SCENE ON BOARD THE BALLARAT.

West Coast Times, Issue 136, 23 February 1866, Page 2

SCENE ON BOARD THE BALLARAT.

Yesterday afternoon such a scone ocourrod on the wharf as wo never boforo witnessed in Hokitika, and which onco wo feared would terminate in a disturbance. For tho first time did tho looal police turn out in force, evory available man in tho camp being called into requisition, and most thankful aro we it was not found necessary to resort to extreme measuros. Thero was, however, a great deal of excitement, loud talking, and violent gesticulation, which fortunately ended in the quiet dispersion of tho crowd, who vented thoh* feelings of disappointment by somo pretty sevoro anathemas upon shipping agents, Oustoin House authorities, and police offloers generally. Tho excitement was occasioned by tho Steam Navigation Aot being for tho first timo thoroughly onforced in> the port, which resulted in tho detention of tho p.s. Bullarat, then ready for sea, bound to Okarita, full of cargo and passengers. The lato favorable intelligence from tho Southern goldfield having spread far and wide, had drawn a considerable number of minors from the different out-lying distriots, who wero all most eager to proceed as quickly as possible to tho new fiold of promise, and as it had been notified by sound of bell through tho streets of the town that the Ballarat would sail for the > above port some time during the afternoon, a rush on board was the Consequence, and very soon her fore hold was crammed with sw.iga, and men lying in every conceivable position, nnd her deck was also crowded to excess. It soon, however, was whispered about, that a hitch had occurred, and, that in consequence of certain representations made to the Collector of Cus'omf he had refused to grant her a olearanco, and this, moreover, was very soon confirmed by the agent, Mr M'lntyre, who, with evident reluctance, ,, and in a high stato of indignation, gave notico that, undor tho circumstances, the Bullarat would not leave that day, and that those gentlemen who woro on board of hor had bettor return on shore. This, however, did not at all meot the viows of tho diggers, who already in anticipation had transferred themselves to tho golden land of Okarita, and who thoreforo, folt anything but inclined to comply with his request. Mr M'lntyre, however, had just come from tho Custom House, where a cloarnnce had been denied Captain Quance, on account of the Ballarat not having an ocean j certificate, she being only licensed to carry paasohgors a distance of three miles from the land, and as an illustration of tho truth of this, steam was at onco blown off. Great was the oxcitement occasioned by this proceeding, especially amongst the shipping agents, who had mustered in force upon the occasion, and loud wero tho denunciations of so arbitrary a proceeding on tho part of the Custom Homo authorities, one gantloman declaring that wero tho vessel his, ho would sond her away uncleared, andoited sovoral innstancos in whioh the law had been evaded when an attempt to too stringontly enforco it had boon made.. But tho feeling most perceptible was one of regret that bo rich a prizo as two or three hundred diggora all ready and willing to pay, was out of thoir roach, for tho disqualification of tho Ballarat extended to tho Lionoßs and Yarra, both of whom wore lying in idleness alongside the wharf. In tho nioantimo tho state of affairs on board the former vessel romaincd tho same, overy part of her boiug crowded with people, somo fow of whom woro merely lookors on ; but tho greater part of them being really interosted, discovered a dogged determination to remain v where thoy wore until the vory last moment, thinking it possiblo she might yet go in spite of the assertions of tho Captain and agent to tho contrary. By this timo tho crowd on tho wharf had much increased, and a few pojicomen made thoir appcaranco, presontly followed by the inspeotor and the remainder of the force, some of whom proceeded on board tho steamer and attempted to oloar her of her living freight. It was no easy matter, however, to effect this, as tho miners obstinately refused to leave tho hold, and to pull them up by forco was out of tho question — the entreaties of the inspeotor, tho throats of tho Captain to batten them down, and the adjurations of a olorgyman,who was on routo for Okarita, proving aliko unavailing in inducing them to leavo thoir stronghold. At last, after two or three hours had passed away, and whon matters were boginning to look a littlo serious, amove was made whioh broke tho spoil, and slowly and by dogrees tho mon loft tho ship, all protesting most vohemently against tho swindle, for such they choso to consider it. Tho cause, however, of their disappointment is undoubtedly the enforcemont of certain clauses in tho above Act, which tho authorities were perfectly justified in doing, although its effect upon the trado •of tho port may be disastrous in tho extreme, for tho collector of customs has dcolarcd it to be his intention for the future to onforce tho Act, and keep thoso steamers which only hold harbor licenses strictly within bounds. • Thus neither the Ballarat or tho Yarra will be allowed to carry either passengers or cargo along tho coast, and tho Lioness will bo olosoly confined lo towing vessels only. There is therefore only one steamor to fulfil the requirements of a rapidly increasing trado with both Okarita and the G;roy, fc and smart as she is, tho Bruce will find i impossiblo to . do so. Wo fear tho result w ill bo that that whioh was rapidly becoming a most luorative trado to Hokitika has received its death blow, and that henceforth Okarita will draw its supplies from a more direct source, now that communication by steam with tho central town of the coast is denied her. We hope that under the circumstances some modification of the Act will take place, and thaf'three most useful vessels will not be condemned to pass the greatest part of their time in idleness when so many ports of the coast are at present 'being opened up, whioh will in all pro* bability soon require the constant services of a steamer to supply the wonts of an increasing population. Were it possible to supply a olass of vessels fulfilling in every respect tho requirements of the Aot, and at the same time so construoted as to be ablo to cross the bars of Westland rivers, wo should most oortainly advosate their introduction $ but ai suoh boats aro not to bo prooured under a six months' notice, it would bo at least advisable in tho mean timo to make uso of thoso whiob we have, and not oast aside th* old cloak tb»t go for ha» itrred v* fairly, and etaurd rttivwrinf in th« cold whilit th* *wr cm* ii V»i*tf ai»d#.