SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1868.

West Coast Times, Issue 868, 4 July 1868, Page 2

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1868.

The Council mot y ester lay at noun. O.i the motio.i of Mr HAKiiidOX the Council resolved itself iato Committee for the consideration ol the ivpo- 1 of the Select Coaiaiittee on Educa lion. Mr Raeeisox moved uliat the first clause, alfi--,ning the desirability of a National System of Education in Westland, be adopted. Mr Keaey moved, as an amendment, that the present svsiem of Education bo continued, with this addition, that bhe Board bo more liberal ia their subsidies to recoguiscd schools. A discussion ensued, which terminated on the amendment being negatived on division, the numbers being aye 33, noes 4. The clause was then agreed to. The remainder of the clauses of the report were agreed to without discussion, and tfio resolutions havi ig been reported to the Council, were adopted. Mr Cakey moved a resolution to the effect that in the opinion of the Council it was desirable that a rate should be struck for the maintenance of Hospitals in Westland, aod adirming the desirability of communicating the rcsolation to the General Assembly. A slight discusslou ensued, which terminated in the withdrawal of the motion. Mr Harbison moved — "That this Council desii-es to 'vcord its opinion, that whilst the existing Coun y of Wesiland Act is imperfect and vague, a.id has, in consequence, created many ditllcuities, and placed this Council ia an mice "Lain position, iteootiins a principle which, if worked out according to the amendments proposed by tlvs Council, will provide a system of local go\ eminent well suited to the circumstances of this County, and prei'e •- able, on ihe points of economy and efficiency, to cny forui of provincial institutions." Mr Whall moved an amendment, to s.'.-ike out the wo d " well" between the wo-ds " government" and " suited ;" aad also all the words from Ihe words "of this county" to the end of Uie sentence. Tne amendment was not seconded, and the molion, on being put, was passed. On the motion of Mr HABtusosr, the report of the Select Committee on Pastoral Leases was adopted. Mr Babff brought up the report of the Select Committee on the petitions of John HacketL aad others. The report set forth that, in the opinion of the Committee, John iftiokett was not entitled to any compensation, mid with regard to other pesons having buildings on the Jewish Reserve, that they should be compensated by being paid the cost of the removal of their buildings. The report ac the same time recommended that the sum of £200 be paid as compensation to the Trustees of ihe Jewish Reserve, on condition that they be removed to other ground. Mr Babi'F objected to the first portion of the report, as he was of opinion that the parties who had occupied the ground before it was declared a reserve were entitled to ample compensation. The report was adopted. The Ohaieman then prorogued the Council to the Ist October, 186 S.

The second Session of the County Council of WestLiud has terminated. The Council stands at present prorogued to the Ist day of October next. The session has been in many respects more unsatisfactory than tlie one which preceded it. The Couucil has shown less earnestnessin asserting its privileges, and has dealt with the various questions ttiut have been brought before it far more perfunctorily. It has, further lhan this, allowed excited passions • and local jealousies to display themselves to an extent unknown during the session piesided over by the lion John Hall.

Now that the session in closed it is openly avowed by many of the country members, that at the next meeting of the County Council there shall be a powerful combination organised against Hokitika and its two representatives. A ver\ strong feeling ot reM-iument exists against Mr Shaw "and Air Carey for the part they look in the disiuisbio/i on the honorarium question mi Thursday night ; and we are told th.v the town has good cause to look forward with dread to the consequences likely to tollow. We have aheady expressed our disapproval of Mr Shaw 8 motion, and explained the grounds ot our opposition to it. Bu; the threat of a combination of the country members against the two town representatives in a mere spirit of revenge, opens up some very serious considerations. It is clear that the country representatives by any determined coruibi nation, can at once on any critical question swamp the town. We do not say the " towns," because the two members for Greynmuth ally themselves heart and soul with the members for the district in their antagonism to Hokitika.

The only cure for this evil of a combination against one particular interest, is to be found in the division of the County into separate electorates, and the increase in the number of represpntatives. The foimer is recommended in the report of the Select Com rait tee on the County' of Wcstlaud Act The latter is altogether ignored. The report 'suggests that th.3 Act should be so amended as to make the Council consist of nine elected members, with the power of cliosing their own Chairman — instead of, us at present, eight elected members and a nominated Chu'rinun. It is greatly to be regretted that this report was never freely and openly di&eusscd in the Council, that no amendment upon it was proposed, and that h was adopted actually pro forma. It will go up to tlie General Assembly as 11-e deliberate expression of the opinion of the County Council, and the fact will be ignored or overlooked that it is not tlie deliberate expression of the opinion of the people of VVestlaud.

The system of "log-rolling," which is the curse of all small representative

hodies, has already shown iigns of its development under the present County Constitution, and when the Council is next iv session, we may expect to see it bear its ripe fruits. With the conihiimtion against it iijw threatened, we very much fear that Hokitika will stand but a poor chance of justice being done to it, when the County Council has another opportunity of effecting mischief. However, the matter rests in the hands of the people. The majority of the Council have shown us that they are averse to any increase in. their numbers. They are unwilling that their power and dignity should be lessened by being shared with others. During two sessions their attention has been invited to the necessity of considering the question of Reform. They have shown to what extent they are willing to be reformed. Give them the power of electing their Chairman, but by no means let their authority be dissipated by admitting any larger number of persons to share in it. It will be a curious subject for consideration how far this proposal to confer on the Council the right of electing their President, in substitution of the present system of nomination, accords with the theory upon which the present constitution of the Council is based. It would certainly effect an entire change in the relations at present established between lhe representative and executive powers. The subject is so large a one that we must defer its discussion;'but we trust thsit the attention of the public will be given earnestly to the whole question before the General Assembly is called upon to deal with it, and that when it does deal with it, it will have some more satisfactory data before it than the most crude and imperfect report of our Select Committee of Council.

We are compelled to hold over a good deal of correspondence, together with other locol matfei I—including1 — including the report of the Resident Magistrate's Court — in consequence of the crowded stule of our columns. The sittings of the County Couacil being over, we shall be üble to cover arrears.

M<* Harrison, M.H.R., held a meeting at the Court House last evening, for the purpose of explaining to hisconstituents in Hokitika liis political views with reference to the pppro.<ching legislation of tho General Assembly. The meeting was called for eight o'clock, trad, at about half-past that hour, some forty persons assembled. Mr J. P. Klein took the chair. Mr Eairison spoke for about half-an-hour, and no questions being asked, or any vote proposed, brought the proceedings to a close by a motion of thanks to tho chairman, which was carried.

The ball held last evening to commemorate the Anniversary of tho Declaration of American Independence, at the Priucess Theatre, was but poorly attended, owing no doubt in a great measure to the unpropitious state of the weather.

The Grey coach left town yesterday morning, with passengers. Tho return coach arrived at half-past three in the afternoon, biinging Mrs Young, Messrs Lewis, M'Clintock, Graham, Birnio, aud two waysides.

An adjourned meeting was held at the Bendigo Hotel, Stafford Town, on Wednesday last, haviug for its object the forma' ion of an Amateur Dramatic Club. It was most numerously attended. The offices of President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Stage-manager, were filled by the appointment respectively of Messrs. H. Marks, Dr. Matthews, Birch and J. Jolly. A working committee was also appointed, and several resolutions adopted. Two pieces have been selected for rehearsal, viz., the burlesque of Lytton's well-known •' Lady of Lyons," and the farce of " Hunting a Turtle," and considering Lhe well-known theatrical capabilities of several of lhe members of the *club, we may expect ere long to see tho pieces as they are cast acted in a very creditable manner. The proceeds of the first performance, it is understood, will be used for defraying attendant expenses, and all subsequent ones, for charitable purposes.

The Ist Company of Volunteers paraded last, night at Hausen's Assembly Room, and as a great deal of business had to bo gone through in connection with the adjourned quarterly meeting of the Company, Captain Bouar announced that drill would be dis-peu.-o 1 with on that occasion, and the business of the meeting proceeded with. He then took tho chair, and the Committee appointed to draw up a s<>t of rules for the Company handed in its report, which being submitted to the Company, whs generally approved of. It was then icsolved that each member should obtain a copy of the new rules so soon as they were printed. In reply to a question, the Chairman stated that the £300 voted by tho Council for a drill-she J was available at any time, and also that, having reconsidered tho question, the Government was prepared to give a site for a rifle range, asked for by the Butts Committee, with the understanding, however, ihat the occupation would be only temporary, until a better place could be provided, as it was considered that the site chosen was too near the town belt. A Building Committee, consisting of Lieut. Devore, Sergeaut Forsyth, and Volunteer Mowut, was appointed to communicato and act in couj unction with the other two Companies iv the matter of a drill shed, which the meeting unanimously decided should be immediately commenced. The Chairinau remarked that it was uncertain when he should go to Wellington, certainly not at present. Ho also gave notice that if the weather was favorable ho purposed introducing tho company to skirmishing drill this afternoon, tho men to parade in uniform opposite Hanseu's Hotel, at half-past throe o'clock,aud then march to the cricket ground. Also, that next week one or moreof,the non-commissioned officers would att cud every night at Cozens' auction room, Wharf street, for tho practise of new members, and others who may be backward in drill.

Mr James Eobertaon, late of theThealro Royal, Shakspearo Hotel, will take a benefit at tho Duko of Edinburgh Theatw this evening. Tho programme includes the nautical drama, " My Toll and my Parnor Joe," an allegorical tableau, and " The Two Gregories," in which several amateurs, and the whole of tho professionals in Hokitika are announced to appear.

Our Greenstone correspondent informs us that tho diggings there continue to support a moderate population, which bus slightly iu-

creased during the past mouth. Some of the new arrivals have sot in to work above the Three Mile, the others on a terrace opposite tho wool shed, all of them haviug erected substantial huU, with an apparent determination of settling down for the winter. The diggings about Maori Point, of which great things were expected, hare not turned oub very well, aud in consequence the majority of the diggers that were working there have deserted the place. About forty men remain on the ground, and one party is reported to be working a "pile claim," but what that means is a matter of mere supposition, as tho men are very reticent. Several flue gardens are under cultivation at the Greenstone, and conae 1 quently vegetables are both cheap and abundant.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Patrick Blanchfield, brought up on remand, charged 'with uttering a forged order for £2, was further remanded till to-morrow. James Molloy was iiued £2 and 6a 6d oosts for removing driftwood from the beach. Charles Keisfe and John Brown, charged with removing sand from the beach, were fined in a similar penalty. Mr F. Luks was fined 10s for neglecting to keep a lamp bnrnuig over his house, the White House Hotel, on the night of the 2oth of June. Iv the case of Solomon v. Bleach — a summons for goods supplied — the defendant did not appear, and judgment went by default. Mr John Manning, one of iho proprietors of tho

"Celt" newspaper, summoned Mr Cosgrave for £6, for adverting in the above newspaper. It having been proved that the money had been paid to the Rev. Mr LarLin, the plaintiff was non-suiled. — An action of trespass, in the case of " Willoughby v. Saunders," was adjourned till to-morrow. — An action was brought by Mr Collias, a publican, of Revell street, agninsfc the defendant, a painter, to recover £100, money advanced on the security of a bill of sale. Judgment was given for £81.— In the case of " Clark v. Freiters," to recover £25, value of a pig shot by the defendant. Judgment was given for £15.— An action was brought by Mr Bees, the barrister, against Mr Driscoll, treasurer of the Defence Fund raised to defend the prisoners engaged i:i the late disturbances, lo recover tho sum of £29, expenses incurred over and above an agreement, was decided in favor of tho defendant.

The meeting of the inhabitants and owners of property in Hampden-street, that was convened for last evening, at M'Guire's Globe Hole], ha 3 been postpoued until this evening, at eight o'clock, as the meeting of the Municipal Council last night and the Volunteer drill would have prevented the attendance of tho Mayor and many property holders. The object of the meetiug is to memorialise the Municipal Council to construct a permanent road through that much used and thickly populated thoroughfare.

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

We observe with some regret that Mr Sale has formally withdrawn his name from all further connection with the " Observer" newspaper. A change was made iv the imprint this morning, the name of Mr Joseph Philip Klein being substituted for that of Mr Sale as the proprietor. The " Observer" now passes, therefore, avowedly into the hands of the proprietors of the " Eveniug Star" — or it may perhaps be more correct to say the real proprietorship of the " Observer" has been disclosed. We say we notice this fact with some regret, because tho identification of Mr Sale's name with the " Observer" afforded to the public to a very large extent a guarantee that the paper would be conducted in accordance with the U3ital laws of courtesy and fairness that prevail amongst journals of respectable character, aud with some pretensions to the maintenance of the dignify of the press as a political estate. It is true that Mr Sale's position as the proprietor and editor of a party organ was altogether irreconcilable with his official position as tho County Secretary. We have always delicately hinted this, and on public grounds are glad that ho has released himself from a complication of embarrassments. But as far as the management of our contemporary is concerned, wo cannot be insensible to the fact that we have lost one of the best guarantees of the maintenance of a high character by the local press. The monthly escort from Ross, in charge of mounted Sergeant Wilson, arrived in town on Thursday alternoon, with 4000ozs. of gold consigned to the various Banks. It is expected, from tho near completion of certain mining works that will open much good ground, that next month's returns will be heavier.

Wo perceive that a structure is being erected ou the Government Reserve, in Sewell street, which, we believe, is for the purpose of being used in a trigonometrical survey, in fact that it is what is commonly called a " trig station."

By the brigautine Waterman we have one day's later news from Melbourne. We take the following ilems from the " Argus " of tho 19th :—

"The debate in supply last night took an unexpected, if not a new, turn. Mr Al'Culloch having ascertained that Mr Langton's Estimates did not contain the Darling grant, as soon as Mr J. T. Smith took the chair in committee, moved, in place of the resolution which he had submitted to the House on the previous evening, a motion in favor of the grant to Lady Darling, and requesting His Excellency to send down a message recommending it to the House. A somewhat impromptu debate arose, in the course of which a scene was provoked by Mr Aspinall, who accused the leaders opposite of desiring separation from the mother country. This drew up Mr Francis, Mr M'Culloch, Mr Vale, and others, tho lion, member for Mornington going so far as to threaten tho hon. member for St Kilda with expulsion. After a storm of cries of " withdraw, withdraw," Mr Aspinall was permittod to explain that ho did not charge the Opposition with desiring separation from the mother country, but with leadiug their followers on v courae which would seem to involve that contingency. Somo of the now niombors of the House spoke ou the motion, and the discussion ended, iv its being agroed to, on a division, by forty-two to fourteen. The resolution, however, was not reported to tlio llouso, Ministers objecting. Mr M'Culloch thereupon moved that tho House, at its rising, adjourn to Monday, which was agreed to, the Treasurer thus losing tho opportunity of making his financial statement this evening, as he luid proposed to do. The Estimates of tho revenuo and expends

ture of the Colony for the year 1867, with a list of arrears for 1866, were circulated in the Legislative Assembly last night. The total of the estimated revenuo for the year in question, was L 3,439,078; but it is understood that the total amount received did not quite reach L 3,200,000. The estimate of the expenditure submitted is L 3,490,439. That sum includes amounts aggregating L 20.487, which should have been included in the Estimates for 1866.

The trial of Shires for the manslaughterof the late Mr Drummond, P.M., terminated shortly after six o'clook last evening in a verdict of acquittal. The verdict was received in court with a slight demonstration of applause, which was promptly suppressed. Intelligence from the scene of the series of murders lately committed by a Chinaman at Maitland Bar states that "Lee was found stabbed at the back of the neck, in the abdomen, two wounds in the side penetrating the lung, and various other severe wounds about his body. The eyes were wide open, and this suggested to Mr Scott, P.M., the advisability of testing the theory that the last object 'seen by a dying man is printed on the retina of the eye, by obtaining the services of a photographic artist from Mudgee. Unfortunately, poor Lee was conscious enough, to see Wlieen, and hence this experiment was frustrated. There is no absolute danger to the life of the younger child. Lee's body ha 3 been removed from the scone of the tragedy with great care, so as to allow the black traoker carefully to survey the premises. A Chinaman, dressed as described by young Lee, was seen passing through Avisford on Wednesday, save that he had on a new pair of cord trousor3. The Chinamen, as well as Europeans, have turned out en masse, endeavoring to track the murderer, and Government will probably offer a reward of £100 for hia apprehension. The cause of the outrage appears to have been a mining dispute, Lee having been an important witness in causing a Chinese party to give up claim to a dam. :>