MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 305, 14 September 1866, Page 2

MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

(from Tnr. provincial oovkuxmestt cia-

ZCTTE, SEPT. 10.) PHOCLAMATION.

I, William Sefton Moo*rhouse, Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury, in pursuance of the powers vested in m<^ in that behalf, do hereby, summon the Provincial Council of the said Province to meet, for the despatch of business, at the Council Chamber, at Cliristehurelt, at two o'olocK in tlio afternoon, on Friday, the fifth clay of October, in the year of our Lord on,e thoxisand eight hundred and sixty-six.

Dated at Christchurch, this tenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and

sixty-six.

W. S. Mo^RiiorsE, Superintendent of Canterbury. By his Honor's command,F. E. Stewart, Piovincial Secretary.

At eleven o'clock yesterday morning, the Telegraph gave notice that communication with Christcluirch was once moro restored, and the telegraphists at each end of the line at once proceeded to transmit tho numerous messages which had accumulated on their hands. This time the damage was very extensive, us the wire a\ as broken at both the lower crossing places of the Otira, and at the big crossing placo of the Tgrcmakau.* Several poles were also washed away in tho vicinity of tho Paddock, The repairs, however, wore smartly executed, and very great credit is duo to the lino men and others who effected tliem.

It has been for some time known, although no official announcement has been, made of tho fact, that Mr Sale has resigned' the office of Sheriff of Westland, as incompatible with his other official duties, and that the appointment has been conferred upon Mr FitzG-erald, the Resident Magistrate. We have hitherto refrained from mentioning tho circumstance, expecting the new appointment to be notified in the General Government " Gazette." As this has not yet been done through official delay in the " rod tape" department, wo now state the fact as an item of news.

The meeting for the nomination of candidates for the Municipal Council is to be held on Tuesday next. As yet none of the gentlemen to whom requisitions were recently presented, have made any announcement of their iutention to become candidates.

Wo need only remind ,the friends and admirers of Miss Julia Matlu;ws that her benefit takes place this evening. The pieces arc — " Faces in the Fire," and " The Invisible Prince." One of the most brilliant houses of the season may be anticipated.

Two Melbourne steamers are in the roadstoad — the Alhatnbm and the Tararua. ' The former brings upwards of three hundred and fifty passengers, and the latter has doubtless also a large number on board. We hope to receive our files of intei-colonial papers in the course of the day, and shall again issue a supplement to-morrow to enable^ us to give full details of intelligence.

During the last few weeks there has been a singular immunity from sudden and violent deaths in the district, especially amongst that clijss whose business leads them to traverse the country in all weathers. This, in a great measure is attributable to the lessons gained by dearly bought experience, and tho greater care exercised by travellers in crossing those rapid and dangerous streams, in which so many valuable lives have, been lost. We have, however, again lo record a lamentable accident, which resulted in the death of a packer named Michael Shanahan, who was drowned yesterday when attempting to cross the Arahura river. The unfortunate man left town in the morning with two packhorses heavily laden, and made for tke upper ford at the Arahura. On arriving there, ho found tho river jn a state of high flood, but urged on by a mysterious fatality, absolutely attempted to swim it on the back of one of the loaded horses. This top weight was more than the animal could support, and on reaching deep water turned completely ovor, and precipitated his rider into the stream above the rapids, down which he was swept and drowned, without once rising to the surface. A boat ludeii with passengers was crossing tho river at the time, but could render no assistance, the current being too strong. The body was not recovered. Both horses swam ashore, and wore brought iuto town by Constable Perry, who witnessed the occurrence.

With the exception of "communicated" speeches, such as the financial statements, &c, the Wellington papers seem to be very bad reporters of parliamentary proceedings. We guvo, a clay or two back, a very meagre report of a speech delivered by Mr Moorhouse, following tfie Colonial Treasurer. It appeared to have very little in it. But* the amount of injustice that must have been done to the lion, member for Westland is patent, from the following compliment* paid him by the Wellington correspondent of the " Lytteltou Times." The writer says : — " Mr Moorhouse followed in a powerful -and warmly applauded speech, denouncing the Stamp Duties, and protesting against a policy which claimed everything for the General Government and refused to consider the provinces except on tho terms that they shouia place an injurious tax ou thomeclvce to find the -money which they might lvquiro. .Tho spewh was a long one and I atn quite unable' to do justice to its arguments ; but I can say that it had a wonuWul effect

on tho Houfee ; and there is far more probability now of the (stamp Duties being thrown out than there was this time yesterday."

Wo lake tho following Iron) the " Grey Kivqr Argus " of yesterday :— " It may be interesting to the shareholders in the G-rey-moutliaiul Snltwatcr Creek, Tramway Compauy to learn that owing to the non-receipt of an expected letter from Mr Sale, Mr Kilgour, one of the directors, went to Hokitika on Monday for the special purpose of ascertaining the* intentions of the Government with regnrd to granting protection to the Company for the proposed line. On his arrival, Mr Kilgour ascertained that a letter, conveying the reply of the Government, had been' forwarded to Gveymouth ; but on his return, no such letter had been received. He at once telegraphed to Hokitika, and' received a reply to the effect that a letter had been postod, bnt that a copy of it would also bo forwarded by the coach. As'however the coach arrived last night without having been met at the Teremakau by the Hokitika coach, na communication has been received. We notice that the meeting of the shareholders is convened'for Saturday evening, to consider the report of tho Directors and draw up the conditions of association. The delay that has occurred in the operations of the Company has arisen entirely through the non-receipt of the reply of the Government, and not from any dilatoriness on the part, of the Directors who have spared neither time nor attention to push forward the undertaking."