West Coast Times. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 236, 25 June 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1866.

The citizens of Hokitika are at last giving sign that they appreciate the importance of the duty they will, within a few days, be called on to discharge in the election of nine men to serve them in the new Munioipal Council. The nomination of candidates is fixed for Wednesday next, the 27th instant. That is the day after to-morrow. The day of polling remains to be fixed by the chairman of the public meeting to be then held, and the assessors appointed by the meeting to assist him in conducting the ejection. But we presume the poll will be taken either on the day following the meeting, or at all events before the close of the week, so that the municipal election may be over before the contest for the representation of the district in the Provincial Legislature begins. A' pretty long list of names is before us, of gentlemen who have either 1 received requisitions, and have consented to stand, or who are publicly spoken of as intending or probable candidates ; and the circumstance ia gratifying, as indicative of a general desire to tako advantage of an occasion so full of interest to tho public. These names represent all the trading interests of the town, and we hold it to bo in the highest degree desirable that this should be the case. Tn the most comprehensivo sense, the now Council should bo "representative" of the entire community. No greater mistake could be made than any endeavor to give it an exclusive or class character. Beyond this expression of opinion, we do not intend to discuss the merits of any of the candidates who have been brought forward, or who may present themselves. It is for the citizens to decide for themselves who are the most fitted to represent them. They have had the best opportunities of knowing the men, and of measuring their capaoity and fitness for the offices to which they aspire ; and with them let the choice rest.

Nine members of Council aro to bo elected. At the present moment six candidates have accepted requisitions. Mr Shaw was the first in the field, and was quickly followed by Mr Eicko. Mr James Bartlett, the proprietor of the Prince of Wales Theatre, Mr Findlay, of the firm of Findlay and Haworth, Mr. James Bonar, of Henderson and Bonar, aud Mr South, solicitor, complete the list of avowed candidates. Mr Kennedy of the Club Hotel, has received a numerous requisition asking him to stand, and we are enabled to state that it is his intention to comply with it. A requisition has also been presented to Mr Mark Sprot, but al-

though that gentleman has not made any public reply to it, it is understood that he has declined. Mr O. Driscoll, whoso name is included in the requisition presented to Messrs Eicko and. Bavllett, has not so far intimated his intentions. Mr Cassius is understood to bo willing to accept a seat in the Municipal Counoil, and the names of Mr Meynell, Mr< Robinson, nnd, Mr Rees* solicitor, are also spoken of as probable candidates. Only one namo remains to be mentioned. We may assume 'as a matter of course that Mr Prosser will bo put in nomination. It belongs only to the fitness of things that a gentleman who has so faithfully represented the district hi the Provincil Council, and who has taken so leading a part in securing tho application of the Municipal Ordinance to Hokitika, should have a seat in tho first Council ; and the circumstance that a requisition has not been presented fco him is, wo believe, simply due to tho general impression prevailing, that ho will as a matter of course be returned.

Thoro sooms ovory reasou to foar that two of tho missing fishormon from Port Chalmers havo met with an untimely end. Tho " Otago Daily Times." of tho 16 met., states that Charles Brown, tho fisherman who was mentioned yosterday as missing, has reached town again. ' Wo hear that his cscapo was almost miraculous, his dingy boing knocked to pioccs while ho was trying to roturn from Capo Saundors. Nothing has, aB yot, boen heard of' tho other mon, Bowstridgo nnd Duncan, who started for tho same fishing ground on tho 2nd inst.

Tho weathor at Okavita during tho past weok appears lo haro boen no loss inolement than that which has visited this part o£ tho coast, as we are informed by tho local paper that duriug (he week past, thero has been a good deal of broken weathor. Heavy fogs on Tuesday and Wednesday — hithorto rather uncommon phcnoinona — proceeded a heavy down-pour of rain on Thursday, which was tho shortest day of tho year, and the popular belief that, as tho day longthons tho bad weather strengthens, sooms to bo confirmed by tho character of tho weathor which has sinoo provailcd. By sundown on that day, it camo on to blow violently from tho N.W., a deluge of rain accompanying tho galo 5 towards midnight the wind shifted to S.W., and for several hours blew as fiercoly from that direction j aud many who had spent an uncomforbablo ovoning, passed a more uucomfortablo night, looking after tho safoty of frail habitations, or protecting thomeolvos and thoir property from annoyanco or injury 1 by tho wind and rain. No serious damage was dono, but morning rovoalod a considerable array of broken windows and demolished verandahs along tho lino of tho Strand, wore .tho full prossure of tho galo was folt, whother tho wind blew from north or Bouth. Tho bar necessarily became very picturesque but vory impracticable, one lino of immonso combers from headland to lmdland being all that was visible of the sea.

Tho " Wostland Obsorrer " states " Tito first bonded store in Okarita has boon oponed by Messrs Coote Brothors and Co. Tho buildis a commodious and substantial oreotion, is conveniently situatod for shipping, occupying tho section next to tho Empire Holol, and though not yot extensivoly usod, no recont shipments having arrived, will, no doubt, in course of timo, bo found to be a groat convonionco to tho trado of tho port, and bo proportionotoly appreciated."

Wo quoto from tho " Wostlaud Obsorvor," that " upwards of 11,000 ouncos of gold havo boen shippod from Okurita by the stoamor Bruco, betwoon the 3rd and 23rd of Juno.

A mysterious disappearance seems to havo taken placo at Okarita. Concerning it, tho "Obsorver" of that place says!—" A man, of whoso namo or antecedents nothing is at present known, has disapponrod, uudor somowhat mystorious oiroumstances, which aro now being investigated by the police. Information of tho mattor was first eonvoyod to tho police by Mr Allen, a storekeeper near tho Saltwator Oreok." Ho states that a person of tall figure, and whom ho understood to bo an Irishman, but of whom ho knows nothing more, called at his houßo, and was accommodated with a bed. Ho had apparently been drinking to oxcobs, but no serious suspicion seoms to hav 0 been entertained as to his sanity. On Wednesday morning ho was missing, having left the house during night, taking with him only some of his underclothing, some monoy which ho had in his possession, and a blaukofc. His blankot was found during tho day lying on tho beach, and, among the many oonjooturos which aro made as to his fato, thoro is a fear that, in a fit of dolirium, ho has thrown himself into tho Boa, his body getting curried away by tho surf and the sot of^ko tido. Iralnodiatoly on roceipt of tho information, Constable Halliday was despatohod to tho Saltwater, and an active soaroh is being mado in the neighborhood, ;n; n caso tho unfortunate man should, in his delirious Btato, havo taken to tho bush, there to come to an equally molancholyond."

Tho " Otago Dftily Times " of tho 16th instant, says that Mrs Poolo, who has'beon for sonio tjme announced as to appear at tho Princess Theatre, was a passenger in tho Rangitoto, which arrived from Hokitika yesterday. The delay in Mrs Poolo'e arrival ha.?, wo understand, been caused by tho state of tho weathor and of tho bar, at Hokitika j she being unablo to get away thenco for twelvo days. Mrs Poolo is to make her first appoaranco at the Princess's on Monday evoning, as Peg Woffington, in Tom Taylor's capital comedy, " Masks and Faces." To many in Otago, Mrs Poolo's abilities as an actress aro already well known 5 and as a rocommondation to thoso who havo not had tho pleasuro of seeing her, thoro is the faofc that she has earned high praiso wherevor sho has appoarod.

Tho "Wostland Obsorvor" of tho 16th inst. states, that at " Oillespio'e Boaoh thoro is a considerable amount of rowdyism and dis. turbanco of tho poaoe among a certain proportion of the population, stores being frequently ontorod at night, and goods appropriated, without any ohanco of protection to the proprietors j also that a ineoting of storokoepora and paokers had taken plaoo to consider tho subject of forming a track round the bluff to tho northward of tho boaoh ; and a resolution was como to (o carry out tho work as ourly as possible"

Tho great Adolphi drama " Janet Pride" was produced at tho Princo of Wales Opora IFduso on Saturday ovoning, and may bo proJiounood a vory groat sucooss. Not only was tho play oxecodiugly Woll past, but tho gl'oatoat euro had evidently boon totmtowed on tho general got up of thfe p"ieco. Who& Originally produced undoi* Madartie Oelosto'B management, at tho Adolphi, it onjoyod a long and prosporous run, and in consequonco of tho manuscript boing tho solo and ontiro proporty of Mr Bonjamin Webster, but fow opportunities wore offored for othor porformors to ap!)oar in tho chief characters, rondored famous )y tho gonius of Wobstor aud Madame Colesto. Tho provisions of tho pramatld Authors Society's Act apparently do not oxtond to tho colonios, and consequently various plays aro, produced in tho southern hemisphoro WWicTi in tho old country aro considered tho proporty of manugors who havo purchasod tho oxolusivo right of playing thorn. Mr Dion Boucicault may bo congratulated on having introduced more originality of thought and composition into Uub play than any othor ho has written. Tho plot is olovorly managed, and tho characters throughout Woll d&volopod. Of tho acting, as played by Mr Bartlott's company on Saturday night, we Can speak in tho lughoßt terms. Tho audience wero onlhusiastie in thoir .applause, and all concornod in tho l-epresentation. pvidontjy oxorted themselves to the utmost. Mr Bartlott elaborated tho chahvitfer df Riohnvd Prido with the skill nnd finish of a true artisto. This is a most difficult part to pourtrny. Tho drunken econo, iv tho first aot, was capitally rendered, nnd tho character sustained throughout with an amount of energy and discrimination whioli dcporvcdly tfninod loud npplaueo from the audionco. Mr Strooton (a moßt painstaking and usoful member of, tho company) made tho most of tho part of Mons. Bornard. Horriott, thojowoller, found a good exponent in Mr Tlogan ; and Mr Androws, as Dick Trottor, addort greatly to tho succosb of tho piece. Tho Sorgoant drey of Mr Oli/Tord, and tho Blnck Jack, tho bushranger, of Mr Burford, aro alike dosorving of notice Ab tho heroine, Janet Prido, Miss Rosa Cooler" had a part exactly suited to her, and wo havo rarely witnessed so patUoiio ftnu powerful a performance. Tho alternating pnssions of lovo, romorso, and despair woro aliko finoly rendered, ami on tho fall of tho curtain, after each act, this lady waß loudly callod for. We notice that this piooo will bo ropoated to-night for the last time, and the scenery alono, apart from tho excellent aoling, should draw a crowded house. Tomorrow ovoning, Mr Clifford takeß a. bbnofiti when " Plot and. Pusßioii" Will ,Bd performed. As, wo antiolpawd, ihe Q-overnrnent has isijued A proclamation to tho offect that tho sum ef L 260 will bo awarded to any party who Bhall recover the body of Mr George Dob9on, or who will givo such information as. ohall load to tho apprehension and conviction of tho supposed murdorora. Tho proclamation also states that a freo pardon will bo granted to any party implicated iv tho crimo (but not tho actual murdoror), who will turn informor, and causo tho arrest and conviction of hi 3 aocomplicoß. Tho tolographio communication with Ohristchuroh is still susponded, and tho naturo of tho accident to tho wiro has not yet boon nscortaincd.

Tho Stovons family at tho Dhoatro Royal, wero pntronisod by a good houso on Saturday night, and repeat their porformanco this ovoni »gTho Lord Ashloy, bringing the English mails transhippod from tho Tararua, may bo oxpeoted early to-day. Ilis Honor tho Superintendent may bo lookod for by the Lord Ashloy. Wo bolinvo that preparations aro in progress for giving Mr Moorhouso a hearty reception. Tho Bruco Wings up 2600 ouncos of gold from Okarita, of which 1000 ounces aro con- , signed to tho Bank of New South Walos, aud 10*00 ouncos to tko Bank of New Zoaland. - Tho Ball given by our Bosstown frionds. on the ovoning of tho 19th instant, in aid of tho Totara Hospital fund«, provod a proat success, upwards of LIOO boing placed to tho credit of that institution. We aro given to understand that tho assemblage was a gay ojio, and that dancing' was kept up until 7 o olook tho noxt morning. Light refreshments only woro provided, a suppor being coudomued as too oxp6nsive, considering tho object tp bo attained. Wo aro glad to coo tho lotara public havo sot such an oxcollont examplo in this roapoct, and that tho meotinc resultod m bo ontiro a buccoss;

On .Thursday last luspnotor James, accompanied by v detachmont of tho Groyraouth Pohco, proceeded to the Arnold Rivor, and have sinco then boon employed dragging that rivor, hoping to recover tho body of Mr Dobson. We regret that, so far, thoy havo boon unsuccessful.