West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1806.

West Coast Times, Issue 345, 31 October 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1806.

A meeting of the members of the Presbyterian Church was held on Monday evening last, in the Supreme Court House, to take steps towards securing a permanent minister for the place. After this very desirable object had been duly discussed it was resolved to petition the Presbytery of Canterbury to cooperate in v call to the Rev. Mr John Gow, of Lyttelton. Before the meeting separated ihe call was signed by neai-ly all present aud a committee appointed to carry out the wishes of the congregation. From the progress made by this body during the past six months, and the favorable impression made by Mr Gow on the occasion of his visit here a short time ago, it augurs well for the future prosperity of both congregation and minister, and we can only heartily wish them every success in their good work.

In our issue of yesterday, we alluded to a dariug robbery that to6k place on Sunday evening at Piper's Flat (Waimea), whereby a parcel of gold, said to be about-forty ounces, was abstracted from a tent. Last night Dotective Uowley brought in Daniel Sullivan, alias Burns, who is charged with having committed it. We are informed that this man is the identical Sullivan of Otago notoriety, and who five years ago was the mate and confrir,of Burgess and Kelly in all their notable proceedings atWetherstone's. Ho will be brought up before the Resident Magistrate to-day for examination.

As a proof of the increasing value of property in Ruvell street north, we may mention that Messrs E. B. Pearce & Co yesterday sold the Blue Jacket Hotel for LIUO.

The following are the District Gaol returns for the week ending Saturday, October 26 :—: — Discharged : 1 male, whose term of simple imprisonment h.ul expired, and 1 debtor. Retnaining in custody : under committal for trial at the Supreme Court, 11 males ; hard labor gang, 24 males ; imprisonment only, 1 male ; debtors, 10. Total, 4(i males.

From the returns of the Revell street Gaol, as supplied us by Surgearit M'Myu, we see that during the week ending Saturday, Octotober 26, 1 female was admitted under committal to the next sessions of the Supreme Court, and 6 males were added to the hardlabor gang. One lunatic was also placed in safe keeping. 6 males, whoso sentences had expired, were discharged. The number and classification of prisoners remaining in custody at the above date are as follow : — Under committal, 1 female ; hird-labor gang, 10 males and 2 females ; imprisonment only, 1 male ; lunatic, 1 male. Total, 13 males and 2 females. Total number of prisoners in the District and Revell street Gaols, 5G

males and 2 females,

We see that another bal masque is to be held at the Prince of Wales Opera House this evening, and from the extent of the preparations alrpady m.iile we are convinced that those who attend will spend a moat agreeable evening. This, we understand, is to be the last reunion of the kind which will take place at the Opera House before Chri->tina«.

By an announcement which appears elsewhere, we are given to understand that Mr W. H. Longbottom, who has so long successfully managed the establishment of Messrs Ilawkos and St routs in this tow n, intends to commence business on his own account, as ironmonger an i hardware merchant. Mr Lougbot torn is well known in Hokitika, and will, we have no doubt, succeed in his undertaking.

We notice from an advertisement in another column, that the" sale by auction of.the promises and stock-in-trade of Messrs Stanford and Co., which wag announced by Messrs Carey nnd Grilles to talce place to-day, is withdrawn, the &ale having been effected by private treaty. Mr David Weir, formerly of the Staffordshire House, hero and in Dunedin, is the purchaser.

The " Webtland Observer" informs us that — "A rush, as yet of no great dimensions, but upon the result of which considerable faith is placed, has set in towards some new ground in the bush behind the lagoon at Gillespie's beach. The rush has been caused by the good prospects obtained by Fitzhenry and party, who have lately been prospecting in that neighborhood, and who have this week applied to the Warden for leave to construct a head-race of water to ground which they have occupied. Various rumors have been afloat as to the party applying for a prospecting clam and lor the reward recently otfered, but tins they have not done. We understand, however, that they have expressed themselves confidently as to the richness of tho ground which they have discovered, and, from the fact that the majority of the parties who hare set in around them have got good prospects, there is some expectation of a considerable area of ground in their neighborhood proving payably auriferous. It appears (hat they had been out prospecting for a shoi-t time behind Gillfspiu's, and, favored with fine weather, they were able to test souic of the wetter ground somewhat effectively. Not far from the lngoou they got good prospects, and, during their first ten da^s' work, proved the ground to bo capable of paying from LlO to LL2 per week. It is described that, behind, there is an extensive area of flat country and made hills, quite as likely a country as the particular locality in which their claim is situated. One of the party having come to fci c beach for the purpose of procuring a pick, he was watched, and there was soon a considerable number of people in the neighborhood, all of whom are said to be obtaining good results to such washings as they have yet been able to undertake. We expect, however, to have, during the day, a mure full and reliable account, of the situation and prospects of the rush, Constable Charles, of the Mounted Police, having been despatched to Gillespie's with the object, among other duty, of obtaining reliable information as to these particular.-.. The sinking, we may add, is said to be yet xerv shallow, and the gold got is of the same scaly description as is usually obtained in this neighborhood iv giouncl distinct from the beaches. The water-race applied for is, in the words of the application, "ahead waterrace commencing at a point from the first creek from the leading spur of the dividing range at the back of the lagoon at G-illespie's beach, and terminating on the applicants' claim at the lagoon ; the length of such race to be 500 yards ; course, easterly and westerly."