West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1860.

West Coast Times, Issue 230, 14 June 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1860.

It is by no means easy to estimate tho amount of property which has been destroyed by the encroachments of the river on the western portion of Gibson's Q-uay, owing to the neglect of somo timely measures of precaution. Those who have been residents in Hokitika for a period of a few months only, remember the time when a broad belt of land lay between the water and houses, the very foundations v of which are now being sapped. Tho memorialists who havo addressed tho Superintendent, estimate the loss of private property occasioned by tho strong currents acting upon an undefended bank, at tho lowest, at LI O,OOO. Stores and residences have had to be removed ; families have been driven from their dwellings and obliged to seek shelter in other parts of the town ; and in very many instances the result has been absolute ruin. What the public loss has been may be to somo extent appreciated, when tho value of business frontages in Oiis part of the town is borne in mind. In no other part would the Government land have fetched an equal price. It \va c i tho spot first chosen for location, ( by merchants who bad the chance in tho early days of taking their pick of sites upon which to erect their business establishments. Yet this ground has been actually lost — melted away like an estate squandered by n spendthrift — because no timely and judicious outlay was made to arrest the destroying work of tides that day by day made their inroads. Never was a more apt illustration of the old adage of " penny wiseand pound foolish." If thousands of pounds had been expended in proteeing this spot, the public revenue would in the long run have been'the gainer. As it is, owing to this neglect of a necessary work, not only has an enormous amount, of private property been sacrificed, but in tho public balance sheet there is a heavy sum to be set down on the wrong side.

Notwithstandingjthe destructive work is still allowed to go on, and still more calamitous encroachments upon one of the chief business parts of the town arc threatened, unless tho wharf be at once extended for some distance westward. It has now become a question whether the south end of Revell street shall be saved, or whether, together with fhe valuable buildings erected upon it, it shall bo allowed to bo washed away. It appears that the Commissioner, seethe urgency of tho case, called for tenders for the necessary works to prevent the devastation impending; that ho found the required outlay would amount to the sum of £600, and that on his applying for authority to expend that sum he received instructions which may be freely interpreted as meaning, " Let the wharf go to the sea, and save the money."

In addressing the government of Mr Moorhouse^we trust the memorialists will meet with more sympathy. On the late visit of that gentleman to Ilokilika, it is known that ho carefully inspected the wharf' and harbor works ; and he will be better ablo than those who never saw them, io form an idea of the de. structivo agencies that arc in constant operation, and of the feebleness of tho barriers that have been erected against them. Tho memorialists may appeal to him not only as the Superintendent of the province, but as the member for Westland m tho Colonial Parliament. He has given evidence that ho is proud of tho distinction, and conscious of the power and political importance that have been conferred upon him by his election for the West Coast. At tho banquet given to him in Christchurch to celebrate his return for tho Suporintondency, -ho made it his boast. Ho said "ho confessed that ho was an ambitious man, but his ambition was not to enter on a course of pleasure, but of usefulness. And ho hoped it would please Providence to instigate his friends to aid him before God and the people in doing what was right. Tho General Assembly would shortly meet, and he, on behalf of tho largest constituency in the province, would be going up to it." Wo may hope that tho day has gone by, when reasonable requests from this district, even though they involve to the expenditure of six hundred pounds, to save thousands of pounds worth of private and public property, will be met by a curt. reply not to spend a sixpence. Though not pledged to any partiality towards Westland, Mr Moorhouse is pledged to do it

justice, us fur as his porsoniil twd ofh'cin influcnco can avail tj> effect it. In this case the prayer pf the memolists is most moderate and reasonable ; and it is based upon considerations less of private interest than jjublic policy. It is public property thjit is sought especially to bo conserved] Eve foot of unsold Government laud that is washed away is an absolute loss to the exchequer, a wasting <>f the public estate, the effects of which will bo felt when this portion of tlie town lands conies to be sold by the government.

Tho Auckland brings no rows of groat interest from tho North, and (ho Christohuroh papers received by tho ovsrlaud mail avo equally destit uto of intolligonco. Tho banquet to Mr Moorhquso is roportoij, but it was not markod by any special features.

Tho population of tho i Groy district is estimated at about 5000. Mr Warden Rovoll reports that " sluicing oporotions havo been carried on with vigor, during tho fortnight" throughout tho distriot, tho different headracos having been woll supplied with wator by tho late rains. Tho district has boon visited by a gang of reputed thiovts, well known to tho police. Mr Gcorgo Dobson, assistant engineer, has boon missing tiuco Monday, tho 28th May. Ho was last aeon at tho Arnold township."

Mr Warden Schaw, writing from tho Kaniori, states—" I havo nothing frosh to roport for tho last fortnight, with tho oxcoption of tho arrival of two moro .steam engines for Commissioner's Flat, ono for tho Kauiori Steam Drainago Company, and tho othor for Hunlor and Co. 5 tho formor company havo at last got to work, after many disappointments : thoir Californian pump is perhaps tho largest on tho West Coast, boing fifty feet long, and calculated to throw up ono thousand gallons of water por miuuto. The Hau Hau road is in an advanced state, and tho contract for tho aido cuttings, &0., will bo signed in a fow days. Tho distriot is qiiiofc and prosperous. Tho woathor on tho whole, flno, and very litllo timo has bcou lost by tho minors. Tho population of this distriot may bo ostimatod at 3500 3000 of whom aro minors, and 500 othcrwiso ougaged.

A mooting, largely attended , was hold on Tuesday ovoning at the Criterion Hotol, consisting chiefly of gentlomon interested in proporly in Revell and Wharf-streots, to promote measures for tho extension of tho wharf. Resolutions woro passed appointing a deputation to wait upon Mr Salo, and directing a memorial to bo forwarded to His Honor on tho subject. Wo report olsowhoro the consequent proceedings.

The " Lady of Lyons," and tho « Lottory Tiokot" woro reproduced last night at the Princo of Walos with vory markod success, to a good house. To-night tho bill consists of " Lady Audloy's 'Seorot," and tho " Lottory Tiokot."

An awfully sudden death occurod at tho Hau Hau during tho night of tho 11th inst. It appears that a minor ilaraed Ludor Von Thou, a nativo of Germany, rotirod to rost in his tout at tho usual hour, apparently in tho enjoyment of excellent health. About two o'clook, howovor, his mato namod John Otton, hoard him groan heavily, and half an hour lator found, on looking at him, that ho wa quite dead. Tho body was brought into town yesterday, and an inquest upon it will bo hold to-day, at tho Post Ofllco Hotol.

It will bo seen from an advortisomont else, where that tho mooting for tho election of two moinbors to act as assessors nt tho olootion of Municipal Councillors, and for nominating candidates for tho Hokitika Municipal Council, has boon convonod, in acoordanco with tho provisions of tho ordinanco, for Wednesday, tho 27th instant. Tho notice iB signed by tho roquisito numbor of tho original petitioners* and tho meoting is to bo hold at tho Prince of Walos Thoatro.

A mail for lottors and newspapers, via Panama, will bo made up this ovoniug, closing at fivo o'clock. All nowspapors postod will rcquiro to havo a penny stamp afllxod to thorn.

Tolegraphio communication with Christchurch is still suspended. It is a mnttor of somo surprise that tho accident to tho wiro, whatovor it may bo and whorovor it may havo °ccurred, haa not, before this, been discovered and ropnirod. Wo Bay this without any implied censure on tho officials of tho department, by whom, wo boliovo, ovory effort is being mado to restore communication.