West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 358, 15 November 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1866.

The late heavy rains have had the effect of delaying, by one day at least, the arrival of Christchurch news, as the Hokitika coach was prevented leaving for the Bealey till yesterday morning, and can not therefore possibly return till to-night. Mr Crawley, manager of the Westland branch of Cobb and Co.'s line, accompanied the coach yesterday to the Arahura, but found the usual fording places quite impassable, so that a search was necessary, which fortunately turned out successful, the coach being able to pass in safety some distance up the creek. We need scarcely remark that telegraphic communication with Christchurch is suspended, as that invariably takes place after every shower.

The usual weekly meeting of the Hokitika Literary and Debating Society was held last night at the Fire Brigade Hall. The vicepresident was called to the chair, and after the transaction of the usual preliminary business, Mr Sinclair read un extract from Dickens's Pickwick Papers, which was followed by Messrs Cousens and Hume reciting the celebrated quarrel scene between Brutus and Cassius, from Shakespeare's tragedy of Julius Csesar. The Secretary, Mr Whitelaw, then read an original poem descriptive of the peculiarities of the various nationalties of Europe, and which deservedly received the approbation of the members. Mr M'Haifie followed with what he termed a scene from Scottish domestic life called " Watty and Meg."' We regret our inability to criticise this piece, as the intonation of the reader, combined with our ignorance of the pure Scotch Doric, made the whole production foreign to the ears of our reporter. This being the last of the evening's entertainment* various remarks both condemnatory and otherwise were passed. The subject for next evening's debate — viz., "Would the sale of the West Coast lands by the Government be beneficial to the district of Westland "—having been decided upon, the meeting dispersed.

We publish the District Gaol returns for the week ending Saturday, November 10th. According to the report of Mr Dale, the gaoler, no prisoners were admitted, and 1 debtor was discharged from custody, the number and classification of the confinees which remained in custody at the above date being as follow : — Under committal, 11 males ; hard labor gang, 24 males ; simple imprisonment, 1 male j debtors, 10 males ; total, 46 males.

The boring apparatus, which wo alluded to in a former issue asabout to be introduced on Tucker Flat (Kameri) by the Great Extended Company, to test the deep ground they have in hand there, was despatched from town yesterday. It is of home manufacture, having been constructed by Mr Miller, of Beach-street, who has certainly turned a very creditable job out of hand. The machine consists of fourteen rods which, when connected, are 120 feet long, a length more than sufficient to reach the sandstone reef on any point of the Sat. Sets of cutters for penetrating either hard or soft ground also belong to it, and an affair made of wood, which in appearance exactly resembles a turnstile, screws on to the top rod, and, worked round by manual labor, supplies the power to bore. The company purpose commencing operations in an old shaft fifty feet deep, as so much boring will be thus saved. They expect to find the deep ground in the course of a fortnight, and we sincerely trust it will prove of such quality as to amply repay the enterprise which prompted the undertaking. An entertainment of a novel kind was presented for the delectation of the public on the wharf yesterday, caused by the landing of a herd of pigs from tho schooner Tiger. This vessel had arrived from Wanganui with about eight-and-twenty of as obstreperous br.utes as can be readily conceived, who amused themselves on landing with the performance of most extravagant gambols. One huge brindled brute was particularly viol.-ut, and charged, with bristles erect, and eyes il.ishing green fire, into the middle of liio -.ssembled crowd, which opened with rem.-.rk-able speed to give him way, and the cry of " wild boar" echoed from one end of the quay to the other, causing immediate consternation, the prevailing opinion appai'ently being — judging from the celerity with which a clear field was made — that something little short of a mad elephaut or an infernal machine had possession of the wharf. Down tho lane of shrinking and struggling humanity careered piggy, snapping from side to

side with a persovoranco worthy of a better cause, till he eamo opposite the steamship Tinonee, just preparing for sen. Hor boat had been left on the quay, a narrow space of about a foot only existing between tho obstruction and the edge of the wharf, on which space a number of individuals were standing ; but, truo to his instinct, tho porcine malcontent avoidod the broad and clear way bofore him, 'and charged right between the boat and tho steamer, capsizing all that came in lub way over the boat, none fortunately falling into the river. Tho display of legs and feet that instantly quivered in the air was something to bo remembered, as were also tho furious outcries and curses that arose from tho capsizees, and the yells of laughter that echoed from all who ] n safety could view tho uproar and confusion. Tho hog eventually established himself at tho bottom of the watermen's steps, and, facing his pursuers — who " fain would, but dared not" — stood furiously at bay ; but, after the usual scene of advice, recrimination, and anger, he was hauled up, tied, and peacefully deposited on the quay. One individual, a well-known publican, had been particularly prominent in advising, and despising tho rabid porker ; but his courage evaporated as readily as Bob Acres', when he found the animal, as if indignant at tho insult to his prowess, snapping furiously at his heels, and compelling him, with a torrent of exclamations, to effect a rapid escape to his hotel, the door of which had to be closed to avoid a tussle at closer quarters than the fugitive deemed either necessary or desirable.

The directors of the Hokitika and Kameri Tramway have resolved to complete the work out of hand, having called for tenders to run the line through the unfinished distance. We are glad to her.r that the contract for this most important undertaking, which pPoinises to confer such advantages upon both communities, has fallen into good hands, as we understand that the terms of Mr Edgar, the wellknown contractor, have been accepted by the company, and his name is a guai'antee that the Hue will be completed by the time specified — Christmas next.

Every flood that now occurs makes tremendous inroads upon the South Spit, which is surely and rapidly melting away, and at the rate it is at present disappearing promises to soon be numbered with things of the past. More than one hundred feet of the bank were ■washed away by the late freshet, and the work of destruction is still going on. We quite anticipate that in the course of a few months the river will be running close to Lagoon Town, which would very seriously jeopardise the safety of that place. In proportion as the South Spit recedes the North Spit advances, as not the slightest difference is perceptabie in the width of the channel between them. But the North Spit has decreased in width, as the flood cut away some fifteen feet of the bank below the protective work at the end of Beach street, several buildings in consequence are placed in close "and disagreeable proximity to the water's edge.

We are informed by a gentleman, who arrived from the Pakihi yesterday, that a lamentable accident occurred there on the 9th instant, involving the loss of three lives. It appears that a whale boat, with five hands on board, ran out to the schooner Emerald Isle to receive cargo from her. A heavy sea was running at the time, and on her return to the cove, the boat capsized on the ridge of rocks at the mouth of it, and three of the crew were drowned, and the remaining two were saved by the merest chance. The boat was smashed to pieces and the cargo lost.

The Nelson " Evening Mail" is trying to get up another Maungatapu excitement, judging from the following paragraph, which appears in that paper of the 6th instant : — "Some surprise has been felt that Messrs Friend and Hymen, who left Nelson for the Deep Creek some ten days ago, have not returned. They were to be absent only four days, and had contracted* to supply a number of photographic views of the Maungatapu, at the expiration of that time. They also undertook to seivd an account of their doings by all the persona they met on the road, which they have not done. They took a grey packhorse, and intended to soil photographic views and collect money at Deep Creek. On Saturday week last they were seen by two incu on the other side of the rock, to whom they said they were going on to Deep Creek. As they have been so long absent, were' under contract to return, and have not sent an account of themselves, their friends have very naturally felt anxious about them. We understand that Mr Jervis is going to Deep Creek to-day or to-morrow, and that he has promised if ho docs not meet with them on the road, to return immediately and make a report. The weather has been bad, and such as to be likely to impede their movements, jet persons, with the history of tho recent occurrences on the Maungatapu fresh in their memories, do not like delays that are unaccounted for on the part of travellers in whom they take an interest."