BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 210, 22 May 1866, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(PHOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.) [Tho following appeared in last ovoning's Despatch."] CIIIUSTCHUROH. Monday, 2.52 p.m, Rangitoto arrived from the north and sailed south. The ship Japanese arrived from London all well. The Jeanie Duncan arrived from Picton. Sailed— The Crest of the Wave for Hokitika. Several shocks of earthquake were felt hero yesterday. NELSON. Monday, 10 a.m. The s.s. Kennedy will sail to-morrow (Tuesday), for tho Bailor, Grey, and Hokitika.

Tho recent action taken by tho Govornmont in North Rovoll-stroot, by posting notices to tho oflbet that tho inhabitants of tho west aido of tho stroot aro liublo to removal without further notico, was tho eubjoct of a meeting of thoso interested, hcldat thoMechanics' Arms Hotel, on Saturday ovoniug. It was stated on that occasion that a doputation had during tho oarlior portion of tho day, waited upon Mr Salo, to roquost an explanation of tho full purport of tho noticos, and ondeavor to ohviato tho loss and inconvonionco whioh tho proposed removal would occasion. Mr Salo explainod that ho objoqtod to tho west sido of Rovoll-stroot, north of Stafford 6troot, being surveyed with tho object of selling, as tho stroot is at present laid out much too narrow; in consoquonco of which tho inhabitants of tho opposite sido of tho street, who havo a prior claim, objoct to tho west siclo boing mu'voyed I

or sold. Mr Salo fnrthor informed the deputation that tho courso thoy ought to pursuo was, to frame a momoriul to tho Provincial Council, containing their griovanco, and signed by tho inhabitants of both sidos of tho street. Tho mooting having heard those statomoufg, agreed, in order to Bceuro their aim, to constitute themselves a committop, named tho North Rovoll-strcot West Improvement Committee tho mombors of which aro Messrs Haworth, Hino, Tumor, Fitzsimmons, Hinohcliffo, Wright, Orr, Oainpboll, Powoll, Milliard, and Dr Young. Aftor having appointed p Biib-committeo to draw up a memorial, tho mooting was adjournod till Thursday first, at 8 o'clock. Last night' tho sub-connnittoo mot in tho Mechanics' Arms Hotel, and framed tho memorial to tho Council, which will bo rnoro fully discussod at tho mooting on Thurs. day.

The continuance of such fine weather as we have been favored with during the la9t few weeks, must be fully appreciated by thoso who endured the endless down-pour that reigned (!) during May, 1865. Among some old records of that period, we find it written " The deluge continues in a degree that is positively disheartning, and it is a wonder how any one can screw up courage enough to remain in the district. A complete stop has been put to all mining operations, the men being able to work only between the squalls. Tho last two steamers left with 140 diggers, and it is certainly to be expected that should a cessation of rain not take place shortly, these outward bound men will assuredly be only the precursors of a larger stream regularly washed out of Hokitika." Then follows the significant remark : w The men leaving are all of tbo same opinion — that there is gold enough in tho place but the rain is an insuperable obstacle to their obtaining it."

During tho wook onding on Saturday last, 10 prisoners woro added to thoso nlready confined in tho gaol. Of thoso 3 woro committed for various misdemeanors, 5 sonlenccd to hard labor, and 2 debtors received. Thoso numbors boiug added to thoso left in imprisonmoni at the closo of tho forinor wcok mako a total in gaol during tho weok, of 34— namoly, 3 committed for trial at Iho Supremo Court, 3 for short terms pf imprisonment, 18 scntoncod to hard labor, 8 dobtors and 2 lunatics. As a set-off against this — 9 sontoncod mon havo been discharged during Iho past weok, 2 dobtors liberated, and 2 lunatics trausforrod to Christchurch. Loaviug in tho gaol on Saturday, 4 men and • 2 women committed for trial, 9 hard labor inon and 6 dobtors. Total, 21. Tho abovo return is indopondout of 33 mon imprisoned in tho now gaol near tho Ooniotory, of whioh numbor, 32 aro committed for trial, aud 1 eonloncod to lengthened imprisonmout. For tho abovo particulars wo aro indobtod to tho courtesy of Sorgoant M'Mynn and Mr'Dalo.

Thoro was a very good houeo afc tho Prince of Wales Thoatro last night. Jano Shoro is a hoavy tragedy, but it was played offeotivoly, as all tho pieces ]jroduced at this houso are. In tho faroo of tho Irish Tutor, Mr Hogan mado a dcoidod hit in tho two parts of Terry O'Rourko and Dr. O'Toolo, and received tho loud plaudits of tho audionco.

Wo aro glad to notico an advortisoment announcing tho formation of a Carters' Association, undor tho designation of " Tho United Company." Wo boliovo that a largo number of tho oartors at present plying in town cooporalo in this inovomont, and as tho scalo of charges they publish is greatly undor tho rates that havo hithorto provailcd, a largo saving will accrue to busiuoss inon and to olhors requiring goods to bo carted. Wo trust the increase of trafllo in Hokitika will prevont any diminution in tho aggregate receipts of tho carters forming tho United Company.

It may not bo among tho " things gonorally known" in Hokitika, that a constablo is told off for tho special duty of discovering parlies who aro carrying on ordinary busiucss without tho necessary Business Liconso j or a wino and spirit trado without cilhor a Rotaq or Wholosalo Spirit Liconso. Tho effects of this functionary's labors during tho past fow weoks havo boon to add, in a material sonso, to tho rovonuo of tho West Coast— not so much by fines securod as by tho force of ono or two oxamples, causing tho unconvictod dofaultors to savo thoir pookots by immediately rushing to tho Wardon's ofllco for tho nocossary licenses. In tho six months provious to tho appointmont of tho policoman to this work, tho rovonuo was LI2OO. During tho fow weoks that followed his visits to tho storokoopors, LISOO additional was addod to tho provincial coffers. Tho difforonco in timo and amount is very groat, so much so, indeed, that wo can almost oxouso — if not eympathiso with — tho polico in their assiduity. Yt hilo tho poriodical visitation of tho appointed constablo was being mado yostorday, an oxtonsivo scizuro took 2>laco on tho promisos of Mr John Angus, gonoral grocer, Rovoll street, on tho grounds that Mr Angus had failed to procwro a WholoBttlo Spirit License. Tho amount of liquorß takon possession of by tho polico, compriso tho following oxtonsivo list : — 2 qr-casks of port wive, 1 qr-cask, each, of brandy, sherry, and whisky, 18 casos and 6 bottles of gin, 7 eases and 1 bottle of brandy, and 17 cases and 12 bottles of porter. During tho day a summons was Borvod on Mr Angus to appear boforo tho Wardon this morning, to answor to tho chargo of soiling wines, spirits, and boor without possossing eitlior a Wholosalo or Retail Spirit Liconso. Wo havo been informed that tho unfortunate ownor of tho seized liquors mado a vorbal application for a liconso soino timo ago, but whioh from eomo oauso was not procured.

Wo rogrot to announco tho death, which took placo oarly yostorday morning, of a wellknown and vospoctod townsman, Mr William Galloway, lato of , tho firm of Trichard, Galloway & Co., drapora, Rovoll strcot.

Tho Bishop of Christohurch has loft that city for Dunedin, whoro ho intends making a short stay, in ordor to conoludo arrangements for tho ostablislunont of a bishoprio thoro. Somo liborul subscriptions havo boon already rocoivod for this purposo, tho two principal religious sociotios in England having contributed LIOOO ouoh, ,