SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

West Coast Times, Issue 838, 30 May 1868, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

We have some additions to the local press to record. Since the publication of our last Summary, a new daily morning paper has been started by Messrs Brown and Kfein, the proprietors of "The Evening Star"— a penny journal — who hare engaged the services and interest of one of the chief executive officers on the West Coast, under whose name and nominal proprietorship "The Observer" has been ushered into existence. Mr G. S. Sale was from the first establishment of a regular form of Government in Westland, the " Commissioner" of the Goldfields, holding virtually in his own hands all official power. On the separation of the County from the Province of Canterbury, and the establishment of a distinct government, Mr Sale became County Secretary, acting under Mr James A. Bonai*, who was appointed to the office of County Chairman. This office Mr Sale- still holds, and, holding it, has announced himself as the proprietor of a daily political newspaper, support for which from subscribers aud trading advertisers he has solicited by autograph circular. In this attempt to establish an official organ dependent for its success upon trade support, the County Secretary has boldly set at defiance the regulations of the Civil Service in New Zealand, which imperatively prohibit any public servant from contributing to, or taking part in the conduct, of any political journal. Mr Sale has challenged consequences. In whatever light the Colonial Government may view the matter, there can be no doubt of the impropriety of a gentleman holding two positions so anomalous a* those >of the effective head of the Government and editor and nominal proprietor of a party newspaper. To English readers such a combination of functions will appear astounding, as being in direct contravention of all the recognised principles regulating the conduct of persons holding public offices. It is, however, in New Zealand by no means unusual for persons holding high public office to enter into speculations of this kind. The new Government organ is a journal respectably conducted, and on the whole very fairly got up ; but its tone is too official to enable it to find any great acceptance at the hands of the public,' who have been accustomed to find political ques-

•tions handled somewhat more freely than a principal Executive officer is at all likely to handle them. Amongst other additions to the daily press, we have to notice "The Despatch" — a new evening paper — which is rapidly gaining a hold upon public favor. In our resume of Law and Police, reference will be found to a case in which Mr Klein, a jeweller of Hokitika, and one of the proprietors of the ': Evening Star" and "Observer" newspapers, was east in damages in the Supreme Court, as defendant in an appeal case, brought by the Town Council of Hokitika against a judgment of the Resident Magistrate. Mr Klein had disputed his liability to pay certain rates levied by the Corporation, on the ground that the Town Council had no legal existence, through certain technical informalities in the Act constituting it. Without hearing counsel for the appellants in reply, the Judge sustained the validity of the acts of the Corporation. The practical operation,however, of the refusal of the defendant, and others acting with him, to submit to the rating power of .the Town Council, has resulted in great disadvantage to the town, in the suspension of public works and other inconveniences. Yet Mr Klein, through his newspaper, the " Observer," makes an appeal to the public to bear him harmless in the consequences of his resistance. Such are the phases of our civic life ! Of a verity the Town Council needs all the funds it can raise by the exercise of its legal rating power. The work of street-making had well advanced up to a certain point, and but for the factious action taken against the Corporation, would have continued its progress. No rates have been collected since doubt was thrown upon the validity of the powers possessed by the Corporation, by the judgment of the Resident Magistrate's Court, now -reversed. In many respects the streets of the town are pitifully in want of improvement — and improvement that would%require not a large outlay. It is to be hoped that all doubts as to the powers of the Corporato levy rates being now effectually dispelled, funds will be found available for the immediate prosecution of the most necessary works of improvement.

The presentment of the Grand Jury to liis Honor Mr Justice Richmond, brought under his amongst other matters, the expediency of utilising prison labor in the prosecution of public works within the town. A large number of criminals are undergoing penal servitude for offences committed against society; and whilst doing so, are supported and guarded at the public expense ; yet they render no puMic return in the shape of useful work. The question has been asked — What does their penal " servitude " consist of? A practical answer to the question is desired. The cost of free labor is very high, and it is not easily attainable in a country where diggiug presents the most alluring of all prospects to the strong athletic man. It is probable, that on the representations of the Grand Jury, the subject will be brought by His Honor under the consideration of the Colonial Government, and that measures will be taken to render the labor force, now at the disposal of the authorities, available for local useful purposes.

We call attention to the charge of the Judge to the Grand Jury, as congratulating the County upon the lightness of the calendar, and the absence ofcases — with one exception — of ordinary crime of a serious character.

The gold returns for the month are satisfactory, as indicating the continued and regular productiveness of the Westland goldfields. The population returns show the gradual but continuous return to Westland of the diggers who were allured by visions of scenes whose " distance lent enchantment to the view."

For trade returns and other local news we refer our readers to our other columns.