West Coast Times.

West Coast Times, Issue 165, 29 March 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times.

THURSDAY, MABCH 29, 1866.

Tub arrival of the Claud Hamilton has put us in possession of complete files of English papers, from which wo extract as largely aa our space will permit. Although most of the items of news have been anticipated by our telegraphic summaries, the details supplied by tho papers will bo read with great interest.

The loss of tho steamship London has created an intense sensation in England* and the " Home News " publishes a supplement full of the particulars of the sad story. The Intercolonial news is of considerable interest. From Sydney, we learn tha+ tho bushranger Dunn has been hanged. He died " very penitent, and without a struggle." The murderer Bertrand, who was to have been executed on tho same day, has for tho present escaped the gallows. All the points raised by his counsel were decided against him, with the exception of one. Mr. Justice Fawcett having "withdrawn his opinion" as to the correctness of the course- adopted by the Chief Justice in reading, on the second trial, portions of the evidence given on the first trial, his case' is to be remitted to the consideration of a third jury. The subject has boon warmly debated in the Legislative Assembly, and the Attorney-General iutimated that it was the determination of tho Government to postpone tho new trial until the legal questions involved could be referred to, and decided upon, by tho judicial ooinmittee ol tho Privy Couuoil The AttorneyGeneral was cunsured for not personally prosecuting in the cuse, and the conduct of Sir Alfred Stephen was very strongly commented upon. The debate on the motion for the reinstitution of State-aid to religion stands adjourned.

In Victoria the political struggle waxes daily more hot. The M'Culloch Ministry have resigned, but no new Government has yet been formed, al though it was understood that Mr Fellows had submitted a list for Sir Henry Darling's approval. The Assembly have pronounced an article in the <% Argus " to be a false and scandalous libel, and, on the Speaker's warrant, Mr Hugh George, the registered publisher of that paper, has been committed to the custody of tho Sergeant-at-arms. Mr George has as much to do with the editorial conduct of tho " Argus" as Sir Franois Murphy himself, but he is legally responsible for all its oontents. The article complained of characterised a certain statement made by Mr M'Cullooh, the Chief Secretary, as " bristling with falsehood." Mr George was not MWejJ to h* fyeijrd at th© far 0/ the

Houso by counsol, He is tho second " publisher" of tho " Argus" who has had tho distinction thrust Upon him of imprisonment fot the plain-spealdng of tho editors of that journal. The " Argus" varies tho terms «f its accusation against tho Chief Secretary since this vindictive action of tho Mseinbly, by charging M'Cullooh with "tottoKe^iigainst truth." Tn'e papers, although full of quotable matter, contain little news of any pressing importance boyond tho resume we have given.

A dramatio season At $16 Thea'trb koy*l (Sh'&kspolteyWdo&nVenco on Saturday night, tvheft &» Evoreito, Mr Tom Favrcett, and other membors of an effective corps dramatique will make their first appoaranco on th« HokiMka boards. The piecos announced are " 3>on Cscsar do Bazan," and '.* 'Whitebait at'&roouwioh," with interludes of suVgi'ug and dancing. Notice & tta&lwtad in the Now Zealand Gmettt n>f att application by Mr Oharlos Mar* tin, of No. 15, Duko-street, Adolphi, oinl onginoer, for lottors patent " for tho exclusive use within the Colony of Now Zealand of a' process discovorod by him for an improvement or improvements in the niamifaOlure of an Alloy or Alloys of tttantomind Won." The perfWauce of Misa jßosa Cooler and Mfc Monel Harding, at tlio !PritttM <6f \Valos Thoatre, Ve/ry ploasfttttly diversifies the ontorteimaonK ftho lUtlo sketch of " k.SLN.O.'P.Q .» was last night given with great success. Miss Ooopor is a really olevor ..nd charming actress, and Mr'ffardmg's'ttfctdoutal rooitalions wore mfait Vftbotivo. His spirited rendering tiid " Chargo of tho Light Brigade "^ebcrV63 all praise. Of the Lonton TiMpo, and of Mr George Ridgway, wo can say no moro than wo havo said already. Thoir engagement is now vapidly drawing to a olose» To-nighfc Messrs George Bidgwa^ttud Loon Sainwells take a joint benefit, and a crowded houao may bo confidently aptiofpfcfert, Ou Saturday a complimon'tary benefit Will be given by tl»e feenton lVoUpo to Mr BarUettIt is announced as thoir last, perfonnrnce in Hokitida 5 and Mr Bartlott will on this occasion raako his first appearance, in tho oharming comedy of " Delicate Ground." Tho house will not be open to-morrow ovoning, being Good Friday. To-morrow being Good IVMhy* tii'eft WA bo no Issue o£ tbo Wisit fcb«st 'fames-. A rery serious charge has been brought against a well-known storekeeper at the Eight Mle Boach, north of Hdkitika, which wUI be heard in the R.M: bourt to-day. We are informed tbtxt <6tt Tu<Jttd»y .evening a miner, whose name has not transpired, wont into tho storo of Henry Cohen, and whilst thero drank with him. Almost immediately after he bocame drowsy, and then quite helpless, but he remembers, though unablo to speak at tho time, that Cohen searched his pookets and abstracted his purao, and afterwards carried him outsido and laid him on tho beach. Shortly after tho man's niftto passed by, who, obsorving his position, and thinking tlm 'uhwoll, carried him ba<& to tho storo again, when Cohen stated that Hie man had loft tho store dVuhk and laid down outsido. Tho matter would have, in all probability rested horo had not auother party observod Cohou oarry him outside. That individual was taxod with tho robbery, whioh he deniod, but hii assortion being disbelieved tho polico woro appliod to and a warrant ißsuod, upon which ho Wat yesterday arrested nud lodged in the Camp. Wo are given to understand that tho next sessiou oF tho Supreme Court will not bo held at Hokitika until tho middlo of hbxfc July, instead of April is btfglftaUy determined oa. This is pfctfectly monstrous aud wo are utterly unablo to assign any reason for the change, and can see very plainly that a re* potitiou of the disgraceful circumstance* whioh attonded tho orowded stato of tho goal p 1 i'ovious to last cessions will bo tho result. Already tho number of 'committed men is something alarming, and as tho now gaol will not bo ready for at least two months wo are reluotantly compolled to foar the worst. Wo sincerely trust that an oarlior datp than July next will b© decided upon for tho trial of thoso criminals charged with more serious offimces, and fool justified in demanding 'that if a rosident Judgo in tfofc ttpp 1 oiutod for Wostland, ono should visit us on cirouit at least evory 'three months. A very small body of police, consisting of a Sergeant and full constable, aro under orders for Bruco Bay, for tho purpose wo presume of keeping order amongst some 1200 or 1600 people ! the great majority of whom corUihly do not belong to the *«»« iwofctfe. Tho idoa is proposterous, although quito on a par with tho action usually taken in such «asos— tho Totara distriot to wit j and, later still, Okarita, We certainly think (as tho polico foroo cannot very well bo classed under tho head of Public Works) that its numbor should bo uugmonlod aud provision thus made for the pro', cction of thoso now commuuitiea whioh avo forming on different parts of tho coast, His Honor tho Suporintoiulonfc, accompanied by th« Provincial Secretary and Soorolavy of Publio Works, paid a visit to tho Kaniori yeatorday. They havo thus had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with tho praotioal working of a goldfiold, and should bo able— short us thoir stay was— to form a slight idea of tho want« of its community. Mr Roohfort aocompauied tho party, aud doubtless gave valuable information and advice upon matters oonneoted with his department. Wo hopo thoy perceived how imperative is th» nooosiity of extending tho Wharf, in order topresorvo tho river bank aboTe the Custom Houso. We observed yesterday a notice posted up outsido th« Commissioner's Office, showing tho numbers of the seotions that havo boen valued by the Government Assessor, and notifying that any ono interested in knowing tho raluo pl»oed upon suoh section of improvements, would roceive information on application to the Commissioner. We supposo the object of this notioo is to enable euc&a» do not con»ider the Government valuation just, to oull in the sorvioos of Mr Smith, tho Assessor »ppointod by th» Iranroranont Commit^