West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 28,1868.

West Coast Times, Issue 732, 28 January 1868, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1868.

A memorial to the Mayor and Town Council is iv course of signature, asking them to reconsider their resolution ia favor of the adoption of the New Municipal Corporations Act, aud to protect tho right of the Citizens to elect their own Mayor, to preserves tho system of vote by ballot, and to discard cumulative voting. The observance of Wellington time came into force yesterday at tho Electric Telegraph Office, aud tho Post Oflieo. It places tho new Hokitiku time some twonty minutes iv advance of tho old — a fact which persons sending tolograms or postiug letters, will do well to remember. We understand that Mr Hall intends leaving town for Christchurch, on Friday morning, but that he will return by the Coach from Chirstchurch on Tuesday, and will, therefore, be back in Hokitika on tho following day. Mr M'Eldon, who had announced hini3elf a candidate for tho Gtoldfiolds, has intimated his withdrawal from the contest. *No new candidates have announced themselves Binco our last, either* for Hokitika or for the district. The sitting of the Supremo Court, under the Debtors and Creditors Act, held yesterday, was wholly occupied by the examination of a witness in tho case of Burko and M'Hugh, a full report of which we now publish. The Court will sit again this morning at eleven o'clock. A sitting in Bankruptcy of tho Westland District Court was held yesterday, when William Higgins was declared insolvent on tho petition of James Holmes, and an order was given directing David Kelly to pay into the Court the sum of L 67 10s, there to await the order of the Court. Tho following is a return of the state of Hokitika Gaol for tho woek onded 25th January, 1868 :— Mules : For trial, 2 ; penal aervitudo, 5 ; hard-labor, 38 ; imprisonment, 2 ; default of bail, 1 ; debtors, 8 ; on remand, 1. Total, 56. Females : Hard-labor, 6 ; iuiprißontuent, 1. Total, 7. Received during

the wcok, 1- ; discharged, 4. Of the 38 males sentenced to hard-labor, 2 are oraploycd at tho Police-barracks.

In tho Magistrate's Court, Ross, the Nathan Troupe figured on Saturday as plaintiffs' in an action for damages against Mr Muce, of tho North Spit. Mr South appeared for defendant. Mr Nathan showed by evidence that ho agreed with defendant for an express conveyance for his goods to Ross, and that they were carried with other goods, and on tho passage saturated with water, as he contended by carelessness, and damaged to the extent of L 97. Some of the goods were shown in Court, and seemed to have been rendered useless. Mr South claimed a nonsuit as the plaintiff had not proved carelessness, and even if ho had there was no evidence of damage to the amount 1 " claimed, or that tho trifling damage shown was done by his client. The Magistrate decided to proceed with .the case, when evidence was brought that tho driver was a steady careful man, and at the time of the mishap was at the head of tho shaft horse, thcro being three other horses ahead; that the leaders did not keep up sufficiently on tho high side of the track, and tho dray slipped sideways down to the water, where the ground being soft tho lower wheel sank and the dray capsized. It was extracted in cross-examination that the same four horse 8 had ran away on former occasions. Judgment was reserved. Iv two similar cases brought by members of the Troupe, Mr South claimed a nonsuit, as his client had no contract with plaintiffs or knowledge that they had goods off the dray.

The Nathau Troupe have so charmod tho people of Ross that they have been tempted to prolong their stay. Little Marion as Andy Blake carries the audience with her completely, and is thoroughly well supported by the wholo company. Mr Nathau with great liberality has promised a performance in aid of the Hospital.

Messrs Barff and Hoss addressed tho olectors at Donoghue's on Friday, and had votes of confidence recorded, and a Committee wa3 appointed to obtain their election.

Ross bids fair to shortly resume, aud cvon exceed its old prosperity. On Saturday a very important drainage work was completed at Douoghue's ; this consists of an overshot wator-wheel 30ffc. diameter," which works a double-action pump ; it has been erected by two co-operativo companies, who have combined for drainage purposes, and by their now work, which has cost LI3OO, inclusive of the race to supply the wheel, they will drain about 15 acres of ground, proved to be as rich as any yet opened. The wheel was christened on Saturday with great speechify* ing and profusion of refreshment, the water was ihen turned on, and the pump appeared to work perfectly. Adjoining these claims tho Alexandra Company are again making a stir, alter an unaccountable torpor of three months. This company will bring 10 acres of ground into work, aud it is to be hoped, add considerably to the yield of the district. Nearer tho town Druvy and party are erecting a puddling machine, which is the first in the district. Several parties in the terraces are making ready for sluicing, and in about a fortnight the Amalgamated Raco Company will ha\ c their large aqueduct completed, and give profitable employment to a large number. In Jones' most of the whims aro at work, but tho steam-companies will delay a few days longer. The two large drainage works, completed at the public cost, have proved most beneficial, and will enable tho flat to be worked to much greater ■cdvantagethan before. ,On the beach two lurgc parties are making wages by washing the sand; the gold is a beautiful sample.

We perceive by advertisement that the Golden Age Hotel has changed landlords, the present proprietor being Mr William WoodTho restaurant is rented by Mr J. Rider, who has long been known as a successful caterer for the public, both here and in Victoria. A new feature is about to be introduced into this department, so that a meal may be obtained from one shilling upwards — as it suits the taste or pocket of the customer. Tho bedrooms are well ventilated and newly furnished, and every effort is promised by tho proprietor to promote the comforb and convenience of tho guests.

On Friday last, a miner named John Kae was cleaning a cement- crushing machine, when his hand became entangled amongst the cogs, which crushed two of his fingers completely,' aud the others slightly, bosidos inflicting several lacerated wounds on tho hand. Tho sufferer was admitted some hours afterwards into tho Hospilul, and on Saturday, tho patient being placed under chloroform, two of his fingers were amputed by Dr Ryloy, assisted by Drs Young and Berndt. It is expected that the remaining portion of the hand will bo saved.

Although the Miuing Regulations have been gazetted a few days only, Wcsthind 13 already reaping a considerable benefit from the incressed facilities aflbrded uuder tho new rules for developing the resources of tho country. It has been brought under our notice that the clause in tho G-cncral Rogulations relating to Tramways has boon taken advantage of by a party of men at Piper's Flat, who have applied for protection to a tramway to connect that district with the Arahura, This, ifc appears to us, is a step in the right direction, and we congratulate the mining population upon having ono piece of red tapeiam removed from their path.

The examination of the miner, James Douglas, who stands charged with the murder of hia mate, Hugh Carmichael, was held yesterday at the Waimea Police-court, and resulted in the committal of tho prisoner for trial upon very conclusive evidence. The grand drama of " The Flying Jib" was repeated at the Prince of Wales Theatre last night to a good honso. It is to be re-pro-duced to-night, when the performance will be under the special patronage of the Hon. John Hall.

Wo have already extracted from tbo Ilobart Town papci'3 an account of tho arrival of the Galatea in tho Derwent. Our Tasnmnian files supply us with further items of news respecting His Eoyal Highneas's movements in Tasmania :—": — " On Tuesday at noon the official landing took place, and in tho ovening the city was illuminated. Some 10,000 or 12,000 persons witnessed the debarkation. A torchlight procession of boats took place on tho river in the evening. His Royal Highness was sorenadod, and with fine effect, the only drawback being tho accidental explosion of a box of rockets and other fireworks on board the steamer Twins, which did some little damage to the decks of tho vessel, and frightened the lady paaaengers very

severely, the drosses of several of them having caught fire. On Wednesday the Duke laid the foundation stone of the Cathedaal, and on Thursday abot 500 persons attended the levee. The regatta- took place in the aftornoon, though tho weather was unsettled, and a local crew succeeded in beating ono composed of the Galatea's men. On Friday the Duke went up tho river in the steam barge, and lunched with Dr Offiser, afterwards visiting the salmon ponds. In returning the Duke drove the stage coach four-in-hand in good style. On Saturday night the city was to bo illuminated, and there was to be a cricket match, North and South. On Monday ho would visit the hon. Mr Kermode, M.L.C., at Mona Vale, and on Tuesday he would visit Launceslon, returning to Hobart Town on the lGth. He would attend a farewell ball on the 17th, and sail for Sydney on the 18th instant."