NEWS OF THE DAY.

West Coast Times, Issue 575, 29 July 1867, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

(mom satueday evening's edition of tiie

WEST COAST TIMES.)

Mr. Dick, who for some time past has filled the office of chief postmaster for Westland, sailed yesterday in the Claud Hamilton for Nelson, to assume the duties of chief postmaster in that province. ,We are sure that every person in Hokitika will regret the loss of a public servant so attentive aud so courteous in the discharge of hi 3 duty.

The want of a Town Clock, is much felt in Hokitika, inasmuch as there is no standard time by which persons can regulate their watches and clocks. Hardly a public meeting is held at which it is not necessary to wait some time for the attendance of persons who are not there — not from any want of punctuality, but solely from the difference of time indicated by their respective watches.

An inquest was held this day at the Post Oflice Hotel, at noon, before Dr. Beswick, Coroner, on view of the body of the seaman who was killed by falling from the maintop of the brigautine Clara, and whose name is at present unknown. Captain Nichol deposed that he was master of the steamer Yarra. On Thursday afternoon, between three and four o'clock, whilst transhipping the passengers from' the Claud Hamilton, a boat put off from the Clara and came to witness, and it was stated that one of the seamen liad fallen from the maintop. Witness was asked to convey the man on shore, aud consented to do so. Witness saw the body on board the Yarra ; blood was flowing from the nostrils and cars, and the right eye was bruised. Saw no appearance of life after receiving the body on board the Yarra. Witness understood the

captain of the Clara to say that the man had been insensible from the time he had fallen. Upon arriving in the harbor, witness vepqrtecl the case and handed the body over to the police. — The inquest was then adjourned to Monday at noon.

Statistical tables compiled by Mr Bennett, and issued in anticipation of the usual yearly volume, show that, on the 31st December, 1866, the total estimated European population of New Zealand, exclusive of the military aud their families, was 204,114, of whom 125,080 were males, and 79,034 females. The population was distributed amongst the various provinces as follows : — Auckland, 50,101 ; Taranaki, 4626; 'Wellington, 22,748; Hawke's Bay, 4820; Nelson, 15,542; Marlborough, 5773 ; Canterbury, 58,752 ; Otago, ; Southland, 7657. The Registrar-General, however, informs tis in a note that this is only a rough approximate calculation of the population of the various provinces. The number of marriages estimated during the year was — Auckland, 543 ; Taranaki, 43 ; Wellington, 201 ; Hawke's Bay, 56 ; Nelson, 108 ; Marlborough, 37 ; Canterbury, 511 ; Otago, 480 ; Southland, 51 ; Chatamlslands,3— total, 2038.

Mr Thomas Eyau, a chemist, of Sydney, was found guilty, by a coroner's jury, on the 19th inst., of feloniously killing Mr C. Goddard, an engraver. It appears that the deceased suffered acutely from piles," and on the 17th sent his apprentice to procure some roots of tormentil, an excellent remedy for the complaint. The boy went to Mr Eyan's, and obtained two ounces of the drug, which was taken by Goddard at bed time. About an hour afterwards ho complained of intense pain, a choking sensation in the throat, and a feoliug akin to paralysis. His wife sent for a doctor, but when he arrived the xinfortunatc man was in a dying state, and shortly after expired. A portion of the drug supplied by Ryan was found wrapped in paper, and, upon examination, it was discovered that some of the roots were that deadly poison aconite, which in outward appearance closely resembles tormentil. The jury considered Ryan had been guilty of gross neglect, and hence the verdict. The prisoner was cqmmitted to take his trial, bail being allowed. The event created much excitement in Sydney.

It is with pleasure we announce that the sum of LISQ will be transmitted to Melbourne by the Eangitoto, to purchase books for the library about to be established in connnection with the Hokitika Literary Society. The selection will comprise not only works of fiction, but standard works on history, biography, science, and poetry, and will, we trust, form the nucleus of a valuable public library.

The number of letters received at the several Post Offices in the colony from foreign offices, during the year 1866, was 584,461 ; newspapers, 1,166,351; received from other offices within the colony — letters, 1,820,327 ; newspapers, 793,177. The number of letters despatched i from the colony for foreign parts was 581,726; newspapers, 595,803. The number of newspapers despatched to offices within the colony was 1,817,708. The money orders issued during 18G6 numbered 22,710, representing a value of L 108.779 4s 9d.

The "Southland Times" announces the death of Dr James Martin of Riverton. The deceased, an old colonist, was long and favorably known, both as a skilful medical practitioner and a kind-hearted gentleman.

The " Launccston Examiner supplies the following : — The month of February, 18G6, was known as the " moonless month," from the circumstance that it had no full moon. A paragraph relating to the fact went the round of the English papers at the tirao to the effect that such an event had not occurred previously since the Noetic flood, and would not happen again till the trump of doom. Be that, however, as it ntay, it is certain that in the month of February, 1870, there will not be any new moon in Europe, Africa, or America, and yet there will be in Australasia and the eastern regions of Siberia. This apparent paradox results from the difference in longitude, and hence of civil time at the several places referred to.

A memorial signed by some ninety members of the House of Commons, representing all shades of politics and all parts of these islands, was transmitted on May 16th to the Marquis of Abcrcorn, who is at present in London. The prayer of the memorial is, that his Excellency may be pleased to extend the mercy of the Crown to those persons now under sentence of death in Ireland for high treason, so as to spare their lives,

The editor of the " New York Home Journal" was ushered into a pew on Good Friday into an uptown "high church," and, taking from the rack a book of " Common Prayer," opened it, and, to his great surprise, found inserted on the inner side of the cover a looking-glass. This arrangement, he presumes, enables the fair owner to admire herself and adjust her chignon during the service.