BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 209, 21 May 1866, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.) [Tho following appeared in Saturday ovoning's Despatch.'] CIIRISTCHURCII. Saturday, 5 p.m. Thomas Brooks, stockdriver, well known in Hokitika, died yesterday. Weather unusually fine. News unimportant. DUNEDIN. |Saturday, 5 p.m. The Keora arrived last night.

Wo take tho following from the "Lyltoltou Times" of tho 17th inst. :— " Tho «Gazotte' annouuoos tho appointmont of Mr. John Johnston, of Wollington, nud Mr JYanci 8 Jollio, of Canterbury, to soats in tho Exooutivo Council of Iho colony. Well informed rumor adds that Mr 1 Johnston was oflbred ho portfolio of Colonial Treasurer, but that ho doolinod tho office, and has takon a seat in tho Executive without any departmental charge Mr Jollio is roportod, by tho samo woll-iuformod rumor, to havo aooepted tho Troasurowhip. Tho Government is now complete, though not so largo as that of Mr. Wold, which comprised a Colonial Soorotary ns well as a Premier." Tho Provincial " Gazotto," dated May 14, oontains tho resignation of Mr Jollie, as Provinoial Soorotary, and tho appointment of Mr Stewart in his stoad. Tho " Lyttolton Timoß," of tho 16th, says :— "Tho Provincial Soorotary has rosiguod his oflloo. Tho post is at prosont filled by Mr Stowart, who oombinos tho duties of Provincial Soorotary and Secretary of Publio Works." On Saturday last, tho boatmen forming tho orew of tho whalo-boat Alort, wishing to convoy thoir boat to tho Toromakau, woro inducod by tho oxtromo calmnoss of tho soa to make tho attomptto sail her thoro. Accordingly, at noon tho Alort atartod on hor perilous voyage having throo mon on board and a small stook of provisions. Thoy got safely ovor tho bar, but when outsido found that tho wind was doad against thorn. Tho mon then took to tho oars and got on vory well until thoy woro off tho ontranco to tho Toromakau, when a mist aroso which coinplololy hid tho boaoh from thoir viow, thus prevontiug thorn making any attempt, that night, to roach tho shore. Seeing nothing further to bo dono tho anchor was oast, and the words of ono of them when furnishing us with those particulars " thoy turned in for tho night to sleop." During tho night tho wind arose, and about four o'olock, yostorday oven, ing their «ablo parted and thoy drifted a fow milos to tho northward. Again thoy took to tho oars and boro up for Hokitika whoro thoy arrived oarly this morning, and by moans of a stono whioh fyrmod portion of their ballastry, thoy anohorod just outsido the break. Thoir intention was to wait until a steamer camo in aight to piok thorn up ; or ehould tho sea go down -thoy might pursue thoir original oourso by landing at tho Toromakau. Tho boat was observed this morning, lying outsido the break, and with a promptitude whioh rofloots the greatest credit Mr. Spenco, of tho firm of Spenoo Brothers owners of tho Ohallonge, at onoo dospatohod that steamer to tho assistanco of tho whaleboat and her orow, and brought thorn safely to tho wharf. No accident on this occasion happened, yet tho foolhardinoss of tho altompt cannot bo too strongly oondomuod. Had a gale sprung up whilo the , mon lay outside in the boat— such gales as visit thoso shows without any warning whatovor — would tho rosult havo boon tho eamo ? Had no vessel como up for a day or two, run short of provisions, tho frail Alort being forcod to attompt tho orossing of tho bar, in poudition for instanco as yes{;prd|VY, j n

all probability thoao mon would have paid for thoir folly with thoir lives. It would bo woll that tho Harbor-maßtor had the power to prevent mon risking thoir livos in such a manner. Last night, tho letters which wore stolen from tho mailman and recovored about ten days ago, wero brought into tho camp. Thoy prosont an appearance that almost doflos identification. A number aro torn, some votton from exposure, and others crumpled i n such a manner as render thorn unreadable. Tho police dospatches havo also como in for a good share of rough handling from tho bushrangors. Somo drafts we noticed in thohoap. As tho parcol will moat likely bo placed in a fow days in the hands of tho postmaster, we Bupposo tho contonts will bo duly advortiaod Tho membors of tho Voluntoer Firo Brigade announce a ball, to bo given at the Engine-room, on Thursday noxt, tho Queen's Birthday. On tho samo ovoning a ball will bo given by tho Buckingham family, at tho Theatre Royal. Tho pieces announced for to-night, at tho Princo of Wales Opera Houoo, avo tho tragedy of " Jano Shoro," and tho " Irish Tutor." A miner named Pier.vio Rougior diod on tho 15th inst. suddenly at tho Fivo-milo Boaoh, Okarita. His death is supposed to havo boon caused by disoaso of tho heart. Tho doceasod was a nativo of tho provinoo of Ifivornais, Franco, and haa a wifo and thrco children living thoro.