West Coast Times

West Coast Times, Issue 2586, 14 July 1877, Page 2

West Coast Times

SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1877.

The speech of the Hou. Mr Stafford is certainly not what might have been expected from him. Notwithstanding the wretched summary of il which the Press Agency wired to the papers, it is quite clear that Mr Stafford is not the Mr Stafford of former days. He seems to be resigned to the occupation of a secondary position in the little political world of New Zealand. It is easy to glean from his address to his Timaru constituents that ac is content to take the present Ministry as they are, and that he, at all events, will not be a party to any attempt to oust them from office. His remark that there would, in his opinion, be little or no opposition during the forthcoming session is sufficient to indicate this. The points of general interest on which the speech' touched are few. The optional clause in the Counties Act is a defect which has been patent to every one since the establishment of County Councils, and we think no one will dispute that it is inexpedient that County Councils should have the control of arterial works in the Colony. Mr Stafford's argument that people in various parts of New Zealand, who are taxed to make railways from which they derive no benefit, should have "a simple means of communication for themselves/ is also incontrovertable. The simplest means of communication js a road, but here road making is by no means a simple art, neither is it a simple matter to travel

!on West Coast roads. Tho Govern- j I ment have certainly not offered the , I inhabitants of Wostland thoir fair sharo ' of the expenditure on public works, (and ws hope -to see our members in both houses use their utmost endeavors f.p get a sum for the Hokitika and Greymouth railway placed on the Estimates. There is no doubt that Che 1 Government have mauaged to inipoee j I so mauy charges on the laud fund, that it would be a better and wiser policy to make it consolidated revenue with the exception of 25 per cent., which Mr Staffer J proposes, should be locally allocated. Mr Stafford's opinion that Municipalities have been unduly taxed to support charitable aid is one in which at all events, the Hokitika Corporation will coincide with him. Let us hope that his prediction that the Government will remedy this injusj/jce duripg thp next session of Parliament, will be fulfilled. His. picture of the results of the great I Public Works Policy is not a pleasant one to dwell on. The assertion by an experienced politician, a friend of the present Gpverpment, that the people of New Zealand have only repeived half their moneys worth for their money, is. depressing, but we fear somewhat uear the truth. Mr Stafford's other remarks do not call for much comment. ludeed his speech as a whole ; is scarcely worth the fuss that has been made about it.

The Press Agency is kind enough to tell us, that the plaintiff iv some paltry libel case at Wellington will not haye to pay so much in costs as the defendants. We are ;ijso tojd that a great deal of misapprehension exist? on this subject. The Press Agency may rest assured thut no one in [lokitika cares one farthing about the matter at all. Tlie new Hospital building is progressing rapidly towards completion, so far as the contractor is concerned. The carpenters tire likely to be out in two or three days, and the painters will have finished their work in eight or ten days. Drains are beiDg cut in several directonsj and tho building will be ready for the reception of patients niuch earlier than was anticipated. Mr Barff, M.H.11., will address the electors of Hokitika, previous to his departure for Wellington, at the Town Hall, at eight o'clock this evening. - There will be a meeting of the Harbor Board at two p.m. this afternoon. At ;i meeting of the Local School Committee yesterday, a citizen of this town, who was accused of allowing children to attend the public school, although sonic of the members of his family were suffering from scarlet fever, was acquitted from blame, as he produced a medical certificate exonerating him to some extent. We continue to be inundated with correspondence respecting Mr Virtue's recent tilt at the clergy, but are compelled in justice to our readers' patience to refuse their insertion. To prevent any misapprehension on Mr Virtue's part that we are refusing insertion to letters advocating his cause, or favorable iv the slightest degree to the position he has thought fit to take up, wo m.iy state with the exception of Mr W ilberg's letter, every one we have received has been both in tone and language, strongly condemnatory of Mr Virtue's arguments. An adjourned meeting of tfic Local School Committee took place at ten o'clock yesterday morning, at the office of the Chairman. Present — Messrs Mulligan, L. G. Ex-id, Paterson, Johnston, and Williams. Afttr some formal business had been dealt with, an application for exemption of payment for school books was granted. On tho recommendation of the Head Master, Thomas Marr was appointed pupil teacher in the room of James Wilson, deceased. A letter from the Head Master, complaining that ineilical men did not report all cases of scarlet fever, was ra-id and received. A letter was received from the Head Master, complaining of insufficient ventilation in the second master's room. The matter was referred to. the Visiting Committee with power to act. Eighteen applications, accompauied by voluminous testimonials, for the appointment of a first class assistant teacher, at a salary of £200 a year, were opened and read. Finally, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Koifl, the application of Mr Joseph Gloss of the Otago University was accepted, the hon. secretary being requested to inform that gentleman of his appointment. The meeting then adjourned. The road from Hokitika to the Arahura is fearfully heavy just now, and is rendered no lighter by the extraordinary thickness of metal which is being placed on some parts of it. Applications for the appointment of Librarian to the Literary Institute are invited by the Committee, Mr Ulrich having resigned. The Eeefton Times says that the share market has now sobered down to a state of comparative quiescence. A very confident feeling, however, prevails iv relation to many of the companies,. aud tho slackness of the market is therefore rather to be attributed to a scarcity of the needful than to any other cause. A miner named John Richards was injured at the Wealth of Nations works on Monday la3t. Richards was brakesmen at one of the surface incline tramways, and while thus eugaged some portion of. the coupling gear parted and bruised him rather severely. The sufferer was convened to the hospital, and is now progressing favorably, his injuries not being of such a serious nature as was at first supposed. The Bruce Herald regrets to observe that the Hon Ecbert Campbell, Chairman of the Waitaki County Council, has accepted a salary of £150 per annum for his services in that capacity. Mr Campbell is probably the wealthiest gentleman in this country, without exception, owning as he does half a million of sheep. " The Campbells are. coming," is the popular air with the bands of Turkish regiments at the present time, Campbell Pasha, who it ie needless to say, is a Scotchman, being on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief . McCallum More for ever ! The Dunedin Times learns that the tariff rates of freight from London to New Zealand,

which were recently agreed to by the various Shipping Companies, no Ipnger hold good, and that the rajes in future W 'U be sojely regulated by open competition. The sfeam. h.aiqmQF at tlie Port Chalmers graving dpqk is j;o commence work th,'! 8 week. A brick chimney stack connected with the dock, 70ft high, has just been completed. Mr Edward Bull, after being for twentythree years connected with thp Customs, latterly at . Auckland has retired on his peusion. | A club, called the Southern Cros3, has lately been established in Dunedin, and formally opened. Dr Keating has succeeded Dr Henry at Charleston as medical officer to the lodges. Owing to the fall in th^ value of flax fibie, Robinson's mill, at Blenheim, which employed twenty-four hands, has ceased working. The Waikato Swamp Company are now commencing operations on an exteusivc sale in, reclaiming land. The Rev. Mr Monro was inducted to St. | Luke's Presbyterian Church Auckland, on sth ult, . The Auckland correspondent of the Dunedin Times, of July 6th says:— The report that a large lusurance Company will shortly be floated in Chrislehurch h said to be due to the fact that the South British Company is on the point of moving its account from the Union Bank to a local Bank. I understand that the National B#nk has been selected. The Insurance Agents' Conference Auckland, made some reductions iv rates consequent on the completion of the water supply. The chief reductions apply to hotels, and it is whispered that the Co-operative Hotel Insurance Company had something to do wilh this display of liberality. Mr Bedford, Customs officer, at Auckland, broke his arm while rinking. The Government has given the Improvement Commissioners £300 and the Police Court building jn exchange for the old military store now used as a grammar school and Wesleyan Chapel, which will be turned into a Police Court. The Commissioners propose opening out anew street with the money.— Otago Times. A party of vegetarians, who were boarding at a water cure establishment, while taking a walk in the fields were attacked by a bull, ' which chased them furiously oub of his pasture. "That's your gratitude' is it, you great, hateful thing ?" exclaimed one of the ladies, panting with fright and fatigue. i" After this I'll cat meat three times a day." " I can never enjoy poetry when I'm cookiu'," said an old lady; but when I step out to feed the lio.;s, and hist myself ou the fence and throw my soul into a few lines of ' Cap'n Jinks,' it docs seem as ii tiiis airth was made to livoou after all." Mr Morell, the engineer of the Public Works Department, Sydney, who has been selected to prepare the plans illustrative of Sir W. Jervoh's proposals for the defoncc of Port Jackson, has gone to Melbourne. The Adelaide Government, stated in tho Assembly that they will not mount guns at Port Adelaide, or seek power to increase the Volunteer force until they have received the report of Sir W. Jervois, and Colonel Scratchcly. •,; Symouds, the chief engineer o£ the staamcr Somerset, has been committed for trial for tho murder of a Chinamen on board. The Auckland " Herald" leani3 that the brook trout brought from California by order of Mr Thomas Ruasell— so much of the shipment as arrived in a healthy state — are progressing favorably. The greater part of ova (5000) shipped in America were found to have perished during the voyage. About 400 were deposited in the fisli-house, and 380 haye thrived. They are umv, to all appearance, sturdy and he.dthy liMo fish. Another shipment is shortly expected. The Wellington correspondent of the Hawke's Bay " Herald " states that great reductions have been made in the Native Department. The staff resident in Wellington Ims not been much changed, but in other parts many people have been discharged, and the expenses greatly curtailed. The present Native Department will be divided into two, the Native Deparimerit.and the Native Lands Court ; the seat of the latter will be in Auckland, and will be presided over by Judge Feu ton. Two large Presbyterian congregations, St. Andrews, Auckland, and Grahamston Church, were declared vacant by Presbytery the other day, and are seeking pastors. Not only has regular army-drill been introduced into all the French public-schocJls for boys — who are thoroughly trained and examined by soldiers — but the French National Rifle Association has been formed for the purpose of making good marksmen of all Frenchmen, and is rapidly becoming an important institution. The report of 1876 shows continuous success. At the end of last year there were existing in the depart--meuts 1,511 local societies, and 2,138 competitions had been organized; 4,375 diplomas had been conferred on the best shots, and 10,392 medals had been awarded. The total number of prizes distributed was 14,925, The association issued to its 160,351 adherents 313,800 scoring papers, and the number of cartridges used was 3,207,180. All this in view of •' contingencies," whose nature is perfectly understood by all. The new rules framed by the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court in Wellington, have been received by legal practioners resident in Auckland. The times allowed for pleading are different from the old practice, being in the present case regulated by the distance of the defendant from the Court-house. If he reside within 20 miles, 8 clear days are allowed; over 20, and if within 50 miles, 12 days; if over 50, and within 120 miles, 21 days; beyond 120 miles, 28 days. Rules (nisi) for new trials must be moved within 14 days after the trial, unless some particular time has been specified at the trial. Probates or letters of administration will not be sealed after the expiration of a calendar month from the day on which the application was granted. After such a period a fresh application must be made. A rule (nisi) for a new trial, or a rule or order grantintg further time to move shall, übon being duly served upon the

opposite party, operate as a stay of proceedings until such further time shall have expired. The 2nd of January is made a court holiday. The new rules are sigped by I. Prendergast, C.J., A. J. Johngfcqn, C. W. Richmond, T. B. Gillies, J. S. Williams, and have been approved by his Excellency the Governor.

Wanganui papers report that a young man named George Walton, an employe of Mr John. Anderson, cabiuetmaker, has just come into property worth about £15,000. The devisor was an uncle of the fortuate legatee, who resided in Auckland, and is only lately dead.

The Wellington Argus understands that the officers of the railway department purpose presenting a testimonial to Mr Passmore,"«n his retirement from the service. He was given his choice of twelve months' notice or six inonttjß' salary, and selected the latter. It is understood he intends to settle in Canterbury.

The Bishop of Chester has been taking vigorous action with respect to rinking. He regards this amusement as vicious in the extreme, aud even before the disease pqnetrated to Chester, he had been much exercised by its growth. At length a company started in Chenter for the purpose of starting building and laying down a rink, and the Bishop's horror reached a crisis. He brought every pressure to bear upon the company, in order to induce shareholders to restrain from their desecration, but without avail. Then he resolved to make a pecuuiary sacrifice, and offered to buy up the riuk in order to close it. The director* asked £4000 for the property, and the Bishop at once handed them a cheque for tha amount. He will probably find he has made a grand mistake, and the effect will be similar to that produced by giving an organ-grinder a penny to go away,, hundreds comiug shortly afterwards for similar payments.

Seeing tluit the new Police Regulations have not yet. had a week's trial, the Dunedin " Guardian " thinks there is something very significant in the following episode. About 1 o'clock in the morning a man dressed in tlie upifprm of a constable wa3 observed reclining, and apparently soundly slumbering, on some straw among the ruins of Grogau's produce store, where the fire took pluce a few hours previously. Ilis bull's oye lantern shone like a star from a dark . firmament among the embers. Attention was called to the position of tho sluniborer, and a few minutes later the helpless officer, who was laboring from somethiug more potent than charred straw, -was carried along like a bag of wheat between an able-bodied policeman and a powerful sergeant in the direction of the station. " Who is he ?" inquired a bystander. "The constable in charge of the fire," replied the person addressed. " Rather a nice sort of a constable," suggested the first speaker. u Good enough for seven bob a day," wa3 the retort. The erring constable has since been suspended.

On the occasion of a recent breach of proimse case,. tried in one of the American Courts, the following letter was read:— <% I have refrained from rhapsodising in this openia-r epistle, but caunot and must not tilose without expressing the dc prqfundis of my love and how my soul is always with you and )iow delightfully I contemplate our metting to-morrow night. I have read love letters in .the Press aud elsewhere, that teriniiisitcd by saying a million kisses, or ten thousand kisses, and such like, witii a particular place on the paper marked for the purpose. This I thiuk absurd, and shall not adopt it. How, my darling can paper convcv .the rapture of a virgiu violet kiss ? Let us kiss wheu we meet, a)id kiss when we part, until we meet to part no more, and then kiss altogether, world without end. Amen Your own affectionate E-lwin. — Midnight." The damages awarded were ten thousand dollars.'

A very singular political character has just died at Paris, Gregory Ganesco, native .'of Roumauia. He had been naturalised a i?renchmau ; he was really a very ugly man, but had a smile that charmed all ladies, and hands so small as to make them envy him. Ho was editor of countless journals, had the entree to the offices of ministers, as to those of editors ; never was to be met with but with a portfolio under his arm, bulging out with documents, of whose contents he was perfectly ignorant, and only desired they made a show. He was a shrewd observer of public events, and rneu, and in his journal Europe he predicted that Bismarck, thcu unknown to fame, "would change the way of Europe. " He floated the Tunisian loan successfully, and received 300,000 francs for his commission ; he merely arranged to introduce the Tunisian envoy that all poohpoohed to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. His other great feat was being elected a Councillor General for Montmorency, Passing by a cemetery, where a crowd was collected round an open grave, he asked to deliver a few words over the defunct, whom he never saw, still less knew anything about. After drawing tears from the eyes of the mourners, he invited them to forget their grief, and still farther manifest their respect for the departed by partaking of a dejeuner in a restaurant close by. When the toast hour arrived, he proposed himself as a fit and proper councillor, and was next day placed at.the head of the poll.

In Stirling, an incident, probably unique in the history of St. Valentine's Day, occurred. Some local wags procured one of the valentiues which summon, the recipient to attend at the " Court of Hymen," etc., and persuaded a good humored policeman to deliver it to Lacblan Cameron, a Highland bumpkin employed in the Royal Hotel stables. On receiving the document, Cameron manifested lively perturbation, and aaked if he really must attend the Court. The policeman gravely assured him that he must do so, and walked off gulping down a very unofficial guffaw. Cameron shortly afterwards proceeded to the Police Office, and presented his summons to the officer in charge, asking hiai what he was to do. . The officer was at first inclined to laugh in his face, but something about the man's features seemed to strike him as familiar, so he desired Cameron to wait a few minutes while he enquired into the matter. A little seach among officials documents disclosed the fact that Cameron was " wanted " on a charge o f passing a bad half sovereign at Bannockbum some time previously. The officer accordingly requested

Cameron \o step " ben tjie hoosc," and in a trice had $he silly fellow locked up in a cell.

The Georgia Mjnistrejs J^ave been very succpssfnl in Dunediq, but they are at loggerheads with Councillor Fish, who appears to have offended tb,ejr susceptibilities by calling them " travelling niggers." The members of the company are all negroes,

The immigration returns of the Port of Otago for the Jast month show that the arrivals were 119, and the departures 163.

The Christchurch papers announce that there is no truth in the rumor that His Honor Judge Johnston is going to exchange places with Judge Williams of Dunedin.

A delicate membrane. Tbe lining of tbe intestines is a most delicate membrane, and wheu it becomes so unaturally sensitive that a slight change of air or a variation in diet burtfully affects it, the tone and regularity of those organs can pnly be restored by the action of a wholesome invigorant. Active, purgations weakens the bowels and abdominal muscles and aggravates rather than lessons the evil. Brace and stimulate them with Udolhpo Wolfe's Schiedam Akomatic Schnapps. — Advt. Holloway's Pills. — Weak and Debilitated Constitution. — The present weather ia trying to the robust ; to the ' week and debilitated it is overpowering. Holloway's Pills have long been noted for their corrective and purifying powers, and are the readiest restoratives of health and vigor. They remove all impurities from the blood, improve the digestion, and rouse the liver, without interrupting pleasure, business or study. Holloway'a Pills cool the system, regulate the circulation, moderate excessive perspiration, guard the constitution iq critical moments, and suve it from destruc- ! tion ; in fact, so build up and renovate i failing health as to make them the most | desirable medicine. They neither gripe nor act violently or inconveniently on the most delicate bowels, and may, therefore, be taken by the aged or infirm, and safely administered in the nursery. " Berkeley, Sept., 1869,— Gentlemen, I feel it a duty I owe to you to express ray gratitude for the great bensfit I have derived by taking ' Norton's Camomile Pills, I applied to your agent, Mr Bell, Berkeley, for the above named Pills, for wiad in the stomach, from which I have suffered excruciating psin for a length of time, haying ; 1 tried nearly everyremedy prescribed, but 1 without deriving any benefit at all. After taking two bottles of your valuable pill? I was quite restored to my usual health. Please give this publicity for the benefit or t! r r j se who may thus be afflicted, — I am, fcir, yours truly, Henry Allpass.— To the Proprietor of Nokton's Camomile Phis." Taovt,]