THE "MAJOR" TO THE RESCUE.

West Coast Times, Issue 150, 12 March 1866, Page 3

THE "MAJOR" TO THE RESCUE.

TO THK EDITOII OV THE \7E9T COAST TIMES. Sm, — Tt has been a matter of profound surprise <o many, that tho eloito.ml sub-com-mittee recently appointed havo overlooked the distinguished olaims of tho Gta-ilnt Officer, known amongst up, t'lo Mrjor, to rej went this district in thr General Assembly. Wo think it, Sir, a lasting disgrace to the community that a man who is only a printer should bo invited to stand whon we have amongst us a gentleman holding her Majosty's commission. If tho Mujor is as able an orator as he is a letter-writer could the district do bettor than secure his services to fight tho battle of Westland. in the House of Rapresentativeß, where ho*would have the opportunity of wagiug another bloodless coinpaign P We are, Sir, with high consideration, Your'e to command, Bhown, Jones, & Robinson. Head Quarters, Mess Room, Kingstown Hotel.

The Olago Daily Times understands that a favorable roply has beou received to the memorial addrossed by the Committee of tho Chamber of Commerce to the Postmaster Q-eueraJ, in roforenco to the postage of 4d now charged upon priuted Frices-ourrent and similar publications. Tho letter to hand states that it is intended to take immediate Btops to fix the postage at Id each. Wo havo the authority of the Wellington Independent that the Maori prisoners are to be removed to tho Chathains. It says (February 27th), '• Captain A. A. P. Pihnor, late lieutenant in Major Von Tompsky's oorps of Rangers, has, we believe, beon appointed to take charge of cortoin native prisoners captured on the Eapt coast, who aro to be sent to the Chatham Islands. Captain Pilmer received his orders on Saturday morning, and will •s shortly proaeed to Napier. Ho will there take ovor charge of tho prisoners, who, we are given to understand, will then bo brought to this port, and from hero transhipped on board the B.s. Wanganui, in which vessel they ■will bo conveyed to their destination at ' the Adanmns ' of tho South." The Grey Uivw Argus has authority for stating that the Banks havo, out of deforence to the objections urged by the mercantile community of Greyniouth, decided to abandon the proposed escort service between that place and Hokiti&a, and that in futuro tho gold will, as hitherto, bo shipped direct. Wo have been favored by a correspondent with the following description of tho Greenstone G-old field. His letter is dated March 3rd. Tho Q-reenstono diggings aro situated on and in the vicinity of the creek of that name, which is ono of tho northern territories of tho river Tero'makau, tho confluence of their waters taking placo about eight miles from tho sea. At the point where they meet there is a small township, which is supported by a few miners who aro employed working the banks of the creok and the adjacent terraces, and are believed to bo making fair wages. Thero is also another little community located on one of the tributaries of the Q-reenstono, about three miles above tho junotion of the two larger streams. Tho place is called the "Three Milo Diggings," where there are many miners profitably engaged in sluioing operations. Five miles further up the Q-roen-stone, and the main workings are reached ; although Maori Creek, which joins the former some two miles highor up, is tho busiest placo at present. A few months ago tho locality was comparatively deserted, but the construction of water races has attracted a considerable population, all of whom" find that the old ground pays most handsomely for re-working. The price of water is not exorbitant, £5 only being the weekly charge for a sluice-head. Somo of tho races suffered severely- from the heavy floods of last week. That one belonging to Messrs. Sellers and party has received thr most damage, nearly the wholo of it having been swept away. £200 will scarcely cover tho cost of repairing it.. Thero is a very fair demand for hired labor amongst tho numerous sluicing companies, which is fairly supplied at £5 per week for able-bodied men. Provisions aro to be obtained at moderate prices, tho ourrent rates for staple commodities being, for bread, 2s 6d the 41b loaf; tea, 4s; sugar, Is 2d; and butchers meat, Is6dporlb. Other articles are in the same proportion. Although the Qreenßtono was tho first goldfiold dis- ■ covered in Westland, it is anything but exhausted, promising for many years to offer • fair inducements to mining enterprise. At the' same time co-operativo labor is necessary to further develope its resources, tho day of profitable individual mining having passed away.

p ' A now cotton press has beon introduced, which may deserve tho attention of shippers. It is called Ashcroft's patent compound press, and is alleged to xeduco a balo of cotton of 6221b5. in about a minute to between 251bs. and SOlbs. to the oubio foot.