The Inagahua Times PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10, 1886.

Inangahua Times, Volume XI, Issue 1664, 10 February 1886, Page 2

The Inagahua Times PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10, 1886.

Mr J D. Lance, member for Cheviot in the H<>use of Representatives, wh«> »c---compntiieil His Excellency tho Governor on his Went tmir, paid a visit to Retftnn on Monday last, having be«n driven m> from * v export ly Mr Moynahan. Mr Lanoe is a Rtnunch supporter of rhe East nnd VVt-st. Cm* railway prject, «nd liir visit to the West Coast was mainly undertaken with the object of s;ainiiiK a more intimate knowledge of the resources aitd capabilities of this part of the Colony. On Monday evening last, a mnnrierof tlie leiidini? fHsirJfiits met Mr L»nce at Stevenson* Hotel, for the parpose of talking over the railway project. Atuonsptt thi«« present were ihe County Chairman, Mr W. Trvinsr, and Mpm»« Moyioilian. BnM >r. Wis •, .T>ic\ Beeehe, Hankin, Conr»olly, Cohen, Dtmn, Steels. Crumpton, Stevenson mid Potts, Mr Moynahan iiitr»»dnc«d those present, *n-1 Mr Potts briefly explained the ohject of the deputation. Mr Lan •« th«u entered at length into the past of the railway agitation in Canterbury and in the House, and indicated the course which will probanly Ih* taken in the future. He Mid h» had b«>en sreatly pleased with his visit to the West Coast. He had seen much that bad surprised him, and was continued in the opinion that there was a great future before this part of the Colony. The present Government were thoroughly sincere on the West Coast railway question, and if authority could only be obtained for suffi ient further borrowing there was no doubt the railway would eventually he carried out by the Colony. He had gained a deal of valuable information in his journeying* to the different Coastal towns, and satUh'ed himself of the fallacy of many of the arguments advanced against the railway. It had been •aid over and over again in the H >use aud out of it that the land on the West Coast was utterly useless for agriculture, because directly it was cleared of timber it was overgrown with rushes. He had in travelling about seen as fine cultivations as are to be met with iv any part of the . Colony, and so far from the land being useless, he felt confi lent that the great bulk of it was eminently adapted for settlement. He extolled t'»e Land Act introduced la<<t session by Mr Ballance, and , felt assured that the homestead clauses of , the Act would be the means of settling j thousands of people upon the land in this | part of the Colony when once opened up by railway communication, The timber on this side of the Island would yet prove of enormous wealth to the Colony, but tlmt too mnst await the opening of a market for it across the range. The gold, coal, aud ot^er mineral resources were of too great value to remain locked up as they are, and the Colony was beginning torealiao this fact. The present Oovernumeiit meant well in this ilirec-tioti, an 1 Iml his warmest support iv their efforts to upon up tho country. He was favorable to further borrowing upon . a scale sufficient to ■■ complete the trunk system of railways throughout the Colony, the money to be j so tied by legislation to specific works that { it could not be expended in any other di- j rection. In referring to the proceedings of last session Mr Lance referred in very complimentary terms to Mr Meuteath, J M. H. R. for Inangahua, who worked un- j ceasingly and loyally with tho railway I party in the House, and expressed the | i opinion that so long as Mr Meuteath con- i tinued to represent the Inangahua the < railway would have no more earnest or < able advocate A couple of hours were i i pent very pleasantly in discussing a var ! f iety of topics bearing directly and indt- < rectly upon the railway, and much infor- « nation imparted. At the conclusion the i 1 deputation thanked Mr Lance for his t 'riendly interest in tin* matter, and ex- j v pressed a 'hope that the public service he t ya» rendering the railway cause and this c

part of the Colony by his visit would meet its reward. | Our Inangahua Junction correspondent writes :— Mr Lance, member for Cheviot, arrived from Westport .by special conveyance. Mr Lance's visit to the G>ast is to make himself thoroughly acquainted with its resources. mmerils, timber, and land suitable for settlement. The meinher for Cheviot is likely to beotno a staunch supporter of the East and West Coast railway scheme, and is determined to collect truthful information respecting the suitability of the Coast to ausiaiu a large population if the cost of freight on the necessaries of life could be cheapened by railway construction. He also wants to see the country, which will enable him to contradict some of the glaring mistatetuent iitttle by some of the members of the Huu*e opposed to the railway scheme. Jir Lft'ict* U accompanied by Mr Moytia hau, <>f Westport, who is courteously pointing out the different localities to him. In our issue of the Bth inst. we were in error when he stated that Mr \Vm. Hunter had established himself amongst us in the Bharebrokiug busines*. We find on enquiry that he is only here temporarily, as Reeftou cau only claim a portion of \m time, at ttreyinotith, Hokitika, ami Kouiara will be included in his monthly visits. He represents a number of the leading business houses in Dunediu. Mi Huiiter being an old commercial traveller well known ou the Coast should claim a liberal support. As was expected, the Reefton Chinese have not been able to get up any steam at all over their New Year celebrations, which commenced on Friday last. Although there are many more Mongolians iv the district imw than there were twelve months ago, not more than half the number have come to town, and the stay «<f the men has been much shorter. The local storekeepers had made ample preparations for a big influx of their countrymen, but it proved wholly un uecessary, aud unused pigs, poultry and fireworks are vow at a big discount. Mr F. Hamilton reached Ueeftoii, with Mr G. W. Moss, by Monday's coach from Gieyiuouth. Mr Hamilton's visit is iv oouiitfoticu with his recent purchase of the plant aud mining leases of the Golden Fleece United Company. A visit was paid to the mine yesterday, when formal possession of the property was handtd over to Mr Hamilton. It is understood I that the intention is to reform the Company, with the object of resuming work iv the uiiue. It is said that the uuuiberof unemployed men attracted to the Matuia, by reason of the road works in progress there, is already very largely iv excess of that re quired, and many have returned rather disappointed. MrSuait, of Hamp>ien, has been appointed to sunwise the work on the part of the Government, is camped ou the ground. Paradise ducks, Kiwis, Maori hen*, Pigeon* and Kakas, are said to be v»ry plentiful, but the country is very heavily timbered, the ratas being of extraordinary sise. A large number of alluvial miners are engaged working iv the I gullies, aud are Iwlieved to be doing fairly well. Mr Browning, Chief Surveyor, proceeded to A ham a yesterday morning, and will return to Ueefton this evening or to* morrow. A site for a rifle range for the local Volunteers haviui; been selected on the terrace at the north-east boundary of the town, at the head of Bridge- street, Mr Browning, Chief Surveyor, has consented to the survey of the site lining undertaken by Mr J. Montt/mm-rie, District Surveyor. This accomplished, and a grant towards clearing the range having been promised by the Government, nothing further is needed to enable the work to b? undertaken forthwith. The Keva, Boddington and Viwon concluded their mission services in Sf Stephen's Church on Monday evening last, on which occasion there was another large congregation. The rev. gentlemen have only recently arrived in .the Colony , from America, and intend visiting all parts of the colony. The potato crop, in the Aujklan I dis trict, says the Belt of a recent date, which, | before the drought set in, promised well, is reported to be a partial failure in various parts of the country from the excessive heat. It is, therefore, feared that there will not only be a scarcity of potatoes this year but that the price thereof will be raised to something far beyond what it has beeu for years past. In some places thf> potatoes are attacked with a species of frruh which renders many of the t ibers unmarketable, and what is worse, unfit for f'Hid. The crop being now quite ripe. with the exception of late potatoes, a fall of rain would not improve it. In the Napier Hospital at present there are only h'fh-en patients, aud to look after whom fifteen attendants are required. The Telegraph snys that as the local bodies have been levied on for a calculated expenditure of 11400, this means that at present patients are supported at. a cost of 1160 per head per annum. The Auckland Herald says:— On Sunday last some young men and lads were bathing in the Wairoa district, and whilst one of the latter was standing in shaUow water, he found himself suddenly graspe * by the ankle in a manner to cause a painful sensation, and on looking down saw his ankle in the jaw of a monster eel. On gettins; out of the water, he found the marks 1 of the fishes teeth all round the joint. » Soon after, a party was made up with i a view of capturing it, and it was discovered lying in the bed of the creek. A spear was instantly thrust through its body, but so prodigious was its strength that the gentleman using the spear was unable to hold it. and with a splash like ° ;hat of a small whale, it got away. The a )oJ seems to have a partiality for "legs," t

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