West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1877.

West Coast Times, Issue 2655, 3 October 1877, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1877.

The result of the division list on Mr Larnach's motion, condemnatory of the action of the Government, in connection with the maintenance of the Waka Maori, must have been relief unspeakable to Major Atkinson and his colleagues, tor at one tiino during the course of the debato it seemed almost a guinea to a gooseberry that they would have to vacate the Ministerial benches, and, in vulgar parlance, take back seats at the close of the debate. As it is that all is well with them and their tenure of office for another year at all events, I seems now to be pretty well assured. Tliero are • few questions that can be brought forward this session on which anything like unanimity can be secured between those who voted together on Monday night laßt, and consequently j Ministers are probably secure. At tho same time their victory is owing, not I to any confidence that members of the House, as a whole, have iv them — especially with respect to the tyaka Maori affair — but to a natural disinclination to turn out a Government on^ such paltry grounds, and also an objection to the business of the country being delayed through a new Ministry taking office. If the division list is looked down, it will be seen that some of the members who voted with the Government spoke against their procedure in connection with the newspaper that gave rise to the discussion. Ministers cannot, after the very plain truths that were told them during the debate, exult over their majority, for it was only the fear of ill consequences inseparable from changes at so late a period of the session, that preserved their positions. The majority was larger than was anticipated, but it is only reasonable to suppose that before staking their existence on such an issue Ministers were confident of coming off victors. The lesson that they have learnt will, however, no

doubt be a salutary one, and they will hardly dare in future to brave the expressed opinion of the House, even though it l;e given on comparatively trifling matters. We must say that we are pleased with tho result, not because we hold the Government guiltless, but because it would have been anything but creditable to the Colony had they been ejected from office on such grounds. Wo presume now that business will proceed smoothly to its couclusion, though there are rocks auead, on which it is quite possible that tho Government bark muy be wrecked. It is to be hoped however that uo further interruption may take place, aud that the session may now be dovoted to business alone. The division list presents a rather curious medley, and in it houses are verily divided against themselves, as far as members for various constituencies aro concerned. It would take too much space to critically analyse the whole of the list, and we must confine ourselves to the members tor the Coast, who afford excellent illustrations of the division referred to. Commencing at home, we find Mr Button faithful to his salt, voting with tho Government, and vowing they can do no wrong. His colleague, Mr Barff, is just as certain that the occupants of the Ministerial benches have committed a heinous political crime in continuing to publish the Waka Maori, and so the two on r,he division bell ringing went into opposite lobbies. Mr Gisborue, member for Totara, was of the same opinion as Mr Barff, and voted accordingly. Mr Woolcock, member for the Grey, erstwhile Provincial Secretary, voted with the strongest party, as might be fxpecied, and Mr Kennedy, member for the same constituency, whoso seat is in danger, as he is charged with being a Government contractor, sat in the sume boat. Dr Henry, of Charleston, member for the Builer, was also a supporter of the Government on this occasion. Thus, of the six members, four were Ministerial, two in Opposition. Out of the majority, 42 in all, it must be reraerabGred, that there were no less than five Ministers, who were voting on their own special behoof, and one ex - Minister, Mr Richardson, who had been equally culpable with them in all relating to Ihe Waka Maori. Thus the 42 got really narrowed down to 36 <iisinIsrested members', a very sparse surplus indeed. It is well the matter is ended, and it is to be hoped that the timo of Parliament will not, this session, at all events, be wasted in such a manner. Had the question for arbitration l>een one where any principle was involved, where auy policy wus taken exception to, it would have been a different matter altogether, but the motion lately brought forward hud reference to neither and never should have been allowed to endanger a Government. As will be seen in our telegraphic columns, it is rumored that after parsing the District Railways Bill and the Estimates, the Government propose to prorogue Parliament. We hope there is no truth in the report, for there are many useful Bills origami and amended still in transition, Unit fairly claim attention. Should it be well-founded and the intention carried out, there will be a greater slaughter of innocents, at the close of this session, than probably has ever occurred since a constitutional Government was grauted to New Zealand. We must say cannot believe, that Ministers desire, or that tho Governor would sanction such a highhanded course, but a few days will tell.

The County Council met yesterday at 2 p.m., when all the Councjllers were present. Mr Seddon was voted to the chair at the afternoon sitting. The County Chairman, having arrived from Greyruouth, took the chair in the evening. A considerable amount of businees was dealt with, but we are obliged to hold over our report. It was amongst other things, resolved to strike a rate of one shilling iv the &, on all rateable property in County, and to declare the road from Dillman's Town to the Kumara boundary, a County road. The Council adjourned till the 9th inst. The day of rest wmeii nas ncen proclaimed by the Mayor as sot apart for intercessory services, has brought forth a host of correspondents, who have occupied a good portion of our space during the past two dayß. Fearing that some of the writers may allow their pens to drift into the discussion of doctrinal questions at greater length than our readers may care to appreciate, we take the opportunity of mentioning that the pruning knife will be applied, should such eventuate. As poor " Tui " ia twice shot at iv this issue, it is only fair that he be allowed to have a peck at his crosa and Christian marksmen, while he yet perches in vigorous vitality. Builer says on his work on ornithology that the " Tui gesticulates in a manner forcibly suggestive of the declamatory style of preaching;" and Dr Thompson graphically expresses that " the Tui uses the brauch of a tree as a pro tempore pulpit, and occasionally, with pent up vehemence, coutracts his muscles and draws himself together, his voice waxing loud in a manner to waken sleepers to their senses !" As early morn is his natural period for melody, the " Tui '' referred to may possibly furnish " a cough, a laugh, or a sneeze " to-morrow at daybreak, as a parting echo to his shootiats. A miner named Thompson was brought down from Kumara yesterday to the Hospital, suffering severely from burning. It appears that his tent took fire, and that he was so incapable irom the effects of drinking, that he was unable to leave his tent until he was considerably injured by the fire. He is, at least, temporarily blinded, and otherwise mnch injured. There was no police business at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, and the only other business was the disposal of a few debt cases of no public interest. The Rev. D. Bruce conducted services at Kumara on Sunday last, and at a committee meeting held afterwards it was resolved that the supply of a clergyman to Kumara should be left in the hands of the nokitika Presby-

tery. The Kumara Times states that a special meeting of the Presbytery is to be held there to moderate a call to the Roy. Mr Douglas, of Akaroa. .Several gentlemen tire about to form a Boating Club, and the initiatory steps to do so will be taken in a day or two. Already offers have been sent to Nelson and Christchurch for boats which are just now to be obtained cheaply. Due notice of the first meeting will be given, so that persons willing to join the Club may be present. We publish iv another column some more correspondence on the fever question. The usual monthly inspection parade of the First Westland Rifles and Hokitika Cadets is postponed to 11th inst., in consequence of the appointment of Thursday next as a day of rest, by the Mayor. The Town Clerk iuvitcs tenders for clearing and levelling ten chains of footpath in S.ile-strcet. Particulars to be obtained at the office, Rcvell-street. Tenders for construction of seventeen chains of hor3e track, south branch Kanieri river, and repairs and maintenance of the One-mile road, Arahura, also road from Blue Spur to the Arahura, close at the Secretary's office, Kanieri, on 11th inst. Applications from persons willing to fill the joint offices of Town Clerk and Surveyor to the Borough of Kumara (salary £350 per annum), will be received at the Town Clerk's office, Kumara, up to 31st inst. An inquest on the human remains, supposed to be those of the missing man Daniels, will probably be held at Kumara shortly. The Ross people, failing other excitement, appear to take great delight iv attending public meetings. The sins of the County Council arc now forgotten by the Rossites.. their lasteat public palaver having taken place on Friday, " to take into consideration the advisability of forming Ross into a Municipality." Steps were taken to translate Ross into a Municipality, and a committee appointed to make out the boundaries of the proposed Borough. An addition to the Westland Police Force has been made by the arrival of three con- ■ stables from Wellington . The murdered man Joseph Daniels is described by the Duucdin papers as having kept the Ncvaia, restaurant in Duucdin at the corner of Stewart-Street and Moray place and was one of the principal witnesses against Ilyan iv Farrell's case. The New Zealand Trades Journal is the mime of a monthly publication to be shortly issued in Duuedin by MrDungun, formerly of the Oamaru Mail A sale of 1000 acres of laud (in fifty acre lots) near Mastertun, the properly of Mr Gilligan, was lately held by Mr R. J. Duncan, of Wellington. There was a large attend mcc, and excellent prices were realised, the amount x n the aggregate having been .£OSOO. A Christchurch paper of last week reports that I 'atrick Clmnbers alias W. Smith, was accused by the master of the Garibaldi of assaulting him on Tuesday evening last. The Bench, after hearing evidence, sentenced accused, who was an old offender, to two months' imprisonment with hard labor, We observe that at the sixth annual meeting of the Lytteltou Permanent Land ! Building, and Investment Society, it Wiis i shown that the reserve fund ol the society, btood at £4G3 Us 7*l, being rather more than 7J- per cent of the society's assets. And the cost of the management was little more than 2£ per cent on their transactions, which had been more then covered by fines, and entrance fees accepted. The managing committee were congratulated ou the fact that there had not been any loss whatever in the society since its foundation. The Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows has been silting in Dunedin during the past week, and in that time has transacted a large amount of important business. Accounts received from the various districts showed that the Order is in a very flourishing condition, and rapidly increasing in numbers. At the sitting it was resolved that the next meeting of the Grand Lodge be holt! in Timaru, in September 1878. The Westport and Ngakawau line is now completed. Ie was formally opened on Wednesday 26th u!t, when excursion trains conveyed several hundreds of residents to the Ngakawau terminus. The leugth of line opened is eighteen miles. | We have had medical flannels, medical pills, medical chocolate, medical houses or hospitals. But the latest idea (observes a London weekly) is a medical restaurantIts proprietor claims to cure us of most diseases by a special system of diet, jind there is no doubt that many of the ills and pains in life are caused by food which is not good for us. The visitor enters the new restaurant, and he is at once accosted by a physician, who asks what is the matter with him. He then proceeds to prescribe what he shall eat. A long list of medical dislies ia on the menu, and uf ter the patient has had as much as is deemed good for him, he is dismissed to smoke his medicated cigar, and to sip his coffee and — camomile. The military experiences of the Govern- : ment brander have not been properly recognised, if Mr Travels is correct. In the House the other day Mr Travers said : " I say it is a crying shame that a number of bastard colonels— of which the Colony is full— should be pitchforked into departments of the Government of which they can have scarcely any knowledge whatsoever. Some time ago I heard a story in reference to one of these gentlemen, which I do not know if I can repeat ag I heard it, but it was to this effect : when there was a discussion as to the expediency of obtaining guns for the purpose of the defence of the various ports of the Colony, one of these military gentlemen, who had no knowledge of the style of construction of the now breechloading guns, applied to a person who hal a book upon the subject, in order that he might make himself acquainted with the matter. He obtained the book, and one of the first things he came across was the section of a shell. T his he took it into his head to be the section of a gun, and he turned it this way and that way, but was utterly unable to make hea<l or tail of it. Another gentleman, who did know something about the matter happened to catch him in the midst of this amusing investigation, and told him that he was looking at the section of a shell and not i that of a gun, Now, the ingenious military

man who could not tell the difference between the section of a shell and the section of a gun is at the head of the Stores Department, and he is about as likely to possess a knowledge of the duties he should perform as the man in the moon ; aud I say it is abominable that a number of ex-military men should be placed in these positions.' It would appear from our Akaroa contemporary that there is a Government tinker centralised ia Wellington. Our contemporary moralises on this fact thusly : •• Some time ago the Government placed a lamp at the end of the Akaroa jetty. This lamp was intended to serve as a " guiding star " to vessels entering tho bay after dark, and was so arranged that, when the white light was visible, it was understood that vessels were clear of the reef at Green's Point, and when the red light was opened out, that they were too clo3e in shore. There can be no doubt as to the utility of the lamp ; in fact, as Artemus would say, it is a • sweet boon ' to the hardy mariner ; but the same instability that characterises the actions of the Government in after matters also affected this lamp. In a gale of wind it swayed about like a reed while all the iron work shook like an aspe ll leaf. During one of the recent gales here this precious lamp was broken, and, as the red pane of glass was also fractured, rendered to all intents and purposes useless. The repairs, however, could easily have been effected here, and at very little expense in comparison, but no, the Government, whose policy is retrenchment, order it to be sent up to Wellington." At Christchurch last week a young man named Alexander Leith Gordon drank a bottle of chloral. At the inquest it was proved that he had been drinking previously very heavily, and the night betore he took the chloral was almost delirious. The medical evidence was that the deceased had suffered from alcoholism, which had resulted iv congestion of the brain, which might have been hastened, but not caused, by chloral, and towards which his drunken habits would tend. One of the jurors mentioned that the deceased had been a servant of his, and that he had known him for five or six ycar3. He had come into town about three weeks ago, having had a large sum of monoy left him, and had got on the spree. The corcuer (Dr Coward) said that chloral was a thing which people should never tako without advice. Ilii compared patent medicines generally to the proverbial "pig in a poke," and said that people who took them acted ignorantly, inasmuch as tht-y could know nothing of their real character or contents. Tirnovais described in the correspondence of the London Standard as a tuvvu built in the shape of a sickle, upon high cliftd, almost perpendicular above the shallow i\xpid stream. The roofs of the houses seem to be thrown one upon the other with glittering minarets here and thore. The outside edge of the sickle has also its chain of houses, lying low upon the bank of the stream. Above them, straight up across the water, rises a precipitous green brow bounded by v line of white rocks, aud crowded far above with houses. A road, excessively steep, is buiit along the face of the cliff, leading direct from a well-made bridge to the mosque at the top. Up this road the Grand Duke rode slowly when he entered the town. A hint to the ladies. Nervous excitement produces nervous weakness. Female complaints, which arc almost always accompanied by exces-ive nervousness, bring on debility. Bilious derangement and inactivity of the bowels also usually exist iv connection with nervous debility. Nervousness, indigestion aud constipation are promptly relieved by the pleasant expedient of swallowing three or four times aday a wineglassful of Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps. — Advt. Hollowaifs Pills and Ointment.—Disorder of the Throat and Chest. — Whoever has once made trial of these invaluable remedies can truthfully bear testimony to their astonishing efficacy, their curative and persorvative powers against the many maladies of winter. The Ointment, rubbed on the chest, acts most beneficially in arresting inflammation, irritation, congestion, and all pectoral complaints. In ulcerated sore throat, diphtheria, mumps, quinsey, and similar ailments, the Ointment should be well rubbed upon the throat and summit of the chest at least twice a day, whilp the Pills are taken iuternally, according to the plainly printed directions. Holloway's remedies constitute in themselves a perfect safeguard against most diseases dependent upon changeable or inclement weather . They counteract the sources of disease.