West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 100, 12 January 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1866.

Bbfokk tho Sittings of tho Supreme Court commence, when it would be impertinent to press upon his Honor's attention any matters not immediately connected with his official duties*, we revert lo the subject of Mr. Justice Gresson's visit to Wcstlnnd. It is seldom we have the presence amongst us of a gentleman holding n high social position and a high official appointment, on the othor side of the intervening range; and the inhabitants of this outlying district may bo excused if they manifest a desire' to make the most out of the event when it occurs. Mr. Gresson has not been a recluse sinco his arrival in llokitika. lie hashad tho opportunity, and ho has availed himself of it, of seeing the - town and the people, nnd of judging for himself what character of men these diggers and business licencoes are. His Honor was one of tho foremost citizens of Christchurch, nt the timo when one of its leading journals almpst resented the act of Providence which had inflicted such a vulgar troublesome thing as a goldfield upon tho ar,js» toeratic province. Touch pitch und yon must bo defiled, was the idea of that day. A horde of rough, half-civilised miners might bo good enough for Otago ; but there were much more respectable ways to wealth ; and from the model oiuwhioh the Canterbury Provinco was formed, overything approaching to Californiau or Victorian elements had been so carofully eliminated, that tho incursion uf diggers was looked upon with much the samo feelings as we may suppose to havo belonged to tho old civilisation when it witnessed tho invasion of the Goths. It is triie that Christchurch soon contrived to reconcile itself to the insult that Providence had offered it. It was not long in finding out that fleece was to be clipped on tho West Coast pastures; and it has "pssiduously" dono its besi to make tho most it can out of this outlying district of tho provinco. In the endeavor to monopoliso tho -trade of the district it has dono many foolish and many unjust things. It is very difficult to bring the conviction of this fact homo to tho Eastland mind. Such mild agitation as we have had hore, has failed to do it Such temperate but reiterated remonstrances as, the press has made on the subject have equally failed. We cannot hope that any greater success will attend the representations of our members in the Provincial Council. They are witnesses from a distance, and open to the iinpuWioiV, of beln| unauty P-veposswd

with AVestlan'l ideas. Even wore they men of high capacity and of groat powers of eloqre.ico, their advocacy would be subject to this most serious drawback. In spite of nil that may be said hero, and of all that may. bo said olscwhore, that has the reputation Of having been inspired here, Christchurch will probably continue to feel that we are fair game, and continue to make uso of our revenue in order to servo Eastern interests. Although Mr. J.ustico Grcsson is not apolitical man, it may be assumed with some ' certainty that the impressions ho will carry away with him from Hokitika will not be restricted to himself. They will- spread, and will to a very appreciable extent influence the tone of Eastern opinion on .'West Const affairs. It is not necessary to give Mr Gresson any information on the subject Of tho Escort. He will be familiar with tho circumstances under which it was organised and despatched Ho was in Christchurch when it returned from its inglorious service with empty bullion pouches. Ho was, probably, a reader of the ludicrously sagacious suggestion of tho " Press," for tho transport of tho gold from tho West Coast across the intervening range, by weans, of bulletproof turret carriages. May we not hope that his actual experience of us will cnablo, him to understand that this notable project affords n duo to the whole policy of, the Christchurch people towards the West Coast, and tho states-man-like wisdom by which that policy is inspired? Since Mr Justico Grcsson has bcoirnmongst us— -and four business days cover tho interval — upwards of five thousand ounces of gold havo been cleared at the Custom House, and shipped in ono bottom direct for Melbourne. This is a weekly occurrence, with tho only variation that tho quantity shipped ordinarily reaches a much higher average. Yet he will note that tho cost of this abortive Escort establishment, against the initiation of which the people of Westland havo never ceased to protest, will be charged as an item against the district. If His Honor' has leisure to read the daily record of tho papers, which tell of an almost unbroken succession of fatal accidents in tho attempts of mihois/ to oross tho rivors that interpose between them and tho scene of their intended operations, —and of the perpetual interruption offered , to prbspecting, through the want of practicable bush trackshe will havo somo understanding of the irritation induced hero by the squandering of unnumbered thousands of pounds in the formation' of a road across the range, designed to make Lyltelton the port of Westland, while a ,far more frugal expenditure would suffice to open up tho whole of Iho AVestland district to tho enterprise of the explorer. Ho will have heard much .011 tho "othor sido of the range" of tl^c dangerous character of the West Coast harbors — tho convenient excuse for this solfisli wad expenditure. But His Honor will havo the opportunity of seeing with his own eves tho manner in which the port of llokitika is allowed to becomo daily more dangerous than nature has made it. With tho recollection fresh on" his mind' of tho lavish expenditure upon elaborate harbor works at Lyltelton , it will bo edifying to him to noto tho tardy and insufficient attempts made hero at harbor improvement! ,It is during his Honor's sojourn amongst us that tho latest illustration has bceu nfibrded of the naturo of tho provision mado for the postal convenience of tV.o West Coast population. Ho may havo .seen that wo uro a people somewhat addicted to newspapers ; ambitious of maintaining a local press not very inferior to that of the Eastern capital; very glad to receive papers from home, and especially glad to post exchanger. The fact will havo boon brought homo to his Honor's mind that except for such a stray chnuco as tho departure of tho Gothenburg fo Melbourne to-day affords, there would have been no opportunity whatever given to settlers in tliisjtiiopulous and wealthy " outlying district," of mailing newspapers for home dclivory.

It will be within Mr Grcsson's recollection, that the still unexplained " bnlnnco shoot" for West Canterbury sots down the item of Administration of tho Goldfields nt n sum in- round numbers of £50,000 11 year ; the item of Police i\t .£15.000 a year ; the' item of Telegraph nt £3215, nnd the- item of Roads (meaning' the road across the Alps) at £25,000 for three months. lie will be better able to form an idea than we are, of what is included in tho most mysterious first iteln. lie will bo able to estimate the value, or no value, to this district of tho mountain void across the Alps. Descending to minor matters, his Honor will not fail to observe the practical exclusion of tho district from tho pale of civilisation, so far as this is regulated by municipal law. It is deprived of all eft'eotivo power for the suppression of nuisances. Ithas no bye-laws — no authority competent to regulate its internal life. The undefined powers of the Commissioner aro openly ignored in the Magisterial Court. Even tho work of town improvement has to be entrusted to a voluntary association possessing no legal status. Mr Grcsson may note that the principal streets of tho town — even tho very street iv which his own coxirt is held — aro left in an unreclaimed 1 stato of nature ; and, marking theso things, ho will be able to appreciate tho grounds of that bitterness of fooling against tho Eastltmd Govcrnnient which the Christchurch papers affect to considor " inexplicable. Tho impression produced on his mind by his personal observation of those facts we may fain hopd His Honor will carry back with him across " the intervening range ;" and it will bo strango indeed if the efl'ect is not un altered tone 0 f feeling in tjie circles in which* he moves, with reference to the grievances and the claims of this ill-used district, which amidst all provocation has displayed a wonderful moderation of tempor. Such we may nt least expect to be one of the incidental advantages oonfovved on -Wcstlnnd by His Uquov'h Yiait, ' •

Wo bog to notify, for the information of the pnblio, that the csuito lorortcd in our issuo of yesterday as boing scq'no-ftratoi', is in no way connected with 'the firm of J. F. Byrne and Co., Clothiers, Kovell street. For tho commercial reputation of this firm wo deem tho present ex plan ilion necessary, as it case of mistaken iden ily sni'insto havo nrison amongst a few who aro not intimately acquainted with this, ono of our most respecfablo firms. It will ho seen from a post oflice notice in anotbor column, that a mail will bn despatched to-day for tho Australian colonies and Great Uritttin by tho Gothenburg for Melbourno. The mail closes at two o'elook, and for registered letters at ono. A letter and newspapor mail for Europe will bo made up this day, for despatch by the Gothenburg, which has arrived in tho roads, and sails diroot for Melbourno. By this opportunity newspapers posted on Tuesday for despatch by tho Wonga Wonga, will be forwarded, together with uny newspapers for England and tho colonios posted subsequently and to-day. Somo dissatisfaoUon has boon expressed by the residents in and around Wharf-street, and a portion of Kovell-street, at tho right-of-way recently existing between tho si ores of Messrs. Reeves and Go., and Ohesnoy and Co., in ltovollstreet, being closed, and at thoso two firms sharing tho Whurf-shecb frontago botweon them. As wo aro informed, on most reliable authority, the following aro tho pirticulttra of tho caso : — Somo timo ago tho (lovornmont wei-o requested to re« servo a right-of-way, nnd tho fiontago was accordingly rcsoived Siiifo then, whon it became known that somo oftor's woro being made to got itoloscd again, on tho ground I hat it was not of any uso but only a receptacle for rubbish and nuuunoos, a doptitatiuir consisting of Messrs Binncy and Muilhuvl waited on Mr Sale, in roferenco to tho matter. Thoy pointed out that it was necessary. 'not only for tho convenioneo of the public, but for thcsifoty of tho town that such rightt-ot-way should bo kept open, in order that in c.\so of firo occurring somo breaks should be ponnitled whore it could be more easily checked. Mr Sale agreed with tho deputation, but said that ho would rcquiro a memorial on tho' subject, signed by thoso most interos'cd, Mr Binnoy got up tho memorial and obtained about forty signatures, and on its receipt Mr Sale said that ho would give instructions to tho police to keep tho thoroughfare open. Since that time othor changes havo taken place, and the tsvo firms abovo alluded to. now share the ground. It is fnrthor intended, wo hoar, 0:1 tho part of tho Union Bank, to tako possession of the other fiontago in llevell-strcot. As may bo imagined this alteration is by no means popular. 1 Tho Wannnmd Chrankle, Deo. 80, thi»3 alludes to the first " military movement" at Wnnganui under General Oliuto ! — A party of men went out this morning towards the Waitotara, consisting of thiity of the Royal Artillery undor Lieut. Cirro with two six-pounder guns, and one hundred of the 14th Rogt. undor Capt. Furnpiiux. The nativo contingent also proceeded during tho day, with a number of Kupapas. His Honor Judge Giesson will sib in Chambers to-day, at 11 o'clock, in tho new courthouse, and tho Volioo Court will not be held till 2 o'clock, instead of 11 o'clock, as usual. Mr T S. Duncan, of Christchurch, will act as Crown Prosecutor at the approaching sessions. lie luh hold tho oflico on the east side for some time, and brings with him a high reputation for ability. He has been duly gazetted for Iho Westland district., and will commence his duties on Monday next. The Wanganui Chronicle, Deo. 30, says :— Yesterday morning, as or»o of the Commissariat canoe 3 was coming down the river, it was fh-e'd at from tho right, bank, about 800 yar-h above Rurakia, Tho canoe contained five soldiers and soven civilians. Tho thick fern and scrub ofteotually concealed tho marksmen, who fired tao shots, happily without doing any injury Amongst othor roforms introduced by our now harbor-mastor, Captain Turnbull, is a liconsiug system for watermen, wliorcby unquestionable good will result to tho public, and tho rowdy portion of thoso engaged in tho trade will meet with a wholctomo check.' It id to be hoped Mint as such a good examulo lias boon set on the wator, tho authorities on land will establish an equally required system of liconsing for N wharf carters and other vehicles plying for hire in the town. At present tho reckless driving of Rome of tho draymen in chargo of horse* is extraordinary, and how it is that more accidents have not lmpponcd is mitaculous. Tho most unruly sec ion of this class seem to assume that tho streets, footpaths, and all woro constructed for their special uso or abuse, without roforencq to the comfort or safety of other people Wo hopo that the Commissioner's a ti>ntion will be called to tlii:i matter, and that ho will givo such instructions to tho policoas will imposo Home kind of restraint in future. Thoro is a probability of a rush talking placo oloio to our doors ; for yostorday ovoning, two mon cntnrod Mr Proctor's shop and tondorocl for weighing a small pared of gold, which thoy statod was obtained out of two dishes of washdirt. Tho weight of it was exactly 2 dwts. 12 grs., which is certainly a very fair prospect for tho quantity of stuft" waehod. Tho parties rofusod to tell from wheneo they had obtained il, but admitted it was oloio to town, and said, they sKould apply for n prospocting claim this morning. Wo sincerely trust a new Hold has boon oponotl, although tho news seems 100 good to bo true Tho Olago Times says : — A meeting, called by advoiiisomont, was held nt Beat's Royal Hotel, We> t Hftwksbury, last week, for tho purpose 0? selecting a candidate for tho representation of tho district in tho General Assembly. MrJ. Orbell was unanimously elected chairman, who, having explained tho purpose for which the meeting was convened, Messrs Yogel, D. Bell, and J. Cargill wero proposed. A show of -hands was then taken, when sixteen wore held up in favor of Mr Yogol, thirteen for Mr John Oargill, and ftvo foi 1 Mr 8011. -Aftor somo further diacussian, it vaV decided t\wX Messrs Yogel and J. Cargill should bo requested to ofl'or themsolves as candidates at tho onsuing election, and tho meeting was brought to a conclusion by a voto of thanks to Uio chairman . ■ , Miss Edith Palmorston'B entortainment con-" tinucs to a.ttraot good audiences at tho Theatre Royal, and her performances are . nightly 10coived with eVory demonstration of satisfaction Last night she introduced several of her favorite selections, including Volanto, Dickoy Hartshorn, Jomima Jane, and Paddy Flannigan. Her versatality was wonderful ; sho was in capital voico, and hor songs wore rendered with great taste and musical precision. Tho .ovor popular "Do Dear" was vociferously encored. Miss Annie Beaumont and Professor Parker greatly contributed ttf the success of tho cntortuinmont. Mr W. Alcxaudor takes his bonotifc tonight, and although this gontleman does not play a vo'ry prominent part on "tho stago, ho ha 9 O9tablißiio(l v substantial claim to tho patronage of tho publio by tho ablo and courteous mannor in which ho has disohavgod his duties' us losßeo and genoral manager of Miss Palmorston's pntoi'ttiinmonts. Ilia bovvlcos in tboao rospecta deservo a liboral recognition. Wo obsorvo that to-morrow ovoning is annouucod an Miaa Pulmorston's final nppoarnnco in llokitika, prior to hor departuro to fulfil an ongagoment nt iho Cfroy. On Wednesday last tho boatmen on tho Arahum drove a brisk trado ferrying passengors over and swimming horses across, tho heavy flood putting a slop completely to any attempt, at fording it,. 5s wim tho price charged fo>' a man and hort.o, und doublo faro for ordinary passengers At dead low water, however, somo packers attempted to push' thoir horses through, with tho object, no doubt, of saving tho oxtro^chargo, ■which rash procedure very nearly resulted iij tho drowning of ono of them and lohs of the goods with which tho poor bruto was laden ; for when oloso to tho north bank tho horse lost his footiug and was in au instant turned right over with his feet out of water. His struggles to rccovor himself wero fru&tratcd by tho hoavy burdon ho carried, and had it not boon for the ready insistauco of somo diggers who wore waiting to -cross ho must, have been drowned. Yesterday tho fresh' had considerably abated, hoisenion fording the river without difficulty. Tho wator on Gibsous Quay scorns likely to bo a permanent nuisance, ana will bo so till tho hugo holo m which it is*now, is filled up. WllOrt {ll!»t Will hp dop is np& eapy tp gu«»9|

but in tho. moantime tho bottom is gradually becoming worso and worso, owing to tho heavily loaded drays that havo to pass through it. In Bomo placos at tho prosont timo thcro is nearly two fcot of water, and it is quito iinposßiblo to drain it. To havo a lagoon on onosido tho wharf on which boats can ply and tho rivor in which tho vcssols lio on tho other, is at lcaßt a novelty. When it is further romembarod that a very largo proportion of tho goods arriving in llokitikn, aro necessarily carted through this wator, wo can only fool surprised at tho morcantilo community taking maltora so easily. The trite old adage " live and lenrn " is no less applicable in Hokitika than other parts of tho world, and it is to bo hoped our dearly bought experience »vill be made the most of, especially in all matters relating to publfo works. Wo don't wish to cast reflections on any particular person in the matter to which wo arc going to allude, but there can bo no doubt an error of judgment was committed when tho plan of tho present whatf was drawn out. Wo hope that should an extension of this usoful structure bo determined on, a different mothod of sheathing it will bo adopted, and the planks instead' of being laid horizontally with tho edgo of,ih'e lowest one just resting upon the bottptfi, bo driven vertically some few feet into, -tho river bod. In this respect the now wharf- 'at the foot of Ilovoll street, now in couimo of, -construction, is decidedly aui-orior to the old ono, and a very useful lesson may bo learnt from it by tho Bnginoor of works. Wo nro afraid tho Govornmont wharf will bo constantly needing ballasting, for ovory flood makos-immenso holos in it, in consequence of tho rivor working under tho lowor plank, thus washing tho ballast away wholesale Fascino3 sooin but of iittlo sorvico, although load aftor load havo boon thrown into somo of tlicso gaps ; and wo aro much afraid tho wharf will require vortical shoathing from ono ond to tho othor. This is anotllor illustration of tho ponny-wise and pound-foolish policy. The following aro tho names of tho Now South Wales Cabinet, reconstructed in consequence of the resignation of Air Samuel as Colonial Trcasui'or :— Colonial Secretary and Premier, Mr Cowper ; Secretary for kinds, Mr Robertson ; Secretary for Public Works, Mr Smut ; Colonial Treasurer, Mr Biudeskin ; Attornoy-Geuoral, Mr Plunkctt.