West Coast Times

West Coast Times, Issue 4114, 22 June 1882, Page 2

West Coast Times

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1882. The usual bi-monthly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held at two p.m. yesterday. Present— The Hon. J. A. Bonar (chair), Messrs Chesney and H. L. Robinson. The minutes were read and confirmed, and several applications were adjourned for farther information and report. The application of W.Pearson to purchase 20 acres rural land in block 7, Mahinapua district, and to be allowed value for improvement!, was considered, and it was decided to ascertain the value of the improvements previous to the application being dealt with. A letter was received from the District Engineer, stating that reserve No. 44, Christchurch road, was not likely to be required for the i purpose intended, and it was resolved to sub. Mit the run to auction and to fix an upset price. The Central Board of Education wrote requesting that an extension of Stafford School reserve might be made, of not less than half an acre in extent. The Chief Surveyor reported that the reserve could be extended to the south only, as on the east, west, and north, the ground was closed in by lands already appropriated, and that the quantity available te the south would, at the utmost, enly enlarge the area by about half an acre. It was resolved to request the Chief Surveyor to furnish a tracing t» be forwarded to the Beard of Education for their information. The Receiver of Revenue reported the receipt of the Bum *f £185 3s 9 d Bince the last meeting. The Board then rose.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr Frank Bird, R.M., Henry Eastgate was fined ten shillings for making use of obscene language in Revell street on the 11th instant. Thomas Lincoln pleaded guilty to having made use of threatening language in Weld street on the 10th instant, and was discharged with a caution.

At the Warden's Court yesterday, before Mr Frank Bird, Warden, the adjourned applications of W. G. Johnston and others, for five extended claims at- Humphrey's i Gully were refused. Mr Lewis for the applicants, stated he had received no further instructions in the matter. Govrdie and party's application for a tail - race at Humphrey's Gnlly was granted, as was an application by Smith and party for a tunnel at Woodstock. King and Wilkinning's applications for double area and tail-race, at Greek's Gully were granted. Michel v. O'Briea. This was an action for damages, and to restrain defendant from running tailings on to plaintiff's section at Upper Woodstock. Mr Purkiis for plaintiff, and Mr Byrne for defendant. After a long hearing, judgment was given for plaintiff for one shilling damages, witnesses' expenses 16s, and solicitors fee £3 3s. Lynch v< Palmer, Mr Lewis for plaintiff, Mr Purkiss for defendant. This was also a claim respecting a disputed business site at Woodstock. Decision adjourned until Wednesday next. This concluded the business. Mails for the United Kingdom and Aus" tralian Colonies, per Rotomahana, close at the Bluff on Friday, 23rd mat., at 11 a.m. Tenders are invited by Mr J. Maher, re- ! ceirable up till 6 p.m. on Saturday next at '

the Occidental Hotel, for logging, sawing, and laying tramways at his mill on the Eoss road, for a term of six months. Specifications may be seen at Lynch's Occidental Hotel. The floods have done considerable injury in the Arabura district. The Public Works Committee of the County Council, with tb e County Chairman, visited the Arahura river yesterday and found serious danger existing in the river, leaving the lower (Thomson's) bridge high and dry, in consequence of the river breaking through at Miller's farm» crossing the main road at the creek on the south side of the bridges. A great body of water was running here yesterday evening, and if immediate steps are not taken to erect protective works across from Miller's farm past the old Christchurch road, tbe river will leave its old bed, and, of course, the bridge. To erect a new bridge would coat at least £10,000, so that it is of urgent necessity to protect the threatened property. The necessary works will cost £2000, and last night the County Chairman telegraphed to the Minister for Public Works and to Messrs Seddon and Fitzgerald, M.H.R.'s, requesting immediate assistance.

Mr Seddon telegraphed to the County Clerk yesterday to the effect that the West* land Education Sub-division Bill, and the Hokitika High School Bill had passed the Local Bills Committee, and that the second readings had been ordered; that Mr Petrie and a few others tried to stop the petition, being read; that a free fight ensuced, but the motion for the reading was carried. Tenders are required for removal of a cottage to Upper Woodstock. Particulars can be obtained at the Post Office Hotel, or from Mr J. Lynch, Woodstock. The sum of £635 was paid at tha County Council Chambers yesterday, for publicans' licenses in the Kanieri and Arahura districts. Nearly £400 of the amount is required to defray the expenses in connection with the Licensing Act. The comet was visible last evening to the westward, between six and seven p.m. AU publicans', wholesale, and bottle license fees for the Borough of Hokitika, granted at the annual meeting of the Licensing Committee on the Bth instant, must be paid by four p.m, this day to the Town Clerk. The brewers of Westland have decided to forward a petition to the Assembly, through Mr Seddon, M.H.G., praying for the abolition of the beer tax.

The Timaru Herald is rather " rough " on Mr Justice Gillies, saying of him: — *< Selected by a timid Ministry to adorn the Supreme Court Bench purely on account of his power of making himself preternaturally unplea. sant in the House of Representatives, he distinguished himself at once by differing from all the other Judges on every conceivable poiat, aud also by invariably making up his mind en every case before going into Court, by which latter device he has been much relieved from the tedium usually caused by attending to the arguments of counsel, and has consequently been saved considerable wear and tear of intellect."

A peculiar case of assault came before Mr M'Culloch, R.M. , at Lumsdeo, the other day. The correspondent of the Southland Times relates that "Mr W. Basstian, of Hamilton Bros., was sued by Mrs Ailwood, his housekeeper, for assaulting her by kissing her forcibly. It appears Mr Basetian's heariug was affected by climatic influences, and he prevailed upon the lady to syringe his ears. The effect must have been almost magical for it had such an exhilarating effect upon his spirits, that, ia the exuberance of them, he placed his arm around the fair lady, telling her he mast have a kiss, and, we are told, got one. The lady, of course, very properly objected; hence the action. During the heating it came out that the lady had been the possessor of no less than three husbands. The first was dead; the second is alive somewhere, I think, at Heddon Bush; and husband the third was present. His Worship, being of opinion that the lady had no business with No. 3 husband while No. 2 was alive, adjourned the whole case for a month."