BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 216, 29 May 1866, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(from our own correspondent.) [Tho following appeared in la9t ovoning's "Doßpatoh."] CIIRISTCIIURCH, Monday, 4 p.m. The Airedale sailed North yesterday. Tho Taravua arrived from tho North and has gone South to-day. Tho ship Victory has cleared out for Guam. The Taranaki sailed for Duue-lin.

The "Gronoral Gtovermnont Gazette" contains a notification that tho hours of transacting busiuoss at tho Telegraph Oilicos aro oxtended, and that mossagos will for tho futuro bo received and dolivorod between tho hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tho Gazette notico adds:— "Tho Government will not be hold responsible for orrors, omissions, or dolaye in tho transmission of tolegraniß, uor for tho nontransmission of any telegram, nor for delays in tho delivery, nor for tho non-delivery of any tologram, from whatovor causes tho eamo may ariso." This oxtonsion of tho time during whioh tho olectrio wire is to koop awake applies only to tho General Govornraenfc lines. But no doubt tho provincial tolograph department will at ouco follow suit — if on no other consideration — to prevent tho creation of a griovanco.

A report from tho Hau Hau diggings, dated 27th instant, estimates tho population at 2000. Tho principal township, at tho prosont time, is at tho .Little Paddock, where about thirty business places have boon orootcd. Tho storokeopors complain of dulnoss, caused by tho load of gold being traced higher on tho terraces, iv tho direction of Tucker Mat. Tho gold is found to run in ono load, about a chain wide, and within tho lust weok it has boon traced within a milo of Tuokor Mat. In conBcquenco of tho divorgonco of tho lead stores and shanties aro being put up all aloug tho supposed load, through tho bush. Tho storekeepers who havo places of businoes at tho Paddock aro uncertain whether to pack up and sottlo on tho now load, or remain whoro they aro aud take their chanco. Tho direction of tho load is duo east and west. A fow days ago sovoral shafts woro sunk and bottomed. Tho prospects obtainod aro Baid to bo threo pennyweights to tho dish. Tho gold lies in a layer of washdirt from six to twolvo inches doop. This rests on a hard sandy bottom, situato at depths variously estimated from soventy to ono huudrod and twenty foot, tho depth of sinking corresponding to tuo height at whioh tho shaft is struck on tho torraoo. Very gvoat difficulty is experienced in sinking thoso shafts, as they require all to bo well-timbered. Minors aro working on Iho lead at prosont for a distanco of throe miles. A good number of them aro inoroly shophording thoir claims, waiting till othors will sink near thorn and tost tho lead. Theso cautious proceedings havo been inducod by sovoral parties having, at vory considerable oxpenao, sunk shafts aud missod tho load. As wo havo said, all the way on tho supposed lead tho ground has been poggod off, almost up to Tuokor Flat. In tho Largo Paddook thoro aro two stores and a fow diggers' huts and tonts. Almost nothing is doing thore, as the load ia a good distanco from it, on tho terraces within tho bush. * "Medea," (rendored famous by tho por. formancos of Madamo Ristori, in London, and Madam Raohol, tho queen of aotrossos, in Paris) was producod at tho Princo of Wales Opora Houso last ovouiug. Tho thoatro was fairly attonded in tho pit and stalls. Mrs Charles Poolo, as the heroine, played successfully} sho was supportod by Mrßurford, Mr Streoton, and Mr Clifford. Tho children's parts woro well sustained,. Tho tragedy is heavy, and like " Jano Shoro" and " Gtoorge Barnwoll," should bo laid upon tho mauagorial sholf. To-night, a sonsational drama, written by tho groat French novelist, Aloxr. Dumas, ontitled "Catliorino Howard," will bo produced, Miss Eosa Coopor sustaining tho character of fcho ambitious Cuthoriuo — a purt in which she has won goldon opinions from tho London proas. Sho will bo supported by Mr Lionel Harding, as Atholwold, Mrs Crosby, and tho ontiro company. Wo undorBtand that groat sconio effects will bo introduced. Mr Bartlott dosorvos buccoss for tho spirited roannor iv whioh ho caters for tho publio amuiemont. Tho pieces produced by him are all placed upon tho stage iv (ho most excellent maunor j aud tho company ongagod are all up to tho mark, and tho loading mombors old colonial favorites.

Tho gaol roturns for tho week ending 26th instant, aro as follows :— 2 sentenced to short periods of imprisonment, 1 imprisoned awaiting bail, 1 prisonor on remand, and 1 debtor received, making a total of 5 added during tho week. During tho same poriod, 3on remand, 2 sentenced to hard labor, and 1 for a short town of imprisonment, havo boon discharged. At tho oloso of tho wook, tho numbor in gaol woro— 2 females and 1 male committod for trial at tho Supromo Court; 8 males sontencod to various periods of hard labor; 1 male remanded j nnd M 7 males imprisonod for debt.— Total, 19. At tho now gaol 3<t are imprisoned on sontonco.

Last night ft most unusual number of n»on VvW tsen by tho polipo to tlw OftW)) {n a

drunk and disorderly stato. At ton p.m, no less than ten had boon looked up, and they wore continuing to tumble in at tho rato of ono in thirty minutos. So great was the numbor that wo are puzzled to account for tho auddon appearance of such an amount of drunkenness. Somo peoplo cay that since nobblol's woro reducod to sixpence tho drink sold at somo of tho third-rato bars in town is of a most abominable description, and this is tho moans of making thoso who drink it so soon looso thoir consciousness aud fall into tho hands of tho guardians of publio poaco and behaviour.

Wo much regret that tho liuprovomonfc Committee-, who hitherto have regularly mot in tho Quoonstown Uotol, should so Buddonly coaso their labors. During tho last two weeks no meetings havo boon hold, in consequence of their boiug insufficient number of mombors prosont to form a quorum. Wo hope this falling off is but temporary, and that on Thursday first tho committoo will again assomblo to oarry out sovoral measures for tho improvement of matters in town which they have in hand.