West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11,1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 691, 11 December 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1867.

The Census of the Colony of New Zealand is to be taken on the 20th December inst., viz., on Friday week next. The blank forms of returns to be filled up have been distributed iv town, and are in course of being distributed through tho country districts. We very, much fear, however, that many parts of the country will not be reached by the sub-enumerators employed, in time to enabie tho returns to be filled up on tho day named in the Act. The directions printed on tho forms are to the effect that tho paper will be called for on the 20th December, "or as esoon after as practicable." But of course the completeness of tho return will be impaired, in case the papers are wot filled up throughout the district on the same day. At all events, however, we shall obtaiu an approximately closo return of the population of Westland, on or about the 20th December. This will bo sufficient I to settle the long agitated question of I the population of the district, which has been estimated variously at from •20,000 to 50,000 people. * So long back as the sixth November, 1866, Mr Bright moved in the Provincial Council, for " an approximate return of the gross population of Westland on or about some given day within the month, showing the number, distribution, and occupations of the people," and pointed out that the same police machinery that is now being employed for the purpose by the Government, might furnish the figures with practical accuracy, with little trouble or cost. The Provincial Secretary assented, and promised that the motion should have effect given to it without delay. But like other motions blandly assented to, it never resulted in any practical fruit. Had it been carried oub, there would have bp.en a much more certain basis on which to have founded recent arguments on behalf of the political independence of the district.

The Act passed during the last session, renders the filling up of the Census return papers compulsory, under heavy penalties, both for failure and for wilful incorrectness. We purpose, therefore, briefly to supplement the official directions by such explanations us may. facilitate the task of the persons on whom the duty of filling up the papers devolves. The penalty for wilfully refusing or neglecting *o fill up, sign, and deliver the form,

or for refusing to answer the enquiries of the sub-enumerator, or for making any ialse return, is a fine not exceeding twenty pounds. On the other hand, a heavy penalty is imposed on any person officially employed in collecting these returns— for divulging them, the information being collected, not for the gratification of private curiosity, but simply for the compilation of statistical returns and accounts.

The particular point on which sensitiveness is usually displayed by the inmates of a household, .on being asked by its head for the necessary information to enable him to fill up a census paper, is that of age. In the present instance the enquiries to be put are sufficiently vague. There aro eight columns devoted to the classification of age. The first three are, under 5 years; five and under 10; ten and under 15. The first testing question comes under the column headed — above 15 and under 21. We trust, however, that our blooming damsels will have the courage to answer truly whether they are under 21 or above it. We confess that the temptation may be a very strong one in certain cases, to mystify the memory somewhat as to the exact natal year, especially where it is so difficult to refresh it by an appeal to parish registers and family bibles — for there is no classification for ages between 21 and 40, so that young ladies who have passed but a single year beyond their teens are liable to be confounded in a common mass with ladies of " uacertaiu age." But then on the other hand the sex has its consolation, Mature 39 will not blush at confessing to have passed 21, and the census record will only roveal so much. Gentlemeu, too, in v the prime of lifo' 1 have a liberal latitude allowed them, no distinction being made between 40 and 55. The other ago columns are 55 and under 65, and 05 and upwards. No provision, is made for the record of extreme old age, 65 being a young limit in the case of healthy men-

A column is of course set apart for a statement of Rank. Profession, or Usiril occupation ; another column for the Place of Birth, in which the particulars to be notified arc the country or colony (not the town or parish), and the fact of being a British subject by parentage or by naturalisation, in tho case of persons born in foreign parts or at sea. Thus, a German resident in Hokitika may, as the circumstance dictate, enter against his name " Germany" only — or some country of Germany — " British subject by parentage" — or " Germany, British subject by naturalisation." The Religious-denomination column requires the name of the particular denomination to be entered ; not such vague entries merely as " Catholic" and " Protestant ;" and in the case of children — however young — the religion iv which they are intended to be brought up. Under the head of Education, the three distinctions are to be observed, of being able to "read and write," to "read only," and not to read at all. Under this head a member of any university may state the fact, and name his university. A separate column is provided for the record of persons " deaf and dumb" and " blind."

Each census-paper is to toll the story of a separate house or habitation. ; and the head of the household is to state whether his tenement is of wood, stone, brick, or other materials. The " other materials" would, of course, include the tents which are the abodes of so many thousands of miners. The number of rooms, including the kitchen, has also to be stated. The remaining particulars refer to the sex of the person named in the paper, his or her condition — whether married, unmarried, widower, or widow — and the relation borne by each to the head of the house — whether wife, &on, daughter, or other relative, visitor, lodger, or servant.

These uiaj' be called the personal statistics which it is proposed to collect. There is an appendix to the papers provlding for agricultural and live-stock returns to which wo shall tako another occasion of referring. We think that, an extensive* machinery being called iuto play for taking the Census of the Colony, tho enquiry into its vital statistics, and tho indus- ; trial' and social condition of the people, ■ might have been very much more comprehensive. Some interesting political statistics, for instance, might have been gathered, showing the extent to which tho elective franchise existed, and the extent to which it had been u<sed, As it is, however, a very large amount of valuable information will be collected, and wo trust the people will endeavor to mulce it as complete as possible by fullness and precision of statement.

Wo hare to express our extreme regret that by some wholly unaccountable blunder on the pait of one of our compositors tho name of " Richard Reeves" was inserted in our yesterday's report 'of Resident Magistrate's Court proceedings, and that tho " reader" failed to detect tho error in passing the proof. We can only account for the mistake of the compositor by the probable circumstance that the name of " Richard Reeves" was mentioned in the composing room in connection with some advertisement, and that the printer's ear ■■aught tho sound and he carelessly put it into type. Certainly tho name was not^in our reporter's copy. The circuinstanco ia one well calculated to cause some annoyance to Mr R. Reeves, to whom wo sinceroly apologise, offering at the same timo tho only explanation of the mistake that we can conjechuv.

Our advertising columns notify that during the Christmas festivities Mr T. R. Procter has determined to dispose of his present large stock on the principle of tho Art Union of London. Thoro will bo 250 prizes of the aggregate value of LIOOO. Tho first prize is a house and knd valued at L3OO. One thousand tickols, at LI each, are for sale.

There is yot considerable excitement anent tho reported now diggings up tho Kanieri river, and many parties aro still out searohing for them, The latest on, dit respecting the rumored find, is to tho effect that one of the prospectors has again visited Kanieri town, and under the softening iofluoace of the rosy God, made known th» whereabouts of

the locality to a friend, who accompanied by his mate — both being loaded with provisioni and tools — left tho Kanieri yesterday morning. Wo thoroughly believe that new ground has been discovered. Rumors are current of a rush about five miles from Lagoon Tovra, between tho Hokitika and Totara.

Tho criminal sittings of the Westland District Court commenced yestorday morning, beforo his Honor Judge Clarke. Two cases wore disposed of, tie., that of Emma Webb, who was convicted of stealing a LI n oto, the proporty of Mr Rawliugs, and was sentenced to ono month's imprisonment ; and throo men, named Robert Brewer, Alfred Munton, and William Buttlj, were acquitted on two indictments charging thorn with stealing certain articles which had beon left on Welshman's Terrace. They were discharged, but as soon a^ Munton left tho Court he was arrested on a charge of stealing a pair ot boots at Greymouth. The Court will ro-opon this morning at elevon o'clock, for the triul of civil cases.

Mr Hanson, of tho Post Office Hotel, will givo a select ball to-morrow evening, in the spacious ball-room belonging to the hotel, which will be appropriately decorated for the occasion. An efficient quadrille band will be in attendance, and we believo that a lai'ge party of guosts will be present.

A comic drama and two farces were very successfully put upon the stage at the Prince of Wales Opera House last evening. "Toodles" was tho first presented, iv which Mr John Dunn, as Timothy Toodles, drew forth roar* of laughter from all parts of the house. Maddison Morton's farce of "A Regular Fix" afforded Mr Bartlott as Eugh de Brass an opportunity of displaying his fine powers as a comediau, and we may add that he was wellsupported by the company, who evidently feel more at homo on tho stage of tho Prince of Wales Opera House. The "Two Bonnycastles" concluded tho entertainmout. The scoaio offeol/9 at this theatre are beautifully managed, and reflect great crodit upoa the artist, Mr Wilson. The music also led by Mr Eigenschonck is of a high character, aud when Mis 3 Jnno and Mr Stuart O'Briea arrive, aud tho Nathan Troupe commence their performances, the company at tho Prince of Wales will be the largest and moat complete of any in Now Zeal and.

Wo understand that steps are being takon for the formation of a brass band in Hokitika.

Mr A. J. Soloman, of Rorell street, requests us to state that ho is not tho person, who under the name of Alfred Soloman was indictod for assault on a bailiff, in the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday.

Tub metal sodium that has already commeuced and is destined to complete ere long a wondrous revolution in gold-extracting process is scarcely receiving that attention it merits, ns one of the most important and powerful agents ever called in to aid tb» miaor. This howover is, ire believe, less the 'effect of indifferenco than of ignoranct touching the properties of tho metal $ for in Westland at least the several practical experiments it has been submitted to have resulted iv greater or less failures, which we dare say have excited a slight prejudice against itOur readers, howover, may rest assured that sodium, if properly applied, ii no loss effectual than innocuous in its action. But it must be remembered that only an alloy of the pure metal is used, as the latter is very powerful, and contains most dangerous properties — esplosivo and otherwise. Somo time ago we published a very interesting artiela upon sodium, its properties and application, extracted from an English paper, and wo now purpos* to report the result of a few simple exporimenta made in our presence by Mr Procter, of this town, with sodium and its alloy, to illustrate their action upon quicksilver. Mr Praetor first cast a small bit of pure sodium into a pan of hot water, the contact of the two being scarcely completed ere the sodium exploded with a report, and emitted a bright flash, a thick smoke, and an overpowering pungent odor. Thrown into cold water & piece of sodium assumes a globular form, moves about rapidly upon the eurface of the liquid, decomposing the while with a hiesiug noise, and throws off a light vapor of peculiar smell. But tho effects are yet more astonishing if a piece of sodium is cast into quicksilver, as a loud report and vivid flash of blue fire takes place tho inomout tho metals touch each other. The above experiments were niado with pieces of sodiuoi cortaiuly not larger than small poas» if used in largo quantities tho effects produced would be something terrific, certainly but little less destructive than those which usually attend tho explosion of gunpowder or gnncolton. Mr Procter then proceeded <o exporinientaliso upon sodiumiiod quicksilver prepared by himself, and we can congratulate him iv having achieved a great success in producing a most serviceable and powerful amalgam. He first look a samplo of gold, dirty, and thickly coated with oxide of iron, and submitted it to tho action of pure quicksilver in a mortar. No amalgamation took plaeo, the silver and gold remained separate until the mercury was excited by tiny portions of the amalgam, when it readily seized upon tho gold and collected every particle both fine and coarse. The.operator then tlu-ew two or threo dwts. of bright clear gold into the mortar, and added a portion of very dirtyquicksilver, no effect being percoptible, but at iv tho former case, a piece of sodium amalgam wrought a- magical change, producing perfect amalgamation, a like rosult being obtained when dirty gold and dirty quicksilver were ' mixed, and sodiumizod quicksilver added. Besides producing amalgamation sodium will restore tho lost properties of flowed or 6ickonod mercury. Taking a portion of pure mercury, Mr Proctor mixed it with sulphur in a test tube, and in a very few seconds the mercury lost its cohesive power "and sopnrated iuto a number of minute globules of dirty color, which immediately reunited and recovered tho brilliant hue of quicksilver when doctored by tho never-failing amalgam. Quicksilver was then thoroughly sickened by mixing it with carbonate of iron and weak gum water,thereby reducing it to tho appearanco of dirty scum. To cloanse it this time a larger piece of sodium was required — tho effecthoweverbeingprecisely tho same, tho quicksilver recovering its former condition of offectivo brightness. One of tho most striking effects of the power of sodiumized quicksilvor is tho ready manner in which it amalgamates with the baser raotala, as a knife dippod into morcilry so prepared is immediately coatod with the silver, which it retains for a considerable length of time. We spent a very pleasant half hour in Mr Procter's laboratory, and sincerely hop© that the efforts he is now making to advance the interests of the diggers may be attended by entire success. ■.