West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 379, 10 December 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1866.

Tho first important shipment of gold for this month was made on Saturday, wheu 10,000ozs was sent away in the Claud Hamilton. Of this quantity the Bank of New Zealand contributed 4000 ; tho Union Bank, GOOOozs. 9000ozs. were also shipped at Greymouth on the preceding day, thus making 19,0000zs as the total quautity exported to Sydney.

Considerable inconvenience was experienced by (he people of Ross on Friday last owing to tho non-arrival of Cobb's coach as visual, iv consequence of the late rains. From the samo cause there was no coach from Ross to Hokitika on Saturday, which rendered it necessary for a number .of persons to adopt other and less convenient means of getting into town.

A lamentable scene took place at tho police camp, Revell street on Saturday afternoon. A fuw days ago a man named Smith, a strong built digger, was sent by the authorities from Grey mouth to the Hokitika Hospital, having for some time past been suffering from unsound mind, but on his arrival here his behaviour was of such an obstreperous character that rendered it necessary to place him under restraint. Ho was therefore, with grcit difficulty conveyed from the hospital to the lock-up, but on arriving in the yard he became so wild and desperato that it was found necessary to straitwaiscoat him there and then. During the process his cries and screams were dreadful, and (as he is suffering from religious mania) interrupted with appeals to Heaven for protection. Greit difficulty was experienced in getting him into a cell, whero he now remains, and it is to be hoped he will improve in mental health under judicious treatment.

A most determined suicide was committed by an unfortunate woman of disreputable character, on Saturday morning last. Between 7 and 8 o'clock she was observed by several persons lo walk direct from her residence (which is situated somewhere near tho back of the Dunedin Hotel) to the sea beach, and deliberately throw herself into the surf. A rush was made to save her, but too late, as she was immediately carried out to sea and drowned. Her body was cast up again, aud found lying upon the beach six miles north, in the afternoon. It was brought into town, and an inquest will bo held upon it to-day at the Harp of Erin Hotel. Wo havo tho melancholy satisfaction of informing our readers that the body of William Martin, ono of the two unfortunates who woro drowned by the capsizing of the harbor boat on Friday last, was yesterday afternoon picked up oil the boach, opposito tho Totara Lagoon ; it is but slightly disfigured. Immediately upon receipt of tho intelligence constables wore do u putclied to bring the remains to town, whero au inquest will bo held upon them to-day by Dr Beswick, the Coroner.

We feol much pleasure in apprising the public that a lecture on Voltaic Electricity, will be delivered on Wednesday evening next, in the Supreme Court House, by Mr C. E Button, barrister. Illustrations will bo given of ihe practical working of the electric telogr.ipli, &c. As tho proceeds of the en ertaiuluent go to tho f'uuds of All Saints Church, wo hopo to record tho Court "House as boiug crowded on that evening. Another illustration is afforded us of tho grave mistake made in erecting tho District Gaol in bucli close proximity to the bush, as on Satarday morning two prisoners succeeded hi effecting a most daring escape from their custodians, which they certainly woidd havo failed in doing but for the ready command of moans of concealment in the tangled forost close at hand. Tho names of the delinquents are John Roid alias Maori Jack and William Montreseor. Tho former is a woll-known most notorious scoundrel, a native of America, aged 27 years, of low build and very dark complexion. Ho is an old sailor, and markod with a scar undor tho right eye, and another on the loft cheek near tho mouth. His right arm is disfigured and bent, owing to a fracture of the elbow. At tho last Supremo Court sittings ho was sentenced to two yoa v s' imprisonment, with hard labor, for garrotting. Montrussor was undergoing three yoare^ hard labor for forgery and uttering. •At tho timo of their escape tho men woro working on a scaffold erected insido and against the palisade which oncloses tho gaol buildings. Suddenly they both sprang over it and dropped to tho ground without-injury, and at onco plunged into tho buph, lending a doaf car to tho prompt challenge giyen by the warder on tho lookout, whe, finding it disregarded, smartly duchaVgQd bis rifle at the fugitives, but with-

out hitting cithor. Notice was iniinodiately forwarded to Inspector 13roham, who despatched o\ orj availablo constablo iv pursuit. Happily tho chase pro Tod successful, although not fully bo, as just about dusk Montreeaor was captured at tho upper oud of Gibson's Quay, wluto tho tramway branches off towards tho big boach. Ho was at once reinstated in his old quarters. " Maori Jack," wcaro sorry to say, 13 still at largo, but woharo no doubt that his capturo will bo effected somo time to-day, as quito a cordon of police is drawn round thafc eoction of the bush \\iuVh is known to contain him. *Wo havo no hesitation in saying that skating will bo quito tho rago in Hokitika, a3 tho " rink," opened on Saturday in Weld street, was crowded by gentlomen anxious to avail themselves of the opportunity of indulging in a pastime which, if not altogether new, wan certainly — under the circuuißtances — oxceedingly strango aa, in lieu of frozen surface to glido over, the boards of a room were, by akilfull preparation, found to bo an excelleht substituto for ice. The skates are peculiarly constructed, as instead of a longitudinal btrip of iron tho skator travels on four small wheels, t!io mode of progression boing precisely similar to that adopted when the pastime is indulged in upon ice. Mr Mothersill, a pupil of the celebrated Puller, champion skater of the world, officiates as M C, as well as to instruct lyros iv the game. Tho evolutions he performs are truly surprising, and show to what a pitch of perfection the art can be brought. We congratulate Messrs Sinclair and Mothersill, the proprietors, upon the very marked success which attended the opening of their " rink " on Saturday, and hope that their endeavors to provide another source of amusement for the residents of this town will meet with largo and continuous patronage. M The flooded state of the Waimakiriri delayed the arrival of the Christchurch coach at flokitika until yesterday afternoon. MrSheppcrd, the driver, informed us that the old crossing- pi ace being impassable, he was induced to attempt tlie new ford ; but on arriving in mid stream tho coach bogged in a quicksand, and the efforts of tho horses to remove it p>-oved utterly unavailing. The passengers and mails were, however, landed without being in tho slightest degree wetted, and the night was passed at a public house adjacent. Next morning the coach was got out and the journey resumed. It was marked by no further detention. The damage to that portion of the road which was washed away towards the head of the rivor, once more having been repaired, tho old route is again adopted, and the necessity of crossing tho Waiinakiriri more than once thus avoided. Several passengers booked through from Christchurch, their names boing— Mrs Tribe, Mossra Touruaman, Cunningham, Robiueon, and Captain Smith. A telegram from Dtmodin, that appears in the " Lyttcltou Times," dated Decoinbcr 4, 7 p.m., states :—" The Grand Jury have returned a true bill in tho oaao of Clove. The trial will tako placo on Monday, beforo a special jury."j ury." We underhand that the town of Westport (Buller) will boon bo represented by a local organ, a sufficient plant having beon obtained by Messrs Munson and Tyrrell, which will bo despatched from Hokitika by the first steamer for the north.