West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 362, 20 November 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1866.

Thb Fire Ordinance Amendment Bill, which has just passed through committee in the Provincial Council, and stands now on the order paper for second reading, is designed to preserve in its integrity tLe volunteer character of the Hokitika Fire Brigade, and at the same time to confer upon the members powers such as. under the provisions of the law, belong only to brigades that have been enrolled under the Ordinance, aud the whole of whose plant and property becomes consequently vested in the Municipal Council of the town in which such Brigade has been formed. For our own part we fail to see any objection to the establishment of a certain connection between the Hokitika Fire Brigade and the Hokitika Town Council. The former body is, however, entitled to every consideration, and its wishes ought to be regarded. It has exhibited a zeal and perseveiance —and an alacrity on all occasions of actual or suspected danger to the town —that reflect the highest credit upon it. Nothingwould be a more serious practical mistake than to adopt any step that might 'lave the effect of destroying or impairing the esprit de corps which is the grand secret of volunteer enthusiasm and efficiency. We are glad therefore that a measure has been introduced, with every prospect of passing through the Council, the object of which is to place the Hokitika Fire Brigade under the protection of the law, without interfering with its internal management as an association of volunteers. The new Bill doe 3 not propose to alter the principle of the Ordinance it is intended to amend, and which contains express stipulations authorising the commanding officer of any Brigade to enter and destroy buildings, the destruction of which may be necessary to prevent the spread of a conflagration. As the Bill is before us in its amended form, the powers proposed to be given to the Brigade appear to us to be almost unnecessarily restricted. In the form iv which the measure was introduced, however, by the Provincial Solicitor, these restrictions were much more stringent. The second clause authorised the destruction of buildings by the Brigade only by an order in writing from the chairman of the Municipality, the Resident Magistrate, or some other Justice of the Peace. The member for Hokitika pointed out that such a provision would amount to a practical deprivation of the Brigade of all power to render a useful service in a moment of emergency, unless at the personal risk of its members. He informed the House that both the Chairman of the Municipality and the Resident Magistrate lived at a considerable distance from the town; that everything would depend upon promptness of action; and that as many accessible per.xons as possible should be included in the list of those authorised to give protecting orders to the Brigade. At the suggestion of the representative for the town, of Mr Duncan, Mr John Hall and other members, I lie provisions of the clause were enlarged ho as to authorise any "two rnembeits'' of the Municipal Council, or the " Chiet Officer of police on duty " to sign the necessary order to the Brigade. We learn from private letters that the debate on this measure was the most interesting one, thus far, of the session. The whole principle of treating buildings destroyed for the preveo-

tion of the spread of fire, as buildings actually destroyed by fire, for the recovery of insurance, Bee, was discussed at length. One of the most able and effective advocates of the equity of the principle, was Mr John Hall, who supported the Bill throughout, and contended that the persons most interested in the destruction of buildings, under the circumstances supposed were the Insurance Companies, whose undoubted advantage it was to sustain a small certain loss, rather than run the risk of a very heavy one. On the whole it was gratifying to find a measure, of which it was avowed from the outset that the special object was to provide for a certain set of circumstances in Hokitika, meet with the candid and interested consideration of the Council. We believe it is likely that the bill will be re-committed, in order to harmonise the numerous amendments made in it; but that its passage through its final stages in a form that will fully answer the purposes lor whick it was introduced, is sure.

By telegraph we learn that a fire took place near the Railway-station, Christchurch, yesterday morning, by which three small houses were destroyed and one man burned to death. The fire is supposed to be tho work of an incendiary, and a man is in custody on suspicion. The inquest commeuced yesterday, but was adjourned till Friday. The property was not insured. Cobb's Christchurch coach, with heavy mails and a good load of passengers, arrived at an early hour yesterday morning. It should have reached town on Saturday, but, owing to the flooded state of the country, it was unavoidably detained thirty-six hours. On the way-bill were thp names of Messrs Mark Sprot, Bailey, Wier, Louisson, Kennedy, and Mitchell. A. meeting was held at the Shamrock Hotel last evening, to take into consideration the necessity of obtaining a reduction in the present high price of bread. The interest that was taken in the movement was shown by the large and influential attendance, a 9 there could not have been fewer then 150 persons at any stage of the business. Mr W. D. Banks was voted to the chair, and the first resolution was mored by Mr F. Dick, seconded by Mr Purnell, as follows :—": —" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to establish a co-operative company (limited) for the purpose of supplying the best bread at cos), price." As an amendment, it was proposed by Mr Donne, aud seconded by Mr Bladier — " That in the opinion of this meeting the present price of bread in Hokitika —viz., Is 6d per 41b loaf, is a great deal too high, in viow of the present price of flour" —which i was carried. Mr Zohrab then moved —' " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to establish a committee for the purpose of canvassing householders and consumers of bread, for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient pledge to support only such bakers who shall reduce the price of bread of a good quality and full weight to one shilling or under per loaf." Seconded by Mr Suistod and carried nem con. A committee was then formed —consisting of Messrs Zohrab, Bladier, Luks, Suisted, J. B. Clarke, Banks, C. Edwards, and Robinson —who met after the adjournment of tho public meeting, and drew up the following " pledge," with which it was agreed to wait on the householders this day — " We, the undersigned householders and consumers in Hokitika hereby pledge ourselves to support any baker or bakers who shall at once reduce the price of bread to one shilling or under per loaf, of good quality and full weight, and who shall continue to maintain the same, consistent with the ruling price of flour." The Resident Magistrates' Court yesterday was engaged with the disposition of the following cases : —Peter Cameron, for drunkenness, was fined 5s ; James Williams was fined L 2 8s for wilful destruction of Government property ; William John Cairns, for attempting to commit suicide br poison, was discharged ; James Keely for larceny was, at the request of the police, discharged; and David White and John Haytlon were respectively sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment for the larceny of four Crimean shirts at the Okarita Hotel. Via Christchurch, later news is to hand from the North Island by telegraph. We extract the following from the "Lytteltou Times" of the 13th instant :—" The ' Southern Cross' reports that the long peuding native land dispute at Tuuranga, which has caused so much anxiety, has been finally settled. Two hundred Upper Wanganui Hau Haus have gone to the Waikato, avowedly by invitation of Thompson. Nothing is definitely known of tho Governor's doings, except another slight skirmish. Tbere is a misunderstanding between the Government and the Defence Force troops, resulting in its being disbanded. Colonel Haultain is gone northward via tho East Coast." By way of Lyttelton we have news from Otago to tho 13th instant. In the Superintendent's opening address to the Provincial Council, he described the legislation of the General Assembly as having a tendency, if persisted in, to place Provincial Governments in a position of dependence, which would interfere with the discharge of the important duties devolved upon them, and which did not appear to be contemplated by the provisions of the Constitution Act. He further complained of the passing of certain Acts which interfere with the internal government of the provinces, and which ought therefore to have been left to the consideration of Provincial Councils. The attempt to withhold from the provinces their three-eigths of Customs Revenue, and the care taken to award them no portion of the Stamp Duties, were also instanced by him as indications of a determined hostility to tho provinces. The reply to the address, which received the support of the Executive members in the Provincial Council re-echoed these sentiments. Mr Dillon Bell's amendment, which was carried by fifteen against thirteen, was a simple expression of regret that the Superintendent and Executive thought as they did. The Executive accepted this adverse vote as indicative of a want of confidence, and tendered their resignation on the 10th inst. Mr Dillon Bell was sent for, but declined to form an Executive. He gave no recommendation. Mr E. B. Cargill waß subsequently sent for, but he also declined. Mr Yogel was then cent for, by Mr Cargill's advice, and asked for an adjournment uatil Thursday, which waa granted. In the Provincial Council on the 12th, Mr D.

801 l disclaimed any idea of ejecting the Ministry, and said ho did not feel called upon to take office where the resignation of the Ministry was not on a question of G-overnraent policy. He also said that, if it were attempted with moderation and fairness, satisfactory arrangements between the Middle and North Island might be made that would extinguish any excitement as to the relation between the General and Provincial Governments. He strongly urged co-operation with Canterbury with that view. The expensive road works which connect the east and west sections of the province, have been much injured by the late heavy floods, as in one or two placos the way is described as quite impassable to wheeled vehicles. Heavy land slips block up that portion of the road where it winds round the head of the Waimakiriri, the detour having been made to do away with the necessity of crossing the main body of the river. The stream can be easily crossed a short distance above the turn, where the river forms several channels, each of which is easily fordable in ordinary weather. It was there that the Christchurch coach was delayed during Saturday, waiting for the river to subside. Hence to within two miles of the Typo, the road is in fair condition, and there another bad place was met with, the river having washed away a considerable portion of the cutting round Rocky Point. At this place the horses were taken out, and the passengers compelled to alight and walk some distance down the river bed, to gain the undamaged road again, where a spare coach was in readiness to receive them. The remainder of the journey was performed without hindrance, excepting an hour's delay on the bank of the Tereniakau. Considering the rough country to be traversed, and the more or less flooded state of tho rivers during the past fortnight, it is a matter of some surprise that the arrival and departure of the overland coach has been timed with so much punctuality. This has only been effected by the excellence of the arrangements made and carried out by the proprietary, who, by placing the very best description of cattle and good conveyances on the road, under charge of skilful drivers, have succeeded in very faithfully fulfilling the terms of their contract with the Government. It ie expected that the damaged parts of the road will bo passable in a week or so, aa strong parties are already at work removing the debris at the Waimakiriri, and cutting a new track round Rocky Point. The diggings which were opened some five weeks ago, at the back of Druminond and Stewart's store, between the Waimea and Kapitca Creeks, are turning out excellently, as more than twenty claims are on gold there. The depth of sinking rauges from twenty to twenty-live feet deep ; the strata penetrated not consisting of beach saud or river drift, but a conglomeration which has been apparently formed by a landslip, as roots of trees, old timber, rocks, and patches of gravel, are oonfusedly jumbled together. Below this I however, a clearly -defined bed of drift, a few feet in thickness, rests upon five or six inches of highly auriferous washdirt, which, in its turn lies upon a false bottom of sand and shingle. The lead runs parallel with and about a quarter of a mile distant from the beach, and so far discovers no signs of running out, as tho last shafts bottomed at either end of it gave very good prospects indeed, that south yielding 2£ozs. out of a portion of the dirt only that was taken off the bottom. The prospectors' claim is so far the best, as it pays between sozs and 6ozs. to the load, but others are expected to equal, if not eclipse it, when they are fairly opened out. To do this, however, is a work of some difficulty, as the ground is full of surface water, and to drain it off, the cutting of rather extensive tail-races is necessitated, which, by entailing the expenditure of much time and labor, considerably retards the developement of the lead. At the south end, Duncan, Manuel, Jones, and other respective parties have amalgamated to bring up one large tail-race to drain the three claims, and expect to complete their work in a month or five weeks. The old Five Mile (Kanieri) is in a state of nearly total collapse from the effects of the lale rains, as the lints arc quite flooded, and, in consequence, the various claims have been lying idle for nearly a week ; in fact, some few parties have done nothing since last Wednesday week. Dulness reigns supreme over the place, attended by a distressing depression in trade : were it not for the sluicing claims on the Terrace the amount of gold returned from this once thriving diggings would be small indeed. But the return of fine weather will, we trust, restore some slight portion of its departed splendour, by enabling the several engine companies to again recommence work. The " Argus" reports a clever arrest of three housebreakers on the 4th instant, in Gertr ude street, Fifczroy, by Detectives Black, Hartney, and Kilfedder. The officers had been for some time watching the movements of three men, named James Richardson alias Morgan, James Blackford , and Harry Bryan, all old offenders, and at a little before one o(clock they observed them make a stand in front of tho shop of Mr Robertson, draper, 56. Gertrude street. A picklock, which had evidontly been previously fitted to the lock, was applied, the door wag opened, and Richardson entered the shop, and cloaed the door behind him. Tho detectives immediately arrested the two fellows outßide, and then, to avoid the crowd which soon began to collect, the street being then filled "with people J returning from church, they took their prisoners to some adjoining premises and haudculfud them. Black then returned to the shop and lightly tapped at the door, and having succeeded in attracting the attention of Richardson he gave a whispered signal, which induced the burglar to partially open the door. He was instantly collared and conducted to the place where his mates were under detention. They were then brought into town, and locked up in the city watch-house, pending thoir appearance this morning before the Benoh. A case of loss of life by drowning (says the " Argus") occurred on the 2nd inst. in Port Phillip Bay. On the evening of that day a man named James Craig was picked up by the Express steamer, after having been floating for five hours clinging to a boat oar. He stated that he, with a companion named Benjamin Raines, was sailing up the bay, returning from fishing, and that when about eight miles S.E. from Point Cooke the boat filled and sank. Craig was fortunate enough to get hold of an oar ; his companion, however, was drowned. Decased has left a widow and six children. The body has not yet been recovered.