West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 668, 14 November 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1867.

We devote a large portion of our space to-day to the graphic accounts contained in the Adelaide papers and the telegrams in our Melbourne files, of the reception and doings of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh in South Australia. The welcome to the Queen's son was arranged on a most magnificent scale, and has been a complete success. The reception to be given Io him in Victoi'ia will of course surpass in splendour that of the less populous Colony of South Axistralia ; although it was anticipated that in Adelaide not less than sixty thousand persons would pour in to welcome him. What a harvest the Adelaide people must havo reaped ! We have one interesting item of intelligence as to hxs Royal Highness's movements, viz., that he intends to prolong his stay in Victoria over one mouth. The Chief Secretary, Mr M'Culloch, announced on the sth iDSt. that he had received a telegram from Sir Dbininick Daley, informing him that the Duke would arrive iv Melbourne on the 18th November, and that his visit would probably be prolonged to the 18th December. From Melbourne His Royal Highness will proceed direct to Sydney, and there it is proposed that the Galatea shall be placed on the slip for the purpose of undergoing a thorough overhaul. It is not likely that the Prince will make his stay in New South Wales shorter than in Victoria. That over, Queensland is to be visited before New Zealand can be taken ; and there is besides the talk of a run to Tasmania. Under any circumstances we cannot look for His Royal Highness's arrival before the beginning of February. There is thus ample time to make provision for his reception in Westland, if as we have no doubt is the case, a visit from him can be secured. It is now more manifest than ever that his movements are not strictly bound to time. He is already prolonging his stay in South Australia, and. has arranged to do the same thing in Victoria. The original programme of the tour fixed his arrival in Wellington for Christmas Day. But we see that this arrangement very much antedated his actual movements. Whilst, however, there is ample time to enable us to make such arrangements as would afford to his Royal Highness the assurance of a fitting reception here — and to those who would undertake the duty of inviting him on our behalf the same guarantee — it will be necessary that some early movement should be madeJif it is desired the district shoulcf enjoy the benefits naturally resulting from a royal visit. What we want to/prevent is the exodus of miners to otbfer colonies and provinces with their l^jliday money in their pocket. What weVant to secure is the local expenditure of the large sums that are sure to be spent on the occasion — either here or elsewhere. Whatever necessary sum might bo raised by subscription would be returned fifty-fold to the pockets of the subscribers. It remains, however, for the townspeople to take action on the subject. It has been officially announced that the Duke will visit Christchurch after leaving the North Island. He will thus be within some thirty-six hours' travel of us,- a.long a most picturesque and romantic road. The expenses of entertaining him will not be very greatly in excess of those incurred on the occasion of the visit of Sir George Grey, who was indeed welcomed in most princely style. la the present instance, however, there are no public funds to be voted. All, or nearly all, must be done by subscription. A suggestion has been made that a public meeting of the citizens should be convened, on an early day, to consider the subject, and probably no more suitable means could be taken of ascertaining the public feeling, and the probability, or otherwise, of success in raising the necessaiy funds.

The Political news from Victoria is important. The Legislative Council having twice, as is already known, refused to entertain the Appropriation including the] L 20,000 grant to Lady Darling, the Ministry passed through the Assembly and sent up to the Council a "Bill of temporary supply" of L 500,000 to enable the Government of the colony to be carried on. This Bill the Council at once rejected by a majority of twenty to eight, only one member being absent. On the same evening the Council voted an address to the Queen, setting forth their reasons for the course they had adopted, and asking an expression of opinion from Her Majesty on the proposed Darling vote. The political position has undergone an important change through the steps thus taken. The advice tendered by his Ministers to His Excellency was that a temporary Supply Bill should be passed, and then a dissolution of Parliament take place. But the Supply Bill has not been passed, and thus the terms of promise of dissolution have not been fulfilled. Ifthe dissolution takes place the country will be without siipply. At the latest date to hand Ministers were holding

communication on the crisis with His Excellency, to whom of course various advice is tendered by the Press. It is evident that the crisis has assumed a more acute form than ever.