THE ELECTIONS FOR THE WEST COAST.

West Coast Times, Issue 218, 31 May 1866, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS FOR THE WEST COAST.

Tho writs for tho election of fivo mombora to sorvo iiv tho Provincial Council for tho sovoral olootoral districts of Wostland having beon roooivod by Mv Salo, tho RoturningOißcor, that gentleman has announcod tho following arrangements for tho town of Hokitika, and tho gold-flolds comprised gonorally undor tha designation of tho Elcotoral Distriot of Westland : — nOKIXIKA. Day of nomination, Tuesday, July 3rd. Day of polling, Wednosday, July 4th. Placo of polling, Wavdon's Court. WESTLAND. Day of nomination, July 2nd. Day of polling, Friday, July 6th. Places of polling, Wardons' Courts at Hokitika, Groymouth, Waimoa, Kaniori, Ross, and Okarita. Tho overland mail from Ohrishohuroh did not roach town last ovoning — wo presume in consequence of tho rising of tho rivo*a from tho hoavy rains. Tho olection roturns vero received last ovoning from Christchuroh, through tho Telegraph Ofllco being oponed by special arrangement at seven o'olock. Wo had hopod to havo furnished late intercolonial news in our present issuo, but tho Star of tho Evoning, from Molbourno, with dates to tho 23rd instant, has been unablo to cross tho bar. It will bo seen from our police report that tto protractod caso against Mr. Brackon h»s resulted iv his committal for trial at tho noxt sittings of tho Suprorao Court, bail boing accopted. Tho Resident Magistrate had, ,of courso, no option but to Bond tho caso to a jury, but no assumptions as to its merits can bo founded upon tho oircurastauco. Wo should bo Borry tohnvo to chroniolo any shipping disnstor on tho coast, but from tho heavy sea whioh sot iv, coupled with tho strong galo of wind whioh has beou blowing sinco yostorday morning, it is not improbable we shall havo to record tho loss of somo of tho crnfl trading on this coast. Tho Ballarafc loffc horo on Tuesday morning, bound for Wollinglon, amply supplied with coals for that voyage, but tho steaming qualities of that boat aro not suoh as to onsuro hor boing ablo to faco tho galo of wind and soa running . so wo shall bo to proparod to hoar of hor as having pt least pub into somo harbor on the coost between this and Nolson, as sho could not havo got fuvthor than tho Bullor bofore tho galo camo on. In consoquonco of the sovore gale, whioh throughout tho day contiuuod to blow with unabated fury, busiuoss in town was brought almost to a standstill. • Many of tho alorokoopors seeing tho usolossness of keeping their doors open to admit tho rain — whioh was tho only oustomer that was going about, visiting all and sundry-** wisely shut shop and rotirod to their back premises. On tho wharf tho only signs of lifo woro sailors onvoloped in wreaths of oilskin putting out additional warps, and othorwiso making all snug against tho squalls as well as tbo fresh, whioh ifc was evident would coino down tho rivor and swoop away any orafts that might not bo properly moorod No nows of accidont has roaohod ub as tho result of tho hurricane. Last ovoning, tho Brooko Amateur Dramatic Club gavo thoir first performance at tho Princo of Walos Opora Houso, for tho bonofit of the Voluutoor Fire Brigado, and wo aro glad to say with ovory possible buccobb. Wo aro not euro that " Tho Rivals," whioh was played so admirably on this occasion, is not tho moat popular logitimato comocly in tho English languago. Whothor wo regard its plot, its construction, or tho wit that is to bo found in it, this play is not comparablo to " Tho School for Scandal," by tho eamo author, and in tho last particular it falls short of tho oomedios of Oongrovo, Wyohorloy, and Vanbvugh ; but aftor all thoro is an undofinablo charm about " Tho Rivals" whioli rcpommonds

it to the hoarty liking of ovory audionco. Sir Anthony Absoluto and his son, tho Captain, had boon ofton soon bofore Shoridan wrote his play, have more often boon siuco seen, and will continuo to figuro on tho stage whilo laughtor is to bo oxtractod out of irrasoiblo old gontlomen who are oaeily mollified; who; brandish thoir oanos ovor their eons' hoads ono minute, and playfully poko thorn into their ribs tho next; and Mrs Molaprop and Lydia Languish aro copios from foraor dramatists. But Sir Lucius O'Triggor is nearly an original oharactor, and Falkland quito bo, whilst Aores is a highly atafcsing representation of a coward, It is not usual to criticiso amateur porformancos, nor do wo intend doing so on tho present occasion — thoir shortcomings, as compared with professionals, are gonorally many and obvioui ; but we must admit that this performance was, for amateurs, highly croditable, nnd warrants the belief that, with study and porsovorance, tho Brooko Club will take a high rank in their ordor. Tho favorito aftor-pieco " Boots at tho Swan" ran perfectly smooth, and kopfc tho audionoo, which was very numerous, in a high state of hilarity. Aftor tho play was concluded, and before tho aftor-pieco was commenced Mr. Harding road from tho stago a telegram communicating tho otato of tho poll in tho election for Superintendent, whon eovoral hearty oheors woro given for Mr Moorhouso tho successful candidate.

It will bo seen from an advertisomont in anothor place that Mr John Orate, a trador who for some timo was carrying on businoss in Hokitika, has mado an assignment to Mr Bloomington and Mr King, two Melbourne oreditors in tho estate, to whom all effects of Mr Crato aro to be rendered.

It is rumored that a demonstration is about to bo made by tho mombors of tho legal profession in tho form of a dinnor. Wo fancy tho number residont in Hokitika is sufficient to causo a strong muster for suoh a purpose.

Wo boliovo that in a fow days wo will bo bo able to Bupply a want long folt by tho commercial community, in tho form of giving tho bonded stooks hold in tho place. The valuo of such information is acknowledged iv evory port in tho colonies. Why Ilokitika has so long remained without tho dosideratum boing mot wo avo at a loss to conjeoturo.

Yostorday afternoon, au accidont, which might havo boon of a sorious nature, ocourrod in tho rivor. Two mon — ono, wo boliovo, n boatman, the other a pasßongor — wore crossing in ono of tho wlialo boats that ply botwoon Lagoontown and Hokitika, whon in one of tho sovoro squalls that provailod all day, tho boat was suddonly upset, and both tho occupants precipitated into tho water. Neither of the mon soomod to be oxporfc ewinamors, yot thoy managod for somo time to keop afloat, tho younger of tho two by clinging to tho upturned boat, tho other unassistod. The curront, which was running fast at tho time, was gradually carrying them towards tho mouth of the rivor, whon a boat put off from tho shore just in time,for tho sako of the older man at least, who had several timos sunk undor wator, and was fast losing both consciousness and strength whon rescued, no was ultimatoly carried to tho Stoam-paskot Hotel in an exhausted condition. His companion iv tko accident was little tho worse of tho narrow escapo ho had from a watory graTO. Shortly aftor tho above had takon. placo, an ompty boat was scon to bo sweeping down with tho current to destruction amid the breakers, whon it was saved and brought safely ashore.

Tho sensational drama entitled " Catherine Howard" was produced at tho Princo of Walos Opora House on Tuesday evoniug. There was a good attendance, especially iv the pit and stalls. Whon Aloxandor Dumas first placed this piooo upon the stage of tho Porto 8t Martin, it was recognised by tho groat Frenoh critics, Mons Lomarto, Fouoh6, and Avdane, as an historical teagody, and onjoyod an uninterrupted run of ono hundred consocutivo nights. So far as English history is concerned, Dumas, like all Fronoh authors, has proved his ignorance both of tho mannors and customs of tho English. There is not one inoident introduced in tho play whioh, hi tho roal story of tho unfortunato Catherino, can be regarded as correct. Wo are unablo to find in Hume and Smollett a word about tho Bonret tomb, tho two keys^ or anything respecting tho oxeoutioner from Paris being bribed by Oathcrino to fly from London to his wife aad children* In spito of manifest faults in construction, Cathorino Howard may bo tormod a good sonsational pioco. Tho part of Catherine, as eustainod by Miss Rosa Cooporj was throughout an artietio performance Whether as tho country girl, tho loving wife, or tho ambitious quoen, oaoh phaso of tho charaottor was^ finely rondorod. Nothing c»uld liavo boon better than tho offoot produood upon tho audionco in tho second act, whon sho awakens from tho tomb and discovers that sho has boon buried alive in tho vaxilt of the Northumborlands. Mr Lionol Harding, as Athelwold, played with groat power, and rocoiyod from tho audionco woll-moritod applause Tho sconory was offeotivo 5 the last ono in partioular — ropreaonting tho Tower of London — was tho most successful effort of tho scono painter wo have yot witnessed in this theatre. Tho farco of " Tho Illustrious Stranger" conoluded tho performance.

In the " Otago Daily Times" of tho 22nd instant appears a report of a oaso, which from the important commercial points thon raisod and dooidod — especially that of a merchant holding ovor tho orders of a cQstomor to suit his convenionco, or as ploadod in this instanoo, " at his discretion" — wo roprint it for tho benoflt of our commercial readors :—": — " R. Wil« Bon and Co. v. Jtobort Alcorn and Co : Claim, L 95 6s 6d, fo.r goods bargained and sold. This caso was hoard on Wednesday last, whon tho plaintiff was non-suited, on tho ground that thoro had been no legal accoptanco of tho do. livery of tho goods, and was now lioaycl upon a fresh summons, tho claim boing altered from goods supplied to goods bargainod and sold. Mr Doinpsoy for tho plaintiffs j Mr Maoassoy for tho defendants." R. Wilson oxarainod, said — I received the lottor dated 21st October, now produced from tho defendants. It contains an ordor for thirty bags of oats, ono ton of chaff, and fivo to <;qn tons of Hour, to bo

sliipped to tho Groy, and 100 bags of oats to Hokitika. Tho instructions woro to send them by two or moro vossols, and not to insure In accordanco with tho order, I shipped 25 bags of oats and 5 tons of flour to tho Groy, per ship Caledonia. I sent tho bills of lading through the Bank, and my draft was accoptod by tho dofondants. As a socond portion of tho Order, I sonfc, on tho 11th Docombor, 5 tons of flour and 30 bags of oats to tho Groy, per 'steamer Maid of tho Yarra. Tho dofondants refusod to accept my drafts, and wroto to mo that thoy could not accept dclivory of the goods, as thoy wero not ordered or, to ordor. Tho vo«sel was wreoked at Hokitika, and the flour which was slightly damagod, was sold by auction. I had invoiced it at £23. Tho defendants' order limits tho prico toj £27 por ton, but tho merchant is allowod a discretion, and in hardlj one caso in a hundrod is he bound by tho exa«t prico stated By Mr Macassey : I did not ship tho 100 bags of oats to Hoktika, bocaxwo I heard that tho price had fallen thero. I sent 65 bags to tho G-rey, thinking I was doing tho best for tho customer. Mr Macossoy said that tho dofondants woro oxccodingly anxious that tho case should bo clocided on its merits, and ho should, therefore, waive several objections, and call Mr. Bebort Alcorn, ono of tho defendants j but boforo doing so, ho submitted that tho goods had not been eliippod within a reasonable timo. Tho ordor was datod tho 21st Oct., and tho shipment was on tho 9th Docombor. — ~R>, Alcorn : I am a inorohant residing at Greymoufch, and ono of tho dofondants. Wo received tho goods shipped por Caledonia, and considered that tho ordor had been executed. Wo received tho bills of lading for goods shipped by the Maid of tho Yarra a cdnsiderablo time after that vossol was wrecked 5 and wo wroto refusing to accept the goodß as not ordored or to ordor. Thoy woro not to ordor, as our limit for tho flour was L2O, whioh was invoiced ftt L 23. If it had been invoiced atL2O wo would have takon it and sold it to tho boat advantage on behalf of tho plaintiffs. We did not know that tho oats wore for us until they woro dold. Tho prices of goods, particularly of flour, fluctuate greatly on gold fields. By Mr Dempsoy : Wo purchased somo of tho flour whiok was sold by auction, from tho thon buyer at L 22. Tho Magistrato was of opinion that tho having oxcoeded the limit of tho order was fatal to the plaintiffs' caso ; and also, that tho goods woro not shippod within a reasonable time. Upon thoso grounds judgmonfc was givon for tho defondantß."