THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 227, 11 June 1866, Page 2

THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

.MEMDTtttS BETURNKD. Solwyn E. Jollio. Rakaia. J. Hull. Lyttolton D. Davii. » E.A.llargreavos „ , W.P.M.Aynsloy i> E.' Buchanan.

Some fifteon years ago, thoro appoarod in tho pages of "Tho Dublin University Magazine" a sories of papors from tho pen of Gerald Griffin, entitled " Remarkablo Trials for Murdor," and there was ono among them which created considerable notice in literary circles, for it was founded on a woll known eaBO of Irish jurisprudence, and tho author was loudly consurcd by Iho press for having drawn somewhat too largely upon the regions of romanco, and investing tho character of a brutal inurdorcr with an amount of interest repugnant to fcho bettor instincts of society. Tho titlo of this papor was " Tho lovo advonturos and trial for murder of Hardrosß Cregan," and from it a woll known and highly popular dramatist, Mr Egerton Wilks, produced a successful melo'drama — " sonsational" pieces woro not known at that period— ontitlod Eiloy O'Connor. From this play Mr, Dion Boucicault, whoso daring plagiarisms and adoption of tho thoughts and works of othor authors, has givon a special notoriety in tho literary world, hashed up a drama called tho "Colloon Bawn," which, thanks lo tho efforts of tho scene paintor and mechanist, rathor than any real merit of tho author, achieved a large amount of popularity. As produced on Saturday ovouing at tho Prince of Wales Opera Houso, nojoare or oxpenso had evidently boon spared, to plnco it effect ivoly upon tho stage. Tt was a

decidod' succosb. All tho original effects were introduced, nnd tho wutor cave seono in particiilar, was most clororly .managod. Tko audionco appluudod vooiforously, and on tho fall of tho our tain, Mi»» Rosa Coopor and Mr Andrews woro summoned to the foot lights. In fact, tho sonsalion scene was loudly redomanded. M.i* Burford as Danny Matt was excellent 5" his death sceno was artistically managed. Mr Lionol Harding and Mr Clifford made tho most of their rospoctiro parts of Hardress Orogan aud Kyrlo Daloy. The Miles Na Ooppaleon of Mr Androws was a woll conceived' ombodimont; and Messrs. Strocton and llogan aro deserting of notico for their careful ropresoutation of tho charaotors of Oorrigan and Father Tom. Mrs Crosby actod Anno O^huto with good effect. While Miss Eosu Coopor, as tho ill-treated but interesting horoino, Eily O'Connor, displayod an amount of impulse- and natural gruco which added materially to tho sucroas of tho piece: hoirßong of "Tho Cruiskoen Lawn" was loudly oncored. Tho potito comedy of Perfection concludod tho performanco. Wo nolico that a Tory "handsomo chandelior has been suspended from tho dome, and tho Cl^«'s;^tr<>^-^pw lighted with gas. Wqjfytond Op nit Oftjly occasion to givo a^UwH^^ytio^ r,pf th^'j>|^»ljont arrangoj§SKP!lp|f™fr .ln^uufaotUror^f .'gf&y-introduced M^^mtt.l-^iijiigH^^EMfUudley's IraWWi bo porforme(^i^itM|!: %, f'f^d ( ; Gnvistchuroh '• mlvijlv a]^T£B,.y<»ls>rday J£ftesU>Dn}Uimng bcort'dolay<>4,b6Vdwj[ tnjw^al AftCpiigs^ the tho'l'rojju^^ wo Harper tyay ;. tpV^^^W^^Jf^ttt^^re land ouvlHrt^g^; '$$.ssss& sk* Tho work pf,'»peii^ig:Mp;tt»ft;-^8 J t«'6oast l aud intorsccliijfg'Xfc 0 i'r^is^|{o'^fi^ r quiotly and surely proepc^d^ Survoy Department— onb, 'm^^rifiy, that wo hear but little of, but wluch|'i?*ovcrthclcs3 doing a considorablo amount of necessary but most disagrooablo work. Hitherto, wo havo understood that it was not tho iutontion of tho Government to spoud any mouoy upon publio works in Westland, and wo woro theroforo somewhat surprised to hear that surrey lines aro being cut parallel to tho coast, a milo ditant from each olhor, tho first to bo situated one milo from tho sea beach. On enquiring into tho matter, wo woro informed that unlosß a countermanding order was issued thoso lines would bo extended close up to tho hills, and that- trausvorso tracks would bo cut two miles distant from oach other. Thus tho whole country will bo divided into blocks, two miles by ono milo in oxtenr. Very earnestly do wo trust that this most necosoary work will recoivo no check, as it will prove of inculculablo benefit, by affording suoh facilities to prospectors as aro likoly to rosult in tho discovery of many a rich gold field, -at prcsont inaccessablo, through tho imporvious naturo of tho bush. Tho latost Groymouth intolligouco has boon placed at our disposal by a gcntlomun who arrived in town lato on Saturday night; By him wo aro informod that tho search aftor Mr Dobson is boing actively prosecuted, but bo far unattondod by success. Fresh parties havo stai'lod, ono consisting of MrMullor (of tho survey department), uttonded by a party of Maoris, aud anolhor headed by Mr. Bain, who is accompanied by a vory valuablo and oagaoious dog of tho rotricvor breed. Slroug hopcß aro ontortainod that tho remains of tho \mhappy gontloman will yet.be found: but vory fow people unticipato ho will over bo scon again in tho flosh. Tho majority aro of opinion that ho has boon murdered, and tho body buried. In such a caso tho services of a good dog would bo moat offective, as thoso sagacious .brute* usually givo 'tonguo on scenting a dond body. Tho first oxhibition in We'slUnd of figures in waxwork was thrown open to tho publio on Saturday night, and to judgo by tho attondanee during tho first hour wo should lmagino it was duly appreciated. At tho end of that poriod, howovcr, a most extraordinary and unoxpected scono ocourred, which, although it somowhat abruptly terminated tho evoning's amilscmont, afforded no slight diversion to the onlookors. Amongst tho figures advortised to bo seen were two — ono ropresonting tho notorious Bcrtrand, tho other that of his victim tho unfortunate Mr Kinder. From what wo cau gather, it appears that Mr Wood (tho fathor-in-law of tho lattor), at prcsont residing in Hokitika, considered tho oxhibition of his rolativo as most unseemly, and was heard to declare that if it was porsistod in ho would stop it in a manner but little anticipated by tho proprietor. Ho kopt his word by arming himsolf with a heavily-mounted whip, and quietly mingling with tho crowd, suddonly to tho horror and nmazomont of tho showman mado.a most murderous' assault upon tho cast of Kinder, and demolished it. Tho attack was so Bjiddon that ho effected his purposo oro any ono had time to provont it ; but immodifttoly afterwards tho polico made their appearance, and tho offondor was at- ouco arrested and convoyed to tho lockup. Ho was, howovor, bailed out by somo sympathising friends. Wo boliovo tho oaso will' bo heard this morning in tho B.M.s Court. Mining in tho Totara district is in a healthy Btato, notwithstanding that tho deep lead at Ross Town, •which has givon riso to euch sanguino anticipation, is at a standstill. Almost a certainty, howovor, oxists that steam power will bo shortly introduced by tho Scandinavian Company, which, iro thiuko, deservo direct encouragomont by tho Government to rigorously carry out thoir undertaking. Tho old workings on Jonos' Crook are being re-workod by sluicos, and oven yet >iold good wagos iv many iastancos, as parties who will work systematically can mako from £4> to £10 por weok oach man. Tho population of Jonos' Crook propor, including tho town of Boss, is estimated at 1600. From tho outlying gullios tho ao. counts aro vory favorable, " DonohoguoV especially boing hold in estimation- by tho miners. At tho Rosidont Magistrate's Court during tho woek onding Saturday, Juno 9th, 6 prieoners wcro eontoncod to difforont terms of hard labor, nn.l 1 debtor immured, whilst 8 Bi'iilonct'il mon ' woro discharged, and 1 debtor

roloasod lrom conilnoinent. This is tho lightest weokly calondar wo haro over published, and it speaks woll for the ordorly character of tho inhabitants of thia district. The numbor and classification of confinees in tho old gaol, at the above date, is 1 male nnd 2 females committed for trial, 8 havd labor mon, 6 debtors, and 2 prisonors on remandtotal, 19. In tho now gaol, nt the same date, 33 committed mon woro awaiting trial, and 1 undorgoiug imprisonment only—total, 8 k Total number of confineos in both gaols, 53.