alacrity that in their younger days they could hardly have exceeded. Theso little incidents are very funny no doubt, and amusing to read of, but at the same timo are nono tho less disagreeablo to those who are imporillcd theroby, and wo therefore trust tho suggestion wo have thrown out will be at once acted upon, and an area of ground granted by tUo Government and securely fenced in. The Improvement Committee should at onoe. take action in the matter. The Gothenburg is expected to sail for Melbourne this morning. According to notice at the post-oflice,tho mails are to closo at 0 o'clook. It is quite possible, however, owing to tho noncompletion of the discharge of hor cargo up to tho present time, that her departure may be delayed for another day. Tho Albion is due horo to-radrrdw on her monthly visit to the ports of tho Middle Island to pick up the outward English mails Sho may bo expected to bring Melbourne dates to the 30th ult. It is well known what vagaries cattlo sometimes indulge in when laboring under aggravated forms of excitoinont, but wo think of all the mad tricks a mad bullock ' was ever guilty of, the one indulged in by a Claud Humltonian, landed from tho Bruco on Sunday, was the "maddest." For the animal in question, after cutting two or thrco extraordinary capers on the spit, suddonly rushed inlo tho surf on the opposite side from whioh he had landed, and commenced swimming out to sea, nnd for all we know to the contrary may be swimming away yet, as he was nevor seen on Bhoro again. We arc utterly unable to account for this strange proceeding on his part, and can only imagine that, disliking the appearance of Westland, he meditated a new cut for Sydney direct, the mistake he thus made costing him his life