WEST COAST TIMES, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 64, 31 October 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1865.

We regret having to hold over the report of the deputation to Mr Sale, respecting the question of mining on the town reserve. Although our population has so much increased during the past month, crime, wo are happy to say, does not keep pace with it, the charge-sheet at the Camp keeping remarkably clean — the heaviest offences wo have had to ■chronicle lately being larcenies with a moderate drunkards' list indeed. On Monday, nt the Resident Magistrate's court, E. Mallard, Charles Brookes, Charles Cuiped, for being found in a state of vinous elevation, totally inconsistent with their own well-being and the public peace, were severally fined LI, or in default thereof fortyeight liouis' incarceration in the lock-up, while G M'Mnllen. G Spilling, and T. M'Taggart, were for being found drunk in the public streets and totally incapable of taking care of themselves, each fined half that Miin, or twenty-four hours inside Her Majesty's logs. Charles Baker was charged by Sergeant Clements with riding furiously down Revell street, thereby seriously ■endangering tho limbs and lives of Her Majesty's lieges, was, after receiving a severe reprimand from his Worship, fined the very moderate sum of L 2, or forty-eight "hours in durance vile. George Lethen was charged with larceny of a pot of white paint and a brush, tho value of (he same being 10s. From tho evidence of Joseph Spencer, a painter, and the owner of the stolen property it appeared that he missed a pot of white paint and the brush on Saturday morning last from his tent. Ho asked the prisoner who lived not far from him, and whom he had been in the habit of employing if he knew anything of them, who denied all kuowledge of tho article in question ; but tho prisoner gotting drunk, ho took the opportunity to search his tent, where he found the missing articles. Constable Curr's evidence showed that he accompanied prosecutor to the tent, when on asking tho prisoner if the paint and brush were bis, received an answer in tho affirmative ; ho thereupon arrested him. Judgment was deferred in this caso until another charge, of larceny of four bottles of ale, was heard against the prisoner. Mary Ann Smith, the prosecutrix in. this case stated she is an hotel-keeper in Revell street. On Saturday last she asked prisoner in tho afternoon to unpack a cask of alo for her. He did so. She afterwards missed four bottles of the ale. Recognised tho bottles produced in court as similar to those the prisoner unpacked.-— The constable deposed upon seeing the prisoner unpacking a cask of ale. Watched him, and observed him every time he carried a number of bottles insido throw one down behind the cask. He afterwards saw him gather them up, put them in tho cask, and then carry it up the street. Ho then arrested him. — His Worship considered both charges iproved, and sentenced him to one month's imipribonmont 011 each count, with hard labor. F. A. Cronquist, brought up on remand for larceny of a cash -box from tho store of Morison, Law, &Co., was, after a hearing that occupied the court all day, committed to tako bis trial at the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. Want of space prevents us publishing this trial "" in extenso ;" it will, however, appear in the Weekly Edition of the Times. On Satin day and Sunday, Woodstock was ithronged with excited diggers, all making enquiries 'concerning the whereabouts of n rush said to 'have broken out some twenty miles up the Hokitika. 'From enquiries wo have made in the mattor, we 'hear that on Saturday somo Germans carno into the Kanieri township for nupplies. One of thorn met nn old mate, and aftor the usual interchange of civilities passed, informed him that ho was On good gold up the river, nnd advised him to roll up and be off. Tho news soon spread, and the consequence was, ono half tho inhabitants who could get away •went half-mad with excitement, whilst tho other, whom a low exchequer prevented running the risk, felt into a state of hypochondria at the prospect of being left behind. No further letails have reached Ms. If anything can reconcilo us to the injury and injustice done to our late postmaster, Mr Keogh, who has always sho«n himself willing and anxious to olillgo, it is tlio appointment of his successor, Mr Sydney J Dick, a gentleman who, in the fulfilment of a similar position in Queoiistuwn, Otngo, won golden opinions from tho inhabitants of tho entire distric', who havo suffered an iricparablo loss in his removal to the West Coast. We are proud to see a gentleman of snch undoubted ability, urbanity, and kindness appointed, and feel f-uro that ho will earn the samo glowing encomiums from iho people of Hokitika that lie die', from those of Queenstown, whoro on a ceitnin public) occasion that will bo doubtless well leniembm'cd by many hole, ho

was styled, perhaps rather profanoly, to his utter confusion, amid thunders of applause, by an eccentric and excited, but enthusiastic gentleman, as tho " only postmaster in tho country worth a !"