West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1883.

West Coast Times, Issue 4358, 10 July 1883, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1883.

,The members of the Hokitika Borough Council form generally a happy family 'enough. There have been occasional 'disagreements, and councillors with itiobbies, sometimes had their shins kicked more severely than perhaps they cared about. But times being financially prosperous with the Borough, ; everything went smoothly until lately, when it was discovered that the Council Was commencing the financial year in debt to the bank. Instead of finding themselves with a credit balance "of some £500 or £600, after receiving the money for the license and other fees, the Town Clerk's statement showed a debit balance of some £700. The first ! consequence 'of this position of affairs has • been', a Jbattle royal, between the Finance arid Public Works Committees. The former accuse the latter of extravagance, and brought up a report in which they express the necessity of limiting the powers of the Public Works Committee .to spend money. The report was adopted, but at the same time some members of the Public Works expressed an intention to do as they pleased in the future as they are accused of having done in the past. The fact appears to be however that neither party is Very much to blame. It is possible* lowing to the excellent state of the Council's account with the bank that .the Works Committee were rather tod considerate in dealing with the wants and representations of the ratepayers. One gentleman, owning a few houses. here, seemed only to ask and at once the Council rushed their day labor men in to do his behest. This, at the worst, was an amiable weakness, born of ,a. plethoric purse. Unfortunately, however, day labor was continued, to the benefit of the town, no doubt, but to the detriment of the account of tbe Borough with their bankers. Suddenly it was discovered that the financial atmosphere was not very serene, and the Finance Committee in an access of virtue, resolved to put, a period to wild and recklesß kerbing,. and rash gravelling. But really the Borough account is not in such a desperate state as pessimists would like. ,toj make out. Even if the town of H,okitika owed some bank, as many thousands as it now does,hundreds, we do not think the ratepayers would grumble, if their streets and side- walks were kept in tolerably decent order. The Finance Committee have certainly done their duty. It is their business to provide ways and means. They say that the Public Works Committee have been extravagant. Perhaps they have, but there is, in connection with public bodies a wise extravagance, as well as & foolish economy. Far be it from us to decide between the warring elements. Either or neither side, may,. be right., At Je'aet, the ratepayers Will be able to give their opinion on some future occasion or occasions. ." . <>w< '

There will be a meeting of 'the Committee of the Hokitika Benevolent Society at the Supreme Court Honse, this day at 4 p.m.

; The business at the R.M. Oqurt at Ross on Saturday, was .confined to the hearing of one civil case, Moateirb, v. Healy, claim for £5, judgtrient 'being recorded for defendant with febsta 1 The owner of a straying horse was fined Is and costs. Several other civil cases, in which neither plaintiff nor defendant appeared were struck out.

Just now there is an epidemic of the influenza type prevalent ip Hokitika and the neighborhood. Among the sufferers by it is the Resident Matfstrate, who, we are Borry to say, is confined to his bed. It is not surprising that he should be affected by the present severe weather* seeing that, he has a large district in his charge, which compels him to be continually travelling. At the Warden's Court, Ross, yestsrday, the case of Furkert v. Porter and Came, was further adjourned for a fortnight, no agree* ment having been come to between the parties. J. J. Croft's application for a quartz mining lease of eight acres, was granted. The application of A. Good and party, for a tail race and head race, at Squatter's Creek, was granted. Thomas Walsh's application for an extended claim, was likewise granted. Atelephone station is opened at Murchison, County Inaogahua. Office hours 9 a.m. till 5 p.m., closed on Sundays, and public holidays. The Grey River Argus reports the sudden death at Ahaura on Sunday last of Mr T. AD. Brookß, the well known carrier, who died 'after a few days' illness from inflammation 'of the lungs. A correspondent to the Dunedin Star, says;—" That an evil has existed for a long time, and is still rampant among some owners of racehorses who have favorites for races that are run in New Zealand and on which a consultation is held. It is this: As soon as a consultation is drawn, the lucky 'drawer of the favorite lias to arrange before the race is run to allow the owner to 'stand in,' in order to ensure a start. Samples of sand from the Malvern disjtrict are now being tested, says the Press, for the purpose of ascertaining whether this material is suitable for gists making. {Should the experiment turn out satisfactory, it is probable that this industry will be com menced before many months are over. The 'gentlemen who are conducting the operation are sanguine of succeei. It may be mentioned that glass blowing has been profitably carried on for some years past in Auckland. The Rev. Mr Green has been lecturing in Dublin on the Ascent of Mount Cook. H 'said that Mount Cook Lad only been ascended to a height of 7500 ft, and a gentleman who reached that point being of opinion that it was perfectly inaccessible, the Governor of the island sent a message to the Alpine Club, of which he (the lecturer) was a member, saying that they would give every assistance and a hearty welcome to any one who would go out and try the ascent of the mountain. That was nine years ago. At the Amberley Court last week, a 'plaintiff, named Elderton, sued a defendant, 'named Brooks, for £10, the value of a dog run over by defendant, who at the time was on horseback and racing with another man on horseback. The evidence showed that defendant was on a horse which usually 'bolted wheu another horse was near. The Bench considered the case proved and adjudged the defendant to pay the value of the dog, £10, Te Whiti's opinion of newspapers is not very complimentary to the Fourth Estate. In Mr Ward's book of *' Wanderings with the Piophets" he makes Te Whiti Bay — " Do you think the newspapers tell the truth when any great event happens? No fear: they dare not. The Government tell them what to aay, and they say it. If any particular paper does not publish what the Government want the people to read, that 'paper is suppressed, and another one which 'will do as the Government wishes is sold |to the people. The Government are not 'fools." % ■ The following letter, signed "Observer, 51 'appears ia the Lyttelton Times; — " Are you aware that it has been the custom for some 'time past for the Government to give free passes to the Dunedin merchants on the railway between Dnnedin and Port Chalmers, and that no such privilege is granted to our 'Christchurch merchants ? Why should free 'passes be given at all; but if given in one 1 place, why not all round ? As it is, it is only ! another case of handicapping adversely the importers of Christchnrcb. Where are our M.H.R.'s ?"

Dr H. B. Guppy, of H.M.S. Lark, writiug to the Times from Auckland, directs attention to the importance of a further exploration of the Solomon Islands, A residence of some months amongst the islands has convinced him tbat they are rich in mineral wealth and other resources. He considers that an expedition of about a dozen determined men could thoroughly explore the interior of the Ine island of Guadalcanar in three or four months, and that there would be little danger in the enterprise when once the warlike natives who inhabit the sea coast were left in the rear.

At a meeting of the Auckland Education Board, held recently, a resolution waß passed that the Board approve tbe suggestion contained in Principal Meath's letter tbat calisthenics be taught in the Girls' High 'School, and attendance at drill, as prescribed by the school syllabus, be enforced on al pupils unless a medical certificate be produced stating that the exercises are, without doubt, injurious to the scholars. That a circular to parents and guardians be drawn up calling attention to the dangers of the present style of dress, and its unsuitableness to the purposes of physical development. In the course of the discussion it was suggested ■that the gtrla should be dressed in a serviceable uniform dress.