Untitled

West Coast Times, Issue 372, 1 December 1866, Page 2

Our friends at the Buller have furnished an undoubted proof of their progress, iua«much as they are agitating for the establishment of a local paper. At a meeting held at the Maori Hotel in that township on Saturday last, Mr "Warden Jones in the chair, it was resolved— " That a committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Jones, Porter and Murray, to wait on the former guarantors, and obtain their opinion as to the advisability of withdrawing tho guarantoe given to Mr Hankins, he not ha\ing returned within tho time mentioned; and that they do also canvass the town to ascertain whether suflicient funds can be raised to start a newspapo l '* on such arrangements as may hereafter be decided on."

By privato telegram from Chriatchurch yesterday wo learn that the new Ministry were met on all bides by a strong opposition on Thursday night, the Iloubo refusing to cnlortuiu business until tho Ministers appeared no responsible heads of departments. A Bug* geation to bu^peud the st.iucling ordeiv, to allow a Bill to pass repealing the Limitation of Patronage Ordinance, so as to enable Ministers to hold oilice without rc-oleofiou, was not accoplod. The Houm.' vow stands adjourned till Tuesday, the 11th iust., to allow for re-election ; and a uotico of motion of want of confidence has been given by Mr Wyldo for that day, which is almost certain to be carried by a majority of three or four. Tho present Minibtry offer to accopt the Westland ebtimatcs as prepared, without alteration.

We arc requested by Mr N. Salainon to state that the pxiblic auction of his extensive assortment of jewelry, at the Einpiro Hotel, by Messrs Carey and Gilles, will close this day, so that all who may be desirous of obtaining bargains from his truly splendid collection of articles of vert a should avail themselves of the only opportunity they may perhaps ever have in Hokitika. The sale commences at eleven o'clock.

To-night will come off tho wager of leaping an unpractised West Coast horse over a fivcbarred gate on tho stage of the Prince of Wales Theatre — the feat being undertaken by that well -known sportsman, Mr F. D. Hamilton. We need scarcely remark that this feat ia in imitation of the extravagant deeds of the Marquis of Waterford and the famous Jack Mytton, both of whom leaped their favorite hunters over a gate placed in the dining-room of an hotel ; but, inasmuch as Mr Hamilton has to risk an untried horse, in the full glare of the stage foot-lights, we consider his undertaking still more daring than that of his predecessors. The feat is to be introduced after the drama of " The Coi'sican Brothers," in a scene entitled "The Melbourne Hunt Club Dinner ;" and hunting songs, as well as the celebrated Post-horn Galop, will form part 0^ tho entertainment. Several outside bets are laid on the event, and the odds are against Mr Hamilton succeeding in his adventure

At. the Resident Magistrate's Coiu't during tho week no loss than thirteen drunkards were fined, and five offenders mulcted for disorderly conduct. Jamos Randwick was sentenced to months' imprisonment, for larceny of a gold ring of the value of L 3. John Tappcndon for larceny of three oases^drapcry of the valuo of L6OO, was committed to the Hokitika Gaol, ponding the ai'rival of a warrant authorising his removal to Melbourne. James Cro3sley and Michael Condon, respectively charged with larceny, were released. John Woods, for eommiitiug a breach of the peace within view of a constable, was lined Ll. John T. Turner, for horse stealing, was remanded till the 4th instant. The charge against Richard Beck for dibobeying hi& subpeena, was dismissed. William Molfatt, for kiiliug v bidlook without having a license, wab fined the sum of L 5. Daniel M'Kay, for obtaining goods under false pretences, was remanded for one month ; bail to be taken, himself in L2OO, and two sureties of LIOO each. Joseph E. Windbey, charged with forgei'y, was, at the request of the police, released. James Moriarty, charged with burglary and stealing from the Cafe do Paris properly to the value of L 59, was remanded till the 3rd instant. The hearing of the charge against John Cheffings, for having caused a dead animal to be thrown on a public thoroughfare, was adjoui'ncd till the 3rd of December. James Hood, William Wilson, and John G-rady, were respectively fined 10s for obstructing a thoroughfare. Win. Isaacs was charged with allowing a quantity of Iris goods to remain suspended outside his premises on the 23vd ultimo. The further heaving of the case was deferred till the 3rd instant. Victor Frank was charged with having the front door of Ids house opened and thereby exposing the bar, at an early hour on the morning of the 25th instant, contrary to tho terms of his license. The hearing this chai'gc was also defei'rod to the 3rd instant. Altogether his Worship has had to dispose of thirty-six criminal cases during the past seven clays.

If there were any doubts of the existence of daring thieves in Hokitika, the robbery which was committed yesterday morning at the Cafe de Paris must have effectually dissipated them. The thief, or thieves, effected an entrance into the building at about half-past two o'clock, through an open passage which runs from the back of the house into Beach street. This passage is flanked on the right hand by a row of bedrooms, the windows of which open into it, and the end of the passage opens into a kind of lobby, from which a flight of stairs leads to a second floor that is subdivided into a number of sleeping apartments. The bedrooms below, flanking the open passage, are entered from a passage which separates them from another row, the doors of -which also open into it. This latter leads out of the lobby above mentioned. It seems that the rogue first went up-stairs, and tried one of the bedroom doors, but fiudiug that it creaked, he returned to tho lower story, and opened the first door N on tho lefi side of tho inner passage, iincl deliberately struck a match. The noise rtwokc Mr Reid, who occupied the room, ah«l ho immediately put the ifual query, which was answered by " Oh, does Thompson sleep here," and then tho door was closed again and the intruder retired. Mr Reid, naturally supposing that one of tho lodgers coming home late had mistaken his room, took no further notice of the occurrence. The thief, it is supposed, then returned to tho open passage, and lifted the first window and possessed himself of a gold watch und chain, the property of Dr Roberts, who occupied the room. Ho then, by the aid of that, gentleman's walking-stick, which happened to bo within reach, succeeded in gaining possession of his (Mr Roberts') trousers, and, abstracting a purse from tho pocket, removed the cash therefrom and left the purse upon the table. The next room was occupied by Mr Lazar, who was aroused from his fclunibers by a noido, and on jumping out of bod, found the window opon, his watch and chain gone, and his wearing apparel scattered about the room. He at once gave the alarm, and Mr Waters, tho manager of the Culo, ■ startod post-habte to the police camp, and such expedition was usod, that in five minutes from tho time that the alarm was. first given, Sergeant Dyer and Detective Browne were in attendance. The firatthinglhosoastutoindividuals discovered, was a cloth cap lying in the passage, and' they at once recognised it as bolonging to an individual whose character is any

hiug but stainless. They immediately pro* j ceoded to bis t«nf ( on tho beach, and there { discorored him in bed, appareutly asleop. But his booto, soiled with fresh eaud, wero found outsido the tent ; and tho suspicions of tho detectives recoived further conformation -nhcu, aftor the fellow had dressed himself, he was unable to find a covering for his head. In reply to their interrogatories, he (stated that ho had lost his cap tho prorious ovening whilst in a state of intoxication. He was, of course, arreslod, and his caao brought on for hearing yesterday, but, at the tho request of the police 3 , it was deferrod until Monday, for tho production of further evidence. There appears lo be a considerable amount of confidence displayed by miners in the future prospects of Jones' Creok. We are informed that Crosbie's party on Guardian Flat, who have just " bottomed" on rich ground, at a depth of sixty feet, havo resolved to form a joint stock company for tho purpose of working the claim on the deep sinking system, believing that they are at present merely on a false bottom. The leader of tho party, Mr Crosbie, proceeded to Melbourno by the Albion yesterday, for the purpose of purchasing boring rods and tho machinery necessary for carrying out an object, the furtherance of which it is anticipated will receive the support of a number of Victorian capitalists. In consequence of the recent floods and the large quantity of water on the ground, the miners were, a few days ago, compelled to suspend their operations ; but the delay will only be a temporary one, and we are informed that within a month the arrival from Melbourne of powerful steam machinery to drain the ground im*y be expected.

XWe are glad to learn that the arrangements for a good open and cleared course havo .just been concluded with Mr Olapeott, and that the first legitimate race meeting of Hokitika is to commence on Monday, December 30th, extending over New Year's Day. The selected ground will shortly be ready, and those accustomed to the sameness of this sandy district will be astonished to find themselves on a well-grassed paddock, with a defined circle on which the ruiliiing df the horses is distinctly visible. The distance from town is so short, that a quarter of an hour's walk on the Kam'eri tramway, and a sixpenny fare in the ferry-boat, will place them on tho future metropolitan course of tho West Coast ; and as the progranuno intended by Mr Hamilton, the initiator of thi3 season's raced, will embrace a variety of local prizes for diggers, butchers, packers. &c., besides threo or four open events, there is no reason lo doubt the popularity of tho Hokitika gathering. A grand stuud will be erected, commanding a full view of the course, and the sites on each side thereof, for publicans' booths, are to bo told by auction, the receipts going to the general fund for prize 3. There is just a clear month now for this generally interesting affair to be perfected, and our citizens should put their *' ohoulders to the wheel" to make a present, and thus ensure a future success. The promised Old English Sports of the Christmas week, with their varied and handsome awards, cannot fail to draw a holiday crowd of many thousandb ; and many pleasure-seekers, "»c may certainly expect, will undoubtedly mukc Hokitika their home for ten days if wholesome amusement be ftnmd them. The consequent gain to all classes of our town tradespeople is obvious. A meeting will be hold on Monday to elect stewards, and adopt a programme. -