WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 80, 7 December 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1866.

We return to tho subject of His Honor's address on tho opening of tho Provincial Council, desiring in all sincerity to mako our columns tho " authentic" oxponont of the " real wishes and views of tho population " of Westland, in tho absence of an adequate representation in tho Legislature of the Province. It is deeply to bo regretted that tho concession which was made to the district in giving it two mombers was not a moro liberal one. The Provincial Council consists now of thirtysix members, and exactly one-eighteenth of tho representation is assignod to a district^ the " almost unprecedented development" of which furnished tlio chief thomo for congratulation in his Honor's speech. Admitting unreservedly the bonn Jidcs of Mr. Fitzgerald in _ introducing his West Coast Representation Bill into thoGonoral Assembly, it must be acknowledged that it' is something like a farce to allot to this district two membors, whilst " Eastland'' interests are represented by no loss than thirty-four, According to the Superintendent " himself', the gold-fields have afforded mattor of "unremitting attention" to tho Government ; their exigencies havo rendered necessary certain radical amendments in the Land Rogulations ,of tho Province; their " rapid and almost unprecedented development"- has suggested tho most gigantic public work yet dreamt of in New Zealand, ( a railway to connect tho East and West coast—to be earned through a country involving the most stupendous engineering difficulties — to tho cost of which they aro to be main contributors. Doos it not seem a logical consequence of the magnitude of tho interests thus existing, and of tlio stake possessed by tho district in the policy of the Government, that its representation should bear a more adoquato proportion to that enjoyed by tho elder but at tho sarao time less populous, enterprising, and wealthy sections of tho Province. Mr FitzGerald's bill might have given us half a dozen members just as easily as it has given us two. it is now "left to the Provincial Legislature (Mr Bealey says) to take any further qtops which may bo necessary for the effectual representation of the gold mining intorest." Wo may anticipate that some measure is in contemplation for this purpose. His Honor expresses a hope that legislation of this naturo will " havo tho effect of bringing bofore tho Legislature in an authentic form the real wishes and views of tho population." And we submit that until this desideratum is realised, it is an act of pure injustice to push on tho policy which tho Governmont have enunciated. It is at, a timo when the district enjoys only a fractional share in the representation — tho proportions standing, Eastland 31 against Westland 2—2 — that the Executive announce through His Honor, thoir deliberate intention to appropriate tho revenues of the Wost Coast to tho formation of a cos f ly road across a mountain rango, which Nature, with an obvious intontion, has caused to intervene between tho two coasts — a road which, when completed, will bo of no earthly use to this district, whatever convenience it may promise to prove to tho settlors on " the other side of tho range," and tho expenditure upon which will waste tho resources that ought to bo dedicated to tho construction of local roads and tracts, and the improvement of tho ports. Tho determination not to spondanyoftho Wostland rovenues ih an endeavor to render its harbors less "dangerous," is only apart of tho great road schemo — tho whole object boiug to force us to obtain our supplies feom Lyttelton. It is the duty of tlio people to lose not an honr in protesting against this doliberate nnd openly avowed policy of injustice. Powerloss as thoy aro in tho House, tho opportunity is seized to push through this scheme, which will mortgage thciv revenue for years to come. If thoro were any sense or purpose of fair play, the Government would at least havo held the project in aboyanco until Westland enjoyed, that " moro effectual representation," whicllMr Boaloy virtually admits is due to it. Tho fact that tho present advantage is being eagerly snatched at, and that tho project of fuller representation is p6stponed, whilst that of tho Wost road is being hurried on, will deepen the conviction that has long prevailed hero of tho unscrupulous selfishness of tho Christclmrch policy. The assumption upon which tho heavy outlay upon a road across tho island to bring the district into commercial connection with Ohristcluirch, is justified, is an cntiro fiction. " Tho dangerous charactor of tho harbors of tho Wost Coast and tho great destruction of shipping which has there taken place," has from tho beginning been afavorito topicwiththoEaßtlandpross. It may perhaps surprise tho gcntlomoh on " tho Eastern side of tho intervening range" — wo thank his Honor for the words : thoy aro ndmirably forciblo — to bo assured that if thoir pet read wore completed to-morrow, this district would con-

i tinuo to dorivo its main- supplies from imports brought to its " dangerous linrbors," just ns it does at present, and would no moro dream of looking to.tho Christclmrch market tlinn it would to Hong Kon^. Tho ports must indeed bo not only dangerous, but inaccessible, to enablo goods, bearing in addition to tlioir freight to Lyttelton, tho charge of a long ovorland carriage, to find a snlo in theso markcts,in .competition with those brought seaward, direct from the main sources of supply. Can any reasonable man entortam tho idea that Sydney, Melbourne, or even Dunediu merchants, would profer Lyttelton and tho overland track, to Hokitika or tho Groy P What aro tho real facts about thoso " clangorous harbors P" A wreck list has been published, and no doubt it is a melancholy chapter of disasters. But how many of thoso might havo been avoided if the Government had timely nnticipated private enterprise, and supplied tho port of Hokitika with an efficient tug service P At first tho harbor was unknown ; tho naturo of tlio bar was not understood ; tho signal code was liable to misconcoption ; and to crown all, a most imsuitablo class of vessels was sont to tho port. That chapter of history has been closed. Itecont mishaps to shipping have boon occasioned sololy by tho sudden freshes to which tho river is subject, carrying crafts carelessly or insecurely moored, over tho bar and amongst tho tho breakers. To mako such river improvements as would effectually prevent tho recurrence of thoso disasters, would bo a work of no engineering difficulty, and of very little cost. For the rest wo requiro nothing more than tho selection by shippers to Hokitika, of a suitablo class of vessels, and a good steam tug or two, to render tho harbor perfectly safe — certainly sufficiently so to destroy all justification for tho costly job of a road across tho intervening range. Now that the state of tho case is fairly understood, there is no reason why shippers should not put tlioir goods in bottoms specially adapted for abar harbor, as in the case of Amorica whore so many of tho leading ports havo tho same obstacles to their navigation. Lot writers and speakers who talk about our " dangerous harbors" hunt up our recent shipping records, and note how many riclily freighted vessels havo been brought in and out in safety, and what an absence of accident there has been sinco tho port enjoyed tho services of a good powerful steam-tug. Lot tho government spend a lifcfclo of Hokitika^s own money in improving the harbor inside the bar, and — as soon as private enterprise, fails to find it remunerative — maintain a couplo ot steamtugs in tho port, and they may save thornselves all the troublo and cost of tlioir pot road. That is to say, thdy may savo themselves tho troublo and uostlaud tho cost. The direct trado between this coast and tho Australian colonies is now firmly ostablished, nnd it will be as permanent as tho goldfields are. It is probablo that tho stupid policy of tho Victorian Govornment may throw a larger share of tho spoil into the lap of New South WnJos or South Australia tiian either has hitherto enjoyed. But from whichovor of the great Australian markets our supplies of imported goods may come, Christohurch may bo assured that it will havo very littlo share in supplying our wants. What then is the construction of this most costly road between tho East and tho Wost coasts, but a mere waste of public money for selfish purposes, which after all cannot bo realised P Asa matter affecting this district, it is a simple pioco of robbery. If Eastland chooses to construct a road in the hope of securing the Hokitika and Groy trade, let it do so at its own expense, as it is sololy seeking to servo its own interest. Wo may have our own impression as to tho wisdom and prudence of the expenditure But every community, as ovory man, has a right to ride his own hobby, provided it is not at tho expense of his neighbors. It is, howover,, at the oxponso or this district that ouy neighbors ("on tho otlior side of tho intervening range") are riding their hobby; and Westland's demand is that its own money shall bo x spent for its own good, and tho furtherance of its development and consolidation as a mining ana mercantile district. Thoso sentiments wo may assure Mr. Bealoy and his executive are tho " real wishes and views of the population,' 1 and they aro oxprossed in as " authontio a form" ns tho want of art- adequate representation in tho Provincial Council permits.

A most satisfactory state of affairs has existed in Hokitika during the past six weeks, for we have had very few casualties , amongst our shipping, to chronicle, a marked contrast being perceptible to the events of the two preceding months. In fact (as wo throughout prognosticated would be the case) over sinco tho arrival of a really efficient tug-bo^t the loss to shipowners and merchants baa been wonderfully lessened, and tho credit of our port, that had sunk below zero, has risen ;n proportion. Moreover there has occurred a decided change for the better in both bar and entrance to the river, tho exeroise of tho commonest prudence alone, being now required to sosure tho safe arrival or departure of vessels.

Yesterday wo were informod by a party just arrived from tho Nino-Mile, that the beach vas lined with heavily laden diggers proceeding to the north in search of some new ground opened by a Maori, who had obtained a prospect of 8 dwts. to the dish, somowhero between tho Grey and Buller rivers, This is all tho particulars that havo reached us, but wo trust to be in a position to give details in our next issuo. Wo havo Invereargill papers to tho 28th ult. , (or which wo are indebted to tho courtesy of Captain Clare, of the Apavima. M'Connell, tho Registrar of the supremo court, whose committal by tho Coroner's warrant to tnko his trial for tho wilful murder of Cnthorine Farrar, wo have already mentioned, was committed also by warrant of the Resident MagUtra'o^ The evidence was more circumstantial and implioatory than (hat givon beforo tho Coroner. Tho trial of tho licensed will take place at tho noxl sittings of the supreme court in Invereargill. Mr. J, Blaoklook and Mr. Gcorgo Lumsden were candidates for the vacanoy in the representation of Invereargill in the Provincial Council. Mi'M'No-b, the Into spoakor of the Council, had rsigned his seat for Campbelltown (tho ßluff ). The weather around Invorcargill had been exceedingly tempestuous, and somoof tho religious donominations wore agrcoing to appoint a day of humiliation and prayer in consequence Thoro had boon a wholosalo destruction of garden produce. Tho News oi tho 28th, thus refers to shipping disasters :— " The wholo of tho shipping in the harbour has boen more or less affected, In tho case of the Spray, noticed in our last, as having been blown on shore near Thompson's yards, it is found that sho will nob only requiro to bo unladon to get hor baok again into tho liver, but will havo to be nearly dismantled. A small cuttor, tho Pomona, from Stewart's Island, having lost her bulwarks and stanchions, was bouttlr.il on Saturday. Soveral small crafts have been blown up high and dry on tho beach

bolowtho joity. Tho wrecked Sqnaw, sold a few day* sinco, laden with 213^ tons of coals, lying opposite tho Mokoinoko jetty, has been blown ont into the clnnnfcl and there sunk, tho purchasers having got only 40 tons out of her. Our Bluff shipping repert gives a luvourablo return, but tho immunity bus oxtonded to tho land, <i good deal of damage having been done to property in one way or other."

As we anticipa'ed, the prisoner who escaped^ from the camp on Saturday last, has 80 far sttcv cecded in evading pursuit, although every effort" has been made by the polico to recover him. This is much to be regretted as he was known to be an old offender, and frorc his truculent bearing in the dock, we should imagine a hardened one ; lie is however gone, and the next care should be to take such precaution as will prevent tho 10. currenco of the like event. Considering tho very largo number of prisoners who have passed through the hands of the police hore, we are only surprised that escapes havo not been more frequent, tho gaol being most insecure, and the gaoler's staff absurdly insufficient, consisting of only tho gaoler himself and two constables, who at the present timo have to control and attend to the wants of forty-four prisoners !Be3idos the oflico ofgaoler, thesorgeant who fills that capaoity presides over the watchhouse the duties of which at timos aro exceedingly heavy, occupying a great deal of the time which should be devoted to the more important office alone. This department should be at onco remodelled, the number of wardens increased, and a night watch kept round the gaol, which (astounding as tho assortion'may appcav) is now left unguarded during the hours of darkness. But the necessity of a new gaol is imperative, the present buildings used for that purpose being a mere libel on the natno ; and wo hope the Government will lose no timo in erecting such an edifice as will securely confine those it has cost so much time and money to apprehend, and who comprise an clement most pornicious to the moral welKbeing of a young community.

Tlio now Supreme Court House inSowcll street, was occupied for the- first timo on Friday last, when Mr FitzGemld tlio Resident Magistrate sat on tho bench. The building will of course be only used occasionally for tho purpose of the supreme court, and at all other times it will be available for Hie use ef tho local magistracy. It is a handsome and commodious struccuro, well situated in ono of the leading streets of tho town, on the rcsorvo on which stand also tho Custom bouso,tho Postpffico, tho Commissioner's office and tho handsome intended residence of the Commissioner, in .which aro apartments for tho accommodation of tho Judge (luring his residence in Hokitika. We shall give a description of the latter building when it is completed. The Court house is -already out of tho hands of tho contractors, and as we have said in presont use. It consists cf n main hall (with an open arched roof lighted by massive windows at either end) measuring fifty feet in length, by thirty in breadth. Tho walls are panolled and painted. The lower part of tlio court i 3 vailed off and thrown open to tho general publio. At the east end is placed tho judicial benoh— a raised platform with a handsome fiontof open worked cedar lined with scarlet oloth. Immediately below tho bench n the Associate's table, ft littlo in advance of whioh is the table appropriated to the uso of Banisters. # On the right hand (looking from the bench) is the witness box, and immediatoly facing it the jury box, whilst opposite tho benoh is the dock. Tho roportors' table is conveniently placed so far as overlooking tho wholo of tho proceedings is concorned, but it is much too distant both from the judioial bench and the witness box to enable the representatives of tho pres3 to hoar and report with accuracy. No doubt this hint will bo quite suflioient to in duce an alteration, that would contribute very muph to the publio convenionce,and as most of tho fittings of tho Court are moveablo it will involve no expense, and scnroOly any troublo. So for ns at present tee 1 ed, Ihe ncoustio properties of tho large Hall are not good. Mr FitzGerald himself is vory indis'inctly heard at any distance from the bench, and he finds it constancy necessary to tell witnesses to speak up that they may be heard by him, To no olass of witnesses has this admonition to be more frequently addressed than the members of tho police force, who cortainly ought_ to understand the importance of open speaking. It is quite intelligible, however, that thoy hrve been so long acoustomed to give their evidence in the low conversational tone that was suited {o the littlo holo in which magisterial proceedings- have hitherto been conducted as to forget that the large building now used requires a much more considerable effort of tho lungs. Not "effort," indeed,; for it is just as easy to speak audibly as it is to mumble ; and, looking forward to tho uppronchsittings of tho Supremo Court, when some important trials will como on, it is to be hoppd that an official examplo of giving ovidonco audibly will be set. It is quito possible that the acoustio properties 0! the court may be improved by some internal alterations 5 and if so, it is important that they should at once be effected. The central hall is entered by a door in front leading into a lobby ten feet by six, into which also several side doors opon, and is flanked on oither t side by a row of offices comprising in all sevon rooms, appropriated as follows: -Jury room, male and female witness rooms (divided by passages), barristers' room, judge's and resident magistrate's room, and magistrate's dork's room. The whole arrangement is very convenient and the building is finished in good anil workmanlike style. ,

_ The first sitting of the Suprome-court in Hokitika will be held in the now court house, in Sewell-stree', on Monday the 16th Jan., next. We believe that his Honor Mr. Justice Gresson will prosido on the occasion. Several civil cases are set down for trial, and wo regret to say that tho oriminal calendar will bo a somewhat heavy one.

A correspondent writes ns follows from Jones's Creek :: — '• Would you insert in yonr columns the following particulars of an acoident which happened hero during tho last week:— A digger, in returning home to his tent about 10 o'olook at night, foil down a paddock nnd was so seriously injurod that ho expired 23 hours afterwards After wailing in vain for theCorouor to hold tho usual inquest on the body, it was buried without any inquiry into tho causo of death, and, with tho exception of a visit from the polico sergeant, without any judioial investigation' whatovor. Now, Sir, I believe in this particular instanco the man met his death through a bona fide accident ; but I think that the Coroner's inquest, whioh by an inquiry into the naturo and cause of a man's death is so effectual in tho dotection of crime, should not bo lightly omitted or neglected. Surely in a case whero the Coroner's absence was unavoidable an examination by tho Rcsidont Magistrate, with a medioal gentloman as an assessor, would bo BufMeient for justice I trust soino other person than myself will deom this co3o worthy of considoiation." It is wondorful how little care, even in small matters, tho Provincial Government nnd its local representatives show to conciliato the favor of the pooplo of tbo Wost Coast. Why should thoy so porsistently obtrude ugly moraontoes of themselves in our most public places ? What hope can be entertained of tho justioe and fair dealing of a governmont of whose barbarism suoh a hideous monument has just been allowed to roar its head on the most central site of tho town ? Having unnocessarily seized for tin uso of " the Camp" and Its retainers, tho most valuablo area in Hokilika, — whereas a baok sito would havo served/ equally woll, if not botter, for tho constublos' bnrraoks, look-up, &o., — t»io Govorn. Mont proceed to exorcise a most villanous ingonuit^ in disfifjuring It by a series of architectural atrocities. What doadly'ftin have \ve ever been guilty of, that we should have to. undorgo tho daily ponanco of passing 'and gassing upon a structure ,so frightfully ugly as tho woodon haystaok just put up 1 Looking at tho tents of tho ollicials and tho prcsont shabby littlo closets of courts as mero temporary oreotious to bo soon voplaocd by other buildings, linvo wo nothing better to look forward to than n succession

of haystacks ? If the dream were over entertained of n fine site — of whioh the publio have been most needlessly deprived — being occupied by buildings that would not be a positive offenco to tlio eye, what a fatal blow to such expectations must the erection of the stockyard fence be, which is just completed I We beg the passerby not to go over on the other sido, in order to avoid the near speotaole of this last display of official tas!,o and liberality, but to mark the smoothness of its timbers, the finish of its Wickets, and its general appropriateness of design and execution for the adornmont of the centre of a large town, in which the work of improvement and adornmont in private hands is so rapidly progressing. Mr Prosser left town on Friday last to take his -seat in the Provincial Council as one of the members for Westland. Wo learn from the Okiritn, to which Mr Warden Prica proceeded a fow days ago, in consequence of tho report of serious riots having occurred thero, that tho place is very quiet and peaccablo, and that the rumors that reached town were much exaggerated. It is likely, we understand, that the Bruce Will proceed next week to Okirita and continue, if sufficient inducement offers, to make fortnightly trips to that locality. #We hear that the services of tho steam-tug Lioness have been scoured to make a survey of Port Elizabeth, to the north of the Grey where a considerable body of miners are known to be at work. " ' , The Roman Catholics have built a church at Greymouth, which is to be opened for public worship on Sunday next. A deputation, representing the ocoupiers of property in Weld street, waited yostorday Upon Mr Sale, the Commissioner, with a view of representing to him the present state of the street, and urging tho importance of immediately effecting certain necessary improvements in order to render it available for traffic. Mr Sale assured tho deputation that measures had been taken to furnish assistance in the improvement of the public thoroughfares, in all cases where the residents or others interested originated the movement by thoir own contributions. A Tea Meeting was hold on Tuesday evening, the sth instant,- in tho newchuroh lately erected for the use of tho Wesleyans in this town. The objects woro firstly, to submit a statement of the receipts and expenditure of tho funda, a copy of which is appended below; and, secondly, to rai-jo a sum sufficent to olear off tho deficiency. The meeting was numerously attended, every seat beiug occupied, and the result was ontirely satisfactory. Tho chair was ably occupied by G.S. Sale, Esq., and addresses wero delivered by Messrs Scott, Powell, Clarke, Shaw, Alcock, and Ferres.as well as by the Rev Mr Harper, to whom and the committee the highest credit is due for their unremitting exertions in establishing the church under tho many difficulties. Tlio Rev Mr Drake was unable to attend, as was explained by the Rev Mr Harper, in consequence of his hiwing to perform tho mnrringo service pn that day in a distant locality. Tho wholo affair passod off pleasantly, and the ladies were heartily applauded for their presence and kind services on the occasion. Tho following is the statoment of accounts submitted by Mr Richards, the Secrotnry ;— Expenditure— Clearing of ground, Ll6 10s ; plans and specifications, L 4 4a ; accepted tender for building, L3OO ; accepted tender for seats, L4B , pathway, LI 4 : advertising, stationery. &o. (> L 5 10a 5 total, L3BB 4s^ Receipts — Subscriptions from Hokitika, L2II 4s ; do from Ohristchurch,' L3O 5s ; do from Dunedin, LOCs ; collections. at Corinthian Hall, L 23 18s lOd ; opening sermons, L3l 10s lOd ; marriage donations from Mr Harper, LI 7 ; total, L 320 4s BJ,

Complaints oontinue to reach us of the unnecessarily early hour at which the overland moil closes every Monday morning, viz., at nine o'clock. This involves a olear loss of a day in tlio exchange of post, the previous day being Sunday, and tho business of tho week not having commenced at nine o'clock on Monday morning. The arrangement is the more vexatious aooing that tho mailman seldom or ovor leaves town on his journey until long after noon. On Monday ho bad not left up to two o'olock. Why should not the publio have the benefit of this delay, and be onabled to post their letters as late as eleven o'clock, or even noon, franked by the ordinary stamp, instead of having to pay a bonus of half a crown for getting their late letters oarried *

We insert in our last issue a notice of an inquest at the Teremakau, and a justly indignant letter from a correspondent on the subject of the shameful neglect of tho Government to mako provision for the safe crossing of passengers. We are glad to learn that there is some probability of futuro danger to life and property on this river being averted by private enterprise. Hitherto a small boat near tho centre of the river has been availalle for the wants of passengers. But now we are given to understand that there Is every likelihood of a large punt for tho conveyance of- cattle, drays, and passengers bei^g built with tho sanction of tho Government. One of the intending contractors — Mr A. Inglis— of tlie Teremakau Hotel, has offored his service gratu'iousyl to hoist flags as signals when and where to cross, providing Government will supply the necessary bunting, which the Commissioner is said to be favorably inclined to do. The punt, as proposed, is to be on a large scale, viz., 50 feet long, by some 14 feet wide, with side rails, &c, complete, and built on two boats.