West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1869.

West Coast Times, Issue 1325, 21 December 1869, Page 2

West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1869.

On Thursday next the electors for the Kanieri Division of the County of Westland will be called on to nominate candidates for the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr W. L. Rees, and the poll will be taken on the Thursday following. At the present time the only candidates who have declared themselves tire Mr Mark Sprot, the well-known and respected auctioneer in this town, and Mr Dale, equally well-known, and no doubt respected in the district, if the numerously signed requisition that he has received is to be accepted as any evidence of the fact. Since Mr Sprofc> however, indicated his willingness to serve the public he has been very seriously ill, and though at the present time convalescent, it is highly impi'obable that, if elected, his health would permit him to discharge the duties pertaining to the office of County Councillor, at the early date of the next session, the second Wednesday, in January, 1870, He is too conscientious to undertake what he cannot perform, and has already intimated his resignation of all claims ou the electors. We candidly confess to feeling great regret at his withdrawal ; but we are told that there " are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it ;" and if the Kanieri people capture as good a fish as Mr Sprot would have been to their interests, they will be very fortunate fishermen indeed. At die present time, Mr Dale appears to be the master of the situation; but we have reason to believe that on Thursday

we shall find many nominations who have only hitherto been frightened out of the field by the gentleman we have referred to above. It is not the duty of journalism, excepting under very singular circumstance*, which have not and are not likely to arise in connection with this election, to indicate by any means that might be construed into dictation, as to whom any constituency should select in a contested election, whether it is that of the parish beadle or the highest seat in the Legislature of the Country. At the same time there ha c , during the pastyear,becn such a thoroughly general system of local »j/sgovernment as to render reforms of a most ample character absolutely necessary in future. In choosing a member, we hope the Kanieri electors will not be befooled by any local claptrap or nonsense, no matter bj r whom uttered. Looking at the past year, we can find that Westland has sunk immeasurably in the general estimation of the Colony, jobs of a gross kind have been perpetrated, that the County Government has been virtually insolvent on more than one occasion ; that contractors have thereby been ruined; that embezzlement in the highest positions has been discovered, and punished ; that the County Council, or at least a large portion of the members have appropriated funds to their own uses by their own vote; in fact, that such a generally rotten state of affairs has been existing, as to justify, to our shame be it spoken, the reproaches that have been so freely hurled at this unfortunate County. We do not cavo to pursue the subject of the shortcomings of the past, but we do trust that the Kanieri constituency will not be deluded into electing any man who will add to the happy family already in Councildom, It is to be hoped, for their own sakes, as Avell as in the interest of the County generally, that the man they select will be one of character and firmuess. There is reason to believe that a pliant individual is to be largely and strongly supported by some of those who have most materially contributed to the disasters of the expiring year. If such is the case, then indeed the resignation of the not too-particular Rees will be a matter for deep sorrow. The miners should remember that if is one thing for a man to stand up and promife and vow everything that he is required to subscribe to, without having the least power to carry out a tithe of his pledges, and for another more cautious, and at the same time more rational to promise what he can perform. It is not well to accept the paltry medal, though of the size of a crown piece, and reject the sterling crown, infiuitely less in size and pretension, but immeasurably more valuable in the world we live in. Let the Kauieri people think of the past — let them carefully weigh the merits aud the characters of all the ' candidates that offer themselves, and let them ask themselves which of these would they have trusted in any private business that they had to transact. Let them see whether the gentlemen

seeking thyjp u ff ra g es are such as live oa their wits or have existed dn their creditors) whether tney have any ostensible and honorable means within their g.rasp of supporting themselves, without depending on the County dole, or honorarium, or whatever it may be styled. Let them ask the coming man whether he thinks £§ a week high for a local legislator, or whether he does not believe it could be done for very considerably Let inquiries be made into committees where superior officers were put on their trial, as it were \ and, in short, let them enquire particularly into the history of the past. Iv their hands lies the partial purification of a body that certainly has not earned any. particularly pleasant reputation ; and in making their selection, on every ground it is to be desired, nay, prayed for, that they will insist on their member being averse to more protracted sessions, unnecessary Committees of Inquiry, undue extravagance, whether departmental or otherwise. In a word, if the Kanieri electors are wise, they will choose a man, no matter how humble or how high in the social scale, who possesses the great virtue of public honesty, conjoined with ordinary ability at least) possessed of a will of his own, and not likely to be cajoled by one or tempted by another. Let us hope that such a man may be their choice.

A sitting under the Bankruptcy Jurisdiction was held yesterday by His Honor Judge Clarke. Mr Harvey appeared for William Henry Mason, a debtor confined in prison, and applied for an order of adjudication, which was granted, the meeting of creditors to take place on the 3rd of January, the insolvent to surrender on the 4th. Mr Harvey then applied that an order should be made for vesting of the estate in the hands of the provisional trustee. He did this because it was necessary that insolvents should have control over their estates immediately upon declaration of insolvency. Mr Cassius, an opposing creditor, agreed with Mr Harvey, as he considered it would be the means of preventing many estates being dribbled away. His Honor said he would give the matter his consideration. The difficulty would be that in many places which he only visited at>tated times, power would be given to the officers of the Court to give notice of motion which would be, in fact, made before themselves. Mr Harvey applied for the debtor's discharge, which was opposed by Mr Cassius on the ground that the insolvent had, a few days previous to his" insolvency, m.ule over his assets to his wife. After some argument, his Honor stated that the case was open to suspicion, and that for the present the application would be refused. The Court then adjourned sine die.

Yesterday, a Kanaka named Miller, living with the Maoris up the river, had a narrow escape from drowning by the capsizing of his canoe, Being an excellent swimmer he managed to reach one of the piles near the old wing dam, and succeeded in clinging to it until assistance came, and he was rescued. p A meeting of the Benevolent Society was •held yesterday, at the Supreme Court House. A discussion on the subject of ladies cooperating with the society took place, and after various opinions as to the best way in which the ladies could advance the interests of the society, it was moved by the Eev. Mr. Shaw, and seconded by Archdeacon Harper, "That the town be divided into seven wards,' and that two ladies be appointed to each ward, who shall investigate any case brought forward In that district, and report to the committee for deci&ion." The financial state of the society was then entered into, and it was found from the Treasurer's statement that there was then a liability of £80, which the society were unable to meet, and it was resolved that the Secretary be requested to bring the wants of the society before the public, by a statement in the newspapers, and also that the subscription-lists lately started be carried out by means of certain forms, which will be entrusted to various members of the society's committee. The meeting then adjourned.

It is with extreme regret that we havo had to record the untimely deaths of Mr James M. Balfour and Mr Thomas Paterson, both members of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and intimately associated in their profession as they were by ties of friendship, who were drowned within. a week one from the other, the former in the roadstead at Timaru, and' the latter in the Kakanui River, near Oaniaru. The loss of Mr Balfour will be deplored throughout New Zealand, where he has been widely knowu for some years as* the Colonial Marine Engineer ; and Mr Paterson will be equally regretted in the scene of his professional practice — Otago and Southland in which provinces he had held at different times the appointment of Engineer of Kailways and lloads. Both gentlemen arrived in Otago in 18G3, having been engaged by the Government of tlut Provinc-eto take charge respectively of the Marine and Rsiil way Engineering Departments, and continued to perform the duties of those offices to the satisfaction of the Government and the public till the expiration of three years, the period of their engagements. At that time, the finances of the province being insufficient for carrying out many important works which had been contemplated and designed, Mrßalfouraccei ted the appointment, under the General Government, which he so ably filled to the time of his death ; aud Mr Paterson became Engineer of Kailways in Southland. In the early part of 18CG, Mr Balfour visited Hokitika for the purpose of examining the river, with a view to the protection of its banks ; aud many of our readers will, no doubt, remember the valuable suggestions made by him at that time. His services were again called for in 1868, when the alteration of the course of the river threatened the destruction of ,£he west side of Revellslreet ; and this was the last occasion of his visiting the Coast. It is needless for us to speak of Mr Balfour's professional standing or of the energy and ability which he brought to all matters entrusted to him. These were

as Well known and appreciated as was the kind and geni.il nature which won for him the numerous friends in all parts of the colony who have to mourn his untimely end. The death of both gentlemen will be a serious loss to the profession, of which they were distinguished members in New Zealand, and in which they were deservedly respected.

The yield of gold from the Victoria Cooperative Gold Mining Company's claim, Kanieri, for the past week was lOOozs.

A meeting of the Regatta Committee was held last night at Hudson's Cleveland Hoteh Present : Mr Lynch (chairman), Messrs Gray". (;hamberlinj Waguer, Hudson, dgilvy, Captains Thompson and Robertson, Hugh Cassidy (treasurer), G. P. H. Gallop (secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. It was resolved—" That Messrs J. Robinson, T. Daley, and J. Kelly be added to the general and managing committee." It was decided that all subscription lists be handed over to the secretary to collect the several amounts opposite the names of the parties on the list. The Silver Cup which is to be rowed for by amateurs was placed before the committee, and accepted, it being a splendid specimen of art, produced by Mr Klein. The cup was very generally admired. It was then resolved — " That the general committee meet on Thursday evening, at eight o'clock, to receive the secretary's aud treasurer'u report of the finances $ and that the managing committee meet the secretary on Friday evening, at the same hour, to open the entries for the various races." The meeting then adjourned, Avith the usual vote of thanks to the chairman. At a late hour last night intelligence reached town^ that an extensive rush had Bet in to some new ground in the vicinity of Woodstock. The locale is described as being situated three-quarters of a mile from that place -, and the prospects obtained were from one grain to the dish. 3Trom surrounding indications, it is supposed to be a continuation of the Brighton Lead. Buring yesterday afternoon all the available ground art joining the prospector's tunnel was pegged off, and the influx of miners caused no little excitement in the locality.

We are informed, on reliable authority, that, in consequence of Mr Mark Sprot's illness and inability to allow himself to be put in nomination as a member for the Kanieri district, Mr H. L. Robinson, of the Kanieri, has consented to contest the forthcoming election. A large requisition is in course of signature, and will shortly appear in our columns.

The annual general meeting of the Literary Society, which was announced for this day, is unavoidably postponed till Wednesday the 29th inst. On that date the balancesheet will be brought forward, and the election of office-bearers and committee will be proceeded with.

A case was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, which is likely to be a bone of contention between the police and the inhabitants, The police had laid an information against Mr Cosgrave for allowing several cases to remain in a thorough/are. The defendant stated that he was under the impression that the thoroughfares were under charge of the Borough Council, and out of the control of the police. The Inspector of Police contended that they were, the County Act being a continuance of the Canterbury Ordinance. His Worship said he was not very clear on the matter, as the Corporation Act clashed with the Borough Ordinance, He would, however, dismiss the present information, as it was wrongly laid. Mr Bro" ham intimated his intention of having a case tried.

It would appear, from a statement made in the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, that butchers, draymen, and others consider they are doing the town a benefit by allowing their cattle to stray in the h ghways aud pathwaj'B, to eat up the luxuriant, though not very sweet, herbage, which there exists. The opinion of the above persons, or at least some of them, we have learned is, that by letting their cattle stray about the unmade streets, they are preventing the herbage from becoming decayed and thus causing a nuisance, and most likely producing disease ; and they also think that the Corporation, instead of spending money as they have done, should have finished the street. We however thiuk that is a nmttepftfor the consideration of the public at" large.

The attendance at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre is nightly increasing. Last night all parts of the house were decently filled, the stalls and pit being exceptionally so, and the entertainment passed off ve r y smoothly A number of new songs were substituted, and were well received by the audience. MiThatcher's new local songs on " The escape of German Charley," and "Mr Barff and the Chairman," evoked peals of laughter, and the audience were inexorable intheirdemanda for encores, which were liberally acceded to. Mr Daniels added greatly to his popularity by the exquisite rendering of several favorite songs, aud seems to have fairly installed himself as a general favorite. Mr Small displayed liis great versatility of character in several Hibernian songs, in character, which literally convulsed the audience. The evening's entertainment was altogether an exceedingly agreeable one, and by the introduction of a number of entirely new aud popular songs, the approbation of the audience was secured to the last. To-night an additional change will be made, and several new local songs given.

The U'\inganui Herald sttys — " When Tauroa was sentenced to hard labor ho sufferd the pangs a high-caste Brahmin would if told that he would be required to eatjdaily a certain amount of fat. Tauroa felt that his dignity aud Rangatiraship would depart if he had to work like other people, and he accordiugly represented hisjease to the Government. His plaint was attentively listened to and request granted, and he is now ganger and overseer, in which capacity he is zealous and indefatigable in seeing that every man does his portion of labor properly. He saves the prison authorities a great amount of trouble, as they have only to make their wishes known to the chief, aud they are immediately complied with. We have here the strange spectacle of a Maori chief and his hapu doing hard labo •, and preserving at the same time their rank and authority, Tauroa probably feels himself a much greater chief^than when he was at Patea ; for at present his sole will, exercised under constraint, is like the law of the Medea and Persians to his people.

We mentioned a Bhort time ago that a Wairarapa Maori, named Wiremu Mahupuku, bad filed a declaration of insolvency. His liabilities amount to £683, deluding £400 due to the estate of J. M. Taylor and Co. ; llis assets are one horse value £5, and two foals, value £20. The richest part of the affair is that he is one of the wealthiest landowners in the Valley, but the creditors canuot touch the laud, as it has not gone through the Land Court.