West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16,. 1867. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 591, 16 August 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16,. 1867. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

( FROM OUR OYT>* CORRESPONDENT.)

Chkistchukch, Thursday, Aug. 15. Arrived. — The Badger, from Newcastle (N.S.W.) ; Black Hawk, from Wellington.

At Lyttelton. — The s. Wainui, from Dunedin.

At Bluff Harbor.— Steamers Tararua and Wellington. At Dunedin. — The Parisian, from Vancouver's Island.

Messrs Cobb and Co.'s coach left for Cliristohurch this morning, and we are happy to state there is reason to hope that tho state of the road will be such as will enablo the coach to proceed right through to Christchurch. At all events the attempt will be made.

The following is a return of ca\ tie and Bheep driven past the Rangiriri Police Station, on their road to Hokitika, for the week ended 7th August, 1867 :— Cattle, 131 ; sheep, 270.

The sea is gradually encroaching upon the north beach. As we stated yesterday morning, the tide on the previous night was a very high one, the rush of water being so great as to necessitate the removal of two or three tenements yesterday, in order to prevent their being washed away.

The late wet wtather seems to have been a cause of loss to the miners in the rich deep leads at Ross. It appears that the upper levels, which were first worked, act now as a catch-water, and have hitherto remained full, but during the heavy weather a few week's since the water burst through into some of the shafts, and quickly deluged the lower levels, causing the various parties one by one as the water gained on them, to abandon the lower grouud, and open out on higher levels. We are glad to hoar that steps are being taken to remedy the evil. It appears from what passed at a meeting held on Monday last, that it is quite possiblo to cut a tail-race from the storm water channel, at a level which will drain off all the surface water, and have only the bottom water, which is Hot heavy, to be contended with. The meeting was most numerously attended, and a very good committee, consisting of representatives of nearly all the claims, appointed to' deal with the subject, and it is hoped the miners will wisely combine for their mutual advantage. It was pointed 'out at the meeting that if the tailrace does not take all the water, it will certainly take a great deal, and would enable the men to master tho remainder by baling.

The local in yesterday's Times referring to the unreliability of the reports from the Auckland Goldfields was from the "Grey River Argus," and was accidentally omitted to be acknowledged.

We observe that a meeting of the Trustees of the Hokitika Savings Bank will be held on Monday afternoon, at four o'clock, in the old Court House, Revoll street.

Rather an amusing scene occurred in Court yesterday upon tho question of correct time, as according to the court-hcuse clock his Worship and attending counsel were twenty minutes late in attendance. This was noticed by Mr Button, who called tho Magistrates attentiou to the fact ; and also that the clock was in advance of Hokitika time,as his (Mr Button's) watch "stood precisely at 11. Somewhat startled his Worship hastily consultod his own chronometer, which absolved hhn from tho sin of late attendance as the hands pointed to eleven. Mr Harvey's watch also told a similar tale, and the clock was about being condemned as out of order, when Mr Malletl, clerk of the Bench, stated that it was set to CUriolchurch time, which was in advance of that of Hokitika. The learned counsel at onco took up tho cudgels for Hokitika, which they maintained in the matter of time should not be dictated to by Christchurch, and requested that his Worship would cause the clock to be set according to the time kept in Hokitika, as much inconvenience and even loss might arise to parties attending court, who depended upon then* own watches to be in time when then* cases were called on. One of the lawyers declared that the district had enough of Christchurch on its hands without being compelled to accept time from it, adding in a serio-comic tone; that it appeared to him that the Christchurch folk wanted to barter their time for Westland's money, an exchange which he for one decidedly objected to, Hokitika being the place, should certainly keep its own time. We quite agree with the gentleman, and think it very strange that the public offices and banks should take the cue from Christchurch in this matter. But how a difference of twenty ininutcs should exist is still more mysterious, as the difference of longitude 'between tho two places is not more than soven minutes. We have on several occasions advocated the addition of a time ball to the Hokitika Obsorvatory, to be dropped every day when tho sun crosHOs the moridian. Tho Government Observer is si^ely competent to ascertain when

that takes place, by the aid of a sextant and artificial horizon— which_ the Observatory is of course supplied with. - A serious mining accident occurred up the right-hand branch of the Waimea river on Wednesday afternoon, and but for the prompt assistance rendered, would have caused the death of three men. It appears they were at work in a paddock when the sides suddenly caved in, and buried them beneath a heap of stones and rubbish. Their neighbors rushed to the rescue, and quickly extricated them, two being uninjured, but wo are sorry to say that the third, a digger named William Mathiews, was found to be suffering from a broken log. He was conveyed into town yesterday afternoon, on his way to the Hospital, but the tide beiug out, it was impossible to take him there, and he was accordingly placed in the Australian Hotel until thi3 morning. Here is another instance of the necessity of an emergency institution in town.

The theatrical season at Ross is a most successful one, and Mr Cornish seems determined there shall be no lack of variety. Mr Towers and Miss Buckingham have returned to the City Theatre, having left a most favorable impression. Mr and Mrs O'Neil returned yesterday, having been persuaded to protract their stay. On Monday lost Mr 3 O'Neil took a benefit, and acted the " Rough Diamond" with charming naivety to a full house. On Tuesday, a benefit was given in aid of the building fund of the priest's house. On Wednesday, an entire change took place in the performance by the appearance of Mr Peel, Miss Sutherland, and Miss Carry Coopor, of whom wo need say little, as they are so well kuown here ; they drew down repeated encores from a most noisy house. On Friday Mrs Holland takes her benefit, and from tho very favorable impression she has made will, no doubt, draw a full house, more especially as this will probably be the last time for a while that a dramatic entertainment will be offered the Ross folk, it being tho intention of the proprietor of tho theatre to giyo music and dancing a trial. On this occasion, a trial dance will be given by> Mr Peel, and a well-known resident of Ross.