West Coast Times.

West Coast Times, Issue 166, 31 March 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times.

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1866.

We distribute with this morning's paper printed forms of application for .fche insertion of names on tlie Electoral Roll of tlie Colony. Wo thus place it within the power of, every one who ,posessess or believes that iife possesses a' title 't6' -the suffrageJ t>o tajce .Uia,firsf^.,pr.eUmjt, ( nary steps towards substantiating his claim. On jtho question of, qualification we have endeavored to throw what light we can.' It must be , confessed that tho la\y is a perfect' labyrinth, through which it requires an astute adviser to guide the steps of the wanderer. According to the simplo interpretation of it, it means that every man who has been for six months in occupancy of a house of the annual value (rent) of £10,' is entitled to have his name recorded on the Electoral Roll, on condition of his compliance with' c »rtain legal formalities. There is a fine for making '< false" claims. But no claim can be held to bo a" false one thot .is'based upoiv a Reasonable legal presumption. Whether the . claims inado by househoM(jrs on the West Coast, are valid or not'; whether the' fact of. thedistrict being under tlie operation of the Goldfields Act, deprives! the citizens f es> dent in it of all political privileges beyond those conferred by their miners' rights and licenses ; is a question to be decided at. a', future period by the Revising Officer, not by the Registration Officer. We have, however, already pointed out lhat the clavs^ in the Minors Franchise Bill, declaring that nothing; contained in it shall debar any miner from olaiming to be registered in respect of "any other qualification he may lawfully possess." appears to be thoroughly conclusive on> this point. ' • ' . Wb repeat that in filling utithe forms we distribute this morning, mjke mustbe taken to avoid technical inaccuraoies. Tho ' Christian and Surname must be given in full. The attesting witness to the genuineness of the signature must state the nature of lvis own qualification, whether Freeholder or Householder. It may be of service toobserve that what he attests is simply the genuineness of the signature. He does not endorse the genuineness or sufficiency of the qualification alleged. The only word to be inserted in the column under tho head of »♦ qualification" is " Householder," except in the few instances of men who purchased lands on the We"6t Coast before the auriferous discoveries caused it to be proclaimed a goldfield, and who may bo consequently entitled to claim as freeholders, No " Miner's Right or Business License" gives any title to registration, the Returning Offioer being required io receive votes tendered in respect ' to these qualifications on presentation to them of the original documents. . In. the column headed ." Place where property is situate" " &c., we have already stated on -the positive authority of" the Christchurch papers, that it is necessary to 6Gt forth the number of the section as on tho official survey map.. It will undor any ciroumstances be the safe course to observe this rule, and no precaution should be neglected that may. guard against any technical objections to the validity of the form of claim sent in. 1 In the absence of aII official information . for the guidance of claimants, w,c

have endeavoured to throw all possible light upon n most intricate and difficult subject. Wo now Toit&a'te tlVe ftdVfe'e wo have already l £iveiY , o all who belifeve thety a substantial right toh. Wo their names registered on the electoral roll, to make a formal assertion of their claim. If nny of our subscribers fail to receive copies of the necessary form to be filled up, with their papers this morning, they may procure fietn on application, at tho <% Timet" office. A box lies at the Resident Magistrate's Court for the reception of claims, and this is tho last day On which they can bo deposited.

.The family 6f his Honor Mr. Justice ( CUapiunn, of- , Duneflhv Avhos6 visit to " Westlimd to preside at the next sessions : bf the Supreme ' Court, is'ftndorstood to be amongst the present judicial arrangement^, were we' 1 deeply regret to say am'6ngst tho ill-fated passengers by the •'steamship London. ''The article we extract elsewhero -from #ie "Argus," raises, a. doubt as to the aotuai presence ot Mrs, t .Chapman;' aijid : . vher , daughter and two spns, on board the ship ; but we notice thftt-tho names M the whole-" four are^niongst the obituary adver-tisanie'nts-'.'ih that journal of tho 22nd Jqstaiit j. : and wo presume their insertion 1 would. noi have-hfeen directed unless the friends of the. family wer.e in possession of positive information on the subject. Vary deep isympathy 1 will be felt with Mr. , Chapman under this most melanoholy bereavement. "''Ho was singularly proud of his : promising r fa.mily, and sangUine as to the future success in life of . his ; song, who had shown very marked indications of .talent. The. eldest son had taken high honors . at Cambridgehad proceeded to his 1 L.L.B. degree, and had been called to the Bnr. Ho had prospect of a bright, and successful career before him. But all his hopes have gone down with him into t c deep. The loss of the London has caused an extraordinary sensation in Melbourne Nearly tho whole of the saloon passengeis were either old colonists, or their relatives. The captain and chief officers were known and respected, having served for many years, in vessels frequenting the port. VWhen the. news arrived the shops were closed, the flags .were half-masted, and other indications given of a greqrt public sorrow. It will be long before, tho items of this most pitiful story aro exhausted.

Private enterprise is rapidly convoking tlioso highways, whioh by courtosy wo call thoroughfares, although' their- unreclaimed state renders tho town scarcely appropriate, into streets, along which '.a'horao and cart •may travel without endangering tho animal's limbs or tho drivor'a nook >,' We, alludo to tho improvements lately' .effeoted in Sewell Stroet by Mr liookhartjwfto has at>ins'coßfc deposited quite forty loads of sand and gravel, and thus filled up some pf the,nioro<dangerouß ruts and holes. Wooortairily think' tnafc tho Governmont might tako tho hint and see to tho iramediate improvement of.So.woll and Wold Streets, whioh at present are a disgrace to that part of the town. A considoralo amount of rowdjism and disordor oxists amongst tho population co suddenly assembled at Bruco Bay during tho past few days, for by accounts brought up by tho Koera wo are informed that Mr Prico tho Wnrpon, who had proceeded thoro to mark out a township, narrowly escaped " mobbing." Wo proßume tho Government received official intimation of tho state of aftaira down thoro, ns •Sorgeaut Cloraontß, with four constables in comnmud, was at once dispatched in tho Konnody to form a camp and koop order. Should tho rush turn out a failuro thero is evory probility that their services will bo required and that their numbor will have to bo augmented. The building in Rovell streot, that for so long a time has done duty as Hospital, is at last deßcrted, arrnngements for tho rocoption of casos into tho now building, on tho south eido of tho rivor, having beuvcomplotod. On Wodnesday and Thursday last tho removal of patients from ono to tho other was effected, under tho immediate supervision of Dr Riloy and Mr.M'Oabo, tho Hospital dispenser. Yesterday being Good Friday, tho Bank's, publio offices, and business establishments wore closed. At, tho Wesloyan Church, services wore hold 'morning and evening; and also, we believe, at tho Catholio churoh. Ignoring tho speoial religious character of tho flay, and regarding it only in the light of a . public holiday, tlio skippers of tho sevoral veßsols in port made a brilliant display of -unt- >,"£• ..To-day, no business will be transacted in tho Resident Magistrate's Court boyond the disposal of the drunkards' cobob. Arrangements will'bd'made, howover, for the reception at tho Court throughout tho day ofEleotoral Kogistration'olaims. Mr Commißßionea Sale has beon appointed Receiver 0? Land Revenue at tho approaching sale of town lands on tho 3rd proximo. , An offioial notico to tho following offpet was posted on Gibson's Quay yesterday morning : — "Diggers proceeding to Bruco Bay aro warned that tho rush up to tho prosont time is a failure, and that there is not as yot any ground-room for those who have already gone thoro. (Signed) G-. S. Salo, Commissioner." Tho above is not only a warning to diggers, but speaks volumos in favor of tho thoughtful oaro displayed by Mr Sale. The bqdy of tho unfortunate man Pier c, who waß drowned on tho 15th instant at Snag Falls in the rivor Torociakau, was found on tho 28th washed up upon the soa beaoh about half a mile to the north- of that stream. Dr Beswick, the district Coronor, on recoiving information of tho fact, proceeded to the locality on Thursday, and hold an inquest on tho remains', when a verdict of accidental doath was returned. The body was much decomposed, so much, indeed, that it was identified by tho clothes only. Wo believe Piereo was once known by tho name of Thorapsou. Muoh trouble was", expovjoncod in empannellipg a

j\iry, many of Yiioae on tuft sldVci tho river who wV>Ve first oallod suddenly disappearing in tho bush, evidontly influenced by soino roason whioh to tho dootor was unaccountable He. howover, soon ascertained it, for on his arriving on tho north bank, the boatman demanded tho modest sum of ss. as his usual foe for ferrying passongora across. Of courso jurymen objoftod to not only loso their time, but be muloted in this sum bb well, and very naturally endeavored to evade tho duty. We certainly think such an expense should b^ defrayed! by tho Government, for although it is understood that when on Quobn v » sorvico travellers are free df tolls, it would be unjust in tho extreme to compel boatmon on such a rivor as the Toremakau, to risk their lives without some prospect of reimbursement. His Honor tho Superintendent, accompanied by the Provincial Soorotary and tho Beoretary lor Publio Works, and Mr Moorhouse, M.H.R., left town yosterday morning for Christchurch. , Thero was a V6"ry ftil\ Uouio at the Prince of WaW Theatre on Thursday night, on tho "octfastan of tho benefit of Mr Q-eouge Ridgway and Mv Loon Samwolls. To-night, tho Len'ton troupe gives a complimentary benefit to Mi* Bartlettj and wo have ho doubt tho publio will testify thoir full "appreciation of tho en* terpriso.of that gentleman, who, in conjunction with his father-in-law (Mr Moon, of Sydney) .has nindo tho most spirited and costly theatrical oxporimont yet attempted in Wostlano 1 ,; Tho whole strength of the Lenton troupe will be displayed on this occasion, and Mr Bartlett will make his flrat appearance on the Hokitika boards, In tlio character of • Citizen Sangfroid, in tho very charming drama of " Delicate ground." Ho will be supported by Miss Rosa Cooper "and Mr Lionel Harding. Of Mr Bartlett's talents fame syoaks highly, and ho ia an established favorite as an actor in the neighboring colonios. It would be a bad complimem to soy more, except that ho has beon tho means of supplying Hokitika with one of tho most commodious and perfectly equipped theatres in Australasia. The extraordinary feats of Georgo Ridgway on tlie flying trapeze; tho inimitablo performances of tho two lilliputiau clowns 5 the play with the four g obeß by Mr Thomas Lonton 5 and the exhibition of tho three monkeys, will be repeated Altogothor, a great bill is announced, and wo have no doubt thero will be a bumpor honse. Wo aro requested to correct tho substance of a paragraph which appeared in our last issue, rospooting tho remit of the inquiry into th 6 loss of tho bag of gold from the Wairaoa It appears thut tho inquiry has not terminated, further investigation being considered necessary. The now dramatic season, uiidor tho managoraont of Mossrs Evcresto and Towers, will bo opened to-night at tho Theatre Royal, (Shakspore.) " Don Coesar do Bazan," and " Whitebait at Greenwich" aro announced as tho pieces) and there will be an interlude of eiuginp and dancing. Mr Tom Eawoott, & Well known and popular aotor/is a member of this company. We believe that Mrs Everest©, who plays 1 .the parfc.;of'Maritana in ''Don Cacsur," is a daughter of tho distinguished novelist, Captain Marryat. Wo notice that tho point of law raisod in England in tho case of the woman Winsor, convicted on a eeoond trial of child murdci at Torquay, has boon decidod by tho unanimous judgment of tho Judges, against tho convict. They held that tho discharge of tho jury in tho Civil instance for non-agreomeut did not debar a second trial.