WEST COAST TIMES.

West Coast Times, Issue 87, 23 December 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1860.

A Chhiustmaß greeting to our frionds! And wo trust thoro aro fow indeed in tho community amongst whom wo havo labored for somo months past, to whom tho term does not apply. It is a Christ-mas-time probably differing in most of its conditions from tho many happy Christmasses the majority of thorn havo spent before. Wo 'filiall celebrato tho great festival of tho Christian Church : tho groat homo festival of British hearths : neither amid tho Sharp winds and tho white snow of the old land, nor beneath the bright sky and blazing sun of an Australian summer-tide. But to every land belongs it's own ; and its advantages and discomforts must bo taken together* It is something to be ablo to feel that tho general condition of the place is ono of prosperity^ and that there aro few who cannot cheer themselves with the prospect of many future Christmas days to be spent amid r ore of tho happy accomptmimenls of the good old limes. The re. collection of these, and tho present seiisc of separation, will no doubt throw a shadow on tho spirit of many a man and woman who has loving frionds elsewhere to call into remembrance. But it is tho part of tho colonist to tako heart of hope. At present every man in Hokitika is a pioneer, clearing tho way to fortuno which others arc to enjoy together with himself. Such is tho healthy confidence that should animate him, and in most cases it will bo found a faith that bears its own fruit. Only one word more. It is a season of traditional charity aud kind'heartcdncss, when sorrow is sympathised with and want is relieved* There must be always some amongst us by whom tho helping handed is needed. It cannot bo feared that they will bo forgotten by thoso on whom fortuno has smiled. The recollection of liberal deeds done, will bo a welcome guest in tho heart for a long succession of happy Christmasses.

The rumor hns, thus far, not boon confivraod that Mr Moorhouso and Mr Travevs, two of tho candidates for tho Superintendenoy of Canterbury, arc nbout to pay n visit to the West Coast to solicit tho votes of such electors as may bo found here. The Cliristchurch and Dnnedin papers tell us that tho electoral strife is waging florcely in tho city of tho plains and tlio districts surrounding it. The candidates address meetings nightly, and discuss, in various styles of eloquence, and with more or less fclioity of argument, political topics, in which it is strange to feel wo havo so Httlo interest. That not oven tho reverberation of the distant battle is heard in Wostland, is proof of tho litter sevorance there is between the • practical politics of the two territories that lie respectively on tho east and the west sido of the intervening range I In the addresses of the competitors for the high honor of handling the political helm, tho subjects of harbor improvements, railways, and " other public works " hold a foremost place. Wo know tho precise nature and limit of our interest in that question, and the less reference a Christchurch public man makes to this Bflre point, the bettor will be his chances of neutralising opposition or of finding favor hero. With the exception of tho road across tho range, and the telegraph, designed to givo Eastland merchants what advantage they can derive from an early knowledge of tho state of our markets, nothing of material benofit to Westland is inoludcd in tho genoral category "of Public Works." And as to those undertakings,' wo know tho greater the diligence and perseverance displayed in pushing them through, tho larger and more exhaustive will be the drain upon the present and prospective revenues of the district. The all absorbing topic, however, in Christchurch during the present election, is the' question of Separation. To promote this nn organization has been formed under the name of the " Middlo Island Association." Upon this question the olection indeed seems very likely to turn. It would bo quite competent for us to discuss tho abstract merits of Separation, as a question lying betweon tho two islands. That they havo distinct interests is obvious ; that tho South has nothing to do with tho Maori war beyond contributing lavishly to its cost out of funds that Bhould be dctlioatcd ( solely to its own self-development, is ono of tho main postulates on which tho argument of tho South rests. But our position of isolation, and tho small part wo are allowed to play in tho great game of politics, obliges us to look upon this and sonio other questions, from what will no doubt bo called a narrow and merely local point of view. In Christchurch itself, the merits, of the Maori question aro discussed with great force nnd breadth of argument: the expensive selfreliant policy of Mr Weld, and tho platform of < Mr Stafford, who would do away with a Native and Defence J)0-

pnrtment altogether, are compared on grounds ot comprohoasivo statesmanship. Wo read theso things on this sido of tho vango just^ as we read dissertations in the English papers upon tho Gastoin Convention or the evacuation, of .Home. Thejr aro very admirable displays of knowledge and of argumentative power. ■ , Tho topics themselves aro of magnitude and public interest, to thoso who tiro in a position to tako an undistulrbed viow of a vast political surface. Wostland is unfortunately under tho necessity of localising its attention. It has interests at stako which are of more immediate and vital importance to it than tho fate of empire's. Unable to raiso itself to tho level of tlio Separation controversy ns one of high colonial interest, it ia, reduced to tho necessity of entertaining tho question } What would bo the probable results of this policy upon the immediate future of Wostland ? Tho concentration of political power either in Christchurch or Puncdin would, thoro is just reason to fear, plac'6 us at a greater disadvanrago than wo lie undor at present. Already the opportunity has beon lost to tho district of demanding separation as a right, undor tho provisions of tlio law as it stood prior to tho oponing of tho last session of the Assembly ; and it has boon seen that tho Provincial Goyornmont havo nbt boon clow to jfrdclaim their eagerness to tako advantago of tlio circumstance. Thopassago of Macandrow's Act has . rolioved them from a gravo source of approhonsion. They feel their strength ; havo awakened to a full consciousness of their power to do with us as they will — to confiscate o\ir rovenuo — to use our own money iv furtherance of scheme's to diVert tho trade uf tho district from its natural channels. Under existing circumstances, tho separation of the two islands would rob Westland of tho only protection it has loit to it — the power of appeal to the General Assambly of New Zeal aud. That right is yet its own, and it should bo employed to good purposo before it is lost. As a separato province of a Middlo Island colony, Westland would havo at least a practical control over its revenues. And should tho destruction altogether of the Provinces system bo a part of tho new scheme, it would bo in a position to enter as a component part into it, on terms of far greater advanttvgo, if it hold at the timo tho status of a distinct political organism, instead of boing a mere "outlying district" of a proud and powerful Provinco, the Govormnont of which haa never looked upon it with an cyo of favor, but eagerly sought to grasp all the spoils tho hand could bo laid upon. This thon is tho time for action. Circumstances arc tending rapidly to tho consummation of tho powerful movement for the severance of Now Zealand into two distinct colonies. Let it bo remembered that tho opportunity Wostland now possesses of establishing its caso iv tho high court of tho General Assembly may soon and evenly suddenly bo lost.

We havo received further and more reliablo information concerning that mysterious robbery of gold dust between the Twelve Milo and No Town. It appears that Mr Molloy loft No Town on foot, in company with tho packor, who waa mounted and carried tho gold, which amounted to 140 ozs., and whilst tho former stopped to speak to nn ncqunintanco whom ho ohauced to meot, tho packer rodo rapidly away, Molloy seeing no more of him until his arrival ftt tho Twelve Milo. Thoro ho found tho community in ft state of commotion, tho packer having on his arrival gono direct to tho Police Camp to givo information of his having been stuok up and robbed of tho gold and all his personal effects of value, including a watch ; stating, moreover, tho bushrangers bad, after despoiling him, 'given him a sound ducking in a neighboring creek. Tho stato of his garments not confirming this account, tho suspicions of the polico were aroused, nnd tho story getting wind, a crowd assombled, who, becoming oxosporntcd, threatened to lynoh him if ho did not mako full confession of his share in tho transaction, Intimidated by their threats, ho pleaded guilty, offering to show tho exact spot where the treasure was concealed, nnd, accompanied by a number of persons, proceeded to a place about half way between tho two townships, nnd thoro at tho foot of a largo trco,tho missing gold and watch wero found. Tho dolinquont, of course, was • retained -by tho polico nnd removed to Cobdcu, whon, on being brought up before Mr Blaokett, ho wns fully c&nmittcd to tnko his trial at the noxt criminal sessions of tho Nolson Supremo Court From information wo havo received from ft Mr Boveridge at Brnco Bay, wo find tbo placo is quite deserted, tho diggors having rushed en masse to tho more favored fields of Okarita. Fivo open boats arrived at Bruce from Jackson's Buy, throo of them en route foi Okarita. Our informant, in spito of its desertion, speaks hopefully of tho Bruce Bay district, which he believes will yob maintain n large mining population, whon tho communication botween it and Hokitika is more direot and certain. Ho furthermore states that ho has to keep watc'i and ward over a roadmnn, who is his only companion. A plcnsnnt stale of things truly for Mr Bovoridgc, who, having written to Mr Salo on tho matter, will, wo trust, soon bo rolioved from his unploasant charge , i Wo have received a lcttor from a correspondent residing at tho tlawllaw or Three-mile creek diggings, which|woimaginolo lio somewhere between llokltika and tho Totara diggings. The gist of la's Information is to tho died, that about five hundred diggers aro located thoro boiiio of whom are doing very woll. He complains of tho wrotched'stalo of tho tracks, nnd the absenco of oflloinl supervision, Btating it to bo tho intontion< of tho miners to potition for tho appointment of/ nn nuthorisod poison to issuo minor's lights, nnd Bcttlo mining disputes. Another ii'stanco of tho exceeding richness of tho Wostland Bench diggings wns uindo known to us yesterday, by a party of mincra just arrived from tho Auoklnud rush, '^hoir report, which wo consider to bo most nutbentic, is that n third share wns sold in Coffco'w claim, noxt lite prospectors, for tho handeomo sum of L3OO, tho Holler besides having netted LCOO out of the clniin for his soven weeks' work in it, LOOO is thus tho result of his little scratching in tho sea eand. This confirms ns in our original belief, thnt our "Special's" report of thad rush is considerably within the truth. • Although tho rnina of tho past few days havo not been very heavy in tho neighborhood of Hokitika, more must have fallen in districts 'further north, na nil the rivers botween it nnd tlio Grey wore on Wednesday nnd Thursday in a statn of high flood. The Tcrninnknu was— ns it always is undor such circuinHtanccs—iiripas-

sable ; and in consequence a great number of travellers stood, on cither side, gazing ruefnlly across .at oach othor. Amongst them on tho north sido tho redoubtablo Rowley and his Express was compelled to await a subsiding of tho waters ; and instead of arriving at Hokitika on Wednesday night, to ho in readiness to start agaiu for .tho Groy tho next morning, did not reach town until Friday afternoon. This delay has occasioned much inconvenioncotothepublio, who' thoroughly appreciate, and patroniso this convonienco provided for them by tho enterprise of tho proprietor^, At tho ArAhura, Tafnoy, thoToramakau paper'-ruuner'and m.iil-oarriorhad iv narrow cscapo when crossing on horsqbaok at Jbho falls, being waslied out of the saddle Ho however succeeded Jn clinging to tho horso, whioh was carried down over them, and swam to shoro oh the south sido. ,Tho , man has lost n numbor of letters and small parcels ho had in his coat pockets, but may consider himsolf fortunate that his )ifo woa not saorlflced, . . .. Wo have inuoh pleasure in recording tho oompletion of another contract in HokUika, tho importance of wlrioll cannot bo overrated.,, We allude to that portion of tho wharf between the cornor of Wharf Btroot and tho old wharf that some threo months ago was x tondored for.by Mr Mathow Eager, hie offer being accepted. . We have watched tho progress, of this work from first (6 last,, and can, without hesitation", vouch for tho skill atid care 'disphvyod by Mr Eagor in carrying out tho whole of tho dotails. Evory partis well and faithfully finished, tho . pijos being dvivou homo nnd seourejy braced and plankod. Tho drain constructed to ( carry off the storm water from Tano'red and tho centre of Wold sreots, is a skilful pioco of work, the moutli of it boing fitted; witll.avalvo, whioß is closed by tho rlsinc tido, and a flooding of tho back streets at high watoi: thus provontod. We regrot tho heavy losses by flood sustained by Mr Eager whilst fulfilling this contract,, but trust his futuro undertakings will bo so fortunate as to more than mako up for them, Wo understand duo notico will be given that tho contract is completed, and tho wharf handed ovor to Capt. Turnbull to-day. , . Tho Roman Catholic churoh in Tancrcd-stroet is to bo oponed for divine service to-morrow. The first service is announced to commence . at 9 and the second at 11 a.m. ,Tlie eorvi'ccS >vill be continued ovor Christmas day . A speoial meeting of tho Improvement Committoo wita hold on Monday evening last, when, a deputation from the inhabitants of Tancred street, consisting of Messrs Aklrioh, Svvanson, and Snowden waiacd upon the committeo for tho purposo of urging upon them tho necesisty of forming and gravelling Tancred stooet. The following resolution was thon riloved and crimed, — " That tho deputation from Tancred street bo received and tho improvement required in said streot betaken into consideration."- -"That a deputation bo appointed to, wait on Mr Sale, with tho view of inducing the Government to tako tho necessary levels and prepare a proper plan of the work proposed to be carried out, the deputation to consist of Messrs Palmor, nnd Clark." Tfco Treasurer presented a Balance Sheet of tho receipts and oxpondituro of tho Committeo for the current hnlf year which showed a balanco duo to tho Treasurer alone of L 7 148 6d. It was thon resolved, that the Balanco Sheet bo received, nnd Messrs Clark and Andorson be appointed to audit tho samo. Tho usual weokly meeting of tho 'Committee wns held on Thursday ovening, at Bracken's Hotel, when tho following business was transacted. Tho minutes of tho last meeting Mng read nivl confirmed, Mr Patmor stated, that tho rcsnlt of the deputation* to Mr Sale respecting Tanored stroot was satisfactory, he having promised to have the necessary levels taken and prepared for tho improvements confoinpjatod. A lottcr was next read from Mr Thomas Bell, , requeuing permission to oroot two polos opposito hh hotol in Revcll Btroot, tho samo to bo decorated for tho Christinas holidays, ho guaranteeing tho public thoroughfare should 'not be obstructed. Tho poles to be removed nt the expiration of the holidays, and any damage done to tho street roado good, This request waa acceded to by the Committee on tho conditions specified ; it being further resolved that every hotel in town be allowed tho same permission, the smno restrictions being attached to it. The following resolution was then put and carried,—' 1 That a number of tho public not having responded to the supplementary call mado by the Committee) to cover the balance duo for contingencies ; it is hereby resolved that members of the Committeo wait personally on the defaulters previous to advertising tho names in tho public papor ; Messrs Andorson and Bracken to take Revell strcot ; Palmer anil Clark, Gibson Quay } Reeves and Bounr, Beach stroot. Notices of motion : . Mr Rcoveg to move — ' ' That, a rumor having gained ground to the effect that it is contemplated by tho Government to grant a site to tho Bank of Now Zealand on tho present Polico tcsorve, at the corner of Rovoll and Camp streets ; this Committeo strongly condemns such a proceeding on the part of tho Government, ns an iusult to tho publio, nnd a oulpable misappropriation of tho town land. . The following Is the return of tho numbor of confinces at present in the Hokitika Gaol. Under sentence of committal, to be tried at tho sittings of the Supremo Court in January next, 27. Undergoing sentences of different terms of hard labor, 16. Remanded for further hearing, 0. Debtors, 3. Lunatics, 1. Total in confinement, 55. Free on bail, 1 for manslaughter, andl for larceny. Tho abovo returns are all of males. Wo aro delighted to see our Lagoon town brethren on tho south spit bavo bestirred thornsulres to pay duo homago to Jolly Old Christmas, I who is always welcomed as hcavtily by ms at the antipodes as ' in raoro rigorous clinics In tho Northern hemisphere. As will bo soon by fcurnt ing to our advertising columns ft vory tempting, programme of sports, for two days, is submitted to tho publio, consisting of horse and mule races, and Caledonian games. Tho nito chosen is most convenient nnd pleasant, the course (a circular one) being marked out and cleared on the south spit, its position allowing tho different' races to bo comfortably seen from boats on tho lagoon, whilo those who prefer equestrian oxorciso can watch every point of tho raco on shore. Mr Harris, of the Ferryman's Arms Hotol wns the first who originated tho idea, which recotved tho hearty support of Messrs Gash, Coohrnno. Mace, and several othor gentlemen whoso offorts we sincerly trust will bo attended with the success they merit. Tho neighborhood of Lagoon town is most charming ; a bettor could not be seleoted for pic-nio, parties, whilst tho lovers of shooting nnd fishing will find abundant sport in the bush nnd lako. West Coast weather has returned upon us with a vengeance, and from tho appearance of the sky wo nro inclined to think thoso who but tho other day were wishing for rain, will be . gratified by enough of it and somothiug to spare. Tho information wo recoived last night from Rowley, who had just arrived from tho Teremnkau, confirms tho account wo havo givon in nnothor paragraph of the flooded state of all tho rivers, he having, at tho greatest risk'to himsolf, succeeded in bringing his Express safe into 'town. At tho Arahura, a horso and dray, whilst attempting to ford tho river, were swopt down by the current, nnd ft woman, who was ft passenger, washed out. Her esoapo was n narrow ono, nothing but tho daring of two boatmen, who bravely pushed off to her assistance, saving her. The horso nnd dray mnnnged to reach tho shoro safely. ( Tho Express, which left town yesterday morning for the Grey* was obliged to return owing to tho impassable state of tho Three-mile Creek. Tho following is tho comment of tho Nelson Examiner on the Escoit :—": — " That costly picco of folly, tho Gold Escort from tho West Coast to Christchurch, has succeeded just as wo foretold. Tho last papers from Canterbury announced the departure of tho Escoit from tho City of tho Plaius for Hokitika— the papers reooived fiom. Holutika a day or two ago announce the departure of tho Escort on its return to Chrißtohurch v ithout leariog with it n single ounco of goldt

A more egicgious waito of money no Government was ever guilty of. Sixteen or twenty men havo been enrol lod and drilled for soveral,,. weeks ; forty horses and four wagons hive been, purchased ; stabling and other buildings havo been erected On fhe road ; and when all is completed, and the men arp.consiclored efficient for service, eight men and eleven horses are despatched from Christchurch to Hokitikn, where, on their arrival, they aro received with, jibes and ridioulo ; and. the banks, preferring to ship their gold direct to Australia, , or . to ( continue to forward it by sea to Nelson, i( ttio formidablo escort returns, baok. .eijnpty-handed. What tho electors of Canterbury will say to nil this waste of money, wo cannot tell. , Strange tnough, tho Government affected to believe, up \o tho departure of tho escort, that tho banks vould trust their gold to all tho dangers of a bng carriage over a mountainous road, intersected by torrents that are , often inipassablo, vlion they cd'nld put it into a steamer lying alongsido the wharf, and all further risk he off thoir hands. . To a question put in tho Counoil, oa.tfio 23rd, of November, the Provincial Socre* trtry said, the Government had not gone into the expense unndvlscdly j . nnd even,, Supposing no gold, was sont over the hills, tho ( expense of training and arming the men would not bo, thrown away, for they, could be employed os.£ho goldfiolds, either as an escort or as a kind of polico. There has been a ory for a long; while tint inofo protection was needed at the West Const. As tho Government of Canterbury has incurred a heavy expense for a service that was uncalled for, nnd cannot bo carried out, it will hojv be willing, to preaqrve appoaranbes, to employ tho men it had engaged for an unnecessary seivico on a necessary pno. Fortunate Government, to bo able to convert a blunder into a virtue" We learn from the Ohristchurch papors that th« Synod of the diocese of Canterbury has me\ In his address the Bishop stated that it had been proposed to fotm the Wostland district into a separate archdeaconry, but as the district was chiefly in the dioceseof Nelson, the appointment of a committee to., take stops . for tho readjustment of tho boundaries of the two dioceses was suggested, . .ThoDunodin Times reports a serious accident which ocourrcdto three well-known Invorcargillltes, happily, however, not resulting In nioro than slight injury, to any of the party. Messrs W. H. Brayton, Jorusalom Smith, and Alfred Giljes, wo.re driving down Princes street, and when botweon Stafford street and the Imporial Hotbli one of tho reins broke Mr Brayton contrived to pull tho horses to the lino of tho pavpment,'but they dashed off hgatn before any of tho gentlemen could escape. Mr GilUs jumped out, but fell and out and bruised his face considerably. .Mr Smith gift over at tho back, and was unhurt ; but Mr Brayton remained. Tho horses had mtauwhilo got into Manor place, and thej duslied ngainst two others which,-, with a dray, were standing noar tho timber yard there. Wo holiovo that all tho horses were .brought down by the sh<ipk, and tho . buggy was a good deal smashed. Mr Brayton had to be dragged from boncatlj ono of tho horses ; but, fortunately, it is believed that he has suffored nothing worso than a Reverb sprain of tlio right nnklo. The Welson Examiner states: — "nis Honor tho Surorintentent returned bore from tho Grey by tho cs. Wonga Wonga on Wednesday night. Ho speaks of thogolclneldi on tho West Coast as being likely to last for generations. . His Honor arrived at the Grey overland on Saturday last, and nfter remaining three days nt tho Groy, left" by tho Wonga Wonga on Wednesday morning." . Tho Dunedin Star flays :— " The old established firm of Cnrgill nnd Co., is announced to continuo under its old style until the 15th inst;, only for tho purposos of liquidation., Tho firm will henceforth bo assumed and carried on undor . the stylo of Cai-gills and M'lttan, tho list mentioned gentleman being tho lato marioger of the. Bank of New Zealand. Tho Examiner gives the following particulars of tho quantity of gold shipped from Nelson during tie month of November :-" The Banks nt Hokitikfl have lately shipped most of their gold direct to Australia. Since we published, on tho 2nd instant, n return of the gold exported during tho preceding month the Bank of New South Wales has shipped by the Claud Hamilton 4000 ouflces of gold to Sydney, and 3000 ounces by tho Souohays to Melbourne ; and the Bank of New Zealand forwarded to Molbourno by the latter stcjimor 1164 ounces. This, added to 2670 ounces sljipped by tho Union Bank of Australia in Nolson, by tho Souchays, gives an export this mon'tkof,l o,B43. The gold now hold by the Banks in 'Nelson, is 14,750 ounces, I received on Monday )ast from the Grey, 2000 received yesterday him the same port, and 1000 ounces from nokitika, which, with the gold purchased in Nohon^ gives a total yiold for the month up to tho present time of.nearly 32,000 ounces." Sergeant John Murray, of tho 08th Regimont, has recoived tho Victoria Cross for hia gallant conduct at Tauranga, on tho 21st of June, 1804. The oross was presented to Sergeant Murray by Brigadier-General Wnddy, at Wanganui, who dolivored a suitable address on the occasion, ' Tho siti of thtf new Theatre In Weld street is now cleared with tho exception of ono tenement, which waits to bo removed. Yesterday ovening ono of the two houses was carried away bodily by ft party of mon who lent a will ns well as a band to tho work, and accomplished it with case. Wo hare received information of a wild application of Lynoh law on tho Arnold. A storekeeping firm boing engaged In their front apartment in making up somo accounts, heard a buspioious noiao in the back of their tent, whioh was slabbed, nnd taking a cautious observation', saw a hand from tho outside stealthily ripping tho canvas with a knife, with a view, obviously, oither of effeoting nn entrance or inspecting the interior of the premises for n felonious purpose. They succeeded in capturing tho intruder, and fast binding him, mado him a prisoner for the 'night, The next morning, taking into consideration the oxpen.Bo, loss of time, and trouble that) might bo involved in handing him over to the law to be dealt with," they determined to chastiso him summarily' aud leave their mark upon him. A simplo pair of scissors answered their end, and having cropped him closely thoy turned him adrift, Our usually ncourate contemporary tho Nelson Examiner, in its summary for Europe, commits an error, which it reridors conspicuous by the following heading in largo oapitals :—": — " Half a Hundred weight of Gold from tho Nelson sldo of tho Grey." Undor this heading is quoted the Iqoal from our columns, giving nn account of tho largo quantity of gold brought into town last week, and smoltcd by Mr Proctor. Tho Helson Examiner must Buvely havo aufiicient geographical knbwlodgo to bo awaro that tho Threemile rush to tho south of tho Groy, whoro this fold and tho other large finds alluded to camo from, is not on tho Nolson sido of tho dividing river. , , Tho Dunedin Enmity Star reports :—ln: — In tho Provincial Counoil, Mr Giant moved,— 'That nn Address bo presented to his Honor tho Superintendent, requesting that a sum of L20,000,bp placed on tho Estimates towards tho erection and formation of a nuoleus of n Free Public Library in tho city of Dunodin." Tho lion. 1 member, in a somewhat rambling speech,' whioh no' ono but the Speaker appeared to listen to, urged tho iiccos3ity of the Council< nfiirmiug the principle that a free library wns necessary. He stigmatised the library of tho Athenreuin ns inferior to tho collection of books possessed by fishermen or weavers in Kilmnrnook or some other places in' Scotland, and stated thht ho know many old women who could not find t,ho necessary mental pabulum nt tlio Manse street Institute. Mr Adam fiii ld that the motion— to use a siafcoly Parliamentary term— was "bosh." Mr Grant replied (lint the remark that had just fallen from the hon. member (Mr Adam) was just what M'flht bo expected from ono wb.oso mind way a tabula rasa, Ths motion was pot and juegdtm'd< ' . ''

We understrnd that two Wesleyan Char* chog will,, bo opened for aiyinp worship to.morrow—ono „'at Rosatown, , and . {mother at Knnien. At Ross, Mr R. Cla'rk' r lato of Bendigo, will prench &% 11 a.m. and 1 p'.m,,, and at Kapler!, the Rev Q. 8. Harper at 3 p.m. and 7 The Government nave Issued the following oiroular to SuperinVondenU of Provinces relaUva to tho. establishment of Courts of Pe^ty Seasiou', with, a view to make, tho unpajd Magistracy more activo and diligent in the discharge of magisterial duties!--" Colonial .Secretary's Office, Welling; ton, 27th Noy,qmber v .lßfl{s.— Sir, I.hnvo tho honor, to enclose a copy of the 4 Petty Sessions Act 1865,' nndishouid fee], .ob'l)ge4 .if.your Honor would favor* mo with .such suggestions aa you may think necefjsary, with ft view to practical effeot being given to it In th 6 Province of— — -~l ' nnd thus obviating tho constantly recurring necessity of appointing paid Re4dent<Magfsi&te&,. ~I havp,.ct<?.,,E, W. Stafford,— His Honor tliiSuperintendent of — ;—p-,".,,; — p-,"., , , < Mr.Shp.atlj, fho telegraph engineer, is now iii Nelson, making arrangement^ for tho necessary offices .there. The .telegraph from tho Bluff, right through the Middle faland to Nelson, ia expected to bo tv wotting order' sometime in' January; '• „ -\ „., „ „..,, , ...WitlJ roferenco to. tho, Into despatch of the • English mail from Melbourne and delivery of it }n Dunedin. the Daily Times of tho Bth instant says^— At length tho .English maty haa been broupl to Dunodin ; the,P.N,Z. and A.R.MI • Op's Bte,amer fangjtotb •hiving arrived last oven' ing, from Melbourne via Hokitika and the Northern .fob mail boxes' .for this Province on board. ■ !J;lw,.puj)}io have to thanjc the Company to which the Rangitoto bolqngs for the avoidance of fiirthbf aotoyj. for that steamer ' waa not duo herb . Until' Wednesday next, tho 13th instant; and there wii net, foe' shadow of an obligation for the captain thus to disprranga the vessel's dmo at the northern ports. . The publio havo also to thank-r-in ansther Betise.-v somebody connected with the Genoral Government for the non-arrival of tho mail on Mondaymorning last. Wo Understand that the mail would havo been brought by tho Alhambra, if there had been any on* in Melbourne authorised to give ad undertaking that Its .conveyance would be fairly paid for.. But it is said that there' ip no ono authorised \ arid although th'o Ran'gitoto brought the boxes without such lihdertafcipg. tho demand for it is cortainly not unreasonable in any case, and thoro havo been disputes as to who was to pay, aftor the work had been done. Was it not officially announced, whilo Mr T. B. Gillies was Postmaster .dorienil, that, authority had ( b'eon ■ given to an agent in Melbourne to contract to pay L2OO to the proprietors of tho stoamor first offering to bring down the mail, after the departure of tho . contrast boat f — tho condition being that, calling at the BTiifl\ tho delivery in Dunedin should be mado within nino days of th'o star)) from Melbdurno. We believe, suoh to have boon tho case. If we are correct', it would ho doiibtj ' interest the publio to know whether tho authority has beon withdrawn, and if so, by whom, and for what reason it was donoi" •: ! • ! An Amendment Act of tho lan for imprisonmont for dobt has como into opoiation in Viol toria, and the one dobtor in Molbourno gaol was released, after four years and four months' incarqeralioh^, « . , . : t>l „ , . • During tlio sitting of tho SiipremN) Court, 1$ Dunedin, t ono :of, thp petty jurors applied for exemption on tho ground that he was a, voluq.teer. Tho judge informed him that tho privilego of exomption from jury service whioh wa4 forniorly granted to volunteer^ had been disr continued, and thai he would Havo to' servo along with hia brdtlior jurors'. ■• . .'. i . . •'. Several arrests for smuggling havo boon jnado at Auoklarid, and tho latest papers contain accounts of tho capture, by the Commissioner of Customs au'd Serg&ny Dunn, , 61 anJlUcit still; worked by Willianj, liambert. aiis Matthew - Wilson. The ofTendora wore fin'od LI 20 each arid oosta. Ono of thorn, N Williani .Lambert;,, was lately captain of that woll-kiiown butunfoitun'ato clipper, Black Diamond ; and tho otheri Matthew Watson, was formerly a private in the 57th Regiment., Another still was seized a| Papatoitoi, and two men arrested. . , ( „, ' Referring to tHo report of the discovery of it' river near Bruce Bay, Mr R.,P. Bafn, who surveyed part of the West < Coast; writes to th^' Lyttelton Times :—"l beg to state that on my return from tho West Coast sonic eighteen, mdnths sinco, I tnontioned in my report that I had run into this same river, whon blown out of Jackson's Bay, and that I found the entrance free from nny bar, which peculiarity arises from the fact) of the rivor having two mouths, tho southern branch being the one having no obstruction at tho entrance. From my recollection of the plaso, I can endorse all tho writer says in its favor as regards small vessels, but the entrance* ia narrow, with rather a sharp bend, aud the deep water extends 1 for a very short distance up the river, whioh would prevent largo voaseU, or any great number of smaller ones, from making this rivor a pott of discharge." , v