West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1886.

West Coast Times, Issue 138, 27 February 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1886.

We arc compelled to hold over leader, correspondence, and other matter, iv consequence of the great pressure on our columns.

In tho Resident Magistrate's Court, yoslcvdtiy,Mv. Samuel Symnw, recently connected with a Mining Company at tho Kuniori, was charged with misappropriating Lt 15a. which ho had collected for Messrs. MacGrogor and Harvoy, from Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull, and on tho application of Inspector Broham, was romaudod until Iho Ist proximo. No civil eases wero hoard.

Tho Wizard Jacobs had a vbry full houso last night at tho Corinthian Hnll, and his tricks of magic, and comic songs, wont off with groat eclal and success. Wo romind tho lovers of a ploasant evening's onlortainmont that tho Wizard performs horo only during tho presont wook.

Tho rains of Saturday and tho ilood of Sunday, havo boon succeeded by very fine woather. Yesterday was a most glorious day, with a cloar sky, a warm sun, and bracing air. On tho wholo, tho weather account of Westland continues to show a very heavy balanco on the fair side.

Wo publish our usual gaol rotnrns for tho week ending Saturday, February 24. Tho calendar is a ligl\t ono, 4 only having been senteuccd, 2 imprisoned for dobt, and 1 conflnod for lunacy. As a set off against thoso now arrivals, 7 criminals woro disohargod hnving completed their sentences, 3 debtors wcro also freed and 1 lunatic. Number of conilnees at present in tho gaol aro 0 committed for trial, 19 sentenced men, 1 dobtor, 3 lunatics, and 1 foinalo on romand for larceny : total, 30

Tho disaster caused by the lato flood is not confined to Gibson's Quay, othor localities havo also suftbred. But tho heaviest iudividual loss wo havo yot heard of will, wo aro afraid, fall upon Mr Edgar, tho contractor for tho construction of the dam across tho south channel of tho rivor. This wo arc sorry to hear is almost totally destroyed just at tho time, too, when it had nearly approached completion. Out of tho 120 piles already drivou not moro than half arc loft standing, and on oithor sido tho flood seourod out a ohnunol quito twenty foot in depth. Tho wholo of tho plant collected thoro for tho prosecution of tho work waß swopt away, punts, monkeys, whoolbarrows, loose piles, and a quantity of othor matter was carriod down by Iho furious stroam and destroyed in tho surf. Sonic of tho workmen who woro caiupod over thoro stato that thoro was far moro water running down that sido of tho island than in tho main channel ! Wo arc afraid that tho idea of a dam will havo to bo abandoned.

With reference to tho recent execution of upwards of two thousand nogrocs in Jamaica, tho London correspondent of tho Daily Times has tho following of Govornor Eyro : — Of courso this Jamaica busiuoss will load to an enrly Parliamentary dobato, and wo anticipate that tho manly and straightforward conduct of tho English Ministry Avill ho supported by public opinion, Moantimo, wo hold to our faith iv Mr. Eyro ; wo look to his antecedents and find him evor tho black man's friend, and his rulo in Jamaica hithorto without roproaoh ; whilst his momorablo exploration flvo-and-twonty years ago in South Australia bospeaks him a man of infinite resource. Ho thoro started with a companion named Baxtor aud throo natives ; Baxtor was murdorod, two of tho guides deserted, and Eyre, with tho littlo half-crazed Wylio, travoraod tho great Australian Bight, tho only white man known to havo crossod that awful wilderness. History tolls this talo of a twolvo months' journeying from Adelaido to King George's Sound, with tho accompanying horrors j it also tolls how Edward John Eyro protected tho black follows on tho Lowor Murray, how ho bohuvod whon govorning in St. Vinconts, and how through Hfo ho was tho darkskin's champion. With all this ovidenco boforo us, wo aro slow to boliuvo that euoh a man would wantonly shod tho blood whioh lately floodod tho highways of Jamaica ; nor can wo bohold him as tho vory ugly flond his malignors paint him— no, wo proibr waiting for tho faithful rocord of ovontd which shall oithor exouorato or couvict him. Mr Russoll Gurnoy, Q. 0., tho Rocorder of London, is selootod us ono of the Jamaica Commissioners.

Wo mentioned notno time ago tbo destruction undor the provisions of a proclamation recently inHuod of nomo valuable poultry brought to Jjytlolbr/n by the Himalaya. In connection with tho r.amo nubjont tho Proa* reports tho following " Haul oa«o«"-. "A case of peculiar hardship occurs by tin) arrival of tho arrival of tho Hiroaluya with 101 valuable Roconey Marsh sheep, bolanginy to Mr Hamilton Ward. It

appears that by tho Customs' Regulation Act of 18/58, Iho importation of certain articles is prohibited, and they arc liable to bo seized and destroyed. Amongbt ouch articles aro the following ;-»' All such infected cattlo, sheep, or other animals, and hides and skins, horns, hoofs, or any other part of cattle or other animals, aa tho Governor in Council shall at any time prohibit, iv order to provoat any infectious or contagious distemper or disease.' Under tho authority of this olauso a proclamation was issued on tho Hj-h of Juno last, rcoiting tho abovo clause, and providing as follows: — 'Now, thorcforc, hiß Excollonoy tho Governor, by and with tho udvico of tho Executive Council, doth, in pursunnco .of tho horoiuboforo recited provisions of tho said Act, by this present ordor, absolutely prohibit Iho importation from tho United Kingdom of Groat Britain and Ireland, or from any part of tho continent of Europe, into Now Zealand, of any cattle, shoop. goato, horses, pigs, or poultry, and of hides, skins, horns, hoofs, and all other parts of such uuimala, in ordor to provont tho infectious or contagious distompor or disease now prevalent in tho said Unitod Kingdom, and in divers parts of tho continont of Europe, among animals of tho'leinds aforesaid, from spreading in Now Zealand.' It is oxtroinoly doubtful whothor tho proclamation dooa not oxueod tho powers givon by tho Aot. It would scorn that tho word ' iufcotod' govorus tho wholo clause j so that tho Government has no power to prohibit any cattlo, but only any ' infcclod' cattle. If tho olauso in quoslion gives tho power assumed in tho proclamation, what need was thoro to pass the Diseased Cattlo Act of 1861. It is quito clear that tho latter Act prosumed, at all ovonts so far as tho ninth claii6o is concorned, that tho powors under tho Customs Regulations Aot of 1858> wcro deficient. Mr Ward's sheop aro admitted to bo perfectly healthy, »u\d to havo beon so during tho voyage, and to havo boon brought from a district in whioh no disease has appeared. Wo will not now go into tho quostion as to tho policy of prohibiting tho importation of all shoop. Tho peculiar hardship in this case is, that the shcop wora shipped in England two months boforo tho prohibition was issued in this colony. The proclamation thoroforo becomes an aot of ex post facto legislation, which can only bo justified in any caso of overwhelming necessity. Mr Hamilton Ward' has petitioned tho Governor to relax tho proclamation, and wo aro informed that his petition will bo supported by somo of tho most influential sheep-owners of Canterbury.

In noticing tho Launcoaton races, tho Hobad Town Mercury says : — Wo regrot to learn that tho colohratod racohorao Volunteer is reported to bo so lamo, sinco his effort for tho Champion Cup, that it is a doubtful question whethor ho will over again bo able to run a race.

Tho Press says • — " Wo understand that a considerable quantity of manganese and sorpeutino (tho oro from whioh magnesium is extracted) will ho forwarded to England undor tho caro of Mr Drow, by tho Blue Jacket. The samples wove obtained by Mr Ford, tho cooper, from tho Malvorn lulls, and can bo inspected at his workshop, in Cambridge torrace. The spot from whonco thoso specimens woro obtained is said to bo 1200 foot abovo tho sea lovol, aud close bosido it thoro is a bed of oyator sholls, samples of, which aro also shown, measuring, many of them, from eight to ten inches in length."

The Sydney Empire of the 10th instrnfc contains tho following notice of tbo fust examination of tho notorious bushranger Dunn ;—; — " Yesterday at noon, in a room over tho Debtors' Ward, Darliughurst gaol, Oonetablo M'Halo, of tho Canonbar Folico, formally charged John Dunn with tho wilful murdor of Constable Suinuol Nelson, lookup-keeper at Collector, on tho evouing of the 2(Jth January, 1865. Capt. Scott, Chief Poliuo Magistrate, presided. Mr Williams, Crown Prosocutor, conducted the examination ; and Mr OrmUton, Chief Polico Deposition Clerk, took down the depositions. The evidence of Constable M'llalc, of the late Constablo Nolaon's two eons, of Mr Kimborley, tho landlord of tho Commercial Hotel, at Collector, near where Nelson's body was- found ; and of Michael Davorou wasstaken, when tho prisoner was remanded until two o'olook on Monday next, for tho ovidonco of Dr. Hanford, who made tho post mortem examination of Nolson's body, iind the ovidonco of two witnessos who' have not yet arrived in Sydney. Wo havo, theroforo, been roquostod not to publish tho ovidonco until tho examination has closed ; but wo can stato tho following without prejudicing tho caso. When Dunn was informed that his examination would commonco yostorday, and that it would bo first nccossary for him to be identified, ho requoalod to ho plncod among a numbor of other prisoners, soino as youthful, and others oldor than himself. This roquost Mr Road, tho gaoler, not only complied with, but as Dunn was hnuo, they worq all seated on a form. Tho witnossos thon wont into tho room whoro those prisoners woro soatcd in private- clothing, and tho result of thoir identification will bo disolosod in the ovidonco whon publishod on Tuesday next. Whon Dunn was assisted into tho debtors' room or court, ho appeared to bo somowhat weak, though improving in health, and walked vory lame, more so than M'Halo, who followod him. Ho was provided with a chair, at tho ond of tho tablo, in tho samo place whoro Gardinor sat whilo boing oxaiuinod. In appearance Dunn has vory little iv his countonanco indicativo of tho caroor asoribod to him, savo hie hanging lip aud rotroating chiu and forohoad. Ho is about five foot oloven inches in height, not of woll formod fraino, and about twonty-two yoars of ago. His head is BinaU, brood about the oars, whioh aro largo and narrow at tho top -, oyos grey and largo, noso prominont and thin, hair light brown and straight, and a light oolourod down on his upper lip, whilo tho chin bears a slight " scrub,," as if ho had bogun to shave. Whon iv propor condition ho would weigh about list 61b. Ho listened to tho proceedings, but seotned to be quite indifferent to them. It may bo observed that Mr Cloote, Water Polioe M^istifito, who onmo and

sat vith Captain Scott for a few minutes, at one recognised Duun as a young man whom ho had frequently seen on tlio diggings, among tho diggers drinking, but novor dreamt that he was Dunn tho bushranger. Dunn was born about twenty miles from Lambing Flat, and Las a father and mother in hum bio circumstances, besides eistors, and, wo understand, a brother. When Dunn's father went recently to visit his son iv Bathur&t gaol, lie was so altorod in appearance that he could scarcely rocogniso him." Tho " Daily Thnos " hoars that Mr Gcorgo Brodio, M.P.C., has boon appoiulcd Inspc-tor of Insolvent Estates undor tho provisions -of tho Debtors and Creditors Act. Tho "Dunstan Timos" Bays: —Mr Goorgo Brodic, wo aro givon to understand, retires from tho political world. Tho largo oxponso and loss of timo suffered by this gcntloman during Iho last throo years in looking aftor tho iulorostg of (ho golclfiolda render it nccossary that ho should dovoto moro timo to his privato affairs. Iv Mr Brodio tho poldfiolda lose a staunch friend, and wo trust that his friouds will urgo upon him to again ontor tho political arena. Tho " Southland Times" statoH that a requisition has beon forwardod to T. Hcalo, Esq., requesting him to allow himsolf to bo put in nomination as a cimdidato for tho representation of Invorcargill. It is understood that Mr Hcalo has inthuatod a williugnoss to represent any distinct in Southland if requostod to como forward by tho oleotors. Mr Dillon 8011, tho samo papor says, is to have a requisition from tho Malaura District. Tho mootiug of tho Provincial Council of Southland is appointod to tako placo on Tuesday, tho 6th of May. Undor tho head of " Goldllolds at Rivorton," tho "Southland Times," of tho 12th insuiut, give* the following communication from a correspondent :— " I havo just learnt from Sorgoant Morton, who somo timo sinco, under instructions from Mr Commissioner Woldon, proccoded to tho roputod now diggings at Colao Bay (Mr nurst's Station), 34 milos from Rivorlon, that ho found sovoral raon at work, and all appoared fully satisflod with tho result of thoir labours. Ono man showed him about lib of gold, boing his sharo for loss than ono month's work. Tho gold is vory flno, only with much difficulty obtained, owing to tho rough appliances now usod in separating it from tho black sand in which it is found. It is stated that with tho use of quioksilvor, any 1 man on thoso diggings can oarn from £5 to £6 por week. Tho diggings aro about 8 miles from tho bcaoh. Thoro aro six inches of wash-dirt, found on a falso bottom, at about ouo foot from tho surfaco. Thero appears to bo abowt seven miles of anriforous country, and from tho accounts rocoived, sovoral crooks havo beon tcstod and gold found j also, many spots on tho beach, with a similar result. Tho road from Riverton is vory bad. I understand that a samplo of gold, taken from oro of tho claims now being worked— a dißhful of stuff— has been forwarded to Invoreargill. Acoouuts received from Longwood-aro, also, highly encouraging."