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West Coast Times, Issue 1342, 11 January 1870, Page 2

Cobb's coach will leave the Empire Hotel for Christchurch with four or five passengers.

The Grey coach was unable to get through yesterday, and had to return. There are about eleven passengers on the Grey side of the Tereraakiiu who had expected to get through to-day, but judging from the heavy rain of last night, the rivers are again likely to l>e flooded.

Mis Honor yesterday, in summing up to the jury in the charge of indecent assault against John Martani, took occasion to commend the very creditable conduct of the witness George Darts, who, in the middle oi the night, when disturbed from hie rest by the outcries of the prospcutrix, immediately came to her assistance, and pursued the prisoner. His Honor r,aid that a great many persons would, in such cases, have preferred remaining Avarm in their beds, than to have entered upon a " chevy chase" of the kind at night, hi a country like this. His Honor felt gratified with the conduct of Darts, for, with a weak

police force, it was the duty of eveiy citizen to give help when circumstances rendered such help necessary.

The heavy rains of the last few days, although disagreeable to pedestrians, will be of the greatest service to the mining population. Just before the holidays the miners, owing to an insufficiency of rain, were unable to get the whole of their large stocks of dirt washed up ; but now, no doubt, they will be busy at work finishing them off.

A meeting of the Hospital Committee was held last night. There were present— Mr. Harvey (in the chair), Messrs Procter, Finlay, Cassidy, Todd, Evans, Jack, Clayton, Tait, and the Secretary. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The House Committee's report was then considered, the various clauses being taken seriatum. The whole were adopted after a long discussion. In reference to Clause 4, which recommended that the present matron be dispensed with, and that the office of matron be amalgamated, the whole of the members spoke, several of them being of opinion that the present matron should have the option of accepting the duties as now recommended. It however appeared that the nurse, who hai been recently appointed, was more suitable for the duties required. The matter of increase of salary was referred to next meeting. A discussion also took place regarding the matter of Scott, the boatman, having fenced in a parcel of ground. It wa3 shown that the ground in question had been granted by the Cnunty Chairman to the school committee. It was resolved that Messrs Todd, Finlay, and Harvey, be appointed to inquire whose property the houses on the section were. Several accounts, were passed for payment. The Reception Committee reported that their report would be presented at next meeting. The ■Secretary said that, owing to the accounts not having been sent in, the financial statement had not been got ready. It was resolved that an auditor be appointed at one guinea. Some discussion took place in reference to the dismissal of James Smart, but a motion that a further inquiry be made regarding the matter, was lost. Some trivial natters were then discussed, and the meeting adjourned.

The criminal sittings of the Circuit Court commenced yesterday morning. The Court sat until after six o'clock, and disposed of four cases, in two of which the Crown succeeded in obtaining convictions ; in the other two, the juries acquitted the accused. Edwin Limond was found guilty of uttering a forged cheque, and Bridget Kelly was found guilty £ stealing XI 3 from Sarah Maria Hiscocks. '•oth prisoners were remanded for sentence ntil 10 o'clock this morning. John Martani, i harged with an indecent assault at Greynioiith, aud Jane Lloj'd charged with stealing £6 10s from a miner who slept in her house at Grej mouth, were acquitted. The Court at its rising adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning, when the Stafford Town case will be taken, that being the only bill returned by the grand jury which was not disposed of yesterday. The grand -jury will meet at 11 o'clock.

There was a very strong fresh in the rivec yesterday and the pi evious night, but we are glad to observe that on this occasion scarcely any damage hp.s been done the wharf ; indeed, on the contrary, the heavy pour out of the waters has had the effect of improving the port, by washing away huge slices of the north and south spits. The channel now appears to flow almost uninterruptedly to the sea, and it should carry from fourteen to fifteen feet of water.

A social reunion of the members of the two regatta committees, will take place this evening, the general committee having invited the working committee to a slight spread. We believe this will be the first affair of the kind connected with the annual regatta, and it is strange that it should be' so, for on every occasion the regattas — aud there have been five of them — have been decided successes. It has been mooted, but we will not vouch for the truth of any such matter, that a proposition will be brought forward to form a boating club on a permanent basis. We trust that such will be the case, as such a proceeding would give an impetus to a most excellent and healthy sport.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, a female was charged with being of unsound mind. The constable who had brought the woman to town, stated that on several occasions she had made incoherent sta ements to him and others. She was remanded until this morning for medical examination. — Ann Lufty was charged by Flora ll 'Pee with haviug assaulted her at Woodstock, on the Ist instant. She stated what the insult consisted of, and the language used. Thomas M'Gowan said he had seen the women quarrelling, but did not hear what was said. Several others who were called also stated that they seen the women having a row, but, with the exception of one of them, they all said that the language complained of was not used. The Bench said the case would be dismissed, as it was evidently only a neighbor's quarrel. — J. N. Peters appeared, charged with using abusive language to Mrs Quadri. The defendant applied for a remand, to enable him to procure legal assistance. There were several summons cases for breaches of the bye-laws set down for hearing, but as it transpired that the constable who had laid the informatioi had gone to the Grey, they were postpor d for a week. The only civil case on the list was Heymansen v. Fyement, but as neit ier of the parties appeared, the case was dismissed. The Court then adjourned until this morning.

The Itoss Fire Brigade had practice the other evening and are getting very much quicker, and more professional in their drill. Should their services he required (which I hope not), they will he in a position to render good service.

The Ross Drainage Company's engine is now beginuing to tell upon the water in the Flat. On Saturday morning the pleasant news was spread abroad that the water was going out at a fabulous rate,' and many were the ones who got quizzed in consequence. On inquiry it was ascertained that it had lowered several feet, and at nine o'clock the flag of the Excelsior was run up to the main (excuse a nautical phrase), to announce that they were dry below. This is the first of the claims who had felt the effect of it, and it was with feelings of pleasure to all to behold the signal, and to hear the good news. The engine has been pumping ever since, and it caused the water to lower in the Star shaft

I over six feet since they started. The very heavy rain now falling may to some extent check its, up to the present, rapid progress, but I have no doubt that the machinery is capable of mastering twice as much.