Untitled

West Coast Times, Issue 264, 28 July 1866, Page 2

In the Supreme Court, yesterday, Frederick Smith and "Bridget Kelly woro each sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, with hard labor, having been convicted ou tho previous day of larcen}'. On then* removal from tlie dock, Ed-yard Jones was brought up on the charge of robbery with violence ; but the case for the Crown being exceedingly weak, his Honor directed the jury to acquit the prisouer, and ho was discharge! from custody. The next, case which occupied the attention of the Court was one of robbery \\ ith violence, for which Michael Kane stood indicted. The evidence for the Crown was most conclusive •and a verdict in accordance returned against tlie prisoner, who was most deservedly sentencod to three j'enrs' imprisonment, with ■har-1 labor. This prisoner was also charged with rape, bui the Crown Prosecutor declined to pi'oceed against him. The hist case disposed of by the Court was that of Joseph Ratcliff, who was charged with larceny. Very unsatisfactory evidence wa3 adduced, and the jury returned a verdict of Not Gruilty. The Court then ndjourned until to-dn;-, nb ten o'clock.

Tv his official report upon Iho Grey dislrKf Mr Warden Revell writes : — " No news of any importance to report during tho past fortnight. Since the last rains water has been plentiful, and sluicing is being carried on vigorously at all points whore water can be made available." Tho same official, writing on the 14th instant, reports that " There has been ft considerable increase in the population on the Teramakau and New River. Soveral shafts havo heen sunk from twenty to thirty feet, and fair prospects obtained. On the ofher fields In this district there is nothing to report. The works' are being carried on rapidly, and there' is generally a plentiful supply of water for sluicing."

A fatal but somewhat singular accident oc;eurred to a miner at the Tdtara, whilst sinlcin g iii a shaft in front of the Jones' Flat Hotel. As the ground was both deep and wet it was worked by night as well as day, and at i six p.m., on Thursday evening the night-men commenced operations. One of their number , named August Z.igelias, liad the first spel] below, and commenced smiting, but, to the amazement of his mates gave no signal for nearly an hour. Finding something had happened, ono of them was lowered down, and there, in ono corner of the shaft, found the unfortunate follow doubled up and bleeding profusely from a largo wound in the head. He was at once removed to tho surface and Dr. Hudson called in, who found him still alive but so exhausted through loss of blood that there was no chanco of saving him. and although everything was done that medical skill could suggest he breathed his last shortly afterwards. It is supposed that the wound was caused by either "a back stroke from the pick, or the falling of a st6ne from tho side of the shaH:. An inquest was to be held yesterday, at which further facts were doubtless elicited.

'Mr Commissioner Sale and Mr Warden Price left Hokitika yesterday for Wellington, whither they aro summoned to give .evidence before a parliamentary committee of enquiry into the working of the Goldfields Act.

It will bo obsorved from an advertisement in another column that to-morrow communion services aro to be conducted by thcfEov. Mr G-ow, in tho Hall of the Fire Brigade, Revcllstreet, morning and evening.

observe that Government has issued pi'inted notice3"calling upon any miner who may have improvements to suggest in tho prosent Groldfields Regulations to communicate by letter lo the Commissioner, under cover to the warden of the district in which the writer may bo at tho time residing.' Such commnuication nurtt be sent in on-or before the 18th day of August next. This is a very fair challenge on the part of the Government, and we trust the miners will show no disinclination to accept ; for|vve have heard many complaints that the present regulations are faulty and require re-constructing, or at least a close revision.

Telegraphic communication is not yet restored with Christchurch, and yesterday afternoon another mishap occurred to tho Q-rey-mouth wire, which stopped communication with that town for several hours. A gang of prisoners are at present employed clearing the timber off" the N new Police Resevve in Weldstreet; and in cutting down a good-sized tree it fell tho wrong way, caught the unfortunate telegraph lino and -broke the wire away from several of the posts. Mr Jone3, tho telegraphist, [was soon in attendance, aud under his ablo direction tho wires were refastcned, although the evening had closed in before the work was completed, This was hardly effected when information arrived that the line was down close to tho Arahura. A man was to be despatched at daylight this morning to repair it, so we trust that by the time this is before our readers tho lino will at least bo open to G-reyinouth.

Many residents in Hokitika will lenrn with feelings *of regret, tho death of Mr Thomas Keuuy, formorly of tho firm of Hands and Kenny, wholesale stationers, of Melbourne and Sydney. lie had attained only the ago of forty-six. Ho was for some- years a momber of the City Council of Melbourne. On his retiring from business as a stationer, ho had visited England for tho purpose of procuring machinery for tho manufacture of paper iv Victoria. Ou his return ho took the building known as Dight's Mill, at the Yarra Falls, for tho purpoao ol carrying out his scheme, in tho maturing of which ho spent several thousand pounds. Tho machinory was in courso of erection, but tho works had not been completed whon their projector was carried off by the hand of death/ Tho funeral of tho deceased gontlomnn wu3 largely attended.