West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 689, 9 December 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1867.

In compliance with a very iiifluentially signed requisition the Mayor has convened a public meeting, to be held this afternoon at the Prince of AVales Opera House, tho use of which has been granted by Mr Bartlett.to take measures to secure a more careful conservation of the Hokitika Cemetery., A very paiuful impression has been produced by the statements which have been recently published as to the shameful desecration of this resting place of the dead. " God's Acre" was the name piously given by our forefathers to the churchyard where lay in peace the bodies of those whose spirit had gone home to Him. To desecrate this holy spot of "round ; to tear away from it the sacred associations that ought to attach to it; is not only to violate the feelings of those who mourn their loved aud lost ones, but to con> mit impiety against God himself by treating as " common clay" those who were made by him iv his image. We hope there will be a large attendance at the meeting this afternoon, and that such resolutions will be adopted as may induce the Government at once to put an end to what has become a public scandal.

We arc indebted to the courtesy of Messrs Spence Brothers and Co. for files of Melbourne papers to the 25th ult. The Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Hobson's Bay on the 24th November, aud was to make his public entrj into Melbourne on the following day. We publish elsewhere an account of his "maritime reception^" from which it will be seen that the programme of tho Reception Committee failed to be carried out in its completeness, and what might have been a very impressive demonstration was, to a gi*eat extent, spoiled. Either this, or the reporter we quote does not do justice to the occasion. The Duke's reception in Melbourne promised to be on a very magnificent scale. Owing to the pressure of intercolonial news we have to hold over much shipping and other local matter.

We ask tho attention of Westland minors to the latest account of the Queensland Goldfields, published in another column.

The Committeo for the Christmas Sports are making active preparations in order that they shall come off with spirit. Wo maj mention that the Muuicipal Council has granted permission for tho sports to bo held at tho junction of Weld and Eevell streets.

Wo understand that the members of the Caxton Amateur Dramatic Club will make their first appearance iv public on Saturday week, at the Prince of Wales Opera Hou3o We hear that tho pieces selected are " Tho School for Scandal," aud " Deaf as a Po3t."

The adjourned meeting of the Westland Board of Education will bo held this evening in the Supreme Court House.

"We perceive that preparations are being made for erecting an iron and brass foundry and cnginoers' workshops on Gibson's Quay, opposite tho offices of the Hokitika and Kanicri Tramway Company. This establishment, when finished, will be a great convenience for tho repair of machinery, not only in Hokitika but also in the mining districts.

Tho weather has undergone a most agreeablo change. Saturday and yesterday were glorious days, and tho citizons of Hokitika took full advantage of the finonoss of the weather to thoroughly enjoy themselves in the open air. Tho trains on the Hokitika and Grreymouth, tho IlauHau, aud the Hokitika and Kanicri Tramways took out largo numbers of passengers.

Tho informations laid by tho Inspector of "Weights and Measures against persons foiling unstamped weights and measures will be heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning.

As Cobb and Co.'s coach was crossing tho Waimea Creek, on Friday, on its rotnrn from Greymouth, the horses suddenly stuck in a quicksand. The driver, Mr "White, assisted by the passengers, instantly proceeded to release the animals. They were successful in rescuing three of them, but the fourth horse was swept by the current into the sea and drowned. The conch was got out of the creek, and came into Hokitika with throe horses.

A now branch of industry, viz., shingle splitting, is about to be established on the Hau Hau Tramway by tho lessee, Mr J. C. Kellock.

Cobb and Co.'s conch arrived from Christchurch at 10.15 on Saturday night, with tho following passengers all through : — Messrs Murdoek, Haunoford, Finch, Misses Annie and Helen Carroll, and two wo; side passengevs. Mr Shepherd, tho drivor, reports that tho lato floods have changed the course of most of tho rivers.

On Wednesday cvoning, readings from Scotch authors, in prose and pootry, will bo given in tho Supremo Court House, by Mr Mark Sprot, in aid of the Presbyterian Church Building Fund.

Wo were glad to sco a good house at the Prince of Wales Opera House, on Saturday evening, on the occasion of the opening of ttye

now season, and, judging from the success which attended the opening night, wo trust that neither the public nor Mr Bartlett will have any reason to complain of the season at its close. The entertainment commenced with. "The Courier of Lyons," iv vrluch My Jolra Dunn, as Choppard, and Mr Bartlett as Lestirquet, and Dubosc, ably sustained their parts, and woro well supported by the Company. In fact, the piece went very smoothly. The farce, "My Turn Next," concluded the evening's entertainment, and in this Mr JohnDunn,a3 Taraxicum Twit' ters, literally convulsed the audience with laughter. This evening " Lavater the Physiognomist" will bo presented, Mr Bartletfc appearing as Lavater, one of his best impersonations. This will be followed by " A Regular Fix," and the whole will conclude with "My Turn Next." During the evening His "Worship the Mayor will present Mr v Bartlett with the proceeds of a benefit given to him during his absence in Melbourne. The following is the Eeturu of Weld Street Gaol, for fcho week ended 7th December, 18G7. Remaining last week, 25 males to hard labor; since admitted, 3; total 28. Discharged 7. Romaining 21. Of the 7 discharged, 4 belonged to the upper gaol, and were transferred there previous to being discharged. Return of Cattle and Sheep driven past Rangiriri Police Camp, on their road to Hokitika, during the fortnight ended the 4th December, 1867 — Cattle, 330 ; sheep, 570. Mr Frederick Dick requests us to state that he is not the person stated in Saturday's evening paper to have been fined 20s, for assault. It will be scon by our report that the name of the man fined for being drunk and disorderly was John Dix.