West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1877.

West Coast Times, Issue 2479, 10 March 1877, Page 2

West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1877.

The Registrar-General's vital statistics for the month of January, 1877, in the boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, NelaoQjChrietcburch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, have been published in the Wellington papers., although the Gazette containing the information is not yet to hand. The proportion of deaths to every 1000 of population was highest in Auckland aud lowest at Thames. The actual death rate in each case is given as follows :—Auckland, 2.83 ; Wellington, 2.67; Chrißtchurch, 2.11 ; Nelson, 1.80 ; Hokitika, 1.38 ; Dunedin, 1.11 ; and Tlrimes, 0.67. The births were 35 more than in December, 1876. The deaths were 9 more in number than the deaths in December, 1876. Of the deaths, males contributed 92 ; females, 55. Eighty-two of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being 50 per cent of the whole number ; 62 of these were of children under 1 year of age. The mortality from zymotic disease in the seven boroughs was 46.94 on every 100 deaths, against 36.23 in December, 1876, and 17.92 in November. The violent deaths were 10 in number. One man was killed by the upsetting of a cart, and a boy by a fall from his horse. Three men were killed by a fall of earth ; one by dislocation of neck, caused by diving ; one by rupture of brain from fall. A boy was dragged in a tether rope by a cow until dead. A child was scalded to death, and another killed by sunstroke. The mortality from zymotic disease was greater in January, J 876, than last month, the numbers having been respectively 60 and 69. Scarlatina or whooping cough did not cause any deaths in January, 1876 ; but the numbers for fever, dysentery, and diarrhoea do not differ greatly for the two months under comparison. Diseases of the respiratory organs were fatal in seven cases for each month ; and the total mortality shows a decrease of seven deaths on January, 1876. It will be observed that in January no deaths were reported from scarlatina. It is a matter of regret that the next two stsitements of the RegistrarGeneTaV are certain to show a heavy death rate from this disease,

and Hokitika, we are afraid, will hold the highest position on the black list, as the mortality here, especially among- children, has Ueen, and is now, unusually severe. Wo learn from the Wellington Post that the Registrar-General has adopted a new system of estimating 1 the population of the New Zealand boroughs. He says :: — v The estimates of the populations of the boroug-hs given here are M* as before merely an addition of the excess of births over deaths to the census figures for March, 1874, as it has become evident that estimates are not sufficiently accurate, The number of persons to a house has been assumed to be the same as when the census was taken, and the population calculated on the number of inhabited houses in each borough at the present time, as shown in returns supplied by the municipal authorities." The adoption of this plan has made a considerable difference in the relative standing of the various New Zealand boroughs as to population. Their estimated population in June, 1876 stood in the following order: — Dunedin, 23,365; Welliqgton, 16,130; Christchurch, 12,815 ; Auckland, 12,024; Nelson, 5554; Hokitika, 2905. Such are the figures given by the Registrar-General. It however remains to be said that Christchurch and Auckland aresui rounded by numerous suburban townships, the population of which, if taken into account, would add largely to the totals set down to those boroughs.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before Mr G. G. MtzGerald, R.M., Neil Matthieson pleaded guilty to having | ridden furiously thrpugh the streets, and . was fined ten shillings and cpsts. David Davidspn, whp did not appear, was charged with having allowed four empty packing cases to remain an unnecessary time on the I footway in Revell-street. Constable Barrett ' having proved the offence, the defendant was fined five shillings, and niue shillings cost. A woman named Taylor was charged with using abusive and insulting language, calculated to provpke a breach of the peace, tcwards pne Polly Lewis. Defendant, whp pleaded guilty, and said the complainant was continually anuoyiug her, was fined ten shillings, with nine shillings costs, or in default twenty-four hours' imprispnment. A lunatic patient was, on the evidence of Dr Dermctt, further remanded tp the Asylum, until the 16th March. Macfarlane v. Ruddy, £24. Adjourned by request of plaiutiff until the 23rd March. Goulston v. Griffiths, adjourned until the 16th March, the summons not having been returned from Kumara. Kenny v. Teunant, £36. Defendant ordered to pay the amount by monthly instalments pf £10 each. Reddy v. Hall, £9 15s. A judgment summons. Defendant ordered to pay the amount within fourteen days, with the alternative of one month's imprisonment. Eastgate v. Robinson, £62. This was also a judgment summons. Mr Reid fpr plaintiif. Order made for the defendant to pay £5 per month, or in default, two mouths' imprisonment. Clarke v. Ilaincs, £5 7s. Defendant was ordered to pay ten shillings per week, or in default, one mputh's imprispnment. The defendant 1 strongly urged that he was doing nothing, and intimated his intentipn tp " take it out" ia gaol. Seddon v. H. Williams, £13 sa. Mr Reid for plaintiff, Mr Purkisa for defendant. The plaintiff 'c agent purchased a horse for £35 at auction, from Mark Sprot and Co., which was warranted staunch. When the hprse was taken tp Kumara, it was found he was a jibber. The animal was pffered back tc the defendant, whp refused tp take it, whereupon plaintiff sold it for £21 15s, and npw sued fpr tbe balance. After a lpug hearing, judgment was given fpr the ampunt claimed. The Court then adjourned. The tickets for the rapnstcr Art Union are now rapidly being spld. Intending subscribers to this Art Unipn should secure their numbers without further delay. The Committee have, we leavn, arranged for the drawing to take place at an early date. The Chairman pf the Harbor Board recently used some very strong language respecting the protective works recently finished en Upper Gibson's Quay, on the nprthbankof the river. The portiou of the work he referred to is that known as the stone protective works. The stpnes are protected with eleven feet piles, but as just in front of them there is twelve feet of water, ie can easily be imagined that the work was not very substantial. As a matter of fact, several chains of the piling have disappeared and the stones show a dispositicn tp gravitate tpwards the river. A resident on Gibson's Quay captured cue of the piles pn its way tp sea. The length of this vagrant pile is a little over nine feet, aud although pointed it has never beeu shod. If this is a specimen of the manner in which the work has been done, Mr Virtue's strictures are not undeserved. The Secretary of the Arahura Road Board laid before the Board a detailed estimate of expenditure and income for the present year. The expenditure was estimated roughly as follows :— Salaries, £700 ; maintenance of roads, tracks, &c, £4420; new works, £8925; surveyo, labor, &c., £350 ; total, £14,395 The income was estimated as follows :— . Rates, £750 ; Government subsidy, £270 ; tolls, £15u0 ; total, £2520. In addition, there will be the apprppriation frpin the Cpunty Council. The Arahura Board of Health paid over £80 for expenses in connection with the recent alleged case of typhoid fever at Stafford. One of the members of the Board, Mr Sandle, said " that in three weeks two and a half cords pf firewood, five bottles of brandy 33 bottles of ale, aud 18 bottles of porter liad been consumed. The account was passed." It is stated, says tbe Grey River Argus, that Mr Charles Woolcock has taken bis I departure for Wellington, he having made up his mind finally to leave Greymouth. We are not awara if he has left his resignatipn j behind him of his seat in the County Council, but it is pbvipusly his duty not tp allpw the inhabitants of the Cobden riding to be virtually disfranchised. In the event of Mr Woolcock's resignation, it i 3 understeod that Mr Wallace will come forward, if so ho will most likely be returned.

An address will be delivered in tbe Wes- ' leyan Church to-morrow evening on the present condition of the town in reference to scarlatina. The Secretary of the Representative Committee requests all accounts to be furnished to him on or before Tuesday next, Creditors in the estate of H. Brown, baker, Kumara, are requested to send in their accounts to the trustees on or before Monday next. We learn that scarlatina among children in town is rapidly on the increase. Several fresh cases have come under the notice of the medical profesßipn during the past few days. Indeed the matter is becoming sp seripus that we feel cpmpelled to draw the attention of the School Committee to the circumstance, and tp urge the necessity pf at least enquiring from the medical professipn whether pr npt it AVPuld be expedient to close the schools for a week or two. Mr E. Patten, Collector of Customs, is about tp enjoy a well-earned hpliday. Mr E. T. Rpbinson will fulfil the duties of Receiver pf Revenue until Mr Patten's return. The Gpvernmcnfc have finally declined to declare the Christchurch road a main road under " The Public Werks Act, 1876." Their reason is, that as Parliament during last session declined to vpfce the sum of £3000 placed on the Estimates for Ihe purt pose of making this road a Government one, the> could hardly act against the expressed decision of tbe House. The Arahura Road Board have, we believe, received intimation of this, and will have, in consequence, to assume charge pf this road. A dividend of Is 6d per share, amountiug to £3600 was declared by the Golden Fleece Extended Quartz^mining Cprnpany here laßt I night, payable on and after to-day. This j cpmpany has declared in dividends the large sum of £16,800 since the 22nd Nov. last. The follpwing items are from the InangaI hua Times of Wednesday : — There has been considerable business doing iv Inkerman shares during the past few days, at steadily advancing rates. The crushing is proceeding with the utmost satisfaction, and the result so far would appear to iudicate a great revival of confidence in the future of the Rainy Creek district. Yesterday a large party of Greymouth and ReefLou residents rode out to Ruiuy Creek to inspect the mine and crushing, and their report is favorable. — The tramway works in cpnnection with the Macedonia Company will be completed by the end o£ the current month, when the ccmpany's battery will be at once set in mptiou. — The news from Boatman's continues of the most satisfactory nature. Tfhe reef in the Welcome has made considerably siuce it was first struck, and now presents a most promising body of stone. There has been great activity in transactions iv these shares of laLe, and the utmost confidence is felt in the future pf the mine. Hopeful shares have also made a great jump within the last week or so, and have risen during that time from about £2 15s to about £5. We believe that all the latter shares have been withdrawn from the market. The uncertainty o£ an actor's chances of popularity arc well exemplified id the case of Mr Alfred Dampier, the tragedian, who, from a money point of view, was a failure in Christchurch, Duuedin, and many of tbe tpwns in New Zealand. At the leading theatre in Sydney he is reported to be filling the house from floor to ceiling every night. Now that details are to hand of the damage done by the floods at Motueka, tbe losses are shown to be far in excess of what was at first imagined. Mes6rs Richmond Hursthouse, C. Parker, and S. Buchholz report — " We estimate the damage done iv the subdistrict of Motueka at £5165, which amount does not include £4000 loss by washing away of roads, &c." In Riwaka the loss is estimated at £6340. la the Ngatimoti and Dovedale districts the loss is estimated at £8000, shared by about 50 settlers. Messrs H. A . Tarraut, D . H. Jennings, and Thomas Grpoby, report sixteen cases in the Pangatotara sub-district, in which the aggregate loss is set down at £2650 — an amount, the Committee state, " that does npfc by any means represent the total loss sustained by the settlers of the Psngatotara sjub-district." Mr Pearce Owen Pearce, a ccmmercial traveller, whilst riding frpm Takaka to Collingwood, in the company of Mr W. Harley, of Nelson, was throw from his horse near the farm of Mr Brace, situate near the Parapara, and from the effects of which he died the following morning. It appears (says the Colonist) that Mr Pearce being unaccustomed to riding on horseback, his companion and he proceeded at a walking pace, Mr Harley leading the way. When the latter gentleman was opposite Mr Brace's farm, his companion's horse came up to him, and he then found it was riderless. On looking back he discovered Mr Pearce lying upen the beach, and he immediately went to his assistance, pne pf Mr Brace's men accpmpanying him. They rempved the unfortunate man to the farm house, where he was put to bed, and every attention was paid him, but he remained speechless till about 3 o'clock the following morning, when he succumbed. The remains were then taken on tp Cpllingwpod where an inquest was held befpre Mr Guinness, R.M., [and a verdict was returned to the effect that the cause of death was unknown. The body was then brought to Nelson by the p.s. Lady BarklyThe millenium must be close at hand, when we find a Governor of a British dependency veluntarily relinquishing £2000 of his salary to the Colonial chest. This is what has been done, and fer the second time by the Governor of Fiji. His pay is £5000 a year, and he has handed back £2000 of that sum tp relieve the shortened means pf the Colony over which he rules. A laughable error was made by Cpuncillor Thompson in the Dunedin City Council the ether day, when he showed his deficiency in classical histcry by cenfpunding Venus with Jupiter Pluvius. He said that in the late flpods " Venus pverflowed." The New Zealand Times points out what it considers three cardinal defects in the Resident Magistrate's Act. These are " first, that tbe magistrate has power in all actions brought in it to determine both the law and the fact, and to give judgment accordingly; second, the arbitary power it gives in the admission of evidence: the magistrate can receive any evidence which he thinks fit,

' whether legal or not ;' thirdly, the very unsatisfactory provisions made for appeal from the given." The 47fch sectipp of the Act of 1867, is as follows:—'* The Court in all actions brought in the Court ehajl have full power to determineall questions as well of fact as of law, and to give judgment between the parties as it shall find to stand with equity and good conscience, and to examine witnesses on oath, and the Court shall be at liberty to receive any such evidence as to it may seetn fit, whether the same shall be strictly legal evidence or not, and in any judgment to prescribe such terras and conditions as to the time and niocje of satisfying such judgment as ifc shall deem just and reasonable." With regard to this our contemporary says :~" Such large powers as these, when taken with the very restricted powers of appeal, would be bad enough, and dangerous enough, but when they are to be exercised, and are every day exercised by persons without any professional education, they are simply monstrous." The following are the particulars of the assault for which Edward Popley, the celebrated English wicket -keeper, has been arrested :—": — " A most brutal and cowardly assault was made on Mr Dpnkin, Assistant Railway Engineer, while that gentleman, in company with a friend and Charlwopd, pf the English Eleven, were on their way to the Theatre Royal. The assailant was Poo ley, one of the ; English cricketers. It appears that on Saturday last Pooley, who stopped at the same hotel as that gentleman, said he would take odds of 6 to 1 that he (Pooley) would name the scores for the Canterbury Eighteen. Mr Donkin took him up, thinking that the bet was a perfectly bona fide one, and that Popley wpuW place the exact number of runs tp each man. Ip afterwards turned out that this was a 'catch' bet, Peoley bpastiug that he • had' Dpnkin by placing a duck's egg to each man. Hearing this, Mr Donkin was heard by many tp declare off, before and after the match began, Last night Pooley met Mr Donkin in the smoking-room, and demanded £36. The latter refused to pay, when Charlwood (who knew Mr Donkjn's relations at Home) took that gentleman away, as his friend ; and it was while on their way tp the theatre that the assault was made. Unaware pf his approach, Pooley caught hold of Donkin, and, before anybody ha<l time to collect their senses, struck him three times violently irj the face. Being threwn dpwn, Pooley jumped on him and continued striking until he was pulled away. Threats being held out, Mr Donkin, by the advice of his friends, slept for the night in another house. This was not the List of it. The room at his usual place of abode was forcibly entered and every particle of Mr Donkia's wearing apparel torn to shreds, and some important plaus partially destroyed. The public indignation at the outrage is intense. The law has beeu set in motion, and it is not unlikely that one, i£ not more, of the English cricketers will pay another unexpected visit to Canterbury." The Ste.Ua, Government steamer, brought Mr Smith and family from Cape Campbell lighthouse to Westport, he having been apr pointed lighthouse keeper at Cape Eoulwind, in the place of Mr Hand, deceased. The same boat took away Mrs Hand and family to Wellington. Lovers (says a writer in the Melbourne Leader") who are iv the habit of taking moonlight walks along the beach between Sandridge and St Kilda should take warning by a story that an old Tasmanian friend once told me. He was walking with a lady, to whom he was engaged, on a country road a few miles put of Launceston, when twp eonviefcs in prison attire suddenly appeared before them and told them to undress. Remonstrances were perfectly useless ; the men were desperate, .and resistance would have been madness. In abput ten minutes an exchange of clothes was effected — tup la.3y it appears was very large and one of the convicts very small— and the lovers were left in particolored garments, richly embroidered with br-oa-i arrows, to make Iheir way home, while the escaped prisoners went on their way rejoicing. My friend anijl his cpnipanipn were arrested by the police as they came within the lights cf Launceston, and it was only by sending for the young lady's father, who hated the gentleman, that they avoided being locked up all night. If the priscners at werk down at the Sandridge batteries continue to escape as they have been doing lately, my friend's histpry may repeat itself on the shores of Hobson's Bay. The Gtago Daily Times says :—ln: — In Otago public opinion is in favor of a compulspry clause in the next Education Act, but dees not think free education is rigorously demanded of our educational system in the future. The London Times contains a long letter from ""Tudor'" (Mr Macindoe"), secretary of the Otago Conventien, rebutting repprts pf the Wellington correspondent of that journal, setting forth the objects of the Convention and its loyalty to the Crown, notwithstanding its determination to resist tue coercion of the Colonial Parliament. We were, says the Newcastle Herald, shown a splendid block of coal, ever two tons in weight, which was taken out of the Newcastle Coal Company's mine. The coal is of excellent quality, and is to be forwarded to Melbourne as a sample. The output pf coals fcr the week ending February 9, was 22,011 tons of which 5331 were shipped to Sydney, 6359 to Melbourne, 1086 tp Adelaide, 2670 to New Ztaland, 941 to Hobarfc Towp, 1320 to San Francisco, 1100 to Manila, 1162 to Hong Kong, 300 to Brisbane, to steamers 45, and for home consumption 1285 ; 10 tons coke per Co-operative Company. The A. A. Co., sent 6050 tons ; Waratab, 1816 tons ; Lambton, 2590 tons ; Brown's Cplliery, 2874 tons ; Anvil Creek, 145 tons ; Wallßend, 2718 tons ; Co-operative Co., 2813 tons ; New Lambton, 3005 tons. The Auckland Herald hears that Mr Peebles, tbe great Spiritualist preacher, is expected by the next San Francisco steamer, on his way to Australia. < The correspondence received by the Government by the last mail shows tliat Sir i Jaliua Yogel is getting into harness, but j nothing of any particular interest is centained in his despatches. i Ccusiderable sensation was created at Pentridge lately (says the Sydney News), owing to the conduct of Hie convict Scptt alias Captain Moonlight, who committed the

celebrate^ Egcrton Baqk robbery. It appears that Scof;t is in the th§ habit o| having a bath on returning from forenoon labor. He went as usual to jtyo bathrqoijjj and on leaving it, * went to Chief I^Jiy's office, and said r that he wißhe,^ to speak to that officer- |! Kelly inquired what he. panted. Scctt re- \ plied that he wanted to see the Inspectcr- f General or Visiting Justice. He then went I from the pflice, and lpoking rpund tp ascertain whether anyone else was present, returned to the office and closed the door. C Walking up to Kelly's fable he said, « I wish a tp speak to you privately," at the same time d holding a table-knife in Ms hand . « I want ypur watch or your life. I must have it ! If you refuse I'll munjer vpu." Kelly, taken j by surprise, atteinped to rnpve away, whereupon Scott snatched Kelly's watch, breaking a the chaui, and retreating to the bathroom t locked lurogelf: in. The warder went to the ropin dopr advising Scptt tp give up the knife and to leave the bath and go tp his cell. J Scott, looking through tl-3 lattice work, held 1 up the knife again threatening to take the J Superintendent's life. After expostulatipn * however, Scott gave up the knife and was removed to the terrible A division. Scott has besn very refractory pf late. ' The fpllowing paragraph appears in the j Westport Times of the 6tU iast :— « When next public festivities arc held ia Westport, it would be well were some of our Greymoufch neighbors invited. They profess to imagine and in imagining are reckless enough to assert, that Westportians are but utter barbarians, caring ncthing for social amenities, unable tp receive a guest in fitting mannner, aud having scarcely a Jady among them whose presence would grace a ball rpptn. It was the industrious buzzing of statements like these, in the ears of His Excellency and suite, by certain Greymouth pepple, that very nearly deprived Westport pf the honor pf rnpre than a flying visit from vice royalty, And yet was His Excellency gratified full well, with every detail pf his reoeptipn in Westpprt." The Resident Magistrate at Reef tpn, has made a very salutary example pf a brawler at a public entertainment. For using insulting language, oid afterwards threatening to horsewhip Mr L, Davies, cne J. Aitken was fined £10 and cost, and ordered to find two securities, of £50 each, to keep the peace for six mpuths. The offence was committed at the hospital concert. A curious boat accident happened in Wellington harbor last week. The Argns says :—": — " A hulk waß moored a little distance eff the end of the wharf, and having a good deal of chain out, a boat attempted to pass between the hulk and the buoy she was moored to. When the boat was fairly in the middle of the chain, the wind blew the hulk astern aud tue chain tightening up, the boat was caught fairly in the middle and tossed up iuto the air; The occupants five or six in number, were all thrown into the water, but were promptly rescued by boats which put off from the wharf and tbe gridiron." A Recruiting Medicine. As a means of increasing the diminised vital forces, of enlisting the recuperative powers latent in the system in an effort tc reepver lost vigor and health, pf affording a support and splace tc the aged aud infirm, of re-inforcing the digestive and urinary organs when enfeebled, and finally pf bringing tP the i( front " the glow of health and the smile of cheerfulness, there is no recruiting medicine so prompt and efficient as Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps. — Advt. " Berkeley, Sept., 1869,— Gentlemen, I feel it a duty I owe to you to express my gratitude for the great benefit I have derived by taking ' Norton's Camomile Pills, I applied to your.ag.ent, RJr Bell, Berkeley, for the above named Pills, for wirad in the stomach, from which I have suffered excruciating pain for q length of time, having tried nearly everyremedy prescribed, but without deriving any benefit at all. After taking two botti£3 of your valuable pills I was quite restored to my usual health. Please give this publicity for the benefit ot those who may thus be afflic.ted.T-*-J am, Sir, yours truly, Henry Allpass. — To the Proprietor of Nokton's Camomile Piiis." Tadvt.]