West Coast Times

West Coast Times, Issue 113, 27 January 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1800.

SiNCiS the commencement of tho session wo have endeavored to supply our re.xders with ns accurate and prompt reports as were accessible to us, of the proceedings of the Provincial Council in matters relating to Westland. The Christchurch papers reach us very irregularly, only an occasional copy of " tho latest date " being received by the overland post, for which a newspaper mail is never made up. For a copy of the Council paper containing a list and description of the lands proposed to be set apart for salo on tho West Coast, we were indebted to tho courtesy of Mr. Prossor. The debates in the House referring to matters connected with this district are, as a rule, reported in a style singularly meagre and fragmentary in the Christchurchjournals. The only exceptions wo can call to mind are the reports of the speeches of MiHall in introducing tho West Coast estimates, and of Mr. Prosser in criticising them. Wo are still without the detailed statement of the expenditure on this district, to which the Secretary for Public Works lately appealed ns a satisfactory proof that the revenues derived from Westland had been applied solely to tho promotion ot Wcslland interests, and are deprived, therefore of the opportunity of discussing its merits. Tho courso usually adopted by all governments, of furnisliing copies of legislative papers to the newspapers, is not followed so far as regards the journals of this district. Tho consequence is that the wholesome influence of public opinion is not allowed to operate upon the proceedings of the Provincial Council, and tho proper constitutional check upon the action of the legislature is destroyed. Judging from tho materials before us, we deem it an act of justice to say that the two .representatives in the Provincial Council of the West Coast havo thus far discharged their duty lo their constituents with zeal, ability, and discretion. They have compelled a certain amount of attention to be paid to the affairs of a district which has largely contributed to tho revenue, tho prosperity, and we 'avo entitled to add, to the reputation of the Province. That it figures so favorably in the official statistics, and finds itself in a position to press its claims upon the General Government for consideration, at a timo when the several Provinces aro engaged in a rivalry of pretensions, is greatly due to the fact that Westland possesses a very large population engaged in industrial pursuits, that it supports a large commerce, and swells lo unprecedented dimensions both tho import and export returns of tho province. The' fact, however, is one which Christchurch politicians have shown a systematic disposition to ignore. Had the boon of representation not been conceded to the district as a measure necessary to remove a political scandal, it is impossible to conjecture to what extent tho selfish policy already pursued might have been carried. The representation, it is true, is absurdly inadequate, considering the largeness of tho population and the magnitude of tho commercial interests that havo been developed ; but wo aro free to any that Messrs Prosser and Barff have made good uso of such power as their presence in the Council afforded them, and have rendered useful service

to tu' district. If wo have given tho latter gon.tlom.nn offence by some freedom of comment upon his apparent nndi'itss to sul silo into oxecssho mildness before the melting influerco of a littlo patronising " nttention," wo do not hesitate to confess that during tho Inter portion 0" the session he Ims been himself again, und his shown a becoming independence. To Mr Prosser the district is indebted not only for nn exposure of the systematic wrong thnthns been perpetrated upon it by a long course of misgovennnent, but also for the defeat of tho nefarious scheme by which it wns proposed to rob Westland of the mest valuable portion of its lands before it hnd the opportunity of applying to tho General Assembly for Separation. No step more fatal to the future interests of tho district could havobeencontemplnted than the snle of a hundred and twenty thousand acres of its auriferous soil, for tlio purpose of liquidating an alleged balance against it, and of obtaining tho means of prosecuting the road across the range, from which, ns it has been again and again protested, no benefit whatever bearing any commensurate proportion to the cost could be expected to accrue to the West Coast. That such a scheme was ever seriously entertained aud gravoty proposed to the Council, is a fact suiliciently indicative of one of two things. Either the design was deliberately to confiscate tho revenues of the district — to get the most of it boforo tho inevitable separation came — to leave it without capital and without power to proceed with tho work of sclf-dovclop-mont when its hour of independence arrived ; or else the Christchurch (Jovennnent was so utterly ignorant of the conditions of its prosperity, so ill informed as lo the naturo of its tmo interests, as to be ontiroly incapable of administering its affairs. Whichever of the two hypotheses is the correct one, the public thanks aro equally duo to Mr Prosiscr for Iho notion which has compelled tlio Executive to abandon the scheme. In tlio courso of tho debate on his amendment, upon Mr Hall's motion, a good deal of ignorance was displayed mid a good deal of nonsense talked. It wns especially maintained that the mining interest on tho West Coast was ephemeral, and that any hopes that could bo entertained of < its permanent prosperity, must be based upon the early alienation of its lands to agriculturists and sheep owners. Mr Prosser moved that boforo the list of lands to be set apart for sale was sanctioned by the House, plans of tho scpnrute blocks should be submitted, to be considered in detail in connection with tho question of their auriferous value; and even a'maj or ity of the Christchurch Council recognised the manifest reasonableness of the proposal. The result of its adoption was perhaps not foreseen. Mr Hall saw that if this course were adopted the wholo scheme would full through. Tho form of the motion was to ask tho Superintendent to apply to tho Governor for his sane tion of the Ministerial measure. It was not to be hoped that his Excellency's advisers would recommend his assent, in tho faco of the base which tho Westland members had now secured tho opportunity of establishing, and tho result Avas the ifnmediato abandonment of the wholo plan by tho Secretary for Public Works, who' found his standing ground cut from beneath his feet. The thanks of the district aro due, and wo trust will be tendered, to Mr Prosser for this signal service. Nor is his motion for tho transfer of the ex-pensively-organised escort service to tho West Coast an a district escort (which was assented to by the Government, ready to shelter itself under such an arrangement from censure for an acknowledged practical blunder) Icks entitled to recognition.

Wo are still without any tidings of the English mnil. The South Australian which was to leave Dunedin on the 20th, may bo hourly ex pectcd, and tlie Eangitoto from Melbourne is also due. In the Supremo Court yesterday, Iho trial of Stewart for murdoring his wifo wns proceeded with, nnd tho ense for Iho Crown having cJoscd, Mr. South called several witnesses for tho defence. Tho points attempted to bo established were, first, an alibi, evidence boing given of tho presence of tho prisonor in parts of the town distant from Iho scene of tho alleged murder during tho hours covered by tho evidence for the Crown j nnd secondly tho incredibility of the witness Catherine Jones, who had sworn to hor having soon tho prisoner etriko his wifo with a log. Theexaminationof witnesses closed shortly after sovon'J o'c'ock. T this morning, at the opening of tho Court, oilier witnesses will bo svaminod fr tho dofenco, nud then Mr South will commenco his address to tho Jury. Mr Duncan will then reply for tho Crown, nnd tho loarned Judgo will sum up. Tho oaso continues to excite gront interest, and throughout tho whole of yestevduy Uw Couvt-houso wns crowded. Tho prinoner, who wns ugnin allowed a chair in tho duclf, paid marked attention to tho proceedings, and frequently communicated with Iho gentleman instructing his counsel. At limes ho oxhibilod considerablo omotion. At tho commonconiont of the examination of Dr. Ryloy, it wns found that tluit gontlomnn's weakness of voico vondorod it dilllcult for the Court and tho jury to hear with distinctness his roplios to the questions put to him, and ho loft tho wilnoss box and took his placo near tho jury box — the counsel on both sidos quitting their sonls nt Iho barristers' tublo and plnndiug in closo proximity to him. At Iho request of Iho foreman of Iho jury iho ovidonco of Dr. Kyloy wns repeated by his Honor as ho recorded it in his notes. Frequently tho voice of tho judge himself w:us scarcely nudinblo.it unfortunately happening thnt heavy fall of rnin^upon tho roof of tho building had tho effect of,'greatly augmenting tho naturally defective acoustic properties of the hnll. This is a contingency that must be provided against eithor by Iho construction of an inner roof or coiling, or by somo other means, unless constant interrupings are to be endured. The jury wero again locked up for the night, but i 6 may be hoped that they will be released from their confniO' inent to-day unless they experionco a dilliculty in agreeing to a verdict. , Wo aro glad to hear that nn effort is being made to provide hospital accommodation for tho Totiua district, ns the distance of that locality to Hokitikn lenders it next lo impossible for

Uiiim) nlllio'.cd 1),- undent or di.si.uso to duiivr any benefit whatever from the instiuition in thh town. It is stated that the Government hasnotiliodjil'iinlcnlioa of subsidizing l>y|ah equal amount uny sum collected by tho Tolar.i oommunity. which lias encourjged tho good people of ltos.s Town (o bo stir themselves in tho matter, and it is to ho lioprul thoir efforts in behalf of no good a cau.se will ineo.t with the success they merit. A hospital is much needed in that district, as sickness is rife there, and lately a low fever of the typhoid typo has made i's apponrauco, nnd is daily increasing. Prompt measures aro neoeasiry to stay this scouige, which is rapidly spreading, and the first stop which should be taken is the erection of a commodious hospital nnd tho appointment of a zealous and competent inedionl man ns its superintendent — ono who will provo zealous in tho cause, nnd dovolo his best onorgios lo nmoliorulo tho condition of his fellow-cronturos. Such an institution, undor such supervision, would bo of inostimablo bonolit lo that distvict, which is of nufnoiont imporlnnco lo domnnd nn establishment of its own, for it contnins a largo papulnlion, which is increasing rapidly, and possesses rosourcos which aro unsurpassed by any other district of Wostlnnd. Tho prosonl. rush now si'tling in to tho southward of it is n confirmation of our opinion of tho locality j and in tho face of such facts tho Government ia imporativoly callod upon to mnko duo provision for tho 'exigencies suro lo ariso from tho sudden assembling of such a largo and hctorogonous community. Oortninly ono of Iho ohiofost requirements is a harbor of refugo and aid for (ho bodily adlictcd, for man is but n helpless crcnturo when proslrntod by sickness and in no case is this remark so applicable as in thnt of the unfortunate miner, struck down by casualty or disease in tho inhospitnblo bush of tho West Coast. Thevo no longer exists the slightest excuse for proornstinntion or apathy ; for the permanency of Westland in indisputably established, nnd it is high time the disgraceful indiflbrenco displayed in this respect should causo tho Government to shew a little more consideration to the ko often expressed desire of tho public for more aid, nnd givo with a le.S3 grudging hand. It, however, socm.s determined to stick to tlio original cent, percent, policy, to "subsidiso by an equal sum" being still tho rule, which is ono that, in our opinion, .should ho broken through a.s .soon us possible, aud the amount at least doubled. We do not by ni.y means despair of tho hospital movement, feeling certain that a hotter system is about to bo iimugurnlcd, for no Government can Jong exist that persistently refuses lo yield to tho united cry of those whoso iiilcrcitH it is its duty to h inly. Wo understand Hint the hacholova of Iloldlika aro about to givo a hall at Throokmorion's store, lower end of GibsonVQuay, on Wednesday next, and from Iho iiamos of (ho gentlemen who have consented lo act on the uommittoi) wo feel nssurod that an enjoyable evoning may bo rolled on. A large number of invi'.alioiid already havo been issucrl, and a brilliant assemblage may be expected. 'The Hijdneii Morning Herald, of Iho 13 Ih ins!., snys :—": — " A specimen of tho oro callod " bhi"k sand" was worked in AV heeler's Amalgamator, at llchblowhilo's last week, weighing 10 lbs ; Iho produco was over four ounces of fine gold. This shows (ho immense valuo of an arliclo hitherto onnsidered by miuoivs of no valuo, but which cun now bo profitably worked by tlio application of machinery." Miss Pnlmerslon's entertainment nt the Theatre lloyal last night was well and respectnably attended. Tho porfonnnnco commenced with the Actress of All Work> followed by tho Yankee Girl, tho comicalities of which convulsed tho hearers, whilst tho truthfulness of tho acting was repeatedly applauded. Tho scone from tho drama of I/idy Audloy's Secret was again introduced, nud nt itn coucUimou Miss Palmoiston was culled before tho curtain and received quito an ovation from her dolightcd audience Tho Manager in Difficulties concluded an excellent evening's amusement. Uy a reference to our advertising columns it will 100 seen that a final pcrfonnnnco will take place to-night nt the Theatre ltoynl. Tlio opprossivo hent of tho pnst weok wns agreeably tomporod by tho copious rainfall of yesterday afternoon, which had tho effect of clearing tho almo3phoro and causing nn agreeable coolness wo havo for somo limo been strangers (o. At tho uinno timo nppenmnces clonoto a probability of nioro rain fulling 'than is cither desirable or required, for towards sun down heavy storm clouds gathered round tho horizon seawards nnd gradually oversprond tho sky whilst, tho distant mountains wero totally obscured by tho denso masses of vapour which encircled them from bnso to summit. We aro afraid Iho resiill of theso indications will bo another of I hose freshets in tho river which have lately proved so detrimental (o property on Q-ibaon s Quay. Wo wouldjstvongly ndviso thnt. oxtra precautions should bo (nken by vessols nt tho wharf I o ensure their snl'oly, in tho ovent of such a visitation, which wo aro nfrnid will bo of unusual severity, as tho •baro»»olcr wti3 exceedingly low lnst evonuig, lower in fact, I him wo have over noticed it before hero. Tho glass that we examined wns down to 2S'-82, two others wero 20 I -2G' and 29-31, whilst Oapt. Robertson informed us he had seen one which marked 2!).. 5. These are exceedingly low ranges and gcnoinlly tho precursor of severe weather. It is fortunate tho roadstead is oleai of shipping, Wo aro sorry (o stato thnt anothor suddon doath oocurrod last night — a man, named Murdoch, having boon found dead in his bed at tho Steam Packet 110101, Kovoll-slreot. It upponvs that tho docoasod wns observed by two diggers in tho street during tho early part of tho ovening, and from his appearance they wero led to iufor ho was in a stale of groat stiflering. With commendable benevolence thoy took him to Iho abovo holol and paid for his night's lodging, leaving him in olmrgo of the inmates. At ten o'clock (ho cook carried soino louiomule to him, which ho drank,, and j said ho felt a litllo bottor ; but two hours later another person found him quito dead. On searching him a miner's right, with the name of Murdoek on it, was found, and thirteen shillings in silver.