West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 96, 8 January 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1866.

Mr Justice Gresson has escaped the perils of ,an overland journey, and nchieved the passage of the intervening range without damage to limb, and we trust without any very serious slioolj. to the judicial nerves.' We are glad to have him amongst us, and hope that, tho toils and dangers of tho Avay happily surmounted, His Honor will enjoy his sojourn in the capital of the West Coast. lie is comfortably housed, domestically, and will find a court in which to exercise his official functions, commodious, and convenient in all . respects, provided the interval before the opening of the assize be judiciously improved for the amendment of the present acoustic defects of the hall. Mr Gresson will- find tho calendar rather long than heavy. Considering the social circumstances of tho district, His Honor will no doubt tako occasion to congratulate the grand jury upon the absence of the more serious phases of crime. The annals of Westland arc not yet stained with a ense of murder. Robbery, with or without violence, is an offence the total absence of which would 'be a miracle in a community so scattered and with so scant a police protection. We shall bo satisfied if the result of Mr Justice Gresson's visit, is toa&ord a striking demonstration of the majesty of tho law and to strike terror into the hearts of evil doers. , Beyond tho actual administration of justice and the apportionment of punishment to the guilty, there is always something solitary 4n »i judicial visit to an outlying district.' It deepens amongst the community hi largo tho healthful sense of tlie presence and pow6r of a retributivo Law. It impresses tho mmd with the fact that, though working oft-times by slow and unseen processes, Justice is evev'Qw the "alert, and is eur^, ft v hevown

appointed hour, to .assert hcr.selt a<; the avenger^ If viewed in no other light, the holding of a session of the Supremo Court in Hoitika, under the presidency of one of the most able and ostcemed of its Judges, is an incident to be regarded with .satisfaction. Mr Gresson is, of eour.se, not a political man, and holds no»direct relations with the Provincial Govornment. But the opportunity is not "domed him of serving" the district whose" acquaintance ho now makes. There arc many local abuses t0., b0 remedied in what may be considered as especially his own department — the administration of justice. It will probably not cscaps a man of his observant habits, tlmfra class of cases involving the most important and the most intricate questions of mercantile law, are of frequent occurrence in our courts, and that the interests' of the district require a more adequate judicial provision than at prosont exists. The duties that devolve upon the Resident Magistrate arc frequently of a character that should be undertaken only by a Judge of the Supreme Oolirt, or by a District Judge of considerable legal experience. • MrFitzGerald is so estimable and painstaking an officer that not one word should be written of him capablo of a disrespectful construction. But the duties of a judge of the Supremo Court wore never designed to be thrown upon a puisne magistrate ; whilst it is a fact that those devolving on Mr. FitzGerald are such as no judge of the Supremo Court itself la called ou to discharge. A judge is invariably assisted by n jury, who have tho sole power to deoido upon the facts and substantial merits of tho case under trial. *He has to interpret the law, to watch tho examination of witnesses, and to &co that the proper rules of evidence arc not violated— and at tho conclusion to submit au impartial summing-up of the enso to the jury, with whom alone tho decision lies. Even an attempt on tho part of the Bench to dictate to the jury, or in any way to .influence their verdict, is relented by public opinion as a gross violation of constitutional practice, and a course leading to a miscarriage of justice. Yet, in the outlying districts of the provinces we see the Resident Magistrates— themselves seldom gentle- , men of legal training — called upon to act both as judge and jury in the most intricate cases— as the- arbiters at once of both law and fact. ■ Few more important cases perhaps ever came before a colonial court, ' than tho one tried last week before' the ltesident Magistrate — Sioan v. Hughes. It was an actiou to recover damages for losses sustained through the wreck of tho Maid of tho Yarra, the wreck having occurred during tho vesel's deviation from her original course, the deviation not being caused by stress of weather or other act of God. By the judgment given for tho plaintiff 'it has been affirmed as a part of the maritime law of the colony, that- owners' aro liable for all loss and damage sustained through deviating from the ship's ooursc, unless for the purposo of escaping wreck. We do not quarrel with the decision. It seems, on the face of the facts to bo perfectly sound. But it is a decision that ought to have been affirmed by a high judicial authority, and th&.cuso'involved questions too largo to make it fair to. ask a Resident Magistrate to pronounce upon them. Yet this is a representative case. Surely his Honor will accept it as illustrative of the just claims of the district to a more adequate . provision than at present exists for tho administration of civil law in Hokitika. The visit of His Honor at the present , juncture, derives a special importance ( from tho rumored intention of' tho Go- ( vcrnment to limit tho sittings, of the ( Supreme Court in Hokitika to two , sessions in the year. Any arrangement j more monstrous, in the absence of a Dis- j trict Judge throughout the district, could j not well be imagined. Mr Gvesson's 1 position places him above all mere poli- < tical complications. Tho necessity of , securing a duo and prompt administra- i tion of justice must weigh with him as a \ paramount consideration ; and we look with confidence for such a representation at his hands to the proper authorities, as' will lead to a more adequate provision I •being made for the urgent requirements " of the district. * Another subject, we feel justified in " pressing upon His Honor's attention, c is the reform of the gaol administration of the West Coast. He will have the }' opportunity of seeing with his own eyes 0 the miserable provision at present i= made for the custody of prisoners, and •' especially the utter absence of all system of classification. Probably his l! official report, embodying tho result Ji of ' his observations, will bo more ti effective in 'working a reform than local c agitation on this matter has been. , tl . « - t« Wk are very glad to notice ' that the n youthful province of Southland, which n has during' the last twelve or eighteen » months been " suffering a recovery," P is beginning to show unuiistakoablc \ signs of renewed prosperity. No pro- (, vince in New Zealand possesses a larger ft share, in proportion to its size, of the v natural elements of prosperity. Its w hopes of discovering a paying gold-field . seenr* indeed, doomed to a permanent "j disappointment. But it possesses a rich and fertile soil, and a climate peculiarly a\ adapted not only for pastoral and agri- m cultural purposes, but for almost innu- 'j° merable branches of productive industry. B " Tho extravagant expenditure induced ac by the hopo of commanding tho Lake »c traffic, to the exclusion of Dunedin, and cl the sudden inability experienced of con- °° tinuing that expenditure to the point \ t necessary to render it reproductive, he were tho causes of the embarrassment 1" which has given Southland an unenvi- j° ablo reputation amongst tho provinces, 0 \ and occasioned an almost general ril exodus from it of its enterprising" commercial men. No one, tt however, acquainted with the ciroum- jjj! stances of the province has evor to doubted that its depression was only (h shovt-lived. Tho reaction has now an begun, and' we notice {hat wider the I »**

new powers conferred on tho piovincial legislature, by Acts of the General Asembly, the railway enterprise of Southland—lon£ suspended— is about to be revived. Advertisements appear in the papers calling for tenders for tho completion of tho Bluff and I-ivcrcargill line. This costly and substantial work, which was almost in a Bttito of completion twelve months ago, is destined to form tho first instalment' of tho great trunk line which will eventually run through the middle island from its southern to its northern extremity. Completed to Invcrcargill, no long time will elapso before tho work of extension towards Dunedin is commenced, and the result will necessarily bo the dovelopmeut of a vast commercial interest at the Bluff, which is unquestionably the most magnificent harbor in Southern New Zealand, and which needs only a proper light service 'in Foveaux's Straits to render' it the safest. According to tho arrangments now pro J posed.the completion of tho Bluff Railway will not involve any axiginentation of the public debt of the province. It is this circumstance that induces us to refer to the case. The General Assembly has sanctioned the adoption by the Southland Government ot the principle of paying for the execution of public works by giants of land. It has authorised the adoption of the same method, within certain limits, of liquidating the publio '.liabilities of tho province. Two official advertisements appear in tho Invercargill papers. Ono is under the signature of the Railway Engineer 1 ; and contains tho announcement that the Government arc prepared to reeeivo tensors for Railway Works. The following are the conditions stated : — Payments to be made, on the completion of tho works, in land, at tho rate of one acre for every pound sterling; the contractor, on the acceptance of his tender, to havo the right .of selecting a block of land, subject to tho provisions of the Southland Waste Lands Act, representing at the rate mentioned, tho amount of his tender, '» which block will be reserved for

the satisfaction of the contract ;" the Crown Grant to be given on the Engineer's certificate of finnl completion. The other notice appears under iho signature of Captain' Elles, the Collector of Customs at Invercargill, who has beon appoiuted by the General Government, " Receiver of Land Revenue"

for so long 1 as Southland finances remain "in chancery." Captain Elles publishes certain " provisional regulations" issued under, the "Southland Provincial Debt Act, 18(55." These regulations arc now in force. They provide that any public, creditor becoming a purchaser of Crown Land may have so much of the ' purchase-money of such land as will liquidate his claim in full, refunded to him. As an inducement, we' presume, to "the holders of provincial securities lo effect a settlement by taking land in satisfaction, notice is given that tl\o interest of eight per cent, hitherto b6l'no by the .Government debentures, will, after the 8 1st December, bo reduced to a maximum of six uer cent

•* 1> • Wo sbnll wait with some interest to see the measure of 'success attending this now policy. It! will undoubtedly be far moro to tho interest of Southland to exchange its present unimproved and unoccupied lands ibr public works that may be' expected to aid in tho rapid development cf its resourccs,than to carry on those, by foreign loans contracted at a timo when Now Zealand Provincial Debentures cannotbo' floated except at v very heavy discount. The great want of the Province is the investment of capital in its land, and the presence of an industrious and enterprising population. Both these wants are likely to be supplied by the policy now initiated, and if the result is the success

th.-vt may bo anticipated, no doubt other provinces will follow in tho wake, and carry out their public works on a system which will at once keep them out of the loan market, aud givo a great stimulus to settlement.

Tho steamships Gothenburg and Rangitoto are boh advertised losail for Melbourne to-morrow, and the Albion is to leave for 1 tho same place, via interine'liato ports, twenty-four hours after arrival. In ordor to save the outgoing English mail, our Monthly Summary for Europe and the colonies will bo printed to-morrow.

. In a caso in tho Resident Magistrato'n court, reported in Saturday's' Tinrs, in which the defendant was fined L 2 and costs, for using threatening language, tho names should havo been South v. Potter, uot Smith v. Potter, as printed by mistake.

Tho sonroity of fomnlo servants in Hokitika is somothing marveHpus, whon tho onormous wagos given nro takon into consideration. Afc

the prosont timo any woman can readily obtain from L 2 per Aveek upwards, mid if a couplo of hundred woro landed to-morrow, they need not bo out of situations two days. Iv Molbourno wages nro quotod at' from JC2S to £35 per annum j, here wo may safely quote thorn afc from £100 to £150 for tho samo term, and yet ovon at that- rato rospootablo servants aro not to be got. Tho consequence is that many families who aro ablo und willing to pay handsomoly for labor, cannot obtain it, and yet in tho Australian colonies, South Australia particularly', fomalo labor goes bogging, so much so in' fact that assisted female immigration is, slopped for a certain period. Wo hope our Australian neighbours will tako notice of this want, for any woll-con-dudtod fomalo servant may rely on obtaining immediate omploymont and high wages on arrival on this coast.

On Saturday, Inspector Broham, with all tho available troopers' at his command, went out to tneot Mr Justice Grcsson, and escort him into 'town. His Honor, undor convoy of Flowers, Iho mailman, duly came to hand, and created considerable sensation as ho rodo down Revoll i-treet, accompauied by his armed retinue. 110 was accompanied by Iho cortege to the Jiulgo's obambors, which were furnished ready for his occupation Mr Gresson, afterwards, in company with Mr Sale, took a stroll round Iho town, and woro, an elephant perambulating fcho si reels ho could bcarcely have- been more stared at. The presence of a real live Juvlge in Hokitika seomed to completely astound tho inhabitants, who havo hitherto been accustomed to regard tho Camp officials as the alpha and tho omega of all authority.

As our readers will sco by our polico report a butcher in tho town was mulcted in L2~5

damages ou Saturday last nt the Rosidont Magistrate's court, for having causod injury to a neighbor's prcuuisoß, and loss to his trade through liis pigs burrowing undor complainant's house, and becoming a nuisiuioo to tho it? frecnientw, It appeared from do

fondant's ovideuuo that ho allowed his pigs to forage round during the day, and shut them up at night 5 mid ho furthor atatocl that somo two or tln'co hundred porkors bolouging to diflbrout pooplo wore allowed to roam at largo without let or hindrance Thanks to tho soa, which, summarily disposed of tho stockyards, slaughtering is, comparatively spoaking, banishod from tbo immodiato prcoiuots of the main btieet ; .but the piggeries still continuo to give out all odours but tboso of " Araby tbo blest," in tho very oenlro of the town. Mr South, iv the couwo of his defence, contended that Hokitika was not a town at all, but a goldficlil, and the Town and Country Ordinango did not apply to it us it liad not been proclaimed. The consequence was, _ that hordes, cowh, pigs, or anything else, might wander about, commit any liavoc they pleased, and the public were utterly defenceless. ■ Wo fear that this is too true 5 but t.iuely it is time that such an evil should bo remedied by tho immediate proclamation of tho district, ltovorting to pig keeping in tho heart of the town, wo may remind the authorities that tho hottest woathor of tho yenr may bo lookod for shortly, and if fovoiv dysentery, or other diseases bieak out, those who passively permit such hotbeds of disease to exist aro chiefly responsible for tho consequences. Wo huvo to correct an orrov that appeared in tho columns of our last issuo. Instead of tho grand jury being summoned for Monday '• next," it should havo been Monday wock. D. M'Connoll, charged with tho murdor of Mrs I?nmir, hus beon deprivod of tho offices of Registrar of tho Supremo Court and Rogistmr of .Deeds at Invorcargill, 1 Tho Molbourno Argus states that Mr Stowarfc, managor of tho Bank of Now South Wnloß, Beeohworth, prooeods to Dunodin, to tako charge of all tho branches of tli3 Bank of Now South Wales in Now Zealand. • Tho Southland Nowb says:— "Wo havo authority for mentioning that tho Provincial Govornment scrip, popularly known ns 1 Greenbacks,' is now rcooivablo at tho Laud Office in payment for land. This is a movo iv tho right direction, and will givo an impetus (0 transactions, thoro being jn tho aggrogato a largo amount of capital looked up in this way, whioh wo boliovo holdora nro willing to invoat." A. return has been laid on the table of the Provinoiul Council showing the business dove on the West Coast Telegraph,- between tho Bealey and Christchurch Stations, from tho 18th of Oct., to tho 30th of Nov., 18C5. It nppcAra that tho cash messages amounted to L 36 7s 8, and tho Provincial Government messages to Lllß oslod, whilo the expenditure during the snmo period amounted lo L4l 2s 3d. By. a paper laid on tho Provincial Couucil table, it appears that, early in Sapterabor last, Messrs Cobb and Co., offered to convey the goM to be sent by escort from Hokiuka to Oliristolimuh, at a cost of LBo2par month, making a yearly expenditure of L9OOO, besides 1*5500 for guard and contingencies. The Commissioner, of Police reported thereon that the Government could do the work for thomselvos at a loss cost, and tho offer was consequently refused. Tho late intelligence we have recoive.l from Okarita (por p.s. Bruce), although not of tho most encouraging nature, tends decidedly to the inferenco that an extensive and payable goldfield exists iv its Vicinity, n3 tho beach diggings are still yielding woll, and many parties induced by tho discovery of heavior gold inland uro ransacking the country betweeu tho sea, and tho ranges. _ What success has so far attended their efforts is not known, but it is assorted paynblo ground has been found CIO3O to the ranges, but that the diggers who visit the township for provisions aro exceedingly reticent, soiling only as much of the precious nietid as immediate necessities compel them to, tho pticu given by storekeepers being remarkably low, ranging from L 3 103 (Jd to L 3 1 2s only. Of course all sorts of rumors aro in circulation, and it is supposed a Inrgo amount of gold is in tho hands of tho miners ; somo of the sanguine onos affirming tint should the pried inoroaso so much as 10,000 ozs or, 12,000 ozs would bo forthcoming. Thoro seema, however, no uasonnblo doubt to suppose that gold is really gettiug in the indicated direction, and that the sample is very much coarser than tho beach dust, increasing in this respect ns the range is approached. Tho country, however, 13 imponotrnblo in tho oxtremo, conveying provisions to any distance being a work of tho utmost difficulty, much rotnrding tho dovolopemont of this part of tho const. Tho diggers affirm that woro only ono or two trucks cut a few miles into tho bush, and " dopots " of provisions formed, it would' much facilitate prospecting, and bo more than likely to lead to important results. Wo certainly ngrco with thoni and think tho discovorios already made in that direction warrant tho Government iv cutting bridlo paths, nnd fool confident were such oneouragomoiit given them,' (ho community thcro locatod would very soou determine it 3 roul capabilities. Li\st Friday morning, aa tho Bruoo was leaving, intelligonco reached, tho township of now disco vorica in tho interior, and a nish had commenced in consequence, but as nothing taugiblo was known concorning it we strongly doprccato any movo in that direction yol, at furthor advices nro oxpoctcd to roach us in tho course of a week, whioh wo shall immediately publish on rocoiving. Tho town of Okarita line not increased in sizo since our last report, consisting of about eight stores ftiul a fow shantios. Buuuoss is very dull, somo of tho storekeepers, having heavy stocks of (at prcsont) unsaloablo goods on hand, which render them oxooodingly anxious for doflnito intelligence from tho ranges. All, however, avo sanguine that^gold will yofc bo found in sulficiont quantities to causo a largo influx'of minorß. A tomporary flngstatl 1 has boon oreetod at tho ontranco to tho lagoon pi'ovidod with a semaphore of rathor a novel description, for, lacking red point, a wd comfdrtoi^ is attftolied lo each arm to render it conspicuous. A signal man is also iii attendance to pilot vessels in and out ovor tho bar, which Captain' McQill reports as easily crossed, . thoro being from twolvo to fifteen foot of water upon it. Tho tido, howovor, ruus with considerable rapidity onoh way, rondoring great caro necessary to avoid being cast on shoro on that shallow patch which brought tho Bruco to grief whon sho first visited tho placo. Passages in opon boats aro still made between Okurila nnd Bruco Bay. On Wodnosdny, tho 3rd instant, two, laden with minors, loft tho former for tho latter. That tho oxtended jurisdiction of tho Magistrate's Court to £100 casos has boon productive of muoli good, no ono can possibly deny, and though uo doubj orrors of judgmont aro somotimos comuiittcd by thoso exercising authority, on tho who}o tho change has boon most bonoficiul to morcantilo interests. At tho samothno -an additional altoralion might very woll bo' made, not only to tho advautngo of suitors ov defendants, but to tho relief of tho presiding magistrate. In ■ tlio £100 jurisdiction, cases constantly occur whero damages havo to bo assessed or accounts minutely oxuininud, whero thoro i 3 no intontion on oithor sido to obtain more than justice, and in which tho single judgmont of ono man may bo froquontly ut fault. A very simplo remedy for this, and ono that would sot at rest rnuoli dissatisfaction, is ab hand, and easily available. This is simply (0 allow oithor plaintiff ov dofondant tho power of summoning ussessors to aot with tho magistrate, and forni, a* it wore, a jury. If tho disputants were Vatisflod with tho magistrate's deoision, woll and good, but if not, let them havo the powov of calling in othor arbitors. No magistrate, howovor ablo, can bo oxpootod to bo thoroughly posted in ovory dopartmout of trade, and uasistanco in arriving at decisions in complicated oaaos would, wo should thiuk, bo as welcome to him as it would bo adrautugoous to tho public. In Hokitika especially a vory largo uuuiber of actions are tried arising out of shipping or ■ morcantilo transactions, with which only thoso who havo for somo tiiuo boon engaged in trade of tho kind, aro thoroughly convoraant. By roforenco to tho police roports our readori will soo that casos of this kind aro continually being brought forward, nnd, without in tho. loast degreo impugning tho judgment of tho presiding magistrate, wo need hardly say that hit) VQi-cUots, in many cases, by no mo&na

satisfy tho persons interested. In no inslnnco can wo expect both losing and winning sides to coincide in tho rcsultj but woro assessors — a jury in fact — pormiltod, all reasonablo cause of grumbling would nt. onco be at an end.

Tho {southland News says :—": — " Wo havo before us .1 letter dated Hokitika, September 21, and which bears the Ohristchurch postmark November 30, being delivered in Invcmargiil on tho 6th Dccoinbcr. The letter has apparently been two mon'hs in finding its way from Hokitika to Cliristchurch, a matldr so ditlioult of oxplanalion jJial wo .should havo concluded lhat our correspondent hud misdated his lotior, but for its contents, and tho fact that three precisely similar instances havo been niontioued to us. Complaints arc tuiido that a large nuinbor of letters posted at Hokitika do not reach their destination at all. If so, what becomes of them? Wo mako these .remarks in tho hopo of the complaints reaching tho authorities at Chriatohureh and Hokitika, that enquiries may be set ou foot as to tho cause of detention.

We have great pleasure in making known to our readers that Miss Kdith Pajmorston has been induced to prolong her stay in Hokitika for a further period of five nights ; re-opening the Theatro lloyal on Tuesday evening, whou this clever lady will introduce a scries of new sketches and sougs. Miss Palmerston during her brief stay amongst us has received from all classes tho highest commondation for her wonderful and versatile talents, and we gladly testify to iho fact as a conclusive proof lhat the inhabitants of a goldfiold are fully as competent of discerning and supporting really good performances as thoso < of more settled and older established districts. In order to givo tho publio a raoio varied entertainment the services of Miss Annie Be-iiunont and Professor Parker havo been bbcured; a combination of attraction is, therefore, offered , which cannot fail to draw good houses. Wo are delighted to boo there is somo probability of the introduction of a quadrille assembly in Hokitika ; for tlioro aro few recreations more conducivo to plofmnl, social qualitiea, and tho cultivation of good mauuors than theso gatherings of tho youwg aud lightheartod, if tho conductor bo ono who thorouglily uudorstnuds and is ablo to onforoo tho necessary otiquotto ; otherwise thoy vory soon dogonorato into more froo and easy partios, whoro disorder unchecked runs riot. By a roforonoo to our advertising columns id will bo soon that Mr L. Samuels will givo tho first of n series of partios this ovoning at tho Commercial Hotel, and it is his intention, should tho publio accord him tho nocessary support, to hold a social gathoring onco a week, whoro thoso who aro partial to dancing may disport thomsolves, and they who aro not familiar with tho art may recoivo instruction j and as tho terms of admission aro such as to rondor tho meetings lolorably select, wo havo no doubt thoy will provo' most satisfactory to thoso who attend them. Wo sincerely trust this movornent will bo hoartily supported. The ordinary monthly mooting of the Firo Brigado will bo hold this evening at tho Ilarp of Erin Hotel.

A notico from tho ILirbor Master's depart mont rospoctiug the wages duo to the signal man at Gtroymouth appoars in our advertising columns.

The Bendigo Independent has tho following : — " Wo woro yostorilny shown *tho onvelopo of a lottor just rocoived by a lady now rosiding in Sandhurst, but lormo'rly in Bruns-mck-atroof;, Melbourne, which has boon travelling iii soarch of her sinco 25th Feb. last, when it was despatched from Auckland. It is lilorally ooverod ovor with pojt-marks and indorsa'iona by lottcr-carriers and persons who hud opened it, and, as usual, many of the post-murks are illegible. Where it may havo beon in the interim cannot bo ascertained, but scorns to have got back to Auckland on tho Ist day of April, a most appropriate day from its past and futuro porogrinattons. Ib noxfc seems to havo gone to Eiigland, an it is improssod with tho stamp, ' Missonfcto England," but without any date. Tho ndJross, ' Fitzroy, Molbouruo. Victoria, being distinctly written, tho lottor wus -roturnod from England lo Molbourno, and boars tho Molbourno Post-oitico mark of 19th Soptoinbor, and tho Fitzroy Post-ofllco mark of 21st Soptombor. It then sooms to havo giron Iho letter carriors somo trouble, ono lady of tho same immo having twico written on it that it had boon opened by her, but was" not for hor, probably onco boforo going to England, and onco on its return, and auother lady, also of tho same name, but residing at a different number, has endorsed ii ' Ro-ononed by her, but not for her,' shewing that she too must have had it left with her moro tlmn once. Whether it found rest or was w.mdt ring about since Sop ember cannot from the letter bo assoibinoJ, but across tho a<Mre<ji are the words 'Try , Bondigo,' with the Melbourne post-onico inavk of 23rd and Sandhurst mark of 2Cth December, and yesto'rday itreached the person for whom intended, dearly eviucing that if post-oft Vials commit mistakes, thoy aro most indefatigable in their efforts to liiut tho proper owners for stray lottota " Ou the subject of aquatics— tho championship pf Australia— the Kydney Morning Herald says: — "It is now so many years since a contest for the* championship has taken place, that tho patrons of aquatic sports will bo pleased to learn that a compo'iior has entored the Held against Iliohard Gfreou; William Hiokey is the now aspirant and, through tho exertions of Messrs M'Grath and Punch on. behalf of R. Green, a match has boon effected. The career of Green formally years pastis. patent to all boatmen, and his superiority over any oilier man iv Now South Wales in outriggers is fully established. Hickey has only just commenced, his recent victory over H. White being his maiden attotnpt in that class ot" bo its. The match is to take place on the 20tl> J.muary. Hiokey will train under P. Murray, and Greon will be brought out by Messrs. Punch and M'Grath. Muoh speoulatiou is already evinoed on the result, and a splendid race in likely to ensue." . '