West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1860.

West Coast Times, Issue 181, 18 April 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1860.

Tim Province of Nelson will support the suggestion mndo by tho "Grey River Argus" for tho annexation to it of the portion of tho Province of Canterbui'y lying to the north of the Tcronaakau River. For the same reason that Canterbury may be presumed to be unwilling to part with it, Nelson is quite ready to seize it. It is a rich tract of country to have and to hold. Tho " Examiner" advocates the proposal on geographical grounds, and says, " there is no doubt whatever that the present south-western boundary of Nelson is not the correct one," and declares that tho Teremnknu is. " unquestionably the natural boundary" of that province. This question of natural boundaries has often been raised between States ; but seldom with much effect upon positical arrangements, which havo generally been dictated by considerations of on entirely different character. It ]ms held v prominent place before now in colonial politics. Victoria has always protested against tho arbitrary straight lino drawn across the map, which gavo to New South Wales, at the time of Separation, a large piece of country which belonged, it was said, to Port Philip. In fixing tho dividing line between tho new colony of Queensland and New South Wales, the former claimed, as belonging to it of natural right, a rich district southward, irrigated by a great river system, which the older ■ nnd more powerful colony succeeded in securing. In our own island, the province of Southland has a standing grievance in tho boundary settlement which robbed it of tho Lake country, and loft that within the lines of Otago. Yet in all cases the allotment ot territory fixed in the first instance has conic to bo practically acquiesced in as permanent. Tho power of altering tho boundaries of provinces in New Zealand has indeed been reserved by law to tho General Assembly ; but that power was never meant to bo used to rob any existing provinco of a rich district, whioh if, was desi-

rous of retaining, and which it was j capable of governing. Nor is it to be supposed for a moment that, in the present temper of tho General Assembly on the subject of Separation, the exercise of the power of .arbitrarily altering boundaries as a means of defeating or circumventing a policy to which tho late House was undoubtedly pledged — and 'which the new House is known from its constituent demon's to ho certain to endorse— will receive any snnction. It is evident that the Nelson "Examiner," whilst catching eagerly at the idea of the annexation of the Groy district us a capital thing for that small and quiet Provinco, has serious misgivings as to the practicability of tho proposal. It speaks doubtiugly of tho spirit in which tho proposition will bo recoived by tho Canterbury Government. But in tho estimate our contemporary forms of tho state of feeling in Westland with reference to Eastland, and of tho views of tho provincial authprities with reference to Westland, lie describes a state of things which lias now materially' changed. Tho Canterbury Govern-! ment's " estimate of the value of the j West Coast to tho eastern plains (says the ' Examiner') has for some timo past been on the wane ; tho universal abuse which has been heaped upon them by all classes in Westland, and the over expenditure which has been incurred for—or at all events, in connection with—her goldfields, has brought about this state of affairs. Tho late Secretary for Public Works remarked that ho should not object to tho separation of Westland, if 'a substantial local government could bo formed ; and his views, wo believe, would probably find many supporters in Canterbury at the present time. Possibly they may bo equally willing to transfer a portion of that district to a provinco whoso government is approved of by the inlm- { bitants, and so follow the wishes of persons on the spot." This does not, in ! many respects, represent the re, 1 facts It is acknowledged that Mr Hall spoke in a fit of unworthy petulance, and he has since retired ' from offico. Wo question if there is any considerable i number of persons on the Eastern side who would bo at all disposed to relinquish any portion of the Westland gold* fields, and see it transferred to another province. On the other baud— seeing I that any movement for tho erection of the whole district of Westland into an independent province, was unlikely to be attended with success — the determination has been generally como to there, to unite hand-in-hand in a strong •endeavor to obtain justice and good government from the Provincial Council and Executive. Our Nolson contemporary must give us credit for being a somewhat practical people, although not n very demonstrative one. The district has not shono brightly in tho matter of J political agitation. It djd not, indeed, j pour " uuiversal abuso "' upon Christchurch, even in tho days whon there was the strongest cause for public indignation. And tho fact must bo accepted now, that tho new powers Weßtland will enjoy, as commanding an enlarged and increasing share in tho legislation of the provinco, and the new opportunity about tp be afforded it by tho election of a now Superintendent, are looked forward to with somothing liko hopeful confidenco as tho beginning of a better stato of things. Tho Grey district ought to be amongst tho first to aid in the work of consolidating tho strength and enforcing tho influonco of Westland. The power is now in tho hands of tho people. By returning five good men to the Provincial Council ; and by probably contributing a member to tho Executive, they will find themselves in a position which will onablo them to wield a very effective influence in securing further concessions aud reforms. In the prospect of such a state of things, the Grey would gain little by its defection from tho common cause, and its petition to be annoxed to another provin.ee. Assuredly, not only East Canterbury, but the whole of Westland south of tho Toremakau, would join in tho protest against the new dividing lino. Canterbury would be supported by Otago, if for no other reason, from the fear that, tho precedent of re-regulating boundaries, onco established, sho might lose her own Lake country. Against such a combination, and tho alliances it could command on various political grounds, what weight would bo carried by tho six thousand inhabitants of the Grey, although backed by the vote of the Provincial Council of Nelson ? We sincerely trust that no more will be heard of this project, for the present at all events. The meeting of the General Assembly is deferred, by proclamation, uutil almost tho last day m May. In the meantime, the elections for tho Provincial Council will como off. It is mortifying to find any portion of tho district diverted, at such a moment from the plain, obvious duty before it. Let tho Grey unite with the rest in tho endeavor to secure for Westlnnd a powerful representation in tho Council ; ami if tho present hopes of icdress of grievances from that quarter, arc disappointed, then let it act still in con* junction with tho other portions of this great gold coast, in the prosecution of other and moro determined measures.

Tho debtor Brown, who ' escaped from his custodian at Ilokitika, on tho 20th ult., was ro-capturod at tho Saltwator Cicok on tho 14lh inst., by Inspoctor Jamos anl Constablo Porcy. Tho polico had boon on his trucks for somo days previously, although tliwr atlompts to capture him woro unavailing j but on tho day in quostion tho abovo oflicors plantod themsolvos, and watchod for him all day, and in tho evening as ho was returning to his font, thoy pounced upon and Hojurod him,

although not without soiuo troublo, as he mado a Btout rosistauco. « By proqlnnintion in tho Now Zoalaud Government Gazette, the General Assombly has boon fuvthor prorogued to tho 28th day of May, thon to meet iv Parliament in tho City of Wolliuglon. No intimation has yot been rccoivod of tho dissolution by tho Govornor of tho Provincial Council 5 ao that tho date of tho oloction of tlio Superintendent, and of Representatives for tho new Couuoil still remains uudotermined. Siuco lho Camp Rosorvc, iv Revoll-Btreot, hti3 boon partitioned into sections, and some of them sold, many a longing ojo has boon cast on tho others, and two attempts maclo to socuro them by jumping. Tho first was a failure, tho wholo rosorvo having boon ro» gazottod, but tho second at first appoarod likely to bo attended by a difforont rosult, for it huviug boon discovered that tho Bank of Now Zealand only possossod ono businoss Hconßo fov tho two eoctious thoy occupied under tho Goldflolds Act, a daring attompfc was mado on Monday by a woll-known bonded * storoman of this town, to obtain possession lon this pica. Straugo it is that in both casoa I tho jumpers sliould bo staunch Christohurch men — oldhabitues of "tho other sido tho range." And yot such is tho caso, and ifc is almost a pity such ill-success should have attonded tho altompls to socuro to tliQinsolvcs the prido of Rovoll-stroot'}' for liko tho first, tho socoud attempt was abortivo, as it is dooidod that bgcauso tho ground is a rosorvo no busiuoss liconso is required to hold it ; at leait such is tho inforonco that wo have drawn from oortain information voufchsafod us. Tho latest order issuod ia to thq police, who aro authorised to eject any ono (by forco, if nocossary) who shall bo found upon tho promises of tho now rush with jumping intontions. in touts situated on tho outskirts of tho town, may tako warning from tho following daring vobbory committed last Sunday night, at a tent closo to Gibson's Tramway. Thcro wore at tho time two men asleep insido and ono of them was awakened by feeling a sharp jork at tho head of his strotcher, but as J it was not ropoated, ho took no further notice, and went to sleep again. In tho morning, ho.rovor, lho tont presented v sorry spootaolo, :is it was cut half round tho bottom and up ono of tho sides j and whon Konnoy, ono of tho inmates, proceeded to dross himself, ho found that his trowsors wore missing. This was tho more serious, as his purse happoned to bo in ono of tho pockets, and it was vory cvidont that both had boon burglariously abstracted. Having arrived at this conclusion, tho other man prooeedod to give information to tho police, and whon on his way piokod up tho missing trowsors at tho back of Gibson's Hotel. Tho purso was also found in tho pocket, but minus that which it contained tho previous night. Tho Camp of courso was visitod, and information (jiveu, but no traeo of tho thievos has boon diseovorod. \j Tho rovonuo of Nolson (says tho hxaminer) is recoiving largo augmentations from tho goldflolds. Tho customs rovonuo recoivod nt this port for tho quarter ondod tho 31st of March, did not roach tho amount received during tho corresponding quarter of last your by £887, but this wtw moro than componsatod for by tho rovonuo rocoivod from tho Wost Coast, whore, at Groymouth, tho customs now collected aro'at tho rato of £50,000 a year, of Avhich ono half is credited to Nolson. Our provincial share of this rovenuo, and tho gold duty, miners' rights, and liconsing feos, aro at prcsont giving tho provinco n rovonuo of considorably over £40,000 a year. The outlay made by our Government in oponing up tho country for diggers, is boiug thoroforo rapidly repaid, and tho Superintoudont will profit, wo hope, by tho losaon his liboral conduct has taught him. Yoslerday Sergeant Wilson, of tho Uokitika i Police, had a somowhat narrow cscapo whon crossing tho Arahura on horseback, in com- J pany with Sorgoant Blair. As thoro was a cousidorablo frosh in tho river thoy ontorod it at tho upper ford, but on roaching tho contro of tho stream Wilson's horso lost his footing and tho ridor was washed out of tho saddle Fortunatoly, howover, ho oluug fast to tho horso'a mano, and although thoy woro swopt ovor tho falls, both safoly reached tho shoro just opposito tho West Coast Hotol. Tho Marlborough Press of tho 7th instant, contains tho following account of tho discovery of a human skolctontivoar Blenhoim, contained in a letter from tho Polico Sergoant of tho district : — " Blenhoim Polico Office, 3rd April, 1866. Sir : I havo tho honor to report for your Honor's information, that ifc was represented to mo on tho .night of tho 31st March, at 3 o'clock, by a man namod llattan, in the omploy of Mr Thomas Rodwood, Wairau, that on tho mud-flat opposito to his houso ho had, whilst searching for bullocks, disoovored tho skeleton of a man. I immediately communicatod tho ciroumstanco to 0. H. Mofllt, Esq., Coroner, at whoso roquent I wont and oxaininod tho remains of tho doceasod. Since viowing tho docoasod, I mado my roport to the coronor, who states that ho considers an inquost unnecessary. I conjecluro that tho decoasod must havo boon drowned in ono of tho numerous crooks on tho mud-flat, whilo attempting to cross from the Bouldor Bank, or othorwiso going from tho direction of Blonhoim, aud that tho body must havo boon washed whoro it now Hob by a frosh, possibly after boing some timo immersed in tho mud. Tho akoloton is perfect, with tho oxcoption of a fow bones boing displaced from its frarao. Thero aro no moans of identifying tho body. Tho skull is Sound, freo from all marks of violonco, no bones brokon. Tho boots appcarod good, whioh, togothor with tho socks (bluo woollen) woro remaining on decoasod's foot. Theso I cut open, and both largo too nuils porfcet. The feet immediately orumblod into fragmonts. A small portion of bluo shirt lies by tho sido of do. ceaßed, and a leathor belt, but no signs of any outor garments. Supposod ago from 18 to 25 years. Height, 5 feet 0 inches to 7 inches. Slight build. Should think tho deceasod roust havo been lying in the present position from six to nine months. I have mado inquirios if any ono has boon missing, but can obtain no tidings of »uol> bping tho eoio,"

Her Majosty tho Quoen has beon pleasod to contribute £100, and tho GoographicarSo' oioty ,S2OO, towards tho Loichhardt SWoh Fund. ' "Wo tako tho following from tho Nelson Examiner : — " Tho leasing of tho coal niino at tho Grey to tho Ballarat Company has had tho effect of rcduoing materially tho prico of this valuable fuel, as it is now sold at GroyI mouth at 30s. a ton, and considerably lobs whon takon in largo quantities. This, howover is still far too high a price j and although it may be in largo demand for consumption on tho spot, and for steainors trading on tho coast, it must como down considerably before it can compete with imported coal in other parts of tho colony. Tho difficulties of tho harbour at the Grey will, wo foar, always oporato against tho expwt trade from that rivor ; and unloss a harbor could bo made at Point Elizabeth, four miles to tho north of tho Groy, wo fear tho coal trado from thoso fields will novor attain any great dimensions. At tho Buller, howovor, thero aro no such ditllcultios iv shipping tha coal, as tho latter rivor offors a good harbor for vessob up to a cortain sizo, and tho only question in working this mino is tho oxponso in bringing tho coal fourteen miles to the port. With a largo capital sunk in preliminary works, tho coal »t the Buller could bo workod quite as woll as that at tho Groy, whilo it is somewhat bottor fuel ; and with suitablo vossols to couvey it away, it might easily bo raised and shippod in sufllciont quantities to oupply tho wholo colony. Tho Admiralty roporfc of theso two coals, which will bo found in tho proßent Summary, shows that thoy aro suporior to any Australian coaU, and equal to tho arorago 7d of England. Ihoro is no doubt (says the Daily Titnet) that mineral oil has been found in Taraiiaki. A small bottlo of it has bcon sont to us. It is thick, of a reddish brown color, and disagreoable odour. A picoo of paper etotped in it burns for a considerable time, with a strong, smoky flame. Properly purified, it will doubtless prove an excellent oil. It is hoped that it will bo obtained in largo quantities, and thoro seems every prospect that such will bo the oaso. The depth at which it is struck as yet is vory shallow 5 and whon a greater one is obtained, the supply must increase. Besides tho fact that at times it covorg the wholo surface of the water withing the Sugar Loaves, proves that thoro must bo a largo quantity of it. It is difficult, indeed, to exaggoVato tho valuo of tho discovory — supposing it fulfils its promise. Wo subjoin a description of tho sinking, which wo havo recoived from Taranaki : — " I havo s»nt you by this mail a small bottlo of Our petroleum. The shaft lias now beon sunk sixty foot ; at about fifty feet in depth, tho same ihlngleand dark clinker rook dosoribod in a former letter, woro met with, after which, a vory hard trachytio rook, with large crystals of obsidian. After sinking a foot or two in this hard rook, it became somewhat softer, and tho ground sounded very hollow, so tho shaft has been tubod to tho top, down which the boring machinery ii to bo used. At present there is forty feet of wator in the shaft. Itis curious to watch the comtant ebullition of gas j some thousands of cubio foet must bo given off in tho hour, wbilifc a buckot full of wator drawn from tho surface, after standing awhile, will yiold some six or eight inohos of an oil similar to tho sample sont. I would call your attention to tho fact that tho oil oamo on tho striking of tho hard, aud what I suppose to bo auciont, trachyte. Everyono is in hopei that su'.'oess may attend the Tenture." / Concerning tho beaches in that district the Okarita Time* remarks : — " As we expected, through tho increased traffic up and down tho coast line a number of places hitherto untried havo beon prospected with greater or lest success. Northwards wo havo had no very encouraging nows, but havo hoard of a munbor of parties knooking out " tucker" at least, and everywhere whoro the northorn beaches hare bcon triod this result has at loast attended labor. Southward wo havo better nows, for wo loam, not only that Gillospio's boaoh ig being thoroughly worked, but that oxcellont gold has been got thoro. This is one of tho most likely looking boaohos on tho wholo coast, is made up of washing!, so to speak, of two rivers, and is in ovory respect likely to prove highly auriferous. It is about throo miles in extent, and was but partially worked by tho prospectors, or rather tho prospoctor from whom the place derives its name. Gillospio, howover, was paid for -his work, and though now woll located in an excellent claim at tho Five-milo, ho might hare dono worse than have stuok to tho beaoh ho opened. Thero are about 200 minors at work, all doing tolorably woli, and only one store, whioh we should imagine is taking the lion's sharo of the profit. Within tho last day or two, we aro informed, parties havo gono back to the terraces, and have done exceedingly woll, but wo do not vouch for tho truth of tho statement. In other localities to tho southward wo have heard of small payablo patches, but nothing of special notice