West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUG-UST 22, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 596, 22 August 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUG-UST 22, 1867.

The English papers were delivered in town last evening, the Christcliurcli coach having kept its time most punctually. In order to give the fullest possible intelligence we withold leader, and local and intercolonial news until to-morrow.

The mail steamship, Geelong, passed Cape Otway at an early hour on Friday night, the 9th instant, but was not observed (says the '• Argu3 ") from the signal station. She arrived off the Heads before daylight, and was close in before she was seen. She reached Hobson's Bay shortly before nine o'clock on Saturday morning, and a second edition of the " Argus " was published soon afterwards, containing the letters of our London correspondent. The Geelong delivered her mails three days before they wore due. Captain Skottowe complains very justly of the inattention his signals received from the watch at Cape Ofcway. He fired two guns, and sent up six rockets, but no response was made, and the vessel was not reported. The cause of thi3 neglect will no doubt be investigated by the telegraph department.

Wo regret to state th:it there is every reason to fear that John Smith, who was admitted into tho Hospital on Monday, suffering from a compound fracture of the skull, inflicted by a blow from an axe on Sunday morning, will not survive his injuries. Yesterday, tho Resident Magistrate was hastily summoned to take Smith's dying deposition, and he accordingly proceeded to the Hospital, attended by the Clerk to the Bench, Mr Malet, and Mr Inspector Broham. Griffith Jones, charged with the assault, was also taken over, in custody of a constable. On arriving afc the Hospital, Smith was found to be in so weak and insensible a condition that it was impossible to take his deposition) and tho party accordingly returned to town.

The Criminal Sittings of the District Court were resumed yesterday at 11 a.m. The first case tried was that of Charles Dowsing, for stabbing Cornelius Scanlan. The jury iv this case not being able to agree at 10 p.m. were locked up for the night. William John Price, who had on Tuesday pleaded guilty of larceny, 'was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. The trial of Charles E. Gundry, for the alleged robbery at the Union Bank at Greymouth, was commenced, but at half-past. five it was adjourned. The jury in this caso were accommodated at the Post Office Hotel. The Criminal Sittings will be resumed this morning at 11 o'clock, when Gundry's trial will be proceeded with.

Commodore Rowley Lambert, C.8., who succeeds Commodore Rochford Maguiro on the Australian station, is a passenger to Sydney by the R.M.S. Geelong, which arrived in Hobscm'B Bay on the 10th instant. Amongst tho other passengers on the Sydney list is Mr Ponsonby, R.N.,*and there are also several foreigners of professional distinction, namely. General de Vassoigne and Captain Hodebourg deßrosses, from Point do Galle ; and Captain do Baurbul, from Calcutta. In the Melbourne list there is a Greek priest, from Bombay, and as deck passengers there are six shipwrecked British seamen from the barque Lady Lyttelton, which was sunk in Oyster Harbor, King George's Sound.