West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1868.

West Coast Times, Issue 913, 26 August 1868, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1868.

Tiiu pa' ting kick which Mr Moorhouse gave Westlimi, when it was no longer possible to prevent separation, was to suggest in the House of Representatives the propriety of dividing the charges of the public debts of Canterbury between the Province and the newly-created County, iv proportion to their respective Custom!?' revenues. It was a happy device of the Superintendent by which on the one hand he Vented his spleen on his unfortuuate constituents — for he was our representative iv those clays — and on the other made some little amends to Canterbury for her loss of influence and territory, for which loss he was justly held partly responsible. That it was a grossly unfair blow no one in We&tland, and not many in Canterbury, will deny. Viewing Mr Moorhouse as the representative of Westland, the House was not slow in acceding to his proposal, and the obnoxious clause wasembodied in the bill and became law. Westland was saddled with an annual charge of £24,000, interest on loans from which she had never derived the slightest benefit. The present session o f the Assembly has been anxiously looked forward to by this community, as affording a fitting opportunity for the readjustment of the account on a fair basis. Acting on the wishes of his constituents the member for the. West laud Boroughs moved for a Select Committee " to enquire and report upon the existing distribution of the charges upon the public debts of the Province of Canterbury, between the said Province and the County of Westland, Avith the view to a reconsideration of the same by the House, should it be the opinion of such committee that a more equitable arrangement cduld be made." He proposed that the committee should report in a month. We have to thank that clever but obstructive politician, Mr Yogel, that the Select Committee was not granted. The Government were of opinion that there was a very fair case for enquiry, and if Mr Yogel had remained sfilent the thing would have been done. He, however, moved the adjournment of the debate for a fortnight, that the House might have before them the substantial nature of the " Constitution" to be given to Westland, "as they would then be able to determine what permanence there mi«*ht be in the operation of the Act, but until then they c mid not determine how the debt should be apportioned. " Tins amendment on Mr Harrison's motion was agreed to, and so, for the present, the Select Committee is shelved. It i* not easy to comprehend the force of Mr Vogel's reasoning. Whatever changes may be made in the form of our Government cannot in any way affect the just apportioning of the charges of the public debts of Canterbury between that Province and Westland. Mr Yogel probably has a reason for his opposition, but he certainly did not lay it before the House. We "begin to fear that further objections will be raised to this committee, and that an attempt may be made to stifle enquiry. Some little arrangement between Otago members and Canterbury members may semd in the way of the pcribrma?.ee of an act of justice. Political dodging and v log-rolling " are quite as well understood by Mr Yogel as by Mr Moorhouse. The latter saddled Westland with this heavy charge, and the former uses his influence to prevent its removal. Mr Harrison stated t!ie case as between the Province and the County fairly enough, though at no great length, and perhaps not so strongly as he might have done. Mr Barff followed, but did not add very much either to the facts or the weight of the arguuieut. So the matter stands at present. It is of vory great importance to Westland that this Committee should pit, for we entertain no doubt whatever that if it does, our surplus revenue, available for carrying out public works which are urgent!-,' required, will be lurgely increased. The report to the House must almost of necessity be favorable (o a reduction of Westland's liabilif} 7 ; and every pound so struck ofF will be so much more to be handed over to the Road Boards. It has occurred to us that it mig'jt greatly strengthen the hands of Messr.i B.uii and Harrison, if a memorial to the House of Representatives, praying for a readjustment, were extensively signed by the inhabitants and forwarded b}' the first opportunity. Tiious mils of signatures could be obtained in the course of a few day^. It is not necessary for us to recapitulate tha arguments which may fairly be made use of in urging thi3 subject on the attention of tho House. They huvo oa former occasions beeu stated

i'muluil- to t.ur 5-_,l.!eiV.. We will.Olllj' a'lcl that nothing would be more likely to prove fatil to our interests thnn an iippi'ur.mee. of iwUf -rence. A me-m...-ial to th- IL.u^ would effectually do away with Hliy Kllc i, i mpre ssi.m.

Amongst the passengers wl l 0 were landed, yesterday, from the Otago. were Captain Priest and Mr M'Kiy, the eiiptnin and superrargo of tho ketch Florence, which vessel, it will be remembered, was seized at iho Chatham Islands by the Maori prisoners, who cub her cable and allowed her to drift on shon 1 , whero she became a total wreck. "We published Captain Priesi-'a report of the occurrence in a former issue. Advices received, yesterday, by Mr White, the agent, state positively that the steamer Rangitoto would leave Melbourne for llolitika on the 21sfc instant. She is, therefore, duo here to-day, and being a good passage maker, may be confidently looked for. The Eiiiigitoto goes to Wellington from • this poW, taking passengers and gold dust for the Panama mail steamer Mataura'. It ha 3 been arranged that Dr Trower, late Bishop of Gibraltar, shall administer the diocese of LichQekl during the absence of Bishop Selwyn. On June 10 there wa3 a largo assemblage at Eton Collcgo of dignitaries of the Church, and other clergy from the surrounding neighborhood, to meet and take farewell of Bishop Selwyn and ihe new Bishop Harper of Christchurch, New Zealand, previous to their departure for that distant settlement. Both the bishops had distinguished th en-. selves whilst conducts afc Eton, for their piety and learning, an'l Bishop Selwyn his for J some time established an annual meeting at Eton of the clergy, when a sermon is pveachoJl at this time of the year hi aid of the new church duilfc by Bishop Selwyn in New Zealand. This meeting took p ace on Juno 10, and eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached s.t the Elon Church of St John Lj the Ilev Dr Blaston, lute ni&bter of Eton CoLlege, when the church \va.s crowded, and tho collection by the clergy, gentry, and inhabitants, exceedingly liberal. Afterwards the Rev Dr and Mrs Gojdford entertained at the provost's residence in college, upwards of sixty of the clergy and" gentry, with many of their wives.

A clmnee for the unemployed presents ifcsolf. Mr Wliifctuker advertises for fifty laborers, with long-handled shovels, to meet afc the stops at the South end of Eerell street, on Thursday morning, at 7 a.m. The " sea devil," captured at the mouth of Itho Totars, on Saturday lilsfc, is now being exhibited at the store,' lately occupied by Messrs Bsillio and Humphrey, Revell street. Scverul persons visited the monster la*t evening, and we may add that the animal is well worth inspection. An inquest on the body of the late Mr Sandford Fawcelt, will bo held this day, at noon, at M'Guiro's G-lobe Hotel, JLunpJcu street. No 2 Company of Rifles to the number of twenty-nine, undev the command of Lieutenant Mcc, fell in afc Hanson's room lust night for drill. There being such a small muster Lieutenant Mes decided not to parade outside, and placed them under drill instructor Sergl. Carey, who put them through the platoon exorcise, and then through a variety of company aud.bi'JrJ.ion drill, forming sub-divisio.ie, deploying iuto lino on the rear subdivision, advancing and retiring by double files from (heeentro, &c. The men discovered great pro-fL-ieucy. After one-." nd-a-h:ilf hour's very good drill, they were addressed by Lieutenant Meo who informed them that it was decided that there would not be any examination for proficiency unlil the return of Captain Stack, the adjutant. The Secretary, Mr Ethridge, then read the minutes of a committee meeting to the Company, to the effect that those members who were in arrear with their subscriptions would receive notice to pay up, which if not complied with summonses would bo issued, and the names of defaulters struck off the roll. When the Town Surveyor is preparing his plans for the sanitary dmii.nge of the town, he woul 1 do well to pay a liltio attention to the upper portion of Hampden-streefc. At present the water lies in pools in this locality, many of these boing almost full of decaying vegetable matter. When the warm weather comes on there is every probability that these will become, the hot-beds of malaria, which will spread disease too often of a fatal character amongst the inhabitants of this increasing portion of Hokitiku.

Verily we have to go from home to learn news, and so our readers will say so when they read the following paragraph, whic 1 * we clip from the " Wellington Independent" :—: — " Tho lioness which Mr Foley recently exliibiled here, has added two fine cubs to his menagerie, now in Hokitika. The fact is an interesting one, and it is made still more so by the daring of the keeper, who went into the den ai.d actually took the two little things from their dam, a feat probably without a parallel in the circumstances. She looked unutterable things, but did not venture upon resistance. A bitch is now suckling the lion cubs." Somebody has been hoaxing our eoneoiitemporary with a vengeance. The young lions are, however, fine ahd healthy, and are most carefully tended and suckled by the lioness, in fact she scarcely cares to quit them even for a short time.

The weather during yesterday, although llic sun blione brightly, was intensely cold. The distant mountain ranges were shrouded with musses of clouds, and the snow was evidently failing heavily, thia no doubt, waa the cause of the icy coldness which pervaded (lie atnusphore. Tho night -was beautifully fine with bright moonlight,. A m«mbi:r of tho tlieal rical profession, Mr Saiulford Vawcctl, died ratlin- suddenly this morning aftor a brief illness. TJio deceased waa a comedian of considerable ability, lia was much respected by his friend*, and wm kind hearted and generous oven to a fault. Wo direct attention to tho s.ile by 'auction, tiiis day, at Louis-son's BoiUl, at naon, of a quantity of tobacco and cig:vs. Messrs Oaroy and Gilu-s are tho auulioncers. The Christohureh coach loft for its destination at six o'clock Una morning, conveying as a through passenger tho Rev. J. Hickey, and two waysides. We notice that Mr W. G-. Biuuoy will sell by auction, this diy, at eleven o'clock t.t the cottago adjoiniug the " West Coast 'J'inies" ofiico, tho household furniluro and offects of Ml' 0. Harris, who is leaving for Sydney.

p >rl - tiiut at the Quis-tcr S.-.s o.s-. h,r ti mt tU-rict, before DUrric-t J Q J^> Moymotr Garrett Farrdi, of 3S\->.v E.-gkn-l, out on bail, nppoare.l b-foiv t\ M o-i fc. w,|., the lea.-nod Coivn L'j-o-.-uitt ..- «,..! „ v;a3 not his iiitoutio-i t, 0 pro.;.-:-! .-.; i, <;,« trial of tho prisoner on tho pi-. M .,it o--.si -n, but woul.) ask to liavo Furivil bound over on the same bail— liimsolf in £100, unr l uvo sureties of £50 each— to appeav ut the next Court of Quiuter Sessions, to be holden ut Grat'ton, on Monday, the 30lh November next. The prisoner Avas then bound oviv, the same parties going bond for him. His lloncr addressing Earreli, said> he Wi.s glad the learned Crown Prosecutor hud determined not to proceed with the case against him, which w.i 3 under an Act pa=se.l at a lirae of gieat czcitemunt; but bo was gl«d to ear from his experience that there was no such thing as Fenianism in tho country-not even a feeling of disloyalty— (applause) . and he was glad to find Umt her Majesty the Queen was of the same opinion. (Appla llfc .) Ifc was very probable thai he would not be brought to trial, but that ho would receive a notice ; if not ho would have to attend there on the 30th November next. The following interesting letter, from the Rev. A. Stock, appears in the " WeUin-ton Independent," of the 18Ui instant :_« Last month Wellington sent true time to Hokitika Many will like to know how this was done, so I send you ashort notice. I received a teie.rram from Lieut. Woods, the Gtorernniont°Sur. veyor asking for time. I took observations of Sirius and Canopus, and so was positive that our time was absolutely true, I then went to the telegraph office asking for help in the matter. Mr Lamon and Mr Da Siufcy at onca gladly assisted me. They first telegraphed to Lieut. Woods to lookout at noon. All stations between Wellington and Hokitika were told to cease work at five minutes to twelve, and to counect with us and the West Coast. At 12 o'clock, as the ball began to drop,' Mr DoSauty pressed down his instrument, and the answering impulse was fclb at once at Hokitika; having crossed tho Straits and run clown to Canterbury, and across the island in no time. In the afternoon wo had for reply, ' Thank you. Time ball and our chronometer only differ l-10th second.' "

The " Wanganui Times " explains how the rebel natives get Government arms and ommiinifcioH, Government arms and cartridges have been found on slain rebels, aud have been seen in possession of the Hauhaus on the field of battle. Government arni3 are left in the hands of so-called friendly natives, who wear their loyalty very loosely, and cast it off or resume it at pleasure. The Govern^ ment also supplies the rebel natives mdi* rectiy with food, money, and elolhing ; sets up its enemy, ia fact, and then fights against it. The " Wanga-mi Times" trusts that during the pxosent session of Parliament tho incubus of the native department will be thrown off the shoulders of the colony. The "Wellington Independent" of the IBth instant says :—": — " Rumours continue to bo received at Napier of a large party of Uiewera3 having their rendezvous in the direction of Euinnga. It is not certain, if such a body of men he tbure, that their intentions tire at present hostile to the Europeans, but lue.ms have been adopted by tho Government to obtain aecurato information. Vi 7 c take the following from Li3t evening'a " Despatch" :— Captain Turnbull, (he harbor-master of Westland, has given notice that unless the two wrecks now lying in tho river Hokitika, and which may ultimately injure the navigation of tho river, are not removed within three days from the 2J.th instant they will bs destroyed, or removed at tho risk of the" owners. Tho Committee of the Ilokitika Liferaiy Society will meet this evening, to revise tho rules of the society. To-day tho mountain ranges were wholly obscured by dense clouds, and those who profess to bo weatherwise did not hesitate to predict that whilst tho snow was falling heavily on the mountains, the plains of Canterbury were boing visited by Btormy weather. The various buildings now in progress in this town are rapidly approaching completion. The Bank of Australasia and the Oddfellows' Hall, in Eevell street, present daily a more fiuished appearauce. Tho new offices of tho " West Coast Times," in Weld street, are approaching completion, and constitute an ornamental feature in that portion of the street. Tho drill-shed, on the Camp Swerve, is being built in the most substantial manner, and but a short time will elapse ere it will be finished. So much for the faith which, despite the dull times, many have yet in Westlaud. Tho conveyance for Greyinoutli alarted from tho office at eight o'clock this morning, with five passengers.