West Coast Times.

West Coast Times, Issue 162, 26 March 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times.

MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1866.

We are enabled to-day to give full telegraphic details of the intelligence brought by the English mail? The melancholy story of the loss of 1 tho London is told circumstantially. It appears that a large number of ships have gone down on tho English coast, and in the neighboring seas, during a succession of very heavy gales, of which the ill-fated London was one of tho first to experience the full fury. The total loss of life is reported to bo enormous. It is surprising, considering tho vast dimensions the passenger traffic of tho mercantile niarinc has assumed, that the precautions taken for the safety of life and valuablo property continuo to bo so defective. In tho caso of the London wo are told that a largo quantity of

coals were left upon deck infordcr to make room for the stowage below of railway stock and other cargo, and one of tho first effects of tho tremendous seas shipped by her was to choke tho scuppers, and thus render useless tho channels provided for the dischargo of the wash. H will, in all probability be found, when the whole circumstances of this terrible wreck aro investigated, that other safeguards against accident from the o^erwash of heavy seas woro neglected — such as tho hanging of tho lower portions of tho bulwarks upon hinges enabling them to move outwards, and so provide for {be speedy discharge of the deck water. The immediate cause of tho wreck seems to havo been tho shipment ond retention of heavy seas, which deluged tho cabins, tilled tho hold, and put out the eugino fives. It is not to the credit of a great mercantile nation, whose boaat it has long boon to command tho seas, mid whose recent improvements in naval archio'tc- " turo have Avon the admiration of tho world, that the foundering of great ships iivat arc floated oh tho waters as tho masterpieces of the shipwright, and which appeal to the confidence of passengers* us combinations of all that modern science has devised and that s'lrillecl art can execute for the guarantee of safety, should ha so frequent. In the early days of maritime adventure, tempestuous oceans were safely crossed in vessels that iv these days of enlarged ideas would bo deemed inadequate for the^most ordinary coasting trade. Tho ships employed by the most renowned navigators and discoverers were mere cockle:shells compared with the Bplendid products of the lriode'rn shipyard. Yet the old tubs in which the Columbuses and Cahots led their daring crews, contended successfully with the perils of the ocean, laying down tracks in inhospitable and unknown seas for later navigators to follow whilst it has become with us a common story for splendid vessels which art and capital have exhausted themselves in making perfect for sea use, to go down with their rich cargoes, not only of material wealth, but of life, affection, and hope. The nation seems on tho eve of realising all the political consequences that wore predicted to result fiom the death of LoV<l Palmer«ton. That statesman's official prestige and personal influence Jmd long operated as a drag upon the movement towards a new settlement of tho Constitution, whioh set in With the revolutionary era of 1848, but which never attained any great headway. Tho demise of Lord Palmerston has closed a distinct page in history, and the timo has at length come for the new social forces, which tho advances of tho people in wealth and intelligence have evolved, to assert themselves with practical effect. Earl Russell, tho new premier, appears onco more to have thrown the entire weight of his influence into the sonic of reform. It may bo assumed that Mr Gladstone is heartily with him, if ho does not tako the lead in advanced sentiment. Mr Bright, the groat tribune of the English democracy, has indicated his readiness to form au alliance with "the moro radical leaders of tho Whig party, 'and has hinted at the probability of circumstances arising undnr which it would bo his duty to the people to take office. Portentous facts these, promonitor.s of revolutionary times ! Tho guarantees for tho continued peace of Europe appear to bo strengthening. Tho long maintained amity of relations and oneness of policy between Franco and England, is in itself a substantial guarantee. So long as tho two powers act iv thorough harmony, they must necessarily exerciso an almost preponderating influenco in tho politics of Europe, Russia has made a demonstration against tho aggressive tendencies of Prussia, and threatened a coalition against that power if it should persevere in its project to annex the Duchies. In Italy Victor Emanuel, without abating the title of tho new Kingdom to tho Roman territory and capital, has pledged himsolf to noninterferonco during the life of the present Pope. In Hungary tho struggle of the patriotic party, extended over sixteen years in war and in peace, has at length culminated in the recognition by tho Austrian Emperor of the autonomy of tho ancient kingdom of the Magyars and the formal rclin quislnnent of the scheme to swallow it up in the imperial system. In Spain tho insurrectionary movements appear to have been much exaggerated. They are now reported to be effectually su| pressed. In American politics and in the alleged propngan - ism of tho Fenians, there is nothing worth calling for notice, beyond the fact of the failure thus far of tho party whose aim it is to foment war between England and the States. The Intercolonial news brought by tho Rangitoto is of interest and importance. In Victoria tho M'Culloch Ministry, notwithstanding their enormous majority in tho Legislative Assembly, havo succumbed to the adverse vote of the Upper House, by -which the protective tariff has again been rejected by a very large majority. Mr M'Culloch says Victoria is without a Constitution. If he had said without a " workable Constitution" he would have moro correctly expressed the fact. So long as tho Upper House is not susceptible of being dissolved on tho occasion of any appeal to the people, and so long as simultaneously no power lies with the Crown to secure harmony of legislation by tho creation of additional members, as in tho case of the House of Lords, collisions between the two Chambers aro unavoidable. If instead of sending in a majority of fiftyeight to twenty in the new Parliament in favor of tho M'Culloch policy, tho electors had returned tho whole seventy - eight Qf tho sa,mo way of thinking, tho

House wotilA havo been equally powerless 16 pass the protect! vo tariff so long as the Legislative Council continued to maintain the same attitude of firmness and determination. It is manifest that the Constitution of Victoria wants readjusting, and that tho work of readjustment can be best performed at home. The recall of Sir Charles Darling and the "appointment of Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell aro ranWVed. If such a step is in contemplation, the latter will no doubt come out with specific and imperative instructions from the Imperial Government. In the meantime, the dutieft under the old tariff, which the M'Culkmh Ministry hive bfrcn seeking in vain for nearly the last two years to ttpso't, iii' 6 oVice more being collected. F.rOm Sydney we learn that desporuto and sustained efforts were being ma'lo in tho Law Courts to saVe tho lifo of tho convicted murderer Bertram!. The nature of ( tho points raised by his counsel will bo found in our' other columns. Wo learn also that on attempt mado by Mr Forstor in tho Sydney Parliament to rescind the arrangements mado with tho Now Zealand Government for tho proseoutipn of tho Panama Mail Service, had failed. Tho (1 Sydney Morning Herald," whilst holding that tho special benefits to bo derived by Now South Wales from the opening up of this route threaten to bo greatly lessened by tho renewal "of the steam depbt from Auckland to Wellington, yet maintains that a tluc bbscrvuuce of the engagement entered into, is imperative dv the ground of good faith aud honor.

Mr Edmund Barff, Mr Prosser's colleaguo in the Provincial Council, roaohed town by the Rangitoto on bio return from Chislchurch. Mr Prince (of tho firm of Princo and Lyons) who was liberated at Christchurch on his own roeognisanco, to appoar at Ilokitika on Saturday last, arrived in the ltnngitoto. His ense was called on iniho R. M.'s Court that morning, but in consequence of his non-appearanco the bail was declared forfeited, and a warrant at onco issued for his apprehension. This wai served as soon as ho mado his appearanco, ond tho allogcd defaultor lodged in gaol, but yesterday ho wns again freed, bail being allowed— himself at £200, and two sureties at £100 each. Mr Alman aM Mr 13. Marks aro tho gentlemen vrl'id have pledged themsolvos for him. At midnight on Saturday, a daring robbery was porpetrated at tho Oddfellows Hall, Povell itreot, tho victim boing tho landlord, *nd the property abstracted, his cash box, whioh contained over £40 and sovoral valuable dooumonts. TUo thiof ovidontly had mado himself acquainted with tho arrangements of tho bar, for, watching his opportunity, ho slipped in unporceived, Boized tho cash box, and would havo departed in the samo manner had not i>, slight shuflling'attraoted tho alton tion of tho landlord, who with a few friends was sitting in an adjoining room, and who just caught a glanco of him as ho was rushing through the sido door. Acting on tho impulse of tho momonl, ho darted after him, but as tho night was oxtromcly dark, lost sight of llio rascal immediately. Returning to tho bar, ho. soon ascertained tho oxlent of his loss, and at onco gavo information to tho polico, who up to a lato hour last iiighb hud not succeeded in tracing the ollonder. Wo aro glad to bco that tho usoful and bonevolout Ordor of Odd Follows havo determined to open a " Lodgo" in Hokitika. Tho good which has beon effected by this socioty in all parls of tho world is incalculable, and many a family iv timo of destitution, sicknoss, and death havo had just reason lo Mesa Ua fnatitution. Tn another column will bo found a notico lo tho ofl'cct that a- dispensation havinp boon granted by tho North Canterbury district, and power dolcgatodto MrW. R. Goodrick, P. G., a lodgo will bo opened at tho Odd Follows* Hotel on Wednesday, April 4th, at half-past sovon in tho evening. Wo havo to correct a typographical error in tho last issno of tho paper, which appeared in our report of tho Improvement Counnittco Instead 6f a commission of •• 2 " per cent, allowed lo Mr Smith for valuation of town property, it should havo boon " i" per cont. His Honor the Superintendent, accompanied by Mr Stewart, Secrotary for Publio Works, roturned to town yesterday from their visit lo Grroyniouth. Wo trust tho trip proved an agreeable, ono and congratulate them on having been favored with such lovely weathor. The Oret/ River Argus informs us that an oflicial onquiry took placo at tho Resident Magistrate's Court, Oobdon, relative to tho wreck of the steamship Eleanor, tho recent loss of whioh on tho North Beach is frosh in tho recollection of tho publio. Tho Bench was occupied by J. 8. Kynnorsley, Esq., R.M., and David Johnston, Esq., Collector of Customs at Groymouth. From thoovidenceofOapt. Coulson, Harbor Master, the signalman at tho Hoads, mid tho captain, umto, and engineer of tho unforluato vosscl, it appoarslhat no blamo whatever can bo attributed to tho officers who had charge of hor. Sho loft tho harbor at six o'clock on Sunday morning, lllh inst., with a strong south-oast wind, which suddonly dropped when thoy reached tho bar. At that time tho onginos wore going very slow, and a heavy sea springing up, a few rollers struck ' hor and Bent her broadsido on to tho North Beach. Messrs Do Costa and Co. woro agonts for tho vessel ; and a suvvoy having boen made, she was condemned, and has since boen Bold by auction for £140. Thero was anothor capital house at tho Princo of Walos Thcatro on Saturday evening to witness tho Lontou troupo in thoir marvellous performances. Tho great uovolty of tho night was the public expose of tho groat Davonporl untying triofo" Hitherto, imitators of tho Davonports have, as thoir prototypes did, performed their operations bohiud the slicltorofa sorcon, and the manner in which thoy havo freed thoniselvos from tho multitudinous kuols tied about thoir limbs, has remained an unfathomablo mystery to the boNvildorod epooifljqra. On Saturday night Mv

Lenton offered tho audionco the onportunity of having tho " tnngio maclo easy " to their approliousioii) and they dooidod. on having thoir ourioeily satisfied. jMCr Goorgo Kidgway submitted to to bound, and tho^ operation \vao certainly porforinod to a\l ap 1 p 1 oftr anco most offootually. liut by v simple procoduro, much to tho publio astonishment, ho eucceoded iv oxtricating himself I beforo thoir eyes from many bonds 5 and tho mystery stood at onco revealed. Tho foatttas witnessed with loud applause. Thoso who •want to discover hott it in aohioved, had bettor attond tUo tueatro and see for thomselvos. Mr Ridgway further distinguished himsolf by soiuo daring and brilliant, exercises on tho flying trapeze. Wo nood not repeat our econiums on tho porfonnauccs of tho otb.or liloin-,llol-8 of the tVoup'e. ftor to-night, wo notice 'thot ii groat chango is announced in Iho programme. Mr Lenton himsolf makes his lirat appoavanee, and wo understand his exploits aro. of a quite surprising character. Tho first appcaranco of Master Johu Lenton, who with his brothor Frank will perform as tho Lilliputian clowns, is moludod in tho programme. The management liavo also engaged Ul6 services of Misa Rosa Cooper and Mr Lionol Harding, who make I heir debut on tho boards of the Prince of Wales to-night. Altogether tho Bill if a groat one, and can hardly fail to draw a browdod house. ' . Tho Dcnili'quin dKronictc Bta'tos that tho remains of ConUtablo Chapman, who wus lost in tho bush lately, havo beon found by a man named Patrick Hardy and anothqr, within throc-quartora of a milo of whoro somo men woro making a dam. 110 wns buried in tho Booligal (Jometory, and followed by a good many pcoplo to tho gravo. Tho body was as black as ink, and in an advanced state of put refaction. In his struggles ho had torn his shirt and forced his piints Up to his knees', and by his tracks it was scon tftat ne had been rolling round and round tho treo undor which iio was found, to avoid the sun. Ho must havo had a horriblo death. Ho is said to havo been lying on hi* side, with a coat under his head for a pillow. Tho spot was a dry creek, about twenty-five miles from Booligal and sovon from tho Lachlan Eiver. It is understood thufc tlioro woro no marks ojf violonco on n'oconeed'fe person, but that ho iVad evidently perished from exhaustion, and had, aftor rambling about for some time in a circuitous direction, boing overcome with fatiguo and thirst, Inid himself down to die — having, it is supposod, hung his waistcoat on a tree or bush near, as a guide to his resting placo.