SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

West Coast Times, Issue 149, 10 March 1866, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Under this head may be grouped a number of matters of a semi-political character. The projected sale of the town lands of Hokitika and Greymouth has been defeired by tho Government in order to afford the General Assembly the opportunity of amending the Act at present in force, with a view to protect -the in. terests of the. present holders of sites who have erected valuable improve 1 ments upon their sections. In consequence of tho whole of the West Coast holding only the status of "goldfield," uo Crown Land has been sold, and amongst a population probably numbering twenty five thousand not a rood of freehold is held. The delay of the sale of the town lots is acquiesced in as a concession to important interests, but the establishment of propertied rights is anxiously looked forward to as a neces 1 sary preliminary to the introduction of municipal institutions and other desir able reforms. Tho Improvement Committee, to which the town is under deep obliga* tions, is practically in owing to the impending change in the status of the town by its withdrawal from the goldfields, and the operation of the Municipal Ordinances of tho Province. Tho Fire Brigade,- another voluntary organisation, has greatly advanced in efficiency, and wehavobeon remindedby areccnt narrow escape from a destructive conflagration, of the necessity of supporting so useful a body. No material change lias taken place ii> the numbers of the people during the month. Many successful miners have left tho district, either to return "home," or on temporary visits to tho neighbor 1 ing colonies. Their places have been supplied in ahout equal numbers by new arrivals. Lorge numbers of miners have been in Hokitika, for the most part on tho way to the nnmerous new_rushcs_ that have broken out. Wo are happy to say that the record of the month includes no cases of serious crime, the immunity from which is somewhat remarkable in a community comprising so many thousands gathered from- so many quarters, and with so few of tho social and domestic tics to retrain them. 'In the courts nothing^has occurred of special interest. Some of the judgments of Mr Fitzgerald, 'the Resident Magistrate, have been questioned before other courts, but "in each case his findings have been sustained. Whilst 'our crime register is tolerably clean, it must be admitted, with l'egret, that there have been numerous cases of accident and death, by drowning, by mining mishap, and by misadventure in the bush.