West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 604, 31 August 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1867.

Mr. Box A.it and Mr Prosser will both address the electors to-day. Mr Bonar's meeting is fixed for three o' clock,* und Mr Prosser's for half-past seven. The public will look forward to a full and fair explanation of the political sentiments of the two candidates. Both have already received sufficient assurance of their good standing Avith their fellow citizens. Mr Prosser was one of the first elected members for the district in the Provincial Council. He was asked to stand for re-elec-tion, but declined, owing to the pressure of his business avocations. He was requested also to become a candidate for the General Assembly, and if he had consented to do so, we believe his return would at that time have beeu un opposed. Mr Prosser has since been chosen as one of the members of the City Council. Mr Bonar also, we think we are justified in saying, would have been returned for the district to represent it in the General Assembly, if he had consented to be put in nomination — and for the town to represent it in the Provincial Council. He, like Mr Prosser, is a member of the Corporation, and by that body has been elected as the Mayor of the town. When these facts are fairly stated as we have put them, we think that all talk may cease as to the personal character or standing of the two men ; the comparative services they have rendered to their fellow citizens : and the niai'ks of public confidence they have received. We have always been foremost to appreciate Mr Prosser's worth as a citizen, and have, on more than one occasion, urged the propriety of a formal and marked recognition of it. In the same spirit we have congratulatedthe towa on securiug in Mr Bonar, as Councillor and Mayor, a man of high character and of good ability. The choice between them is to be decided on purely public grounds. It is to be hop.cd that both candidates and electors will agree with us in this view. The present case is especially ©ne in which unpleasant personalities may be avoided, without detriment to the interests of either candidate. To the candidates themselves it is of course unnecessary to say this ; but every mnn on the occasion of a contested election has some intemperate partisans whose zeal often outruns their discretion. It is to be hoped that the present contest will not be embittered by auy unnecessary recriminations. The two gentlemen, between whom the electors have to choose, will have important services to render to !the district in the future. They will take their place amongst our leading men in days when the present struggle will be a thing of the past. Presuming that they will discard personalities, what are the topics on which the two candidates will have to talk about to-day ? Mr Bonar's is the easier task of the two. He will have to tell the electors the simple straightforward story of his appointment to Executive office ; to remind them that the creation of the office of Goldfields Secretary was an act done, if not in compliance, at all events in conformity, with the demand of the district ; that according to his understanding of the conditions of Executive responsibility, he must hold a seat in the Provincial Council ; that he has accepted a place in the Executive in the hope that until some satisfactory settlement is arrived at, on a basis promising to be permanent, he will be able to effect for the district what has never been effected yet — a local administration of our affairs, apart from Christchurch influences; and that if he finds he cannot succeed in this holiest endeavor to serve the district during a period of transition, he will join heartily with those who demand absolute separation. Some such statement as these we expect to hear today from James Bonar. We honestly wish to do Mr Prosser all justice in this contest, and we have read his address to the electors very carefully, in the endeavor to understand the precise' ground on which his opposition to Mr Bonar's candidature is based: Mr Prosser has not stated distinctly the platform on which he stands. He denounces Mr Bonar as a gentleman " whose interests are altogether identical wi(h those of a party entirely inimical to the prosperity of the West Coast," and that he is " a nominee of the present Executive." Mr Bonar is a member of the Executive ; and he is its adviser on all

questions connected with the goldfields administration; he is, what Mr Sale has never been, entrusted with the entire control of the local administration of Westland ; he is the head of the department to which its affairs belong ; and to endeavor to discredit him as the nominee of the Executive, is just as reasonable as it would be to denounce Lord Stanley, the foreign minister, because he is the "nominee"of the Derby Ministry. What the people have been callingjfor is the appointment of a responsible Minister ; and a Minister means a member of the Cabinet. And how can a man become a member of a cabinet except he is chosen by his colleagues tj co-operate with them, and is in that sense a " nominee ?" Mr Prosser holds that no man can represent Westland j and accept a position of administrative responsibility without ceasing to be au independent member. He would make it a condition that Westland men should be excluded from the Provincial Government. Mr Bonar has become a responsible minister, and therefore he is the " nominee" of his colleagues. Mr Prosser does not hold responsible office, and therefore he is the " independent 1 ' candidate. Surely Mr Prossev's political logic is at fault. The last clause but one of Mr Prosser's address to the electors is remarkable. He declares that he is as much in favor of Separation as ever; but refers to the duty of the electors "so long as we are obliged to remain attached to Canterbury." Mr Prosser agrees with us in holding that until Separation comes it is our imperative duty to make the best of things as they are — not to risk an immediate advantage for the sake of a remotj and uncertain good. We cannot obtain the practical fruits of Separation for some months to come at all events. Until we do obtain them what is to be our dependence ? bhall we have a responsible minister or an irresponsible commissioner, under whose rule all the evils have sprung up that we want to remedy. Mr Prosser says it is better to " appoint" a member of "independent principles" to strengthen the already too small force of representatives, and in the meantime to leave no district without any responsibile administration. For our part, we have not the slightest possible appreciation of the importance of sending over another Westland member to Christchurch. A single man of intelligence and the gift of speech can do as much for us there as half a dozen. The voting power of the Westland section is powerless as against the hostile majority. If it were not that Mr Bonar ought to be in the House to give an account of his stewardship as Goldfields- Secretary, and to keep the Council well informed on Westland affairs, we would very greatly prefer that the vacant seat tor Hokitika should remain unfilled. We see no particular reason for sending Mr Prosser or any one else into the Mouse j as an independent > — that is we presume a private — member. But we see many reasons why, having succeeded in getting a Goldfields Secretary, we should place him in a position which will expose him to the full battery of questioning, and put him under the necessity of telling the Council everything about Westland that the) 7 want" or ought to know. Mr Prosser appears to us to labor under a grave political misapprehension when he bases his claims to the support of the electors, on the circumstance of his being an " independent" candidate. Does he hold that responsible Government is to be carried on without officeis, and that the acceptance of responsible office is a political crime which the electors are bound to punish by a withdrawal of their confidence ? We trust that to-night Mr Prosser will give us his more deliberate thoughts on a subject on which he has issued a very crude and carelessly-written address. He has thus far shown no good reason why he should oppose Mr Bonar, whose desire to represent the town shows his appreciation of the political conditions on which he holds office.

In reply to a question put by Me J. O'Neil to the Government in the House of Representatives, whether it Avas their intention to appoint an Assistant Resident Magistrate for the City of Auckland, tho honor ible tho Colonial Secretary stated that the Government were not prepared to make such an appointment. They were awaro that a large amount of work was done in that Court, at the same time there were other Courts which got through even mora work. For the quarter ending the 30th June last, at tho Resident Magistrate's Court, in Auckland, 12J3 cases were disposed of, while the number for tho same period in Hokitika was 134.0, and in Dunedin 1399. Tho Colleen Bawn will bo performed at the City Theatre this evening. On Monday evening MvW.Gk Carey, a native of Australia, and the only native-born actor who has attained to' the diguity of tragedy, will make his first appearance in Ilokitika in the character of Euy Bias. We understand that Miss Harriet Gordon andTVtr Hydes have been engaged for a short season, and will appear on Tuesday evening. Tho Escort arrived from Ross on Wednesday evening, with botween 2000 and 3000 ozs of gold, cousignod to tho vaiious banks. Tho members of tho Hebrew Congregation are requested to meet in tho synagogue, Tuncrcd street, on Sunday, on important business. Tho sea made very heavy encroachments on "tho North Beach yesterday, cutting away tho sandbank for several feet, and in many capes completely surrounded tho cottages erected thereon. So furious was the onslaught of tho waves that in moro than ono instanco tho windows of the houses wero dashed in and tho roonis filled with water to tho great consternation of the tenants. During the whole of yesterday and up to a lato hour last night mcv were busily engaged in pulling down houses which had been erected all along tho North Beach, whilst horses and drays woro carting away tho materials. Tho water swept far up into tho Empire right-of-way, and Hooded many of tho back premises in

Rcvcll streeb. Tho sea came up Oits' Lane, Bondigo Lane, and York Lane, and flooded from thence into Rcvell street pouring down the side channels uni;il it readied the river. We have heard many persons who have resided in Hokitika for some time say that never before have they known the sea encroach so far up on to "the land. It is, how* ever, hoped that after Sunday, when the highest spring tide is expected, that the beach will again make up. If signs of this shortly appear it will bo the means of allaying much anxiety on tho pait of tho owners and occupiers of property on tho north side of Revell street. Last night the surf was exceedingly high. Most of tho back premises on that side of Eevell street nearest tho beach were flooded, and the water again rushed up the rights-bf-way into the main street. Beach street for a time was inundated, and a cottage half way down the Empire right-of-way was struck by a heavy sea which broke down the kitchen wall and necessitated the removal of the inmates. It was reported that a woman and child were nearly being carried away by the surf, and that they were rescued with considerable difficulty. We give this report as we heard it, but do not vouch for its accuracy as the late hour at which the accident said to have occurred precluded the possibility of tracing the report, to an authentic source. Bcferringto a case of suspected slow poisoning in Melbourne, the " Australian Illustrated Post " of the 20th instant says : — " Our police chronicles are becoming quite romantic. Miss Braddou lias seldom had more sensational ..iaterial to work upon than the Bellamey case which has jii3t turned up at Hofcham ; and, for obvious reasons, this is chiefly the aspect in which -we shall regard it for the present. Since Beilamcy is under arrest on the charge of wilful murder, we damage him nothing by saying that the circumstances ai'e altogethersufficient to justify the action of the authorities — so far. Whether all other things done in the name of authority will hold good, remains to be seen. Bellamey, a chemist, and his reputed wife, arrive from New South Wales some months ago, and alino3t immediately afterwards the woman becomes seriously ill. Medical assistance is obtaiued, but tho symptoms aro so subtle as to baffle ordinary treatment ; and, with commendable foresight, Dr Beaney obtains the co-operation of Drs Brownloss and Grirdlestonc. As the case became more serious, the aid of Drs Fitzgerald and Turnbull is subsequently invoked. Perpetual nausea and vomiting affect the patient. A suspicion arises that her food and medicino have been tampered with 5 and in order to guard against this, a nurse is engaged, with strict orders to let nobody but herself prepare and administer the sick woman's requirements. Under this arrangement the vomiting ceases, and the patient rapidly improves. Then Bellamey discharges tho nurse, as unnecessary — and tho bad symptoms at once return. The medical gentlomen, finding that the nurse has been dismissed, decline to attend ; and shortly afterwards the unfortunate woman dies. A posi mortem examination discloses no symptoms of poisoning. *Wo doubt, death may have resulted from a peculiarity of constitution incomprehensible to medical science ; but it will be very curious if such an array of the faculty could have been puzzled by a mere freak of nature. If foul work has been done, it seems a pity that it could not have been prevented, because it was undoubtedly suspected in time to have saved the woman's life. Suspicion of sinister proceedings caused the employment not only of si nurse, but of a detective. But the detective seems to have left ju~t as the nurse was dismissed, and the doctors almost simultaneously abandoned the case, so that the woman was left to her fate. What sheds a still more lurid light upon this affair is the discovery that instead of being man and wife, Bellamey was married to deceased only three days before her death ; and it is said that she was possessed of considerable property. Seeing how often the moral and social proprieties aro violated with apparent impunity, it might seem absurd to talk about retribution in this particular instance ; but it seems remarkably like it, for all that. The " Melbourne Post" says :—": — " In commercial circles much discontent is expressed at the dull state of trade in Melbourne at the present time, the more so as the few sales of imported goods that aro effected show, as a rule, a balance on the wrong side. We must be thankful, however, for the magnificent weather tho growing crops have been favored with, which give promise of a larger grain harvest than the colony has ever before knownOur ensuing wool clip, too, appears likely to be unprecedcnledly heavy, and with our yield of gold exhibiting no falling off, surely prosperous trade may fairly bo anticipated, to follow, so soon as the benefits arising out of the satisfactory position of affairs in tho three great interests we have referred tq become generally disseminated. The intelligence received by the last mail from England of the low rates of discount ruling there, has caused more special attention to be directed to the disproportionately high rates current here, which may possibly eventuate in cheaper money for the development of the resources of our rising colony. The crops generally are as favorably reported of as usual at this season of the jear, when fro3ts, which occasionally happen, cause the more advanced of the oat crops to wear a sickly appearance. By next month spring will have fairly set in, and should the weather then be genial, the slight check now experienced will have done no harm. "During this month agricultural matters arc usually quiet. The only event of importance we have to note is a second trial of Howard's steam ploughing and cultivating apparatus, which came oft 1 at Smeaton, an important- agricultural district midway between Ballavat and Castlemaine. We regret to rocord that the trial was comparatively a failure, owing to tho want of adequate steam power, the engine employed being, as at tho previous trial, far too weak for the work. This mistake on the part of the exhibitors will, we fear, millitate strongly against the adoption of steam tillage by Victorian farmers."