West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 690, 10 December 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1867.

The crusade made against certain shopkeepers and publicans by the new Inspector of Weights and Measures, will stand on record as one of the most amusing episodes in our local history, A large number of the most respectable tradesmen in town have been brought before the Resident Magistrate — for what ? — for selling by false measure ? Nothing of the kind, but for having in their possession certain reputed measures, either unrecognised by law, or unstamped under the provisions of the new Act. Some hotelkeepers in town are in the habit of indulging their customers, in their fancy for drinking their ale or porter out of a pewter instead of a glass. These pewters are not pretended or supposed to be "measures," any more than the chrystal vessel in which a glass of ale is drawn is a legal measure of quantity. Butchers have been in the habit of weighing the carcases they buy, in order to check the salesman's estimate of weight, by steelyards and spring-balances. Messrs Cobb and Co. were hauled up for having a spring-weight. Drapers were summoned, not for using, but for having iv their possession, yard-measures not bearing the New Zealand stamp. The most remarkable feature about the whole thing is, that nobody was accused of cheating, of using false weights or measures, of furnishing to their customers a less quantity of goods than they charged them for. Yet a whole list of names of respectable tradesmen is inserted in informations, and paraded in police court records, as if there was some imputation of fraudulent intent against them. No doubt the provisions of the law, however stringent they may be, must be carried out by the proper officers appointed for that purpose. But we think they might in the first instance, have been carried out in a very different manner, aud that the Inspector in initiating a new and, ! to a great extent, an unknown law, would have exercised a wise discretion if, in visiting business establishments and finding weights and measures, not deficient but merely unstamped, he had given personal notice that unless forwarded to hi 3 office to be stamped within so many days — or even the next day — they would be seized, and informations follow. It is satisfactory to know, that although in a large number of cases the law has been technically broken, the honesty and fair dealing of our tradesmen has not been impugned.

The meeting convened yesterday at the theatre, to promote measures for the prevention ot the future desecration of the Cemetery, fell through because of the insufficiency of the attendance. " A very influentially-signed requisition 'to the Mayor caused the meeting to be convened. But with two or three exceptions the requisicionists did not attend to support its object. There was not a single member present of the educated professions, who account themselves specially to belong to the " influential class." The learned profession of the law was utterly unrepresented. The "humane " profession of medicine sent not a single delegate. The merchant class was conspicuous by its absence. But, what is more than all, not a single clergyman belonging to either of the five churches established in Hokitika, the Church of England, the Presbyterian, the Roman Catholic, the Wesleyan, or the Jewish, cared to give his presence and support to a movement for protecting " God's acre." It was a melancholy sight yesterday to see the empty stage and the sparsely dotted benches of the Theatre. Melancholy indeed to those who have visited the Hokitika Cemetery, and seen the desolation and sacrilege that disgrace it — more melancholy still to those who have their dead lying in it. That business men were away, is a circumstance that admits of some palliatiou. Busily occupied, they may have thought that there were others who would feel it their more special duty to attend to this matter. But that not one of those whose special duty it is to watch the dying soul in its passage to eternity and offer the last tender consolations of religion, should have manifested this indifference to the decencies of the burial ground, is to our mind shocking ! The condition of the Hokitika Cemetery is a matter of public disgrace, . and the scandal will circulate to the discredit of the district through the whole of the colonies. Had the meeting been constituted yesterday, resolutions would have been moved, to the effect that the custody of the Cemetery should be transferred to the Municipal Council, and that a sexton should be appointed at a fixed salary, with a residence within the precincts, who should be required to devote his whole time to the proper maintenance and improvement of the burial-ground, in addition to the discharge of the ordinary duties of sexton. A deputation would also have- been proposed to wait upon the Goldfields Secretary, to press those recommendations upon him. During the past year there have been 152 fuuerals in the cemetery. Of those only twenty-seven have been funerals of paupers. The present sexton of the

Cemetery, who is an undertaker by trade, is paid by fees, and all the fees, we understand, belong to him, with the exception of five shillings paid to an officiating clergyman when he attends. The sexton's 'fees are as follows : — One Pound for every interment, including adults, children and still-born children. Two shillings and sixpence for an inspection of the map to discover the place of a graye — the graves not being numbered on the ground ! Ten shillings for permission (by the sexton) to erect a fence or headstone. One pound for permission to any friend of a man buried as a pauper, to erect a fence round the pauper's grave. There are other heavy incidental fees ; but we fancy we have given enough as a sample of the lot. The sexton will not dig more than two graves in one day. He requires twenty hours' notice to dig a grave. And he will not receive notice after five o'clock on any night. We have not space to enumerate one half of the abuses of the present system of cemetery management. We trust that as the clergy and the public refuse to take any action in the matter, the very sense- of shame will induce the Government to do something to put an end to this scandal.

His Honor Mr Justice Gresson, in his recent charge to the Grand Jury at Christchurch, pointed out that the most noticeable feature in the calendar was the increase of the crime of criminal assaults upon women and children.

We had another very fine day yesterday ; in fact the weather seems to have settled down to be permanently fine.

The return of the Kennedy yesterday morning, with the pleasing intelligence of the safety and well-being of the isolated little Jackson's Bay community, excited a feeling of intense relief," for it was feared that the unfortunates had been reduced to dire straits by starvation. It is true they had undergone great inconvenience aud some suffering, but not to the extent anticipated, small fish and wild fowl being tolerably abundant, whilst fern sprouts and a herb, named "Biddy Biddy " by the diggers, supplied a vegetable diet. For several weeks, however, they ,were utterly destitute of flour aud other necessaries, but at last obtained a small Bupply from Mr Cleve aud his party, who arrived at the Arawata River from Big Bay in a sailing boat, and ascertaining their condition generously left the whole of their scanty stock, and immediately proceeded to Bruce Bay for more. As wo have related elsewhere, the boat was met by the Kennedy, and towed back to Jackson's Bay. The proceedings of the relief party have been related to us as follows, by Captain Turnbull: — The Kennedy reached Jackson's Bay on Saturday night, and next morning at daylight, Messrs Sale, M'Farline, and Captains Turnbull and Carey landed and visited the graves of poor Claude Olivier and Mr Boxhill, who perished and were buried there when exploring the coast some years since. The graves and fencing rouud them wore found in good preservation. The party then proceeded to examine the unfortunate Mr Marsden's tenT, which stood near the graves, but found nothing of value, although they dug up the ground in and around the tent to the depth of eighteen inches. They then returned to the Kennedy, which got under weigh, and steamed five miles north, to a point opposite the diggers' settlement, which is situated about two miles north of the Arawata river. A landing was effected without difficulty, the sea being quite smooth, Only Mr and Mrs Howard and their children and a man named Freshwater were found there, the five diggers who were mentioned by Mr Friend and his mates having left overland for Bruce Bay a few days previously. The meeting was a very joyful one on the part of the Howards and their companion, Mrs Howard especially being quite overpowered by the kind consideration of the ladies who sent down a much needed supply of clothing for herself and children. She desires to return them her grateful thanks. The Howards purchased about LSO worth of goods from Mr M'Farline, paying for them in gold dust. They were, however, very reticent concerning their earnings, merely stating that moderate wages could be obtained there, but refused to leave the place, notwithstanding that a free passage was offered them in the Kennedy. The workings arc shallow and confined to the beach and terraces adjoining it. Two of Mr Clove's party decided to remain there an d try their tuck, the others returned with tho Kennedy. Before leaving Arawata Mr Sale and party examined the river, which is described as having two outlets, separated by a sand bank. The last resting places of Buggy and Friend, who, together with Marsden, were drowned on the 19th ult., were pointed out to Mr Sale by Howard. The body of Mara don hod not been recovered.

There was another very fair house at the Prince of Walos Opera House last evening, when Planches comic drama of " Lavater, the Physiognomist," was presented. The part of Lavater was admirably impersonated by Mr Bartlett, and Mr John Dunn was very effective as JJetmau. At the conclusion of the play, Mr Bartlett was called before the curtain. After music by the orchestra, the presentation of the proceeds of the benefit given by the amateurs to Mr Bartlett in his absence in Melbourne took place. The curtain rose, and his Worship the Mayor, Mr Lazar, Mr John White, and others, together with Mr Bartlett, were seen upon the stage. The Mayor then advanced to the < front of the stage, and said — Ladies and Gentlemen — I have been requested by the gentlemen amateurs who recently gave a benefit to our esteemed friend Mr Bartlett, during his absence in Melbourne, to present him with the proceeds of that benefit. (Cheers.) I need not remind you that the attendance on that occasion was very large, a circumstance which I have no doubt; must be, to a great extont, attributed to the fact that a number of gentlemen 'amateurs came forward who possessed the^ power of making a dramatic entertainment attractive, but I believe still more to the respect — and I may add the sympathy — fell by a large portion of the public for Mr Bartlett in his endeavors to provide for the amusement of the public. (Cheers). I must say that Ido uot think Mr Bartlett has received tho amount of support to which his enterprise has entitled him. No ono can know better than myself the trouble and anxiety of maintaining a large establishment. There is a great deal to be said in favor of supporting a theatre in this

town. Here there is scarcely any amusement of an intellectual or rational character, and I j certainly do think that the theatre, as one of those means, ought to be supported. (Cheers). There are many in this community who can well afford to encourage an amusement of this kind, and I certainly think they ought to afford Mr Bartlett a chance of shewing what he can do in providing a firstclass entertainment. (Cheers.) Mr Bartlett, in the name of the amateurs I have great pleasure in presenting you with this cheque, and I wish you every Buccess in your undertaking. (Loud cheers.) Mr Bartlett on receiving the cheque, said — Mr Shaw, for the trouble you have taken in coming here to present me with this, I beg to return you my sincere thankß. I also return my sincere thanks to the amateurs for the trouble they have taken, and to the public for visiting the theatre in my absence. (Cheers.) And now ladies and gentlemen, I want to have a little talk with you and I am sorry to tell you that it is not on a very pleasant subject. The fact is that since February last I have lost Ll7OO, and I wish to try and see whether I cannot get back some of this money. I have put in circulation upwards of L 40.000 in HoMtika. I went to Melbourne to endeavour to get first-class talent but when I tell you that such actor* as Madame Celeste, Mr J. Anderson, and Mr Montgomery wanted half the receipts of the House, you will fc readily perceive that it is impossible I can bring such, stars to Hokitika. However, I have engaged the best talent I could. I have engaged Misg Juno, who will be here in a few days ; the Nathan Troupe will shortly appear, and the Lyster Opera Troupe will be here in March. (Cheers.) I must tell you that I am not afraid of Hokitika, I believe in it, even before Melbourne, and will stick to it as long as I can, and I will tell you that I will do all hi my power to gratify you. (Loud cheers.) The curtain then fell. The farce of "A Regular Fix" was next played, and "My Turn Next," which concluded the evening's entertainment, elicited shouts of laughter.

We hear that in connexion with the HoH« tika Annual Races, it is contemplated this year to hold a Eace Ball at the Prince of Wales Opera House.