West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1872.

West Coast Times, Issue 2238, 2 December 1872, Page 2

West Coast Times. AND WESTLAND OBSERVER. MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1872.

An alarm of fire was raised about halfpast eight o'clock, last night, by the reflection of ablaze of light presenting very much the appearance of a serioug cbij.flairatipn. on Gibson's Quay. So strong and brigKl was the glare, that fears were expressed that one of the saw mills was on fire. It was, however, very soon ascertained that whatever the fire was its locality was on the southern side of the river, and it burned out so rapidly that there could be little doubt but that the building destroyed was of small dimensions. The anniversary of the Court Waimea Ancient Order of Forresters, was celebrated by a ball and supper, last Friday evening, at the Buck's Head Hotel, Stafford Town. The attendance was very large, many visitors being present from other districts. Amongst the latter were three representatives from the Hokitika Court, Pride of the West. Shortly after midnight the company safe down to an excellent supper, provided with every care ibr tKe enjoyment of the guests by host Bro. S. M. George. The chair was occupied by Bro. C. R. Byrne, Bro. P.G. M. Loyans being in the vice-chair. After the usual loyal toasts, "The Executive Council, and the United Westland District Forresters," was proposed by the Chairman, and responded to by Bro. D. C. R. Smith. "Our Guests " was responded to by Bro. D. Sec. Walsh, who proposed "The Court Waimea" acknowledged by the Chairman. "Mining ! Interests," " Kindred Societies," " The Ladies," " The Press," and " The Host aud Hostess," were duly honored. Dancing was : then resumed and' was kept up for several hours to the evident enjoyment of all present. The nomination of candidates for the seats in the County Council for Arahura, Kanieri, Totara, and Okarito take place to-day. For Hokitika the nomination is fixed for tomorrow; for Paroa the 4th instant ; and for Greymouth, the sth instant. The election in all cases where a poll is demanded will be held on the 12th instant.

The liberality and benevolence of the inhabitants of the Waimea district ivas never better shown in the sum they have subscribed for the benefit of the widow and orphans of the late Mr James Ridge, the amount obtained reaching the handsome total of £123 6s 6d.

In a General Government Gazette, published on the 19th ult., the General Assembly is further prorogued to the 18th of February next.

Professor G. S. Sale arrived in Hokitika on Saturday night, by the Rangitoto. The Revs. G. W. Thomas (Hokitika), H, Dewsberry (Ross), and J. A. Taylor (Greymouth)j Wesleyan Ministers, were also passengers by the same vessel.

A miner was brought over to the Hokitika Hospital from the Eight Mile, last Saturday evening, with a broken leg. We have not been able to learn the man's name, nor the particulars of the accident.

The Otago Daily Times, of the 22nd ult. says :—*' The earthquake felt in Dunedin and several other places on Wednesday was distinctly felt on board the brig Zisha, at anchor in Port Chalmers harbor. The feeling on board is described as resembling that caused by a heavy cask being rolled throngh the hold, and it lasted from three to four seconds. In the Port and on the Quarantine Island it was distinctly felt. The motion in the Port is described as from West to East, and on the island as from S.E. to N.W. Tlie shock was also felt on the Peninsula, where the tremor was apparently more ch\st,jnh(; than in town. The ground and tree4'are^aiU r to have been 'sen i) to shake, and croe^i^TO'ttlecl. At

East Taieri, our correspondent there states two separate shocks were felt, causing the whole house to tremble. Some also heard a ruiublitig sound, like distant, thunder. The dis'ties on the tabie rattled slightly.

The Napier Telegraph says :—": — " We are not in the habit of boasting about the larrikins of Napier, as people do in other parts of New Zealand, but we think the following specimen of local precociousness takes the shine out of most places. It came to the knowledge of one of our devils that a managing printer was required on the staff of a Northern contemporary ; without doubting for a minute that he was quite capable of filling the situation, he applied for the postj but the proprietor of the journal being unai" willing to give more than £5 a week wages, the youth declined to accept the situation."

The prisoner in Dunedin gaol named John Edwards alias Gallagher, who some short time since received a flogging of twelve lashes for insurbordination, and subsequent was sentenced to fifty lashes for further insubordinate conduct, has had the latter sentence suspended during good behavior. On; the 23rd ult., he sent for the'visiting justices;" and expressed to them his great regret and; contrition for his misconduct during his im| prisonment in gaol, and his very great anxiety to go to work, and conform to the regulation^; He said that owing to thj excited state of hiiij mind, he hud not slept tor two nights after receiving the sentence. After a long and painful consultation, the Visiting Justices informed the prisoner that the senteuce referred to should remain in force for three months from date ; to be carried into elf cut at once by Mr Guldwel), Governor of the Gaol, in the event of any repetition of misconduct within that period, as the discipline of the gaol must be maintained at.all hazards. "W,e believe," says the Otago Daily Times, " tl#t Gallagher has suffered severely from tsfe experienced hand of tfie new arrival that administered the late^ lashes, everyone of which made the culprit writhe and grouujin fearful agony. No blood was drawn, but John Gallagher received a lesson which is not likely to be effaced from his memory

during life."

The Southland New of the 16th ulfc says: — " Until the beginning of the current month the prospects of the fanners and gardeners were uncertain. Crops in all but the most favored districts were backward, owing to the low temperature that ruled. During the past fortnight, however, a yreat change has taken place. Several days of sunshine, followed by twenty-four hours warm rain, have startedeverythinginto growth of seini-tropica* luxuriance, and we now hear from all quarters that the country never looked better. The orchards, too, give promise of an abundant yield. Accounts from the pastoral districts lead us to suppose that the clip of wool, notwithstanding the losses consequent on the severe winter, will be a fair average."

In its summary for Europe the Oamarn Times says:—" The weather has been exceptionally fine, and the vegetation throughout the whole district* is more luxuriant than it has been at this^ season of theiyear for a very long period. Trade and conirrjerce have revived, and the\ forthcoming ,jrear promises to be one"t(f gr^Sfc -prosperity ."£.;■ .

• ■■■-. < _/■■>•■ ■■■ ■ The Tuapeka Times ofthe 21st ult. says: •' Mr Ah Tong, Mr Brogden'3 Chinese emisary, accompanied by a few of his Celestiaj friends, departed from Lawrence by Cobb and Co.'s coach on Monday morning, en route for Tokomairiro. During his stay here he seemed to be übiquitous, and his persevering efforts to induce his fellow countrymen to become ' navvies ' were crowned with success. He obtained nearly the whole number of Celestials Mr Brogden wishes to employ on the Clutha Railway, viz., about 500. Mr Brogden wished to despatch Mr Ah Tong home to China as an iinniigration agent, but he declined, as he believes that a large immigration of Celestials would conduce neither to the benefit of the colony nor of the immigrants. Mr Brogden, we believe, has secured the services of another agent, and purposes importing large numbers of Chinese— the first batch of which he purposes locating at Manawatu, province of Wellington. There will be a nice race of people there some day if the Danes and Chinese inter-marry."

A Launceston correspondent of the Solar t Town Mercury writes to that journal of the sth November as follows :— " Some of your readers may remember that rather more than a year ago, a man named Riddle, at the patriarchal age of over eightly years, was sued by his wife for the maintenance of their child, the wife at that time being sixteen or seventeen years old. Riddle was the lessee of one of the Straits' Islands, and after having married this girl he deserted her and took up his abode with two women who resided on the same island. After repeated attempts to induce her husband to assist her, Mrs, Riddle brought the suit for maintenance in the Launceston Police Court, when the I Magistrate ordered the old scoundrel to support his wife and infant. From this decision he appealed to the Court of General Sessions, but the order was sustained, and Riddle, rather than comply -with it, went to gaol, where he died the other day from sheer old age. The women with whom he had lived on the island — mother and daughter — seemed to have exercised a great deal of influence over Riddle, and while out on bail executed a will in their favor, leaving them all his considerable property, aud depriving his wife of everything. I heard to-day, however, with a good deal of satisfaction, that this will has been pronounced by a competent authority to be not worth the paper it is written on. In fairness to Mrs Riddle, it ought to be added that when she was marriedj or rather sold to her disgusting old husband, she was barely fourteen years of age. The case at one time created much interest, which is likely to be renewed should there j be any public dispute about the will." I

A miner named James Birdwood was killed on the 25th ult., Avhile working at the Putnpiner Association, Thames. He was the son of a judge at Madras, and was discarded by his family on account of his marriage. He served some time in the Waikato militia, and was afterwards employed as a laborer. Ho leaves a wife and five children.

The Wellington Evening Post exclaims: — "Red Cross Knights?, St. Michael and St. George protect us ! ' Bed Cross of Home and Constantine,' 'Invincible dependants,' &c # Can anyone toll ns what it all means ? A secret society of • Kerj Cross Knights,' wii.li high sounding nljaspsjan'l cabalistic initials, is being established in Wellington, and the mystery snrronnrling tlie mnfctev is alarming

some simple folk in the city. They ask has Sir George F. Bowen, who is known to be a legitimate connection of St. Michael and St. George, anything to do with it, or if not, whether, as a iast £md office to the colony before his departnre, lie will examine into the organisation of this secret society ? Is it an offshoot of Fenianism, a kind of New Zealand agency of ' Rory of the Hills ?' Will we know its members by their works, like actors by their faces— like tailors by their walk— or like flunkeys by their plush ? Surely this body, so powerful in name this General Grand Conclave— will enable ordinary folk to distinguish them in * the court, the camp, the grove,' by some badge, that we I may uncover our heads with mute awe and reverence iv their presence, and not bo liable to disclose our. little failings to this powerful fraternity."

A Nelson paper says: — " We were glad to receive the intelligence that Nelson has been definitely fixed upon as the place where the next colonial prize firing will take place. Something in this direction is wanted in order to remove an appearance of stagnation amongst us, and, as we shall only be enjoying in turn what the other provinces have already experienced, let us hope that the visit will prove mutually agreeable to our coming visitors and the residents of this province."

A genuie Marine Store for the purchase of rags, bones, bottles,' old metal, &c, has been opened in Auckland. The Star says:—" Old John Richardson, of Wandsworth, made £10,000 by this antiquated calling; and the miserable father of the convict, William Roupell, accumulated a fortune of £60,000, by rags, bones, brass, and copper." A Master Mason, writing to the Southern Cross on the counter allegations regarding Mr Freer's renunciation of Masonry, says-.— " As a Mason I may inform the Rev. Father Norris that it is impossible for any one once made a Mason to renounce the Craft. He may resign his lodge. He may declare his intention never to enter any lodge so long as he lives. He may be excluded for certain reasons from ever' entering a Freemason's Lodge, but he still is, and will be to the last day of his life, a Mason. The initial secrets he learned at his entrance, and the secrets of the several degrees he has been invested with, are buried deep in his bosom; and no renunciation, no promise of absolution which may be tendered, will ever cause him to divulge the secrets which have been entrusted to him."