West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1868.

West Coast Times, Issue 754, 22 February 1868, Page 2

West Coast Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1868.

The County Council met yesterd.iy at noon. After the presentation of two petitions by Mr Baiikf, Mr Habbison moved that the Council do now go into Committee on the Estimates. The motion was seconded by Mr Hoos and passed. Tho remainder of the silting was spent in considering the estimates in Committee. At 6 o'clock the Chairman reported progress, and, the Council adjourned to 7 p.m. on Monday.

At the intersection of Weld and Sewell streets several bulky-looking cases may be seen lying on the ground. These contain the several parts of the Dobson memorial obelisk, imported from Melbourne, and awaiting erection. We understand that the work will bo completed in the course of a few days, when the capital of the County of Westland will bo marked by its first monumental stones. The woather still continues very stormy. Tremendous rain and hail storms fell during the whole of Thursday night, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning.. At the time of our writing the same weather continues. There was another full attendance at the City Theatre last night, and the performances went off with their accustomed spirit. The performances of the Varieties Company are nightly increasing in attractiveness. Hits Kate Ryder's Benefit, at tho Prince of Wale 3 Theatre, last night, was fairly attended, and the performances passed off successfully. On this occasion Miss Eloise Juno made her final appearanco in Hokitika. Lord Lyttelton and his son have made a very short stay iv Hokitika, and have not visited any of 6he goldfiolds. They arrived on Wednesday evening,and left yesterday morning on their return to Christchurch. On Thursday evening the Hon. Mr Hall invited a small company to meet Lord Lyttollou at dinner. The Resident Magistrate was yesterday chieQy occupied during a long sitting with the disposal of cases of appeal against the late town assessment. In a large number of cases the appeals were sustained. It will be seen that a requisition has been presented to the Mayor requesting him to call a public meeting of thp ratepayers to consider tho position in which they are placed by the Magistrate's decision, and that his Worship has convened the same to be held at the Prince of Wales Theatre this afternoon, at three o'clock: The further hearing of the appoals against the town assessment will bo hold beforo tho Resident Magistrate to-day. We understand that the Committee of St. Mary's Catholic School are making preparations for the celebration of the festivity of St. Patrick. The banquet will bo given in the new School house — a handsome structure now in course of erection on the Church resorvc. The date and other particulars will bo announced. The usual weekly meeting of the Municipal Council was held last nighr, all the members, excepting Cr Button (absent at Fox's) and Cr Burtlott, beiug prosont. Tho usual open-

ing formula having been complied with, a deputation from tho Hokitika Literary Society waited upon the Couucil with the object of obtaining a suitable silo whereon to erect a building, promised by the Hon. Johu Hall, for tho Society's uses, tho building in question being the once Gold Receiver's and Public Work Office, adjoining tho Brigade Hall. The application was favorably received, the Mayor promising that it should receive early consideration. A letter from Inspector Broliam respecting the removal of cerluin buildings in Ihe old camp reserve ' was referred to the Town Surveyor ; and another from ftfr Sale, t-ettlug forth the necessity of clearing a puMiway al'iiig the East Town Belt, from tho Ho Ho Tramway to j the Eauim Tramway, was referred Io the Public Works Comuiift.p'e. The Mayor then introduced the subject of th^ Tanered ctreu*. ditch miL-ance, and bhitcd that tho residents iv that locality were desirous that a special local rate should bo levied, to cover tho oxpet.se •>f the wo"'i necessary to abate tho nuisance ■no lout; coniplumcd of. His Worship spoke strongly, advocating immediate action, and "stated, on tho authority of the Town Siuvcyor, that the ditch might be covered in lor ihe sum of LIOO. The question was thoroughly discussed, and the Town Clerk was authorised to draw up a proper form of application for the levying of a special rate, and get it signed by the Tanered street residents. The Public Works Committee's Report was read, discussed, and, excepting clause 2, relating to the removal of a house that obstructed the premises of Mr Newton, in North Revell street, and clause 6, which had reference to tho Tanered street nuisance, was adopted. The chief question embraced by the report was that of the town weigh-bridge which Air Neal had offered to erect in Taucred street, on certain conditions. These were approved of by the Public Works Committee and by tho Council last night. A motion by Cr Patorson, relative to the result of tho late appeals against the Corporation assessment of town properties gave rise to a long discussion, which oveutually was postponed to the next woekly meeting of the Council. Tho adjourned dobate upon Cr Boyle's motion upon tho new Municipal Act, 1867, was thou resumed in committee, and led to a long desultory discussion, eventually being lost, and tho followiug amendment by Cr Shaw adopted instead : — That application be made to (ho Government, praying that, under section 390 of the new Act, the clauses of the Act, from two to eight aud from ten to twenty-two, bo extonded and applied to the Municipality of Hokitika. An allusion on the part of Cr Boyle to financial matters drew a proposition from Cr Higgiu that a special meeting of tho Council should be held next Tuesday afternoon, commencing at 3 o'clock, to consider the financial condition of the Corporation. On the motion of Cr Ecclesfield the Town Clerk was authorised to engage an expert to attend the Resident Magistrate's Court for the purpose of watching the interests of the Corporation during tho hearing of the remainder of the appeal cases against assessment that come off to-day. Mr E. W. Jones, house and land agent, was chosen, and in the event of his not being able to uttend, the Town Clerk was instructed to apply to Mr Middleton. The fee was fixed at three guineas. The Council then adjourned until next Tuesday allernoon at three o'clock.