West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 326, 9 October 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1866.

i We presume that we shall have nothiftg to do but rpconcile ourselves as best we can, to the defeat of Mr Moorhouse's Bill" for the increased representation of the district in the- General Assembly. Mr Moorhousc has never written hopefully on the subject. He has been a single-handed representative, and whatever his zeal and perseverance, the work he had in hand was uphill aucl difficult. He seems to have lacked the support even of many k amongst the Southern . members, who might have been expected to lend their help towards carrying any measure that promised to augment the political influence of the Middle Island. % This failure of support was no doubt due rather to indifference than to active opposition 1 . Toe- Otago members got tired of» a long protracted session, and have in many instances wended their way homewards. Ministers are anxious to get rid of the annoyance of Parliament; and, having vsecured'their supplies, are beginning to feel that thqy can dispense with much further interference with their executive duties. They have some measures on the notice-paper that they are desirous of carrying before the session tci^ miuates ; and for these they will claim preference over all "private" business — , that is, business introduced by private members. Their "slaughter of the innocents" has commenced, and having consigned many of their own progeny to death, it is not likely that they will be overmuch indulgent to tho offspring of others. We can fully understand Mr Mobrhouse when he tells its he is " not sanguine.'.' The second reading of the Westlaud Representation Bill was carried on Monday night last, probably not because the House was " thin and sorely tired," as because it was felt^ that the hope of the Bill" getting through its remaining stages Avas &o utterly forlorn; that it was not worth making auj effoH to defeat it. Even if it passed through committee in the Lower House. and got •< as far as its third reading, it would still have to run the gauntlet of the Legislative Council ; and with the opposition* it would be likely to encounter there, and the probability that the prorogation of Parliament would take place before it could get through its stages, there would afford little chance -of the measure passing.

Thijt the stroug opposition which this Bill has v encountered is not based upon any calculations of equity, is pa : tent. Admitting that, owing to the fluctuating character of the population of the West Coast, the district is not entitled %a anything like v a representation in the General Assembly proportionate to the number of its people, it cannot be denied — except by the n\ost violent aud unscrupulous partisans — that it possesses matured and permanent interests, and a constituent body of citizens bettled in tho place, and tied to it by their large investments of capital, sufficiently large' to entitle it to something more than one member in the Parliament *of the Colony. Mr Moorhouse's bill is most moderate in its demands. Proposed as a part of any political re-settlement of the colony the allotment .of two extra members to Wehtland would be a bimple insult to the district. Looking at it, a practical attempt to do a faint and feeble measure of justice to Westland, initiated and prosecuted under- circuinstanees of great disadvantage aud discouragement, its author is entitled to th'epubiic gratitude. But, as we have said, its merits' have not been discussed on any considerations of equity. It has been,determined to prolong as far as possible the disfrauchisement of the South. At present the Northern influence is predominant in the Assembly. It has the alliance of the Wellington members, which destroys the equilibrium. How has this overbearing influence been exercised ? To establish a > s^tein of taxation which, whatever might be its intrinsic value as a financial scheme, under ordinary political conditions, is now notable chiefly - for the fact i that it heavilj taxes the Soilthem provinces for the defrayment of Northern expenses. The great 'bulk of the revenue accruing from the Stamp duties will be derived from the Middle Island whose' interests are purely commercial. The new Tariff has been so ingeniously devised, as

ogam, to lay the chief burden upon the i South. The simple item of timber may he cited as an illustration. Tlie North is a large exporter of timber: the South is a large importer of it, On the subject of the oppressive operation of the new tavriff on this island, the " Ljttelton Times" says :—: — A very large number of articles is now made dutiable, which before escaped free. Among these are some which are mainly, if not exclusively, used in this island. Duties more ou less onerous are now to be levied on shcepwash tobacco, wire-fencing, woolpacks, com* sacks, spirits of tar and turpentine, and timber. The duty on sheepwash tobacco is enormously .heavy— twenty-five per cent, on the cost — and is altogether unwarrantable. The General Government already absorbs, without the shadow of right, the immense fines we levy upon our sheep farmers for the purpose of eradicating scab, and now it puts an almost prohibitive tax upon the article most needful to cure that disease. The probable effect will be to drive sheepwash tobacco out of use, and substitute some .of the dipping mixtures commonly used in Australia. The duties on woolpacks and corn sacks are in reality export duties on the produce of this island. Farmers will now have to pay about fifteen per cent, more for their bales and sacks than heretofore. This island exports nine-tenths of the wool and grain .grown in New Zealand ; it will, therefore 1 contribute just nine-tenths of this new tax. Exactly the same explanation applies to fencing wire," spirits ' of tar, and turpentine, and timber. .Both Wellington and . Auckland are large timber-producing and exporting countries. " Canterbury and Otago have to import' nearly every foot they use. It is evident, therefore, which part of the. colony will most to the timber duties." When the' question was mooted some two years ago, of removing the seat of Government from Auckland to " some place in Cook's Straits," many eloquent speeches were delivered in favor of that project, in order to preserve the "uuity 1 of the colony." The reccvut action of j the General Assembly, sitting at Wei- j lington, has been altogether of such a | character as to show that the " unity j of. the coloSiy", means the subjugation , of the South to the North, and the con- j confiscation* of Southern revenues to Northern- uses. The question is now assuming a more practical and tangible shape than it has hitherto done, of the separation of the two islands, and their erection into two distinct colonies. Day by day teaches us the lesson that the great industrial interests 'of the Middle island have little to hope for from, the .spirit of justice of the North — little to expect but a heavy burden of taxation. Certainly one result of the refusal of the General Assembly to grant two more members to Westland, will be to add the voice of this district to the cry for separation. J Wq are glad to learn that tho long- projeetqJ scheme for the formation of a tramway bet weed lloMtika aud^Grrey mouth, is likely to be forthwith Commenced. Many weeks ago, we expressed our confidence in Hie success of this undertaking. Indeed, so obvious were the sources from which a larg> and remunerative traffic might bo expected to be supplied, that it was a matter of astonishment that, the project was allowed so long to hang fire. The terms offered by the Government, to the original projectors, being in danger of being forfeited, by default of action, a few entev-| prising persons determined that the scheme should nofc N be allowed to foil through ; and during the past week several meetings have been held, at which measures to commence the construction of tlie tramway, and to bring a certain portion of it into working order at an early date were taken. It is proposed, jn the first instance,' to complete the tramway to the " Three Mile," a work which will involve no engineering difficulties, and sufficient capital to execute the work has already been lodged by the' promoters in the bank. This portion of the line being opened to traffic, it will then be pushed on to tlie Arahuva, and this further stage will no doubt be- attendod by a very largvand profitable extension of traffic. The company, which cousists-of a limited proprietary, hare adopted, we think judiciously, the policy of not involving themselves, in the _first instance, in very li^eavy liabilities. - They look at the matter from d discreet business point of view. It is expected that the prpceeds of 1 a moderate amount of capital at first invested, will help to furnish the" means for an extension of tho , worKs, aud they have every asßtmmee that an opening success will bring plenty of support to the undertaking. 7ln 7 In the coui-ae of a few days we have no doubt wo shall learn of tho actual commencement of the wtfrka, and it remains for experience to vindicate-thejiigli estimate we place upon the importance of this enterprise. / The Claud Hamilton left tho Grey roadstead for S/dnoy on Sunday morning, carrying with her 9000 ounce's of gold dust, the produce of that district. This swells the amount already exported during this month to the very handsome quantity of 38,000 ounces. Tiu) iOOO ounces cleared by the Union Bank — for cxportatym direct to England via Panama—but, which, un fortunately was missed by the Otago, is not included in the above, or the shipments would have amounted to 42,000 ozs. This return is niOßt satisfactory, as it shows that the yield from Westland fields is not, as some 6uppose, v on the decline. The following are the district gaol returns for the week ending Saturday, October 6th : — Admitted under committal for trial at the at the Supreme Court, 1 male ; discharged from custody, 1 main ; simple imprisonment, 1 debtor. The number aud classification of prisoners remaining at the above date is as follow: — Under committal to the Supreme Court, 8 males ; hard labor gang, 25 males ; simple imprisonment, ( 1 male ; debtors, 5—5 — total, 39. • Tho number of confinees in the Revell street gaol establishment isf we aYe happy to say, steadily decreasing, -aa by the returns handed u» by Sergeant M'Myn wo see that during tho week ending Saturday, October 6th, only three admittances took place, whilst six, whose sentences Tiad expired, wore discharged from custody. At tho above date, 18 males aud 2 females remained in confinement,' of which. 7 males and 2 foraaloß belonged to the hurd-labor gang ; 1 male was undergoing

simple imprisonment ; and 5 males were, on nmuind, The total- number of confiiices iv botli gaols was 54. So fur the late increase of the criminal class by arrivals from Australia has not , been productive of evil results, as is shown by the records of the Magistrate's Court. For several weeks past wo have noticed witli pleasure the exceeding lightness of the criminal calendar, and the week just passed is happily 'not an exception—a stato of things which, for the future, we trust, mny prove the rule. The committal of Thomas Audloy, for embezzlement, and the sentencing of three other prisoners to different poriods ol hard lnbor for lighter offences, was the only criminal business disposed of by his Worship. The poll for the election of a member ,of the Municipal Council, to fill the ninth seat, vacant through the v tie" between Messrs F. L. Clarke and D. Lynch, will open this morning at ten o'clock, at the Warden's Court, and close at four. A very few minute 9 will suffice to enable the Chairman and Assessors to cast up the votes and make a return of the numbers, the candidates being two only. In the ovening it i 9 intended that the Council shall meet, and proceed to the election of their chairman. The practical work of the Municipal Council will - then forthwith commence. We believe' several candidates are in the field for the office of Town Glerk. With reference to the election of to-day, we may remind the voters tli^t the friond# of each of the candidates express-them-selves with equal confidenre, and that the victory will probably bo won by the side that shows the most activity and energy. The bal masque at the Shakespeare Hotel "on Thursday last was a great improvement on its predecessors at the same house, and owing to the excellent arrangements mado by Mr George Ellis, the proprietor, a most pleasant evening was ensured to those who. prefer this kind of entertainment. About ninety couples/ assembled, and dancing was kept up with spirit until a late hour. , ' Yesterday, the prisoners Chamborlaiu, , Aldridge, aud CaiT, who have so often been remanded, in order to give time for the arri.val of the notorious Sullivan, whose evidence against them will, it is supposed, be of the conclusive nature, were again brought up , ! before the Bench, aud again remanded, al-. j though his Worship gave notice that on proJ duction of good~and sufficient bail he would I discharge their-, and that if. the arrival of 1 Sullivan.was^ delayed much longer, he should !, certainly liberate them on their own recogni1 /anccß. Wo quite concur in the courso taken by Mr FitzGera.ld, as ifc is extremely doubtful whether Sullivan will ever land in Hokitika. Was it ever intended to send him down here, positive information -on that point must, long ere this, have roached the police, who have, sent telegram after telegram requesting* advice, but have so far received no answer — not oven so much as an acknowledgment tljat these messages came to hand. In, the evening, bail was tendered for the- prisbner Carr, . and the bonds being signed, he was liberated, himself at L'2oo, aud two sureties at LlOO each. No bail was offered for either of the other prisoners, who, in consequence, still re-^ main in confinement. . The report of Constable Elliott, who visited the Ho Ho and Three Mile diggings on the 2nd inst., shews that, at the Blue Spur lead and neighboring workings, the miners are ' fully and profitably' employed, and no diini- >{ nution in their number is observable since the ■ date of his last report. The terrace which 1 opened a fchv weeks ago about one\nile and a ' quarter from the/Three Mile township, towards ■ the Arohnra, is' turning out well,, and the lead 'U from ii has been traced for three-quarters of a ! mile to a swamp situated within a short dis1 tance of the Chfistchurch road. Along the I edge of this swamp claims were taken up and ' several shafts bottomed, some of which gav_e >\ fair prospects', of from idwt. to ldwt. the dish: 1 The -sinking runs from 20 feet to 30 feet, 1 through ground wet and difficult to keep up, which much delays the development of the •lead. The number of miners located on this rush is estimated at.350, and are represented as vciy orderly, no crime having heen reported during the fortnight. <a> The'" Grey River Argus" of Saturday last reports :—": — " It is strange that miners do not make themselves fully acquainted with the Groldfields Rules and Regulations. A ease came before the Warden yesterday, which nearly involved the loss of a valuable claim at tho Saltwater Rush, owing to inattention to the regulations regarding the protection oosf s claims. In tile case referred to the owners of a clahn, not being able to bottom on their own ground, lent their labor to the owners of tho adjoining claim to sink a shaft, and applied for protection of their own claim during tho time they were working for the other party. Protection Avas duly granted, but the parties uoglected to post the uotico,on their ground as. directed iv the regulations. In the inoantime another party took possession' of tho ground, and refused to give it up. Mr Tyler, who appeared for the original ■ holders, submitted that as this was a case iv which the breach of the rules had arisen from ignorance, it was a fitting case for tho Warden to inflict a monetary penalty, in room of forjfoiture. ' The Warden, after hearing tho evidence, imposed a peualty of L 3, to be given to the defendant, and costs, "For tho benefit of othdrs who may be ignorant of me rule bearing on the point, we give the regulation in full :— ". The -Warden may, without prior notice, grant protection to any claim for a period not exceeding seven days : provided, that at the timo of making the application therefor, the applicant shall produce the con- . sent in writing of the four parties working "or occupying claims nearest to that for which protection is sought; and such protection shall be given in .'Writing, in the form hereafter provided, and a -copy thereof 'shall be posted on the claim."