West Coast Times. THUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1880.

West Coast Times, Issue 3580, 23 September 1880, Page 2

West Coast Times. THUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1880.

Among the very few measures which the Legislasure refrained from slaughtering during last session, is the " Municipal Corporations Acts Amendment Act, 1880." This Act is intended to amend the several Acts relating to municipal corporations, and it applies, in some particulars, to corporations generally, while other provisions only relate to those boroughs which derive an annual revenue of less thaa £1000. The first clause worthy of notice is No. v 6, which amends section 21 of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, 1878. That section provides that for the election of mayor, burgosses can exercise only one vote each instead of the cumulative voting, which is permitted ia the elections of councillors. Clause 6 of the Act now being discussed, amends the preceding section by the addition of the words "Provided that for the election of mayor and auditors, in any such borough, a burgess- roll may be prepared comprising all the ratepayers of the borough." The meaning of this clause is obviously that every ratepayer, whether a defaulter or not can exercise his vote in the mayoral and auditors elections. The clause is not mandatory, so that the propriety of carrying it into effect is left to the discretion of the local bodies which it affects. Under the head "Loans," clause 9 provides that — "Notwithstanding anything contained in section one hundred and fifty-two of the said Act, the interest on every debenture of any borough, the total annual revenue of which shall not exceed one thousand poundd, may exceed seven per cjntutn on the amount thereof, but shall not exceed eight per centum ou such amount in any case where such debenture is issued by the council." This' clause will not affect the Borough of Hokitika, the revenue ot which exceeds the maximum amount specified in the clause, and it is to be hoped that our local body will never find its annual income lower than it is at present. Inspectors of nuisances are to be deemed public officers within the meaning of the Justices ©f the Peace Act, 1866. Councils may, by a special order, declare private streets public, and may also abate nuisances on private lands. The procedure in the latter case is for the Council, by an order in writing, to require the owner or occupier of any lands upon which nuisances may exist — (1) To remove, or keep properly trimmed, any furze or other growth on such lands or in the hedges thereof, and remove any material, thing, or substance placed or being on each land which, from its age, size, or nature, has become of a dangerous character owing to its inflammable nature ; (2) To cleanse and keep open any ditch, gutter, watercourse, or drain thereoa, and to remove any filthy or noisome waters accumulated in any part thereof. If the owner or occupier refuse to comply with the councils' order, the council may abate the nuisance and recover the cost of doing so as if for money owing for work and lab&r done founded on a contract. If the owner be unknown, the procedure for recovering costs is precisely similar to the course provided by law to be fallowed with regard to the recovery of unpaid rates under the Rating; Act, 1866. Councils are, by clause 22, empowered to lease lands «r buildings by public tender as well as by auction, following all the conditions prescribed in section 177 ©f the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. They may also purchase land outside boroughs for carrying out necessary works, and may recover from adjacent local bodies for work done as if upon contract. An important prevision is contained in clause 26, which repeals the sixteenth section of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. Hitherto burgesses, who were rated at a sum less than £25 a year were not qualified to contest an election of councillor j clause 26, however, throws open a councillor's chair to every burgess enrolled in respect of property which is rated at all. Defaulting ratepayers, however, are not, it seems eligible as candidates.

An inquest was held before the Coroner, Dr Giles, at Head's Commercial Hotel, Kanieri,at eleven o'clock yesterday morning, touchißg the death of Margaret and Paddy Hutchison. A jury of thirteen was sworn in, of which Mr F- Dale was chosen fore man- Mr Inspector Kiely was present on behalf of the police. The witnesses called were David Hutchison, Thomaß Riordan, Joha Jones, and William Harper. No facts additional to those which have already been recorded in the West Coast Times, were elicited. Theverdictof thejury was, "That the deceased persons were suffocated and burned by fire, by which the house in which they thea were was burned down, but how the said fire originated there is no evidence to show."

The funeral of the late James Carr, whose untimely and lamentable death was recently recorded in these columns, took place yesterday. The remains were followed to the cemetery by a large number of citizens, and the hearse was preceded to the grave by many of the State School pupils. Great sympathy is felt for the parents of the deceased.

Mr James Newcomen has returned to Hokitikawith his fow-horse ceach, having come through from Cbristcliurch in three days and ten hours, with eleven passengers. This is undoubtedly good time, inasmuch as no change of horses took place, and delay was occasioned by the freshes consequent upon the late rain.

Our fellow townsman, Mr John Tait, photographer, of Revell street, has produced an excellent selection of views and works of photographic art, which he is sending on on this occasion to the Melbourne exhibition. We have no hesitation in saying that they are some of the best finished pictures that have ever been taken on the Coast. The " Wallace Bridge," at the Otira, is certainly a gem ; " Lake Lonely," Arthur's Paß?, 3000 ft above the level of the sea, is also an imposing picture, conveying a truthful sense of the inhospitable region in which it exists. Crawford's sluicing claim, Dillmaa's Town, is a busy scene of oae of the best paying claims on the goldfleld. Two views of Revell street, Hokitika, are well and happily chosen. There are several other very interestiug scenes of equal merit. As a study " My Pets " is certainly a tplendid production, there is also a highly finished photograph of the late lamented John Laz.ir.

The invitation for tenders for erection of wire bridge over the Kokatahi river, is withdrawn for the present, by the County Chairman.

We are informed that some " sportsmen " hare recently, and on Sunday too— been recreating themselves by shooting acclimatised larks at Arahura. It seems extraordinary that grown up men should find amusement ia destroying these songsters, whose note has a peculiar charm for most persons.

A woman* named Helen M'Gregor waß charged with drunkenness at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. She was discharged with a caution by Mr Clapcott, J.P., wbo presided.

A telegram was received by ua yesterday from the Hon. W. Gisborne to the effect tha* he had written to the Government, remonstrating against a contemplated change in the West Coast Steam Service. It is to be presumed from this intelligence that the Hon. J. Hall is not yet satisfied with the paltry savißgs he has effected in this district at the expense of public convenience, but intends to further reduce or do away with the southern service.

We understand that several members of of the Westlaad Railway League are desirous that a tueeliug of that body should be held for the purpose of considering the advisability or otherwise of making application to the Government for the expenditure, on the Hokitika and Greyraoutk Railway, of a portion of the vote of £75,000 granted by Parliament for tbe purpose of providing work for unemployed persons on railway works. When the subject was discussed by members of the League, before deciding whether the Secretary should convene a meeting with that object, there seemed to be some objections to sending forth the ad misericordiam cry to the Government to support our unemployed in this way, when in rcaiity the number of unemployed in this place is a mere bagatelle. There are perhaps a dozen or so disappointed persons who hare returned from the south, where they never should have ventured without some means to support them or experience to guide them in any contemplated mining pursuits. But as to following the example of our neighbors by telegraphing for work for " the unemployed,'' such a course under existing circumstances, should not be entertained. If by fair means we could obtain a portion of the vote of £75,000 for railway works, let us by all means make the attempt. We might represent that a number of the unemployed in other places could profitably be occupied by proceeding with the railway construction here, but we are not at present reduced to the stage of calling for such an eßtablishment as a soup kitchen, or food and clothing for tbe " unemployed."