West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1867. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 571, 24 July 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1867. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

[IMJOM OUH OWN COBKESFONDENT.]

(vuoji yesterday's evening edition of tue west coast times.) Christchuiicii, Tuesday, 1.5 p.m. . The Coach which left tiiis morniug for Hokitika, takes the English Mails, but none of the Westland members, who have been detained. A letter appeal's iv this morning's "Lyttelton Times," stating that Mr Bonar was only elected Chairman of the Town Council, by the casting vote of the Chairman, but that afterwards he was called on to resign by a requisition, signed by seven hundred electors. No other news.

A meeting of the Westland Separation League will be held this evening at the Empire Hotel. Owing, however, to unavoidable detention at Christchurch, the Westland members will not be present. Only one of the members for Hokitika, Mr Cassius, having re* turned.

The Half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company was held yesterday at noon, at the Company's offices, Revoll street, North. The report of the Directors was of a very satisfactory character, and showed that during the past bix months the earnings had not only been sufficient to clear off all debts, but to put the affairs of tho Company in efficient working order. We need scarcely add that tbe report was unanimously adopted.

There was another good house at the City Theatre last evening, on the occasion of the second re-appearance of Mr and Mrs W. O'Neil, whose engagement for a short season of three nights we previously announced " The Limerick Boy " was a complete success, Mr O'Neil as ."Paddy Miles," literally electrifying the house. He is an apt pupil in all sorts of mischief of an able master (Harry, Mr G. Ingles), getting into all sorts of scrapes, but somehow or other managing to get out of them, xuitil at last the whole of his tricks are brought to the light, to the utter confusion of himself and his worthy master. Harry (Mr Ingles), who rendered his part remarkably well. Mr F. Towers as Dr Coates, was very efficient ; whilst Mrs O'Neil (Miss A. M. Quinn) as Jane, and Miss Buckingham as Mrs Fidgctt, contributed greatly to the success of the farce. The entertainment concluded with "More Blunders than One," which was loudly applauded. This evening, the proprietor, Mr G. Ingles, takes a benefit, when Mr O'Neil will appear iv bis great character of "Handy Andy.!' We believe the theatre will be crowded this evening.

The half-yearly meeting of the Hokitika and Greymouth TYamway Company, held yesterday, possesses features of more than ordinary interest. Not only was the report of the directors of greater interest than those usually presented at such meetings, because it contained a reference to the early struggles of tho Company, and a record of- the measures which had been adopted by the directors, which had oventuated in not only freeing the company from debt, but in putting it into complete workingjorder. Another interesting feature was the reunion of last evening, when a silver cup was presented in the name of the shai'eholdcrs to Mr Klein for tho great services ho had rendered to the Company. This is worthy of special notice ns a mark of the appreciation in which the disinterested services of Mr Klein ai f e held by his brother shareholders.

A very pleasant re-union took placo last evening at the Railway Station Hotel, Rovell street North, on the occasion of the presentation of a silver cup to Mr J. P. Klein by the Directors of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company as a slight acknowledgement of the great services he had rendered to the Company. The chair was taken by Mr M'Beath, the chairman of the Company, on whose right was soated the guest of the evening — Mr Klein, whilst the left was occupied by his Worship the Mayor (Mr Bonar) and Mr Cassius, M.P.C. The vice-chair was occupied by Mr W. Shaw. After a capital repast, served up in Mr Upham's best style, had been done ample justice to, a choice dessert was placed upon the table, and the usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been disposed of, the Chairman roße and in a speech which, although brief, was pointed and to the purpose, pre-

sented a silver cup to Mr Klein, as a token of respect from the directors and shareholders of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company. The cup, which was very handsome, bore the following inscription :—": — " To Mr Joseph Philip Klein, by the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company, in recognition of his able and repeated services— May, 1867." The cup having been filled with champague, Mr Klein rose and thanked the directors and shareholders for their kind present. After alluding to the early struggles of the company he pointed to its present condition, its debts paid and every department of it in first-class working order — in fact, in so perfect a state that before long the shareholders would derive profits from then' venture, and this happy state of affairs he attributed to tho happy management of the directors. In conclusion, Mr Klein drank the health of all those present. He then sat down amidst loud cheers. The cup was then passed round, each person present pledging Mr Klein.— The ViceChairman then gave the toast of " The Members for Westland," and expressed bis regret that during the last session of the Provincial Council so little success had attended their great efforts in the cause of Westland — efforts wluch, he was sure, were fully appreciated by the public. (Cheers.) Mr Cassius responded, and alluded to the obstacles which the Westland members bad to encounter, opposed as •they were, for some unaccountable reason, by the Eastland members. He could assure them that it was not from the want of any exertion on the part of the Westland members that their exertions had not been crowned with greater success. (Cheers.) He was pleased, however, to find that tho people of Westland had awoke to a sense of their danger and their duty, mid that they, moving and stirring in the right path, were trying to assume responsibility— iv short, that they were trying to help themselves instead of depending on others for help. (Cheers.) He would not now refer to Separation, but this ho would say, that if notliing else resulted from the present agitation than showing that Westland was determined to have her grievances redressed, it would productive of goodAt the same time, he would say that if men possessing sufficient abnegation and honosty of purpose could be found to take charge of the government, that Westland would be governed much better than it was now. (Cheers.) Mr Kellock proposed "The heulth of tho Mayor and Municipal Council of Hokitika." The toast was duly honored, aud his. Worship the Mayor briefly acknowledged tho compliment. The next toast was proposed by Mr Cassius—" Prosperity to the Tramways on the West Coast," which was responded to by Mr Klein, who acknowledged ,the oflbrts which the members for Hokitika, Messrs Bright and Cassius, had made to aid the Tramway Companies. (Cheers.) Tho following toasts were drank : — " Tbe mercantile interest," responded to by^Mr Jones ; " The mining interests," responded to by Mr Shaw " " The Ladies," responded to by Mr Kellock ; " The Press " was responded to- by Mr Exall, of the West Coast Times.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the first fruits of the Government Reporting Staff in the shape of a New Zealand Hansard. It is exceedingly well printed, and appears to be carefnlly arranged.