West Coast Times

West Coast Times, Issue 116, 31 January 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times

WHIWBSDAY, JAXUAEY 31, 1866.

Westl.vn:d mutters arc beginning to receive some attention and excite some interest on the Eastern .side of the intervening range ; and as a Judge and a Crown Prosecutor are about to cany back "with them to (Jhrhtchureh their impression.'; of the district, it is proper that we should not overlook the fact. Evcn'^the graphic"pen of the descriptive writer has been laid under contribution, and llokitika has been drawn more or less to the life for the delectation of our Eastland friends. A gentleman, who has just achieved the overland passage across the Alps, writes to his civilised friends about the barbarous region he has visited, and his letter finds its due place in the columns of the " Press," a journal which will be for ever immortalised by the originality of its proposal to carry the gold of Westland for shipment at Lyttelton, under the protection of a, monitor on wheels. How lifelike is the picture painted, our readers may judge from the extract we subjoin — a most telling bit of word painting. Describing Hokitika, the writer says : — " I should say as miserable a place to locate in as ever ' Mark Tapley' could have met with (verily if not possessed of the higher motive or power for enduring trouble, ti good sluue of the Mark Tapley element is needful on tho "West Coast). The whole of the town site need ; much drainage and filling up, as in its present state, although partially drained, the rubbish and constantly decaying vegetation cannot but render it truly unhealthy, and fhose who are compelled to reside thereon, arc certainly fitting subjects for commiseration. The opinion of the writer at the time he witnessed it was, that as a place of purgatory it was, to any thinking person, complete ; and that no person need desire for his greatest enemy a heavier punishment than to have him compelled to reside at this place." The ' Lyttelton Times' favors us Avith no photographs of llokitika of this kind, but deals in a somewhat more serious, and on tho whole, we must say, in a fair spirit, witli the great interests that belong to Westland. Our contemporary comments upon tho treatment by the Government of the Grey lliver Coal Company, as a marked instance of practical injustice. The ' Times' commences a very pertinent and effective article by saying :—": — " A brief^ftccoiirft* of the difficulties which arc^thrq^iian/ the way of persons willing to riskljtheir capit'il and employ their ifinerj>7d£' in opening out the mineral* woitUi*~t)f this province may not be totko^i^j^ use." It then adds, that 4n>mosfc'^?irts of the world it is roeogni.se'a^o^'tlie duty of Governments^gjjpa^gtf the cievolop* montof lho^ti%lis&oui'pea of thoiv

in the cuse of new countries, where the very first object at which its rulers should 'aim, is the introduction and investment of capital, and the profitable employment of labor, In Canterbury, the ' Times' maintains that this rule does not hold good, at all events in reference to the outlying districts of the province. "On the contrary, any proposal cmauating from the public, having for its end the utilisation of the hidden wealth of the province, is usually received with the utmost jealousy and suspicion. Instead of stretching out a welcome helpful hand to those wl.o by a wise application of capital would foster new industries, and, by creating fresh exports, add to the real wealth of the country, the Government has met such men with delusive promises, petty hindrances, and vexatious delays, or sometimes, as in the present case, with an absolute breach of faith, conveyed in a spirit that looks like petty spite. Such are the rewards that Canterbury holds out to men who are willing to run the great risks which always accompany tho development of the mineral resources of a new country !" We quote fieely from the columns of our contemporary because it says well and forcibly what we have said and often reiterate, on the part of Westland, and ths discouraging policy that has been systematically pursued towards it. Nothing is more welcome to us than to find in the "Lyttelton Times" a powerful and sympathetic ally. Our contemporary tells the story of the Grey lliver Coal Company, and of its treatment at the hands of the Christclmrch Executive. The Company was formed three years ago, and comprised some thirty of the principal commercial men of the province. It was promised by the late Government the lease of a reserved block of land. By the present Superintendent and Executive such promises were made that the Company had the preliminary survcj 1 - made, and in other ways incurred large expense. But it appears that when the Bill granting the lease to the Company was before the House, Mr Hall proposed the adoption of such restrictive clauses as rendered the measure valueless, and then passed it by altogether when its turn came to be read. The comment of the " Times" on these facts is couched in the following terms : — " By this unwarrantable act, Mr Hall has done his bot to crush a company which has labored for a long time to obtain an in the face of endless difficulties placed in its path by the legislators of the country. We repeat that in the neighboring colonies every assistance would have been gladly offered to any body of men attempting a similar work. Hci c the company Jiiis been met with nothing but vexatious delays, and at last has been thrown aside with official impertinence and contempt." The " Lyttelton Times'' has something more to say about Westland, and its treatment at the hands of the Christchurch Government and Legislature. It opens a somewhat trenchant leader, from which we quoted yesterday the passage referring to the orders issued to Mr. Sale to stop all public works in the district, in consequence of the amendment carried by Mr Prosser on Mr Hall's motion for the sale of auriferous land, with the question — "What is the matter with the Provincial Government?" and adds: — "The Executive may think the order to stop all works a very neat style of reprisal upon the Council, and especially upon the West Const members, who voted for postponing the land sales : but for our part wo must express our entire and unfeigned regret at the result. To speak plainly, we are not satisfied that the Executive have been candid and straightforward, certainly not earnest and cordial, in the matter of the West Coast during the present session. If they had been so, things would not have gone wrong." We gather, from this newly awakened interest in the affairs of Westland as an integral portion of the Province, that the views recently enunciated by the Secretary for Public Works, on the question of Separation, do not find universal favour on the other side of " the intervening range." By a portion at least, of the politicians of Christchurch the importance of retaining the connection with the West Coast is appreciated. The indignation which the past misgovernment of the district has failed to arouse is awakened now that the prospect of permanently losing it has to be looked in the face. Mr. Hall's memorable speech has raised the distinct issue, and it is felt that there is no escape from it, but in the adoption of a juster and more generous policy. Our contemporary says :—": — " We cannot dissever this series of events from the declaration of Mr Hall that the Separation of East from West would be a good thing for the province. Had he bent his mind on carrying out Separation he could not have taken a better course to hasten it. But are we to endure that a leading member of tho Government should play such n game, while charged with the interests of the province as a whole, as to create discontent in the minds of the| Western population by stopping [. public works there, and so to nourish . die desire to separate?"

'• L.VDIKS AX3) GKXIT,EJIKN — AND Working- Miosr. '' — Fuch were the ,terms his Honor used in addressing the crowd of enthusiastic miners and visitors, who assembled at the Kanieri on Monday, to give the Judge a welcome, and who had drunk his health with a cordiality of feeling, whioh could not have been more forcibly expressed to an honored guest in any part of tho world, Wo nro quite sure that Mr Justice Gvesaon offered no inlontionni s%hf, to \\\o miner, in tluiH pointer]!}'

marking him out as belonging to a class separated by a broad line of demarcation from the category of" gentlemen." But the form of expression was an unusual one, and it derived emphasis from the fact that it was more than once repeated. It was not by the "gentlemen' 5 of the West Coast that his Honor was welcomed on his visit to Kanieri The " gentlemen" of the Camp for iustauce abstained from taking part in the demonstration of welcome, on the occasion of the first visit of a high official to a Westland gold-field. The Commissioner himself was not present. The Judge was allowed to proceed in his progress to the Ivanieri unaccompanied by any public officer but the Harbour Master, who was in charge of the harbour boat. The circumstance was unique, and may have produced on his Honor's mmd — as it was well cal culated to do — a conviction that an absence of the usual forms of courtesy and etiquette was a characteristic oi West Coast civilisation. Letting that pass, however, we submit that his Honor committed an indiscretion in making the marked distinction he did between the gentleman and the miner. It may be a Chriatchurch idea that tho digger is a rough and uncivilised sort of person, but the occasion was one inopportune for its betrayal. We do, not enlarge on the subject, because we feel sure that his Honor only unconsciously recognised a conventional distinction which in the colonies ought to be ignored. He was addressing gentlemen in the mass of working men that thronged around him; who had suspended an honest and honorable labor for the purpose of affording him a reception* that any one, however high in rank, might have been proud of, and whose highest claim to the title of" gentlemen" was the fact of their diligent and patient industry, and their self-respectful demeanor. To attempt to map out any lines of social distinction in an Australian community is a grave mistake in propriety and taste.

The 31st. of January, and no news of the English mail, -which was due in Melbourne on tho 10th, and should have reached us, at the furthest, within a week after. The "Bachelors' Ball" takes place this evening afc Throckmorton's store, on the quay, and we believe that nothing lias been left undone by its promoters to ensure the comfort and pleasure of the visitors. K"o doubt a numerous and brilliant party will assemble on the occasion. From the Waimea we hear that Messrs Mehan and party have nearly completed their extensive water race, from the right hand branch of I hat river, across which, about two miles from the forks, they have thrown a large dam forLy-five feet in height by eighty feet in length. The ditch is nine miles long, and will carry twelve heads of w ater, which will command all the terraces and gullies from the clam 'to the beach. Mi- Prosser, M.P.C for Westland, returned to Hokitika overland from Christchurch on Monday last, tho session of tho Provincial Council bciujj over. I3y his courtesy we have been placed in possession of late Lyttelton files. A special meeting o f the Hokitika Volunteer Firo Brigade was held on Monday evening, last, at the Harp of Erin Hote 1 . About thirty-five members were present, and the business to be transacted was the nomination, prior to the election, of officers of the brigade. On Monday next the election will take place, and the usual monthly meeting be held. For the captaincy there wore two nominations, Messrs Milliard and M'Farlane. For tho lieutenancy, Messrs Snowden, Horn, Cooper, and Hudson. As foremen, Messrs Shields, Cooper, Snowden, and Horn were nominated. For the treasurership, Messrs Osborno, Ecclesfield, and Binney were named, and for the office of lion, secretary Mcesrs T. Munro, Binney, and Millard were proposed. Some new members were also nominated, and will be balloted for at the next meeting. We understand, on most reliable authority, though no official statement ha 3 yet been published, that in referenco to a site for an engine-house, &c, the Government have promised to give the required accommodation as soon as the police camp is" moved, which will shortly occur. In reference to pulling down buildings, we hear that tho Provincial Secretary has pointed out, that under the Fire Ordinance of 18G6, power is granted to do so ; but this only extends to towns governed by municipal authorities. Pending the constitution of this town as a municipality, we must wait for these powers to be conferred. The other business transacted was of a very general nature, We may repeat our previous statement, though, up to the present time, no official notice of the fact has appeared, that the Government have promised a grant of £250 to the brigade, and a subsidy of £100 per annum. This is liberal enough, and the townspeople of Hokitika cannot do less than liberally endorse the Government recognition of the services of so useful a body of men as a Volunteer Fire Brigade. The Constables' quarters and mess-room in tho Camp Reserve are in course of removal backward, in order to make room for the new building about to be erected for the Bank of New Zealand. We trust that in a short time the present unsightly fence of the Reserve, f.icin^ Revcll street, will be removed, and the whole of this fine frontage occupied by buildin<rs possessing some pretensions to tasto. Heavy rain set in last evening, with every promise of a continuance of wet weather. For once the Hokitika public will welcome rain as an agreeable change. Mr. Duncan, the Crown Prosecutor, left Hokitika. yesterday by the Wonga Wonga, airl we understand that his Honor Mr Justice Gresson will commence his overland journey to Christclmrch, attended by the Escort, tomorrow morning. J3y the Wonga Wonga, which left Hokitika on Tuesday, the criminals -v\ho had been sentenced at tho Supremo Court, were dispatched to Lytllcton, there to undergo the punishment awarded them for their misdeeds hero. They were thirteen in number, under dillbrcnt terms of imprisonment, with hard labor, from two years downwards, and were accompanied by Sergeant O'Donnel and four constables as a guard. That unfortunate man, Lych field, who was brought up from Bruce Bay hist week, and has since been in confinement as a lunatic, \uis also dispatched to Lyttelton tor treatment. It is feared his case is a hopeless one. By the samo vessel R. J. Feltus, under sentence of remand to Auckland, for embezzlement, left in custody of Constoble Green. The Gaol calendar, for the week omlin«Saturday, January 29th, is a light one, very few criminal cases having boon disposed of by tho R. HI. Of thoso which camo boforo him, sontoneo was passed on sovou, but nowo wore committed fovtviftl at tluthighop ooui't, During tho wook, two (lobtova woro disohwgofi from <%*wy, Tho wmfyw of iwnflfliw ty ftp

Graol afc tho above date, was 37 sentenced men, 6 of whom had passed through the Supreme Court ; lunatics, 2 ; ]em uuled for further hearing, 5 ; total, 4G. Mr Walter Sherwin, while travelling between Ararat and Streatham, in Victoria, with Madame Caranclini and her daughter, took a shot at some wild turkeys, when the gun burst and mutilated him severely. His hand and forearm were amputated at the Ararat Hospital. Prom a telegram printed in tho Melbourne papers, it appears that most unfortunate intelligence has been received from the Leichhardt Search Expedition. Two of the party had reached Queensland, and reported that they hud experienced great suffering ' from the drought. The camels and horses were dead, and Mi* M'lntyrc had been left afc Cooper's Creek. A case of some interest to shipping people was heard yesterday in the Eesident Magistrate's Court. It was an acfion brought by the captain of the John Mitchell against the captain of the Yarra, tug, for damage sustained, as was alleged, through the neglect of those in command of the tug. It appeared that early in the month the John Mitchell, ketch, was lying in the roadstead, two miles south, as was staled, of the channel, over the bar. The Yarra was proceeding to the Gothenburg, and was towing out the schooner Victory at tke time. The Ynrra went close to the John Mitchell, a« the captain swore, within some forty yards of her ; but by some unexplained means the Victory ran right into the John Mitchell, c arrying' away her jibboom and fore bulwarks, and doing other damage. The action was to recover damages from tho Yarra, as it was urged for the plaintiffs by Mr Campbell, that tlie Victory being in low of her, waa under command of the tug. On the other hand, it was contended in defence that the Victory was entirely responsible for her own act that she was under sail afc the time, and thnt there was no necessity whatever for her to have come into collision with the John Mitchell. A report of the case will bo seen in our Police Report ; and it was of a sufficienfly intricate nature to induce the Kesident Magistrate to defer his decision. In the Supreme Court, on Monday last, a motion was made in Chambers before his Honor Mr Justice Gresson, in the case of Agnew v. Wood. It may be remembered that the plaintiff was the captain of the schooner Tommy, and when here was discharged on some ground or other that is not pertinent to the issue. Ho then suod the reputed owner, Mr Wood, for the sum of £35 wages alleged to be due, and other things. The Tommy had sailed before the hearing, and there being no appearance for the defendant, a verdict was given by default. A writ of attachment was then sued out by Mr Campbell, to which Mi' Sheppard, the agent for the boat, was made garnishee, and the object of tho motion was to make this absolute, so as to levy on funds in Mr Sheppard's hands belonging to the Tommy, in satisfaction of the judgment of tho lower court. After hearing Mr Campbell and Mr Sheppnrd, from whose evidence it appeared that tho defendant Wood was really not the owner of the vessel, his Honor discharged the rule, with the exception of £2, which he ordered to be paid to the plaintiff. A rule nisi was obtained by Mr O'Loughlin to be made absolute this day, unless cause is shown to the contrary. To-day there will be a sitting under the Debtor and Creditors Act, at ten o'clock. Tho business, we arc happy to say, ia very light, and the Court will be detained but a very short time by it. The Mechanics' Magazine of September Bth contains the following : — " The recent Exhibition afc Dunedin, New Zealand, appears to have been a success. Tho certificates of merit reached England by the last mail. It is believed tho results of the Exhibition will favorably influence tho future commercial relations between England and the thriving colony." The Provincial Gazette of the 22nd ultimo contains a proclamation of the Superintendent withdrawing certain waste lands of the Crown, situate within thr West Canterbury GoldhVld, also setting apart certain land on the West Coast as sites for the towns of Hokitika n oi th and south. By the Pilot wo have Southland papei'3 to the 23i\l instant. A true bill had been found against M'Connell for wilful murder, and his trial was to take place on the following day. We have much regretted that hitherto it has not been thought advisable to erect an observatory in Hokitika, and have often wondered why the Government displayed such indifference upon a subject that elsewhere is considered of much importance, the study of metereological phenomena being justly regarded as one of the sources from which the most interesting scientific data can be derived. Our wishes, however, in this respect are in the course of being gratified, as an observatory U nearly completed in the Government reserve,' Sewell-street. Mr. Eochfort, Engineer of Works, is the gentleman appointed to preside over it, and a3 it will be supplied with the best description of instruments, we feel sure that for tho future our record of West Coast weather will, for completeness and accuracy, be second to none supplied by any other paper in New Zealand. We hope this arrangement will- not interfere with Captain Turnbull's promise to supply the town with the convenience of a time-ball, the want ,of which has long been felt, and which, we believe, the Harbour Master is anxious to supply, provided the necessary facilities are afforded him by the Government.