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West Coast Times, Issue 1371, 16 February 1870, Page 2

At the installation of officers of the Pacific Lodge of Hokitika, which took place last night, the following were elected— Mr John Bevan, W.M.; Mr W. D. Banks, S.W.; E. Gessinge, J.W.; Honarary Secretary; Mr F. Eisfielder, S.D.j Mr W. Ackland, Treasurer; Mr R. S. Murray, Mr Bowen, J.D.; Mr James Bevan, J.G.; Mr Arthur Tew, Tyler. There was |a good attendance of members, and after the installation a very large number of Masons assembled at the Cafe de Paris to do honor to a banquet prepared in host Bladier's firstclass style. A meeting of the Jockey Club, was held last night at the British Empire Hotel, C. Louis_ son, Esq., in the chair. The chairman ex. plained the object o£ the meeting, which was to consider the advisability of having an Autumn Meeting. After some discussion it was unanimously resolved that a meeting should be held on Easter Monday, and the following days of the week, as the weather permitted, and. a committee was formed to draw up a programme, to be submitted for approval at the next meeting. The following gentlemen were appointed to canvass for subscriptions — Messrs Tabart and Garforth for the cattle trade; Messrs Arkell and Hastings for Revell-street North of Weldstreet; Messrs Cassidy, Mace, and Dyson, South Revell-street; Messrs Cameron, Bonar and Evans, Wharf-street, Gibson's Quay, and adjacent streets to the Islay Hotel. The meeting then adjourned until the 22nd in_ stant. The first steamer of the Californian, New Zealand, and Australian line of Royal Mail Steam Packets is announced to sail from Auckland on the 2nd of April. This line carries the English mails, also a limited number of saloon and intermediate passengers, at through rates of £35 and £20 each. As only a limited number of passengers can be taken from New Zealand ports early application to the agent here (Mr J. A. Bouar) is necessary. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a volume of Journals and Appendix to the Journals of the Legislative Council. A very fine racing boat, about thirty-three feet long, was landed yesterday from the schooner Sarah and Mary. It has come from Melbourne, consigned to Mr Roberts, manager of tht Bank of New Zealand. We have been unable to learn whether it is intended to launch her on these waters, but we should hope so, and that she is intended to form the nucleus of a boating club. ' We learn that for a considerable time past miners in twos and threes have been seen wending their way from the more settled districts of the Grey towards the country on the other side of the junction, and it is just probable that ere long a large goldfield will be developed in that direction. Meanwhile we would not atlvise miners to proceed there until something further is known about the doings of those already on the ground. Our correspondent, writing from the Grey district, reports that several rushes have broken out during the week in the neighborhood of Napoleon's; they have all, as yet, proved more or less payable. The late showers of rain have enabled the miners to wash up a considerable portion of their stacks of dirt; and what with the rushes during the week and the rain, mining matters are looking up, and the district, consequently, now presents a much more lively appearance thai* it did a fortnight ago. On the 30th ultimo a man named Daniel Donovan went to bathe in a lagoon, near the Five-Mile Beach, Okarito, and was drowned, the body not being found until the next day* An inquest was held by Mr Price, R.M. when a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. The deceased was about twentytwo years of age, was a native of the county of Cork, and has a brother named Richard Donovan, residing at Charleston. At half-past two o'clock on Monday morniug last, a woman fell down the shaft of the Young America claim, Ross. There were two men working below, who immediately gave the alarm, and she was brought up. Dr Zurhorst was promptly in attendance, and it was found that the woman had escaped ! with but a slight wound on the right knee, which was caused by her dropping on a

bucket at the bottom of the shaft. She was drunk at the time, and had a most wonderful escape, the shaft being over eighty feet deep. She fell feet foremost, and as she wore a crinoline the pressure of air must have broken the force of the fall. She had a bottle of beer in her hand, which, strange '■ to say, was not broken. The Postmaster-General lias called for tenders for the performance of an Interprovincial Steam Mail Service to and from all the ports and places in New Zealand having direct steam communication with the seaboard. On referring to our advertising columns, full particulars of the various ser" vices required can be obtained. In our report of Friday's proceedings of the County Council we omitted to state that Mr Lahman, in moving that all moneys received by the County for rent from that portion of the town of Greyniouth which had been withdrawn from it by resolution of the Council, said that his reason for moving the resolution was that as previous promises of the Chairman had not been kept, the people of Greyntouth were more inclined to place reliance on the resolution of the Council, than upon the bare promise of the Chairman in respect to the matter in question. We also omitted to state that, in the debate on the motion that the Auditor's report be read, Mr Lahman in speaking about the bills taken for the amount due by the lessee of the Kawhaka toll-gate said, that the Chairman had no power whatever to those bills; that he (Mr Lahman) had protested at the time against their being taken, that the Chairman had locked them away when he had taken them, had not presented them for payment, and would not have known of their existence but for the lessee of the gate coming to him (the Chairman) for their renewal. The hon. member concluded by expressing his belief that the Chairman had become personally liable for the payment of the bills, and his (Mr Lahman's) intention, as a member of the Council) was to hold him responsible for them . By advertisement elsewhere it will be seen that Mr Jas. A. Bonar has been appointed local agent for Messrs Howden and Co., New Zealand Distillery, Dunedin. The fine malt spirits distilled by Messrs Howden and Co., have been before the public for some time, and we are glad to learo are steadily gaining a prominent place in the market The whisky more especially is excellent, as it should be, the pure spring water from the Water of Leith being used in its distillationIn addition to the excellency of the spirits' purchasers effect a considerable saving by using Howden's spirits, as under the present Distillation Act the duty on it is only one half that charged on imported irit, being a saving to the buyer of six shillings per proof gallon. Samples and price can be had on application to the agent, at his office, Wharfstreet. We understand that the Borough Council has been paid to-day £500 — the balance due for the County's share of the River Protection Works. They will now, it is to be hoped, be able to do something with the wharf. Some of the members of the County Council have been greatly interested in the construction of the Arahura Toad, and knowing the opposition offered to the work by the Chairman, they were exceedingly anxious that the contract should be signed before the session closed. Rumor had it that the Chairman, refused to sign the contract, and a * kinds of plans were proposed to coerce him" To the intense joy, however, of some of the members, the contract was signed yesterdays and we believe the work was commenced the day before. It now remains to be seen whether the construction of the road will give us the advantages of increased revenue, and the many other advantages as promised by Mr Reeves, or whether the Chairman's consistent opposition to the work being carried out was justified. During the year 1869, £1153 Is was received as proceeds of the sales of Suburban and Rural Lands sold in the different Road Districts. Alter substracting the proceeds of all lands sold fronting on main roads, and the charges made under the 78th section of the County of Westland Act, the account 1 ? received iv the districts were— Paroa, £76 9s 9d ; Arahura, £127 5s lOd ; Kanieri, £316 lls; Totara, £632 14s sd. The Charleston Herald of the latest date says-.: — " There is absolutely no mining news to report from this district. The dams and creeks are dry, and th r - miners, with few exceptions, are idle. The daily loss to the community is estimated at least at £500. During the past few days we have had indications of rain, but now it appears to be as far away as ever, and the diggers are becoming despondent." A fatal accident took place on Saturday night, at Antonio's Flat. As far as we are informed, a miner, whose name we have not learned, while under the influence of drink, fell into a race and was drowned. The cause of his death being apparent, and no signs of violence being on his person, the police did not think it necessary to hold an inquest. The Grey Biver Argus, of yesterday, says that a rush is reported to have taken place to some shallow ground in the vicinity of Orwell Creek, near the Slaughter-yard. Our correspondent was on his way there yesterday, so we will be able to give particulars in a day or two. An accident occurred in the Ahaura river on Saturday morning. Mr James Hayes draper, Napoleon, was fording the river at the usual place, and when in the middle of the stream, his horse slipped on a boulder and fell. The near side stirrup gave way and Mr Hayes was pitched off, and carried some distance down the river, but he fortunately recovered himself, and reached the Ahaura none the worse, with the exception of getting a good ducking and losing his stirrup. When it was known at Greyniouth that Mr T. A. S. Kynneraley was on board the Tararua several of his friends took advantage of the steamers Waipara and Dispatch going out and paid him a personal visit. Mr Kynnersley looks stouter than when he left, and improved altogether in appearance as well as health. The latter benefit, derived from his trip to England, will be a Bource of pleasure to his very numerous friends in New Zealand. He purposes going on to Wellington at once, and we hope when lie is there that the Government will appoint such an able Resident Magistrate in a district where his acknowledged abilities will find ample scope.