West Coast Times.

West Coast Times, Issue 161, 24 March 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times.

MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1866.

We are enabled to-day to . give full telegraphic details of the intelligence brought by tho English mail. The melancholy story of tho loss of the London is told circumstantially. It appears that a large number of ships have gon« down on the Knglish coast, and in the neighboring seas, during a succession of very heavy gales, of which the ill-fated London was one of the first to experience the full fury. Tho total loss of life is reported to bo enormous. It is surprising, considering the vast dimensions the passenger traffic of the mercantile marine has assumed, that the precautions taken fov the safety of life and valuable property continuo to be so defective. In the caso of the London wo are told that a largo quantity of

I coals wove loft upon clock inflordcr to I make room for the stowage below of railway stock and oilier cargo, and one of the first effects of the tremendous scan shipped by her was to choke tho scuppers, and thus render useless die channels provided for the discharge of the wash. It \vill in all probability be found, when the whole circumstances of this terrible wreck are investigated, that other safeguards against accident from tho oierwash of heavy seas wci'e neglected — such as the hanging of the lower portions of tho bulwarks upon hinges enabling them to move outwards, and so provide for the speedy discharge of tho deok water. The immediate cause of the wreck seems to have been the shipment ond retention of heavy seas, which deluged the cabins, filled the hold, and put out the engine fires. It is not to the credit of a great mercantile nation, whose boast it has long been to command the scad, and whose recent improvements in naval archietcturc have won tho admiration of the world, that the foundering x>f great ships that are floated on the waters as the masterpieces of the shipwright, and which appeal to tho confidence of passengers, as combinations of all that modern science has devised and that skilled art can execute for the guarantee of safety, should be so frequent. In the early days of maritime- adventure, tempestuous oceans were safely crossed in vessels that in theso days of enlarged ideas would bo deemed inadequate for the most ordinary coasting trade, The ships employed by the most renowned navigators aud discoverers were mere cockleshells compared with tho splendid products of the modern shipyard. Yot the old tubs in which tho Columbuses and Cabots led their daring crews, contended successfully with the perils of the ocean, laying down tracks in inhospitable and unknown was for later navigators to follow whilst it has become with us a common slor.y. for splendid vessels which art and capital have exhausted themselves in making perfect for sea u&e, 'to go down with their rich Cargoes, not only of material wealth, but of life, affection, and hope. The nation seems on tho eve of realising all the political consequences that were predicted to result from the death of Lor d Palmer«ton. That statesman's official prestige and personal influence had long operated as a drag upon the movement towards a now settlement of tho Constitution, whioli set in with the revolutionary era of 1848, but which never attained any great headways The demise of Lord Palmorston has closed a distinct page in history, and the time has at length tto'ine for the new social forces, which the advances of the people in wealth and intelligence have evolved, to assert themselves with practical effect. Karl Russell; tho new premier, appears once more to have thrown the entire weight of his influence into the scale of reform. It may be assumed that Mr Gladstone is heartily with him, if he does not take tho lead in advanced sentiment. Mr Bright, the great tribune of the English democracy, has indicated his readiness to form uu alliance with tho more radical leaders of the Whig party, 'and has hinted at the probability of circumstano.es arising undftr which it would bo his duty to the people /to tako office. Portentous facts these, preinonitors of revolutionary limes ! Tho guarantees for the continued peace of Europe appear to be strengthening. The long maintained amity of relations and oneness of policy between Franco and England, is in itself a substantial guarnntec. So long as the two powers act in thorough harmony, they must necessarily excrciso an almost preponderating influence in the politics of Europe, Russia has made a demonstration against the aggressivo tendencies of Prussia, and threatened a coalition against that power if it should persevere in its project to annex the Duchies. In Italy Victor Emanuel, without abating the title of the new Kingdom to tho Roman territory ad capital, has pledged himself to noninterference during tho life of the present Pope. In Hungary tho struggle of the patriotic party, extended over sixteen years in war and in peace, has at length culminated in the recognition by the Austrian Emperor of the autonomy of the ancient kingdom of tho Magyars and the formal relin quishment of tho scheme to swallow it up in the imperial system. In Spain tho insurrectionary movements appear to have beuii much exaggerated. They are now reported to be effectually suj pressed. In American politics ond in the alleged propagan - ism of the Fenians, thero is nothing worth calling for notice, beyond the fact of the failure thus far of tho party whose aim it is to foment war between England aud the States. The Intercolonial news brought by the Itaugitoto is of interest and importance. In Victoria tho M'Culloch Ministry, notwithstanding their enormous majority in the Legislative Absembly, have succumbed to the adverse vote of the Upper House, by which the protective tariff has again been rejected by a very largo majority. Mr M'Culloch says Victoria is without a Constitution. If he had' said without a " workable Constitution" ho would have more correctly expressed the fact, tio long as the Upper House is not tuifcccpliblc of being dissolved on the occasion of any appeal to the "people, and so long as simultaneously no power lies with the Crown to secure harmony of legislation by tho creation of additional members, as in the case of the House of Lords, collisions between the two Chambers are unavoidable. If instead of sending in a majority of fiftyeight to twenty in the new Parliament in favor of tho M'Culloch policy, the electors had returned tho whole seventyeight of the same way of thinking, tho

Houso would havo been equally powerless to pass the protective tariff so long as the Legislative Council continued to maintain the same attitude of firmness nnd determination. It is manifest that the Constitution of Victoria wants readjusting, and that the work of readjustment can be best peVfoViiVe'd "at home. The . recall iff Sir Charles Darling and, the 'appointment of Sir Richard 'Graves' MaoDonnell aro rumored. If such a step is in contemplation, the latter will no doubt come out with specific and imperative instructions from tho Imperial' Government. In the meantime, 'the duties under tho old tariff, which tho M'Culloch Ministry havo been seeking iv vain ifbr nearly tho last two years to upset, aro oncb moro being cojlccjjed. Fr6m Sydney wo learn that desperate sustained efforts wero hemg male intlieLaw'Cburfo to 'save tho life of the :'c6nvicte& murderer Bertrand. Tho nature of tho points raised by his, counsel will be found in our other' columns. Wo learn also that an attempt made by Mr Forster in tho Sydney Parliament to rescind the arrangements made with the New Zealand Govcrhmciit for the prosecution df the Panama Mail Sevrico, had failed. Tho « Sydney Morning Herald," whilst holding .that tho Bpecial benefits to t be derived by New South Wales from the opening up of this roftte Wrbalen to be greatly lessened by tho renewal of tho steam depot fltoin Auckland to Wellington, yet maintains that a duo observance of the engagement entered into, is imperative on the ground of good faith and honor.

Mr Edmund BuriF, Mr IVosWb colleague iv tho Provincial Council, readied town t>y tlio Railgito'to oh liia return from Chistohuroh. Mr Prhico (of thofirm of Vrhco knu Lyons) who wns liborutod at ChMrtohucoh on his own roeOgniaance, to uppeav at Hokitika on Saturday last, arrived in tho Rangitoto. Ilis enso was called on in Iho It. M.'s Court that morning, but in consequonco of his non-appearance tho bail was declared forfeited, and a warrant at onco issued for his approhonsion. This wa* eerved aa soon as ho mado liio appearnnco, and tho alleged defaulter lodged in gnol, but yesterday ho win ngain freed, bail being allow-od— himself at £200, and two nuroties ufc £100 each. Mr Alman and Mr B. Marks avo tho gonllomon who havo pledged (bomsolvoa for him. At midnight 6n Saturday, a during robbery traq perpetrated at tho Oddfolfowa Hall, Kovell etreot, tlio victim boing tho landlord, «nd tho proporty abstracted, his cash box, which contained over £10 findsorci-al valuable documents. I'he thiof ovidontly had mado himself acquainted with tho arrangements of tho bar, for, watching Ins opportunity, ho slipped in unporcoivod. eeizod tho cash box, and would havo departed In tho same mannor had not a slight shuffling attracted tho utton' tion of the landlord, who with a few friouds was sitting in uu adjoining room, and who jusfc caught a glnnco of him as ho wns rushing through tho sido door. Acting on tho impulse of tho momont, ho darted after him, but as tho night was extremely dark, lost sight of tlio vasral immediately. Eottirning to the bar, he soon ascertained tho oxtenfc of his loss, "and at onco gavo information to tho polico, who up to a lato hour lust night hnd not Buccocded in tracing tho olteudor. Wo aro glad to sco that Iho useful a u d bonovolent Order of Odd Follows havo determined to opou a " Lodgo" in Hokilika. Tho good which has been effected by this society in all parts of tho world ia incalculable, and many a family iu.timo of destitution, sickness, and death liavo had just reason to bless its institution. In another column will bo found a notico to tho oflcct that a dispensation havinp been granted by Iho North Canterbury district, and power delegated to Mr W. It. Goodrick, P. a., a lodgo will bo opened at tho Odd Follows' Hotol on Wednesday, April 4th, jft half-past seven in tho ovouing, We havo to corrc'ot a typographical error in tho Jast issuo of tho papor, which appoarod in our report of tho Improvement Committco Instead of a commission of •« 2 " per cont. ollowod to Mr Smith for valuation of town proporty, it should havo been "i" p O r cont. His Honor tho Superintendent, accompanied by Mr Stewart, Socrotary for Public Works, returned to town yesterday from thoir visit to Groymouth. Wo trust tho trip provod an agrcoablo ouo and congratulate them on having boon favored with such lovely weather. Tho Grey River Argu f informs us that an .official enquiry took plaoo at tlio Resident Magistrate's Court, Oobdon, rolative to (he wreck of tho steamship Eleanor, tho rocent loss of whioh on Iho North Beach is fresh in tho recollection of tho public. Tho Bench was occupied by J. S. Kynnorsloy, Esq., R.M., and David Johnston, Esq., Collector of Customs at Grey mouth. From thoevidonceofCapt. Coulson, Harbor Master, the eignulmnn afctho Heads, and tlio captain, mato, and ongincor of tho unfortuate vessel, it appears that no blamo whatever can bo attributed to tho officers who had chargo of her. Sho left tho harbor at six o'clook on Sunday morning, 11th inst., wilh a strong south-oast wind, which uuddenly dropped when thoy rcachod tho bar. At that timo tho engines wore going vory slow, and a heavy sea springing up, a few rollors struck hor and souther broadsido on to tho North Beach. Messrs Do Costa and Co. were agents for tho vessel ; and a survey having been mado, oho was oondemned, and has since been • sold by auction for ,Cl4O. Thcro was another capital 'house nt tho Prince of Wales Theatre on Saturday ovening to witness tho Lcnton troupo in thoir marvellous performances. Tho great novelty of the night was tho publio e.tposc of tho great Davenport, untying trick. Hithorto, imitators of tho Davenports have, as thoir prototypes did, performed thoir operations behind the shell cr of a screen, and tho manner in whioh they havo freed themselves from tho multitudinous knots tiocl about thoir limbs, has rcmainod an unfatliomablo mystery to tho bewildorctl spectators. On Saturday night Mr

Lonton offered tho audionco tho opportunity of having tho " nuigio mado easy " to their upprohonsion, nnil they docidod on having their curiosity aatisHed. Mr Ridgway submit toclj to ho bound | ttnd tho,, operation Waft fcertainly porformod to all ojipcttvnnoo most offectuivlly. But by a simplo procoduro, much to fcho public nßtonishraont, ho succeodod in extricating himself boforo thoir eye 3 from many bonds ; and tho mystery stood at onco revealed. Tho foat was witnessed with loud applause. ,T.ho3e who wont to discover how ifc is achieved, had bofctor attend the theatre aria sco lor thomsolvos. Mr Riagwdy nirthor distinguished himsolf by some dariug and brilliant exercises on tho flying trapeze. Wo need not repeat our econimnß on thp performances of tho other mombora of the Iroupto. fror to-night, wo notice tbftfc ft great chango is announced in tho programme. Mr Lonton hunsolf makes his first appearance, and wo understand his exploits aro of a quite surprising character. Tho first appearance of Master Johu Louton, who with his brother Frank will perform as tho Lilliputian clowns, is included in fcho pvograittiliff. llfo management havo Also 'eilgagdd tho sorvicea of Miss Rosa Cooper and Mr Lionel .Harding, who make thoir debut on the boards of the Pviueo of AValos i to-night. Altogether tho Bill ia a great oils, &nd can hardly fail to draw a crowded houic. «, The Deniliqttin Chronicle states that tho romains of Constablo Chapman, who was lost in tho bush laloly, havo been found by a man named Patrick Hardy and another, within threo-qimrtors of a milo of whoro some mctf wcro making a dam. ltd was buried in tho Booligal Oeihctaty, and followed by a good many people to tho grave. Tho, body was aa black as ink, and. in an advanced state of putrpfap'tion, f ln his utruggieo ho had torn liis BhJvt and forcod his pant's up to his knees, and by his tracks ifc was scon that ho had boon rolling round and round tho troo under which ho was found, to avoid tho sun, Ho must havo had a horriblo death. Ho is said to havo boon lying on his sido, with a coafc under his head for a pillow. Tho spot was a dry creek, about twonty-Gve miles from Bodligal and so von from tho Lachlim RiVor. It is understood that thoro were no marks of viblonco on deceased's person, but that ho had ovidently perished from exhaustion, and hud, after rambling about for aoiao tinio in a circuitous , direction, boing overcomo with fati|;-uo and thirst, laid himself down ; ~ lining, it is supposod, hung his wai-n- -< on a trco or bush near, as a guide to his roalui«j place.