The West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1868. •

West Coast Times, Issue 828, 19 May 1868, Page 2

The West Coast Times. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1868. •

Our report of proceedings in the Supreme Court, yesterday, is in one particular imperfect. Wo are obliged to omit the article from tlio " Celt " newspaper which was read by the Attorney-General. Our own office file of the " Celt " is impounded in Court, and every endeavor to obtain a ' copy of the number quoted from has failed.

Great credit is due to Mr FitzGerald, the Sheriff, for the admirable arrangements by which the Court House, yesterday was kept from being crowded to an inconvenient extent. Every seat was filled, and a good deal of standing-room found occupation ; but the persons excluded quietly put up with their disappointment, and there was nothing like a rush to any part of tho Court House during the day.

The first volunteer company mustered for drill last evening threo quarters of an hour earlier than usual in order that those members who were inclined to patronise the Carandini performances might get through their exercises before tho commencement of the concert, eight o'clock. Between forty and fifty file fell into line, and a short, but owing to the state of the ground, an unsatisfactory drill followed. It really is high time that steps were taken to provide a proper drill ground for tho volunteers, their future efficiency depends upon it. Tho performances last evening at the Princess Theatre (late City) wore very successful, aud were witnessed by v. numerous and appreciative audienco. Tho first part opened with a glee, " Allegiauco we Swear" (Bisho>p), by Miss Rebecca Jones, and Messrs Howson, Skinner, aud West. It is a beautiful composition, and was very carefully rendered, Miss Jones in particular appeared to bo in excellent voice. The several parts went very well together, inakiug excellent music, and the piece at its conclusion was received with many manifestations of approval ; as also was Miss Jones's song, " The Blind Girl to her Harp," a pretty, plaintive melody, sung with great expression. On this occasion, Mr and Mrs J. L. Hall, assisted by a numerous company, appeared in the musical drama of "The Rose of Castile," Mrs Hall as Elvira, and Mr Hall as Manuel, a muleteer. Irrespective of the performance itself, which is one full of incident, and of uncommon interest, thcro are a number of concerted musical pieces, which, introduced frc<n time to time during tho performance of the drama, tend to the production of a most agreeable entertainment. It was very successful, and was vociferously applauded, the whole of the company being unanimously called before the curtain. The concluding piece was the musical farce of "My Son Diana," during the performance of which Mr and Mrs Hall sang " The Musical Lesson," a very laughable production. The same programme will be repeated this evening.

It will be seen that the stewards of the Westlaud Jockey Club are requested to meet this evening, at eight o'clock, at the British Empire Hotel, for the purpose of dealing with matters of moment relating to the ensuing Queen's Birthday Races.

It is notified iv our other columns that a meeting of the Westland Board of Education will bo held at tho office of the County Secretary, Hokitika, on Thursday evening nffxt, the 21st instant, at half-past seven o'clock.

Mining about Arthur's Town and in the Maori Reserve, on the south side of the Hokitika rirer, wears a very healthy look ; the works which wo in a former issue mentioned had commenced there being in a forward state, and, according as the height of the river fluctuates, will advance with greater or leas rapidity towards perfection. Wo havo not yet had un opportunity of inspecting the work, but are given to understand the long tunnel the Enterprise Company arc driving, for tho purpose of connecting another creek witli their head race, is quite through and answers admirably. In tho Maori Reserve, Royan and party are fast gel,ting their six-aero lease of old ground into working order. They are taking up a tail race from the river at low water level, aud expect to reach tho point whero they will commence opening out a faoo by the end of this week. A lino of large sluice boxes* is to be laid along tho race, and as much as possible of the surface and top stuff will be removed and sluiced through them into tho river by tlio hydraulic process. From water level downwards the gravel will of course havo to bo lifted by hand and tho water pumped out. We are glad to hear that the Maori Reserve Company's speculation is discovering strong vitality under the leadership of Mr John Lynch, who has been appointed manager, vice Mr Royan, resigned. A great many scrip have been disposed of during the past week, and active preparations are likely to be resumed in a day or two. We hope to see this most promising spesulation prosper.

On Monday Mr G. W. Binney sold, at Ross, the Dunstnn Hotel, to Mr F. Moran, for L 13 0; the furniture was sold afterwards in detail. On the same day he sold, on behalf of creditors, the Jones' Flat Hotel, including furnituro ; the price in this instance was L 175, Messrs Cuming and M'Kay being the fortunate buyers.

The coach for the Grey left Hokitika yesterday morning at ton o'clock, with tho following through passengers : — Mr Wittkowski, Miss Cowpcr, Miss Naire, and Miss Brogan. The return conveyance arrived iv town at three o'clock in the afternoon, bringing us through passengers — Mr Storch, constable O'Malley, Mr Levoi, Miss Hurler, Miss Williams, and Miss Taylor.

The Westland Light Horse, under the command of Captain Carey, met for drill last

night at eight o'clock, at Mr Cozon's store, Wharf street. Tlio instrKctor, Serguant Wilson, put the members of tho corps through tho usual drill exercise, which was performed, with great skill aud precision, close attention being paid to the word of command. The corps meet again for exercise next Wednesday, same time and place. '

One of tho best entertainments wo ever attended in Hokilika, was given last night by the Carandinis at Hanson's Assembly-room, the occasion behig the benefit of — well we must call her so— tho charming and talented and fan* Rosina ? Carandini. And well did her friends and admirers (the latter not a few) rally round her, al was evidenced by a house filled- to overflowing by a delighted and enthusiastic audience, of whom tho greater proportion represented the very elite of the community. The performance was advertised as being under the patronage cf the Volunteersand wo certainly noticed a great many of our citizen soldiers in the room ; they, however, were very far from predominating, or at least were not recognisable in plain clothes. Our notice of the performance must of necessity bo short, -in consequence of a heavy pressure of other matter, and we shall, therefore, confine our remarks to a mere summary of what took place. The opening piece " Semiramido's " magni Scent overture was played as a duet by the Misses Carandini, and their power as finished musicians, was never displayed to greater advantage. They also appeared together in the sweet song "Soft fell the Dews of tho Summer Night," the response to Uie encore that followed, being a very pretty melody of " I Would that My Love." Again Miss Rosina charmed her hearers by singing " I'll Watch for Thee," which is a song peculiary suited to her voice and expression. She also gave the plaintive ballad of " I Cannot Mind my Wheel, Mother," and then — as an encore — put the question, " Would'nt you Like to Know?" to her hearers, in a piquant little production that lost nothing in her hands. Her rendering of tho fantasia, "Le3 Hirondelles,'' ou tho pianoforte, proved a masterly piece of instrumentation. The power and compass of Miss Fannio's rare contralto voice was fully manfested when she vocalised v the "L'Ardila" valse, and, also, in the songs of tho " Lady of the Lea," "Love's Request," and " Milly's Faith." Tho grand, seena, " Fly Henco each Idlo Fear," was beautifully given by Madame Carandini, who also sang "Auld Robin Gray" with touching effect. Mr Sherwin's " Here's a health to Bonnie Scotland" was deservedly well received. The performance concluded with the sparkling little duct "Beware, trust her not," sung by Misses Rosina and Fannie. The drawing by art union of tho two shares in the Morning Star Mining Company, Ross, has, we perceive, been postponed, and definitively fixed for Saturday, 23rd inst.

It will bo seen that the complimentary benefit to Mr J. J. Bartlett, announced for performance on Thursday next, is unavoidably postponed until Wednesday, the 27th inst.

In tho adjourned trial of the seven prisoners charged with unlawful assembly, wo believe tliere are some seven witnesses to be examined for the Crown. It is not probable, thereforo, that the address of counsel, in opening the case for the defence, will commence before noon to-day.

The members of the Hokitika Fire Brigade Volunteers will meet for drill this evening, at eight o'clock, under the instruction of Sergeant Wilson. There seems to be some difficulty in getting the men together for weekly drill. The attendance this evening will decide whether the corps, for the future, will have tho advantage of Sergeant Wilson's services twice or four times in the mouth. If the corps desire efficiency in out-of-door drill, tlipy will prove it by their attendance this evening. It is to be hoped that, for the sake of the future standing of the corps, they will muster in force.

We take the following from yesterday evening's " Despatch" : —

The official return of the numbers voting in the recent ejection for Westland South, was announced by the Returning Officer, at the Warden's Court, Hokitikn, at noon- to-day. Number voting for Mr Barff, 355; for Mr Button, 332 ; leaving a majority in favor of Mr Barff of 23. Mr Barff was therefore declared to be duly elected. There were no electors present, tind the proceedings were of a very quiet and undemonstrative description.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, Samuel Thomas, John Bradley, and Henry West, for drunkenness, were fined 10s, with the usunl alternative. Jane Swords, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined LI. She was find in tlio further sum of LI for using obscono language in a public place. James Walsh pleaded guilty to stealing an oil skin coat, valued at 15s 6d, tho property of Thomas Johnston, and was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment.

Tho hopes of favorable change in the port's entrance, excited by the late rain-full, wore doomed to disappointment, as, contrary to expectation, tho rise in the river was too slight to make any impression upon the stubborn South Spit. Tho bar, thereforo, contiuues wretchedly impassable, and, in consequence, noither of tho harbor steamers attempted to leave tho river to bring in tho schooner Dancing Wave, which arrived outside last night. She is still sonio distance to tho northward, but within easy reach of the tugs, when the bar opens a little. The same cause prevents tho brigantino Zephyr's departure.

The following is the general return of prisoners confined in the County Gaol, Hokitika, for the week ending May 16th, 1868 :— Penal servitude — males, 6 ; hard labor — males, 4 ; females, 5 (six of this number are employed at the lower gaol) ; default of bail — males, 1 ; females, 2; default of fine— males, 2. Debtors — males, 8 ; females, 1. Remand — males, 2. Total — males, 66 ; females, 8. Received during tho week, 5 ; discharged, 8.