West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1878.

West Coast Times, Issue 2852, 24 May 1878, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1878.

The Ross deputation which waited on the County Council on Wednesday and yesterday, must have a poor opinion of the manner in which that body conducts its business. For instance yesterday, the Chairman was absent, and Mr Seddon being voted to the chair, declared the meeting lapsed, owing to. tbe fact that three of the members rose from their seats, leaving no quorum. The matter under discussion at that moment was the desirability or otherwise of making 1 , or rather putting in repair, a track from Paringa to Haast. Previously, in committee, the debate on the water race question had been adjourned ; hence the Council meeting having lapsed another meeting could not be held until the following day. Now the Council did not wish to detain the Boas deputation any longer, so a special meeting was called for seven o'clock to finally settle whether the water races should be taken over, and assistance given to the projected Mikonui Race Company. The meeting did not take place in consequence of the Chairman's absence. That gentleman arrived at eight o'clock, when an irregular conversation on the subject of the Mikonui Water Race was pursued with much vigor, Mr Malfroy, the Mayor of Ross, being especially eloquent and explanatory. From his remarks, we gather that be wishes the Council to guarantee half the cost of the construction of the portion of the proposed race to extend from Cedar Creok (o the Mikonui.

The total cost of this is estimated at £23,000, and the Borough Council of Ross will, Mr Malfroy says, guarantee half that sum. The Government will advance £20,000 to complete the tunnel and the company propose, we understand, to undertake the rest of the work. Mr Malfroy was very emphatic in stating that he wished only a definite answer to the guarantee proposal, yes or no. In either case he said he would be satisfied, but he did not wish the company to be kept in further suspense. The Council, however, is divided on the question, and we fear that they will scarcely agree on it. Messrs Hirter, Nielsen, and King, are in favor of giving an unconditional guarantee, while Messrs Seddon, Dale, and M'Whirter are decidedly averse to such a course, anil would prefer to guarantee one and a half per cent on the cost of the race, the Ross Borough giving a guarantee for a like amount. This, however, Mr Malfroy decidedly objected to as a useless concession. The Chairman, who was rather indefinite, did not seem favorably impressed with the scheme, and we should say he is disinclined to endorse any proposal unless the Council's liabilit}' is clearly shown. With regard to the total cost he seemed dissatisfied, and does not feel at all sure that the estimates may not be largely exceeded. The que&tian of taking over the Waimea race was only considered incidentally, being in fact relegated for the present into a secondary consideration. While sympathising with Mr Malfroy and the Ross people in their experience of that "hope deferred which maketh the heart sick," it must be admitted that the Council are justified in weighing carefully tlie arguments both for and against Mr Mnlfroy's scheme. Having other large interests entrusted to their care they must see that these are not prejudiced. It would not do to commit the Council to an expenditure which might possibly cripple its funds for years to come, or it may be permanently. The risk attached to the construction of these races every one on the Coast must be aware of. Ie is difficult, nay, almost impossible, to estimate the ultimate cost, or even the result of the construction of a race, as so much depends on tbe nature and extent of ground which will be thrown open to the miner. On tho other baud it behoves tbe Council to give the utmost assistance they can to forward a work which the residents of the district lia*e so much faith in. Should their hopes be verified, and wo hope they will bo, no little share of the prosperity must be enjoyed in this district. We do not believe the Council is disinclined to assist, but it is absurd to expect anything to be done hastily. At the same time, it must be confessed, that the irregularity of the Council's proceedings yesterday tends very much to discourage the suitors for their assistance.

To-day is tho fifty-ninth anniversary of the birth of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. In honor thereof, the public offices and the banks will keep holiday, and we presume the majority of the storekeepers will follow suit. The Volunteers jwill parade at eleven o'clock in the Drill-shed,, and will fire a feu de joie. In June next, Her Majesty will enter upon the forty-first year of her reign. Sunday hours will be observed to-day at the Telegraph office. Two informations have been laid at the Resident Magistrate's Court by a Chinaman named Sing Mow against Moss Levy. The first information is for assault, and the second for " unlawfully and knowingly by a certain pretence obtaining of and from the informant the sum of £2 with intent to cheat and defraud the said Sing Mow of the same." The Chinaman in question and a number of his friends are highly indignant at the alleged conduct of the defendant, and mean to prosecute accordingly. The First Wcstlaud Rifles and the Hokitika Cadets will meet at the Drill Shed to day, at 11 o'clock, for patadeV and will fire a feu de joie in honor of the anniversary of her Majesty's birthday. The district prizes won by the Hokitika companies will be presented to the various winners, also the silver cup presented by Lieutenant Learmonth, tho competitions for which have now been concluded. A full muster of the Volunteers is expected. Mr David, the new drill and gymnast instructor, arrived by the Bteanier Albion from Melbourne, and gave the scholars at the State School a short term of tuition in the gymnasium yesterday. The hours for drill and exercise are not yet determined by the Board, but no doubt these will be so arranged as not to interfere with the present hours for classes. Mr David has expressed himself pleased with the arrangements already made in connection the gymnasium, which are very perfect for so young a district. It is understood that Mr David's time will be occupied equally between here and Greymouth. We understand the County Chairman has communicated with the Government asking that some competent mineralogist, such as Professor Dlrich. may be engaged to make a report on the value of the ore recently discovered in the Rangitoto silver mine. It is the wish of the directors and manager of the company that this may be done, in order to satisfy the Council and tke Government that the outlay recently gone to on the track and the further expenditure necessary to keep it in repaii'j is fully warranted by the value of the mineral exposed in the mine. It is the intention of the company to get a battery placed on the ground for crushing and dressing the ore, previous to shipment, aB soon as the track is rendered passable. Tenders are invited by the Education Board for making additional furniture for the Hokitika School, particulars of which can be obtained from the Secretary. Mr Clarke, of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, announces a ball for this evening. Mr Sharpe, of the Diggers' Arms Hotel, gives a free concert this evening. To-night, Mr and Mrs Trod. Wilton will appear in their repertoire of songa, dunts, and dances.

We have not yet received the full returns of the Grey Valley election, but there is no doubt that Mr Reeves has been returned by a considerable majority. A telegram received by us yesterday, gives the following figures :—: —

The returns from two or three more districts have yet to be reported, but these cannot possibly alter the result. Something like a scene occurred shortly before the rising of the County Council yesterday afternoon. Mr Banks moved, an amendment to a motion, which Mr Seddou, who was in the chair, ruled out of order, on the ground that it was a direct negative. Mr Banks protested against this ruling, and moved the adjournment of this Council until seven p.m. Before this was put, Messrs King, Nielsen, and Banks rose from their seats, and the Chairman immediately declared the Council adjourned until the 12th June, the meeting having lapsed for want of a quorum. The meeting of the County Council having lapsed for want of a quorum, a special meeting to consider the water race question was called for seven p.m. At half-past seven, all the members but the Chairman were present. No meeting, however, took place, and the Chairman arriving at eight a kind of irregular caucus meeting took place, when Mr Malfroy, one of the deputation from Ross, again renewed his arguments respecting his theme for making the Mikooui Race. He invited the Council to answer | definitely yeß or no to a proposition to guarantee a Bum of £10,000 for the construction of division 3 of the race, the Boss Borough Council undertaking to guarantee an equal sum. To this proposition no definite reply was given, nor, indeed, could it bo given, seeing that the Council meeting had lapsed. So the matter stood when our reporter left. Subsequently, Mr Banks proposed the following resolution, which met with Mr Malfroy's approval, but nothing was done further: — " That in the event of the Government entering into a contract with a company for the formation of tunnel and race to Cedar Creek, the County Council, in coni unction with the Borough Council of Ross, guarantee to complete the said race to the Mikonui river, if the Government at the time of said formation request line to be so executed." A Revision Court was held yesterday at the Court House, at which Mr E. J. Lee, Revising Officer, presided. A number of applications were made by electors who had been objected to, and those who showed good grouuds for being re-instated on the roll had their names placed thereon accordingly. Mr Lee holds a Revision Court at Greymouth on Saturday next, and at Ross on Wednesday, the 29th inst. j We notice that, the Australian Cricketers i have commenced their first match in England, with Nottingham, a fairly strong cricketing County. So far, the Australians I have the worst of it, but they bid well to make a good show in their second innings. The scores stand now: — Australia, first innings, 63; second innings, 46, with the loss of three wickets; Nottingham, first innings, 153. It is only fair to say that it is likely the Australians are not yet in good form, in addition to which the weather was against them. If the match be concluded, it may yet be a very close one. It is credibly stated that the contributions given to Father Hcnnebery while in the Inangahua district, amounted to close on £1300. He intends visiting the district again. It is reported that the informers in the sly grog cases at Lyell, after giving their evidence in the Court there, got somewhat roughly handled by certain sympathisers with the defendants in the cases heard. The fines inflicted were v£ls in each conviction for unlicensed sale of liquor. A Railway Fire Brigade has been established in Christchurch. An action in which the damages aro laid at £500, arising out of a difference between two well-known citizens in Invercargill, will come on for hearing at the sitting of the Supreme Court there ou the 12th pros. The members of the Temperance Association of Auckland have memorialised the Board of Education there to make arrangements for teaching the beauty of temperance to children, and also the evil of alcohol. The Board have agreed to consider the matter. Some of the Aucklaud people are very indignant with the action of the naval officers who recently ordered an auctioneer to haul down St. George's Ensign which was flying on bis premises, under threat of sending a party ashore to do it if he refused. The Star thinks it a pity the order was complied with, so as to see whether the officers would have dared to carry out their threat. Four hundred tons of stone from the Moanataiari, last crushing, yielded 280ozs, and 150 tons from the Alburnia 6370z5. Mr Commissioner Sprent, Tasmania, reports very favorably of the prospects of the West Coast. The Great Western Company found a tin lode, near the gap at Mount Heemskirk, one piece of tin weighing 30lbs. John Johnston, who, anterior to 1864, was Registrar of the Supreme Court, Invercargill, has allowed drink so to degrade him as to be past reclaiming. He has in Auckland been sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labor, as a rogue and a vagabond. Two lads aged respectively 12 and 9 years, were brought before the Resident Magistrate at Wellington, charged with stealiug 17a from the donation plate of the Wesleyan Chapel. They were both committed to gaol for seven days, and ordered to be whipped. A test of beer brewed at Wellington has been made, and the New Zealandor says that the three samples forwarded for aualysis to the Government Analyst, have been found to bo free from deleterious ingredients. The respective per centages of alcohol by

weight in the three samples wore 7.78. 6-43 and 6-42, the weights of extractive matter per gallon being respectively 32.72 1 34" 01 and 33. 7G grains. Dunedin papers note with deep and welldeaerved regret the death of Mrs Gillies, wife of J. L. Gillies, Esq., Secretary of the Otago Harbor Board. The Otago Daily Times says:—" The cry is, still they come ! Every morning we find a new township advertised, and every Saturday one or two at least pass into the hands of the public." Mr Clarke, the sanitary authority, is busily engaged devising a new sewerage scheme for Wellington. Its costs will be enormous, probably £20,000, and, before it is done, £80,000 must be spent in procuring abundance of water for the sewers. Several years will elapse ere the water is got and the sewers finished. Mr Clarke proposes to have a sewage farm. Our locomotives (says the Taranaki News) are unahlo to perform the work required of them. It is no unusual thing for them to leave part of their load on the road and return and fetch it. On Easter Monday the engine was dead beat in bringing up the excursionists from Waitara, and numbers of the passengers had to alight and assist in getting the train up the Waiongona hill. The New Zealander bears that Mr Smythes, the celebrated suppliant for readmission to the roll of barristers, has demanded of the Government an inquiry into the conduct of the Judges in relation to a perjury case lately heard at Dunedin; and that the Government have replied that Mr Smythes's proper course if he has a grievance against the judges, is to petition Parliament. The first case for infringement of the Victorian Pharmacy Act came before the Fitzroy Court on the 15th instant. J. M. Paul (says the ArgUß), who had been carrying on business as an unregistered pharmaceutical chemist, was proceeded against under the 25th section of the Act, and fined £1, and costs. The method of making money is now ascertained to be on mathematical principles. The moneyed men of the present day have for the most part succeeded by producing really valuable articles, and adding to industry honesty. These principles hold good all over the world, and the success attending the introduction of those invaluable medicines, " Giiollah's Great Indian Cures," into New Zealand is another instance of proof of the assertion. The public have recognised the i^^^gitthese . Indian Medicines, and the ci w3wj§f§j^j|i^|s& their use are extraordinary. mouials and the medicines of the Chemists.

reeves. 1 Harrison. J Boi rrowman Grreymouth ... dobden Reef ton Paroa Maraden Sreenstone ... Clifton Brunnerton ... A.haura Black's Point Boatman's ... Nelson Creek 39 2 112 19 14 11 34 5 35 21 , 33 : 42 154 15 18 10 1 14 5 9 2 12 2 17 26 5 33 4 11 24 6 13 5 30 4 5 259 166