West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSEEVER. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1868.

The weather was exceedingly boisterous yesterday, a strong nor' - wester blowing throughout the day accompanied by torrents oC rain, which filled every drain and creek, and had it not been for the splendid outlet which the river now has in the soiith channel, must have inevitably resulted in another flood of very considerable magnitude. Fortunately, however, but very trifling damage has been done in Hokitika by the tempestuous weather yesterday ; in fact the only damage we have heard of has been the breaking of a few windows by the force of wind. Telegraphic communication, except with Gruymoulh aud the Bailor district, has been interrupted; and a heavy flood occurre?! at West-port on Wednesday, destroying a portion of the wharf and occasioning loss of life.

The members of the Borough Council of Christchurch have determined to present Mrs Wilson, the wife of the first Mayor of that city, with a silver cradle, commemorative of the birth oE twins during her husband's mayoralty. This cradle, which is described as being very chaste aud elegant in design has been manufactured by Messrs Coates and Ca., of Colombo-street, Christchurch, and bears the following inscription :

— "Presented to Mrs W. Wilson by the members of the Borough Council of Chrlstchurch, iv accordance with an ancient custom, to commemorate the birth of a son and danghter (twins) during the mayoralty of W. Wilson, Esq., Sept. 8, 18G3."

The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court, tQMloy, wnp wholly confined to civil oaaea, one, rig., thafc ol « Kedgllo v, Fano," >& irM tiro pii&i» i» dipjG m &

matter of account betveen the parties, occupying the greater pordon of the day. The magistrate ultimately gave a verdict for the plaintiff for the amount claimed.

Telegrams from 'Vfelliugton to Christchurch announce the death, at the Club, Wellington, on the 9th instant, 60 Mr George Macfarlane, member for Lyttelton in the House of Representatives. The deceased gentleman, who died from gastric fever, was senior partner in the firm of Macfarlauc and Nottidge, solicitors," Christchurch, and previous to the election of Mr Moorhouse to the Superintendency of Canterbufy was in partnership with that gentleman. Mr Macfarlan was greatly respected in Canterbury by a large circle of friends.

The Borough Council will meet this evening at half-past ! seven o'clock at the Council Chanilierd. Revell-street. Last evening as a man named Peter Smith was crossing Revell-street, a furious gust of wind dislodged an iron chimney-pot from one of the houses. In its fall, the chimneypot struck Smith on the head; cutting through his hat, and inflicting a scalp-wound about three inches long. The man was at once taken to Dr Rosetti, who dressed the wouud, which, wo are glad to learn, is not likely to prove of a serious character.

A number 'of sections of town lands in Hokitika and Okarito, will be put up for sale by auction at a sitting of the Waste Lands Board, to be held at the Land Officei Hokitika, afc noon, on Monday, 2Gth instant. Some sections of suburban aud first-class rural land, will be submitted to public com-* petition at the same time.

Yesterday, Dr Beswick held an inquest at the Half-way House, Hau Hau Tramway, on view of the body of a child named Ame'.ia Jane Morley, aged 20 months. After hearing the evidence of Dr Dermott, who luid made a post mortem, examination of the body, the jury found that deceased had died from natural causes, to wit, general debility .

We have to remind the members of the Hokitika Literary Society that a -special general meeting is called for this evening, at eight o'clock.

The Mounted Escort, under charge of Police-sergeant Wiison, arrived from the Wainiea yesterday afternoon, with 3,00u6z5. of gold, consigned t«> the various Hanks.

Mr Richard Reeves sold, yesterday, the Robert Burus Hotel, for £325. Mr M'Lcan was the purchaser.' :

It is with sincere regret (says the Lytt-jUoa Times of Monday) that we record the death of Mr George Macfarlan, M.H.XI. for Lyttelton, which took place at the Club at Wellington, on Friday last, shortly before midnight. Mr Macfarlan had not been really well for the last six months. The attack of fever which proved fatal canio on about a fortnight ago, but did not appear to create much- alarm iv the . mind of his medical attendant till a day or two before his death. Mr Macfarlan came bub to Canterbury in January 13G-1, He was educated at Shrewsbury, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, of which college he was a Scholar. Afc his final examination in 1860 he passed as fourteenth ! wrangler, taking a nrst-olass in classics. He then removed to London, to qualify himself for the legal profession, aud was called to the Bar by the honorable Society of the Inner Temple iv June 18(53. Tlv* colww Una i-eason. tv> lament t'.ve untimely death >>£ Mv Macfarlan, for it has •lost in him a man of large intellect and cultivated taste. About two years ago, Mfc Macfarlan entered public life, Baring been elected a member of tho House of lleprescni tatives by the Lyttelton constituency. Though a silent member, his opinions, owing to life recognised great abilities were held in much respect by most of the leading politicians ; aud, in committee, he haj done much valuable work for the colony. He lias left a large number of attached friends to mourn the loss of one who was pre-eminently v true and staunch friend. We -have special cause for grief. His death, at tiro early age of thirty, has added auother name to the list of able men vf-ho have contributed to the columns of this journal and shared our labours, but who have now ceased from theirs for ever. A vacancy having occurrc.T in the representation of Timarn, in 'the Provincial Council of Canterbury, through the resignation of Mr Beliiekl, the electors, on the 9th iust., refused to eieat another representative, declaring that it was useless to do &•>-. ivs Provincialism did not ir.coc the wislies of the district in local self-government. In the event of being to choose a | representative, the electors determined to return Mr Stafford. The rotur.iiug-officer closed thcjjnominatkm at 1 .80 p.m. The Olaffo Daily Times informs us that on the night of the 2nd insfc., a man named Richard Jackson,' a bootmaker, attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat, in a house in Maclaggan-street, in whicli lie was

staying. It appears that a sailor, whose name

has not transpired, who was sleeping in another bed in the same room, saw Jackson raise himself and reach down to the loot of the bed, where his tools were. Before ho could be prevented, he drew thence a sharppointed knife, with which ho inflicted several

wouuds in his throat. When the knife was taken from him he said, " i wish you had let me alone, I would have done for myself."

Constable Fair and Dr Alexander were summoned, the latter of whom dressed his wounds, after which he was removed- to the Hospital. Jackson had been drinking heavily during the evening, and it appears that about

two years ago, after a similar drinking bout, he attempted to poison himself.

The Otaijo Daily Times asks :—": — " Are we in a position to stand another loan ? Our taxation has already grown to such dimensions as to press most injuriously upon our resources. The commercial depression which has existed so long is likely enough to exist much longer ; and taxation aside, the colonists oO New Zealand have not much reason 'to congratulate themselves on their immediate prospects. Another loan of a million — to be spent on Snider rifles and cartridges — rwould probably send a largo proportion of our population to the Fijis or the Thames, in the course of six months. As it 13, our population is drifting away fast enough. The high rate of wages ruling here make it incredible at first sight, that men should be casting about for some more promising field of settlement. But the high ruto of wages is a delusion which fhe high' pvjdfi of living Yovy soon iHapp}*, Thfl feWfc?

pressivc in the extreme, especially to the labouring classes ; but if they are to be rendered still liiorc oppressive, we shall entourage . emigration at such a rate as will prove disastrous. How far these impressions prevail in Canterbury may be judged from the resolutions passed at the recent meeting, and the comments of the local press. The cry of Separation is intelligible enough when endless wars and ruinous taxes are the price we pay for Union."