WEST COAST TIMES.

West Coast Times, Issue 88, 28 December 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28,"18G5.

We are again indebted to the arrival of a smart sailing craft from Sydnoy for the English mail news, in anticipation of tho mail itself. It appears that the P. and 0. Company's steamer Madras did not reach King George's sound until tho day following tho date on which she was due in Melbourne. Tho branch steamor belonging to tho South Australian Mail Service arrived at Glenelg on Friday afternoon, having made the passage from tho Sound in ninety hours. By this opportunity wo have English news by special telegram to 2nd Nov.» for which we are indebted to Captain Mason, of tho Colonist, who has obliged us with Sydney files. The announcement of the death of the veteran statesman Lord Palmerston will bo received throughout tho empire with a feeling of deep sorrow.

A pressure of matter upon our space provonts us giving more than a .very casual notice of tho performance of that talented lady, Miss Edith Palmerston, who, last night, made her fust appearanco before the publio of Hokitika. In saying wo wero both charmed and delighted, wo only echo the expressed opinion* of overy ono who had the pleasure of visiting tho Shakcspere Theatre, which was crowded to excess. The versatility of Miss Palmerston is really wonderful, her deliniations of character boing most truthful, nnd tree from that exaggerated burlesque too often mot with in others, who adopt tho particular line, in which sho so excols. Miss Palmerston has a remarkably sweet voico, her rendering of that sweet ballad ' ' Meet mo in tho willow glen," being most effective and charming, • Another iustanco of the sovority of tho late floods has been mado known to us by a gentleman lately arrived from tho Toromakau. On Sunday evening last, about nino o'clock, tho Tercmakau, swelled to an enormous volume by tho heavy rains of the past day and night, burst with irresistablo force through tho north spit, sweeping the little village thereon orected into the sea, nothing of which was saved excepting tho material of a publio house in tho 1 course of erection, and half of tho old restaurant which has stood thoro for many months. Tho preservation of this small amount of property is due to tho unflagging exertions of a numbor of travellers who had boon compelled to remain tliero through tho impassable stato of the river. Moro would havo beo» saved but for tho rapidity with whioh the river encroached upon tho bank, widening the new cliaunel, and thus necessitating tho removal of goods and material several times to safer situations. It is supposed no lives havo been lost, but on this point any thing ,but certainty exists, as a great many people woro nsscmblcd in and about tho buildings whore tho catastrophe took placo. Part of tho north spit yet remains an island in tho middle of tho river, theentianco to which, being/quito amilowide, far too dangerous to bo used as a ferry. Tho faro now charged by boatmen for convoying passengers across is ss, "tho boats having to bo draggod th rep-quarters of a mile up the river boforo a crossing oan bo effected. The long and excessive drought under which many parts of New South Wales have so long suffered' is committing great ravages' in tho Lachlan district. From the telegraphic despatches in tho , Sydney Morning Herald of tho 15th instaut, wo glean that tho river had ceased running, long stretches of it in many placos being perfectly dry, and tho margins of some of tl>o best water-holes were studded with dead cattle. Travelling, in consequence of this fearful drought was all but impossible, and tho trado of Forbes was proportionately doprossod. On Wednesday somo persons standing on tho North Spit observed a horse take to tho river on tho opposite sido, with tho evident intention of swimming across. Tho poor brute, however, had not calculated on the strength of tho current then (through'tho high flood) running with extreme velocity, for before ho was halfway across iowa 3o wa3 evident to those watching him that his days woro numbered, as ho was then in the narrow ohannel leading immediately into tho surf Tho animal's instinct too apparently told him he was in jeopardy, for ho struggled desporatoly to save himself, but without avail, tho fresh sweeping him into tho surf, which soon ovorwholmed him ; tho body being afterwards |seen floating about inside tho " break." In anothor column will bo seen an account of the sports whioh took plnco in Rovell street on Boxing-day, and certainly if tho densest crowd ever assembled together in our town bo a criterion, thoy Jwere well patronised. Wo wero in the street nearly tho wholo day, and wero somowhat surprised at the ordor displayed, for although, wo aro woll assured, token collectively, tho crowd was woalthy, and thoroforo possessed tho means to (as tho cant phrase has it) "go and enjoy,themselveß,;" vory little drunkenness'indeed was to bo observed amongst them. Evory ono seemed inclined for rational enjoymont, and enterod heartily into tho amusements provided. Excess, howovor, was rigorously abstained from. Wo aro glad to sco this spirit gaining stiongth, and trust our miners havo at last become alivo to tho necessity of not scattering thoir hard earned wealth with too liberal a hand. During fcho- early part of tho day it was rumored a fight would como off botweon two individuals, eager to distinguish themsolvcs ; but hearing no more of it as tho day ndvanced y wo presume it fell through — lacking encouragement. This, wo consider another good sign of tho times, Wo cannot help again calling tho attention of tho publio to tho state of tho lower end of Gibson's Quay, and tho necessity of prompt measures to ensuro tho completion of tho wharf from Rovoll-street downwards. Much valuablo ground for building purposes has already beon destroyed, and should two or throo moro floods catch us in our present unproparod stato, much more will follow it. Wo do not alludo to tho portion of tho Spit bolow Throckmorton's Bond — for that wo consider doomod — tho river having takon so decided a courso as to leave no room to doubt tho ultimato result, but it is that part of tho quay from tho bond upwards, that wo would, if possible, save.. Evory inch of ground thoro is of intrinsic * worth, therefore every foot washed away h tv loss to

the public — a less, wo will venturo to say, it will cost twenty times its value to mako good again. Wo arp awaro tho wharf is boing proceeded with, but it drags its slow length most wearily along; so wearily, indeed, as to occasion no small amount of dissatisfaction amongst those section-holders who have contributed, with no ungrudging hand, funds for its formation. Wo would suggest strict supervision by tho committeo whilo the contract is being completed, and that tho work bo hurried on as much as possible That supervision is necessary to prevent an unduo expenditure of publio money there can bo no doubt, for wo observed some of tho piles washed ou6 to soa by the late flood and aftorwards thrown up upon tho beaoh, and that had onco beon driven — horno — in front of Throckmorton's I3ond, had not, from tho appearance of their points, penotrated tho ground to a groater depth than four feet. / Tho extremely inclement weather that prevailed on Christmas Day, and tho ono preceding it, will cause thorn to bo long remembered by tho inhabitants of Hokitika, for an effoctual damper was thrown upon tho fo3tivitics of the season. On Saturday our fellow citizens seemed actuated by ono feeling, viz,, a determination to pay dub honor to a day held in peculiar veneration by Englishmen whorovor they chance to assemble, and accordingly heavy tribute was laid upon the bush, the most beautiful and quaint of the shrubs AVestland forests so nbound' with being gathered and brought in, in cartloads, for tho purpose of decorating the town nnd rendering it as attractive as possiblo to those who preferred keeping up the festival here to remaining in tho bush. On Saturday, tho adornment of the different hotels commenced, nnd towards ovening Rovell streot had quito clmngod its appearance Festoons of evergreens, most tastof ully wreathed, depended from the houses, strings of thorn were suspended across tho street, whilst overy description of that luxuriant family, tho Now Zealand forn showed forth, in this time-honored and appropriate garniture. As wo walked through tho town at a htto hour in tho afternoon, wo woro quito staitlcd at tho metamorphosis, Hokitika ovidontly having dressed herself in bridal attire to welcome tho arrival of him who should for a time rule over her with despotic sway— jovial old Christinas. 110 camo, however, with a, frown upon his brow, storms nnd tempest horalding his approach, as if disdaining to accept tho peace offerings held forth to him ; a fierco N.W. gale, his avant courier, accompanied by deluges of rnin, sweeping over the township on Saturday night horalding his approach, driving every ono of his votaries under shelter to escape its pitiless fury. On Sunday morning tho gale raged with unabated force, tho rain also continuing without intoriiiission \ — avul^nlns for tho docorations of the provious day, what dosolation was in Rovell street I Tho roadway was strewn with wreck — quite carpeted with green leaves, whilst gloom and despondency wero legibly written on tho faco of every person met with. This untoward stato of things aiguod but badly for tho success of tho festival, mid a visit to the river was anything but conducivo to a rovival of hope, for there wo saw a mass of turgid water, every hour increasing in volume, rushing furiously past, that, aq the tide made, was backed up higher and higher until it rose to a level with tho wharf, which it soon overflowed, converting all the 1 low-lying , portion of the town into a large hke. Gibson's Quay, Sowoll, Tailored, and Weld streets woro submerged to such an oxlent that boa^s woroplyingin them; the flood increasing so rapidly that it was at ono timo feared tho residents of many of tho houses would bo driven to seek sholtor in some of tho higbcrbuilt edifices, and at eight o'clock on Sunday ovening, at dead low water, somo idea may bo formed of tho extent of this freshet when wo stato that tho surfaco of tho river was within thrco feet of tho highest part of the wharf. It was most providential that it was then low instead of high water, or tho results must havo been most serious ; nnd most thankful were wo that a slight indication of a change in the weather was percoptiblo. Wo, however, rolired to bed with sundry misgivings in our mind as to what would occur during tho night, and woro vastly roliovod on looking forth nt early dawn to percoivo a considerable abatement of tho wators. Still tho destruction to property by this flood is vory great, tho inhabitants at the loweiv end of Gibson's Quay boing tho principal sufferers, tho river having encroached quite tw onty feet into tho roadway, washing away tho wholo of tho wharf partly constructed in front of Throckmorton's bond, making a pretty general aveiago amongst that rookery of extraordinary little edifices in its immediate vicinity, and undermining tho front of "Throok's," which it not only throatened,to carry away, but also throo months' supply of coal for tho Lioness, stacked iv a yard adjoining it, Everything was in confusion ; overy ono seemed dismayed, and arrangements wero at onco made to removo those buildings in tho greatest danger ; and instead of smoking < chimneys, and proparatidns for the forthcoming feast, gangs of mon woro to bo scon on Christmas morning removing houses bodily to safer positious, shifting tho coal, and talcing down tho store. Mr Tlirookmorton is, wo aro sorry to say, a heavy loser by this untoward ovent, as tho^vholo of his oxtonsivo premises will havo to bo taken down and robuilt ; and we muoh fear another part of tho town will havo to bo chosen for their future site," thoro bonig every appearanco at present that tho river will, oro long, wash away tho wholo of tho north spit. This will prove a great loss to our community, as wo shall be deprived of our only recreation ground, nnd will also leavo tho river, which it is effectually sheltered, comparatively open to tho roll of tho pinf from seawards. Towards noon tho sky cleared, the streets gradually filling with miners from tho Auckland nnd other diggings in tho neighborhood of Hokitika. Hotels and restaurants woro thronged by dinner seekers, and many an unfortunate wight that day was minus his plum pludding : for nlthough it was considered that amplo preparation had beon mado tho demand for good cheer far exceeded the supply ready. Towards evening tho sky again became ovorcast,nnd during tho early part of the night tho rain again descended in torrents. As morning approached it, howevor ceased, and Boxing Day, radiant ,with smiles and sunshine, mado somo slight amends for tho discomfort and disappointment Qccnsionod by tho provious inclement weathor, It will bo remombored that, amongst tho traces of inhabitants found on tho Auckland Islands duiiug tho visits of the steamers Viotoria and Southland, thore was a woll-oxecuted gravo^ stono, bearing tho inscription— " 1.V., Died Docembor 22nd, 1850. Aged threo months." By n curious coinoidenco tho father of the infant whoso death nnd plaoo of rest on tho wild and silont shores of Port Ross is thus recorded, is at present in Nolson, and, as gathered from him, tho Colonist publishes the particular*, of tho fust expedition to tho Auckland Islands, its failuro, ami tho abandonment of tho islands by tho company who started tho Southern whalo fishery. Mr Thomas Younger, who is managing tho mason and briokwork of tho now building for tho Bank of NowZoaland, under Mr Scot!, tho contractor, in father of llio liltlo girl "I.Y.,"— lsubolla Youngor,— who was born, died, and was buried in tho strango desolate placo. Mr Youngor, a nativo of Sundorland, in 1840 engaged himself for a term of fivo years as ma»n and buildor to tho Soiithorn Whalo Fishory Company. Tho firut ship of tho company^ named tho Charlos Enderby, sot sail from England in Decombor, 1810, aud arrived at tho islands in four months, with a full whaling crow and eight married couples. Thoro woro then about a hundied Maoiies on tho islands. But tho settlement failed, tho Europeans loft, and tho Maoriosaio undo) stood to have followed shortly aftorwards for Now Zealand. Homo papers quoto intelligence from Coponhagon, 'stating that Bishop Monrad, tho Premier of tho lato Ministry, who played so prominent a part in Denmark during tho recont war, has just quitted his nalivo countfy, and omigiafcx), with hfs wifo nnd family, to Now Zealand,