West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22.

West Coast Times, Issue 1633, 22 December 1870, Page 2

West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22.

A sickly sentimentality seems suddenly to have seized some people as to the respect to be paid to members of tho County Council, and especially to those who may announce themselves as candidates for the County Chairmanship. If this sentimentality, sickly or healthy, had been a chronic characteristic of these some people, it might have been looked upon with pity or admiration — pity that people should live in a perpetual state of sentimental sickness, or admiration of the existence of healthy sentiment where healthy sentiment could not bo supposed to be cither an indigenous or a permanent affection of tho soul. But when the seizure of such sentimentality is sudden and acute, it deserves to be received with some suspicion. Especially docs it desorve to be suspected and sneered at when, as an emanation from one and the samo source, and within tho memory of the very youngest inhabitant, it succeeds a display of feeling in which there was neither sentiment nor sensibility as to the feelings of others. Not longer thau a week ago, aud for weeks byegoue, members of tho last County Council, but pre-eminently the last County Chairman, were charged with every species of malversation that gentleman or Chairman could be guilty of ; and persistently, and iv as plain words as it could be put in print, was the Chairman pilloried as a person of so little honor or honesty as to be, in fact, a liar. There were other epithets more or less directly applied to him which, as mere expressions of political feeling, might be more or loss excusable ; but the open utterance of this charge, and ;ts concealed, and, while concealed, pretended proof, was as ininexcusablo as it was remotely associated with the matters under discussion. Now, when places are changed— when tho gentlemen whose advocates'were so ready to abuse others are found, and found, perhaps, deservedly, in the position of representatives of the people — the nature of man must, forsooth, also be changed. Breathe a word against them, in their embryo representative condition, and, with that breath you invoke the cry, "The State is in danger." The future must not be contemplated or considered until it becomes the virtual past. People must take what is set before them, " asking no questions for conscience sake." In the language of the section of the community which small-minded slanderers say is chiefly represented, " Ve — all ye outsiders — maun keep a calm sough." It is in this spirit apparently which the letters of some correspondents to these columns are told to be received, and in which the correspondents are told to conduct themselves ; and it is in the same spirit, with other evil spirit allied, that the tone of these columns is attempted to be associated with the tone of their contributed contents. We may say at once, if it is at all or ever necessary to say it to anyone who understands tho etiquette of newspapers, that there is no connection, on the part of a journal, with the contents of correspondents' contributions. If this were so a considerable kaleidoscope the journalistic mind would require to be. Wo should bo sorry, indeed, to have to sympathise with all the ungenerous, bilious sentiments, or with all the carping expressions of correspondents. We have too great faith iv the similarity of human sentiment to believe that the ordinary reader is less capable of discovering tho ungcuerous or tbo bilious contributor. And, having that faith, these columns are invariably open to correspondents, to have their contributions published, and, when published, judged according to their merits. B,ut,

neither in tho circumstances uor ill the men who aYe at present made the subjects of comment, is there any speciality which should liberate them from open approbation or animadversion. Of tho members of tho now County Council two, at least — able, upright, indefatigable, aud trustworthy as they may be — have placed themselves in an exceptional and invidious position by becoming, while professionally associated, a strong clement in a public body numerically limited — and no sen* timental consideration is due to ono man or set of men, more than it was to their predecessors, or to other men who aspire to the representation of their fellows. If the comments which tho circumstances excite are unfair, or are written in other thau proper political spirit, the very [ character of such comments will prove to be their own condemnation, exactly as those who would wish these columns to bo closed against even " censurable criticism" condemn themselves.

In reply to a correspondent whose letter appears in another column, we may say that there has certainly been hitherto an American tone communicated to the telegrams received by the San Francisco mails, but only to a portion of them, and these are the telegrams which have been culled from the mass of news forwarded to the American Press Association. Some of the " Special Unpublished Telegrams" forwarded by Reuter do not seem so strongly to possess that character, and the precaution taken to avoid this by the insertion of the word " unauthentiuated" rather points to a doubt upoa the French authority, than to favor their correctness, as our correspondent seems to think is the case. As a whole, the Prussian side of the question is likely to have had the advantage, for it is through Prussian channels that the major portion of the war news has come. Our correspondent reads the news as it is sent to the colonies generally, and not to New Zealand exclusively ; aud he would exercise discretion in judging between the various versions received than in expecting that it is to be simply consonant with his feelings. There is often quite as much doubt as to the reliability of the intelligence in the heart of London as there is iv his West Coast seclusion.

The Hokitika agent for the Press Association, in a communication which appears in the Olago Daily Times, and in which are described some of the incidents associated with the rcccptiou of the last English news from Melbourne, states what is not the fact, and what is calculated to compromise members of the staff of this paper in their connection with other journals. We take it for granted, of course, that the mis-statement has been made under a misapprehension; and we may state at ouce that any miscarriage of Grovillo's telegrams was not due to anyone connected with the West Coast Times ofllce, and that these telegrams were not " subsequently found" in this office. On thecontrary, a member of our staff, on his own account, and iv consequence of " associations" considerably older than the Press Association, sent a digest of the news to papers which would otherwise have failed to receive the intelligence, and was thanked for doing so.

According to notice given by the Commanding Officer, the Ist Westland Rifles met at the Drill Shed last evening, for the purpose of practising various evolutions which might be required to be gone through at the annual inspection, which takes place to-daj , and also to prepare officers and members of the corps who had not already passed their cxamiuation. Acting Lieut. Preshaw put the company through the manual and platoon exercises, and squad and company drill ; and Captain Bonar afterwards practised them in the various evolutions of company and batallion drill, which, considering the many recruits who were in the ranks, were performed very well. After about two hours spent in these exercises, Captain Bonar informed the company that he expected every member to attend this evening at seven o'clock, sharp— those without uniform, as well as those who have uniform, it being the intention of the inspector to carry out strictly the Volunteer Regulations. The company were then dismissed. On Tuesday, in accordance with the telegram received from Colonel Harington, Captain Bonar detailed a sergeant and four rank and file to attend at the rifle range at half-past four o'clock, to be tested in their efficiency as marksmen. The Greymouth coach, in which Colonel Harrington was a passenger, arrived punctually at the time appointed, and, without visiting town, he proceeded with the party to the range, to witness the firing. The weather was anything but favorable, as a strong wind blew all the afternoon, and the light was dull, but the average scoring was very fair. The ranges were 200, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range; the positions being— at 200 yards, standing, 400 yard?, kneeling, 500 yards, any. The following was the result: — Volunteer Ross, 43; Color-Sergeant Buntin, 41; Corporal M'Levie, 37; Volunteer Munyard,32; and Volunteer Stonebridge, 31 ; the average being thus nearly 37 points.

Garden robberies arc generally confined to flowers and fruit, and it is seldom that we hear— in this part of New Zealand— of vegetables being purloined. An instance of this kind of petty larceny took place a few evening's ago in the garden of a gentleman residing at the Park-street end of Sewell-street. The thieves took down two or three of the palings, and by that means obtained ingress to the garden, and they were not content with carrying away a quantity of early potatoes, but they— there was more than one, as the footmarks shewed — were not content with carrying away but destroyed a large quantity of the tubers, by having apparently rooted about for the large ones.

We would dr»w the attention of intending exhibitors at the Flower SUow, that a mistake which occurred in the advertisement respecting the date of recciviug exhibits has been rectified, and the date is now Wednesday the 28th instant— the show taking place on the two following days.

The annual inspection of the Volunteer JUflesby Col. Harington, will take place at 7

I o cluck instead of 8 o'clock, aa previously arranged. livery volunteer must attend this parade, or the penalty provided by the regulations for non-attendanco will be strictly enforced. The Duke of Edinburgh Theatre will be opened on Saturday evening, under the management of that old Kokitika favorite, Mr Lachlau M'Gowau. The theatre will remain open during the holidays, and the entertainments will consist of dramatic pieces, comedy, and burlesques. We have been requested to state that the time of receiving tenders for repairs to the Roman Catholic Church, Stafford, lias been extended to the 3 1st inatant. Amended specifications can be seen at the Harp of Erin, Hokitika, and at the Fost Office Hotel, Stafford Town. The connecting-rod belonging to the pump at the Drainage Company's works, Ross, broke on Saturday night last, at 11 o'clock, and, of course, the engine came to an immediate stand-still. As the engine would have been stopped anyhow in a few days for a thorough overhauling, it was deemed advisable, says the Ross Guardian, to take the present opportunity, and to at once commence the overhaul. This is now being done, and the engineer, Mr Merrin, expects to get up steam again in a week. It need scarcely be added that a great many claims on the Flat are swamped out in consequence of the stoppage of the engine. The Ross Guardian reports that a small rush took place at the end of last week tot lie ground on the Flat bounded on one side by Donnelly's Creek, and on another side by the Storm Channel. There are abort thirty men at work on the ground, the greatest depth that has at present been sunk is fifteen feet, and the prospect is but poor. All t'st available new ground in the vicinity has been taken up. The water is at preseut light. In its notice of the death of Mr J. Longton, from the effects of an accident and amputation, the Ross Guardian says : — For two or three days after the operation had been performed, the patient seemed to be in a fair way of recovery, but after that, he gradually suuk, and expired as we have stated above. Mr J. Longton was one of the earliest arrivals in Ross, and, during his term of residence amongst us, gained the respect and esteem of all who knew him. As a kind and affectionate husband and father, those of his family whom he leaves behind can best testify ; as a man, straightforward, honest, and industrious ; and as a friend, warmhearted and invaluable. He was one of that class of men that can be ill-spared iv any community. His widow and a large family are left to deplore his loss. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at the Cemetery. The cortege left the National Hotel at a little post 5 p.m., headed by the band playing the Dead March in Saul, and was followed by a very large number of people to the grave. The burial service was read by the Rev. D. O. Hampden. Out of respect to the memory of the deceased, all places of business were closed during the afternoon. A case of slauder, in which £1000 damages was claimed, was tried in the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Tuesday week. The phuutiff was Mr John M'Kcllar, a runholder near Tapanui, and the defendant Mr J. C. Brown, M.P.C. The alleged slander conBisted of a statement made by Mr Brown, at a private conversation between some of the members of the Provincial Council during the special season held in 1869 to consider the Hundred's question, to the effect that he had been told that plaintiff had bribed one William M'Clelland to sign a certain petition to the General Assembly, praying that M'Kellar's run might not be declared into Hundreds. The statement was subsequently reduced to writing, and signed by defendant. Mr Macassey appeared for the plaintiff. The defendant's consel was Mr Barton, who contended that the communication in question was privileged, and made without malice ; endeavoring, at the same time, to convince the jury that the prosecution had been instituted for political reasons. A verdict for the defendant was returned. Thirty-five constabulary sailed from Wellington for the North in the Phoebe to strengthen the Waikato posts. A few days ago, Mr Justice Johnston, at Wellington, sent a juryman to gaol for a week for coming into Court drunk. A table of comparative prices of grain and flour at per ton, per bushel, and per cental of lOOlbs, has been issued by the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce with a view of familiarising the public with the cental system. The Adelaide Chamber of Commerce has promised that every exertion shall he made to bring the cental system into operation in South Australia, on and after the Ist of January next. We regret to notice that an accident happened to Captain Robert Dyason, at the Kaiapoi regatta, in firing the signal cannon for the Challenge Race. The powder in the Tent bad not exploded, when, in placing some fresh powder, the piece discharged some of the powder which had not ignited through being damaged, forcing it into Captain Dyason's face, which besides, was severely scorched. A piece of powder, the size of a wheat grain, penetrated into his under lip. The wounds are very serious, and his face will bear the marks for some time. A sharp earthquake was felt at Nelson, at 7.41 p.m., on the 18th iust. Fourteen Maoris have been drowned by the upsetting of a canoe near the North Cape. The reception of the Southland representatives on their return to Invercargill is thus described by the News of the 10th inst. :—: — By the aid of the bellman and a few ardent spirits a demonstration was got up yesterday on the arrival of the Southland members at the Railway Station. Messrs Wood, Kinross, and Toshack were lustily hissed and hooted on account of their action relative to the extended boundaries, while their confreres came in for marks of approval. The scene was very discreditable to its projectors, who appeared to be acting on the principle of "hang first and try afterwards."

A Swiss paper makes the follow ing statement : — "An eminent statesman advised the Emperor at Uheiras to throw himself at the head of a cavalry regiment on the enemy's bayonets. The Emperor pulled his moustache phlegmatically, and replied, ' It would be very grand for — history. I am not, however, at such a depth as people in Paris suppose. On my return, I shall demand a reckoning, not give one, and shall fix th« responsibility,' "