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West Coast Times, Issue 258, 21 July 1866, Page 2

The new dramatic season at tho Prjace of Wales Opera House commences this evening. The principal piece to be produced is the romantic drama of "Jessie Brown, or the Belief of Lucknow," which, from its sensa. tional situations has won great popularity wherever it has beon placed on the stage. It will be preceded by the comic drama of " The Little Dovil."

The following is the criminal calendar for the week ending July 14th : — Sentenced in the Kcsideut Magistrate's Courfc, seven males to hard labor, and two to imprisonment only. Discharged from custody, seven hard labor men. Number and classification of confines in the old gaol at tlie above date, thirty-seven males and. two females committed for trial ; seven males aud one female on the hard labor gang; one male imprisonment only; one debtor; and four on remand. Total, fifty males and three females. At the new gaol, seven hard labor men, five commiftals from Cobden, four imprisonment, nine debtors, and three on remand ; total, twenty-eight. Total in both gaols, seventy-eight and threo females.

On Thursday a miner named John Hunter met his death in a " drive" on the Hau Hau diggings, through a heavy fall of earth. lie was timbering the ground ; and whilst driving home a set of laths, struck the cap piece instead, which brought down the set of timbers and the two immediately behind it. The support thus removed, caused the roof to cave in upon tlie unfortunate man, which must have killed him instantaneously, as it is estimated that twenty tons of stuff fell. "When the body was recovered the face and neck were quite black, shewing that death resulted from suffocation, a3 no' bones were broken. His mate, who was behind him at the time of the accident was partly buried but escaped with a few bruises. An inquest was to be held yesterday at the Kanievi, whither tho body was conveyed by the deceased man's mates.

The Grand Jury yesterday finished their labors with the exception of the case of Mr Bracken, whii'h yefc remains for them to deal with. In consequence of the non-arrival of a •witness from Nelson this indictment is deferred. Owing to this circumstance the Grand Jury have been obliged to delay their presentment to his Honor.

Our attention has been called, -within the last few days, to the case of a debtor at present confined in the new gaol, who has been there and in the log huts for a period of over three months, for no crime but that of being overtaken by misfortunes and losses. "Whatever the merits of his case may be as a question of insolvency, it is the simple fact that he is imprisoned as a debtor, and that the duty of the gaol authorities is simply to hold him in detention until he is discharged. It appears, however, that this unfortunate man ha 3 been treated as a Criminal in a very marked way. He was brought down from the Grey in company with criminals, being in common with them under the guard of an armed escovt. During the week his presence in the Supreme Courfc was required as a witness in one of the Greymouth cases sent down for trial— and it is a fact that a man detained for debt was marched from the gaol and marched back to it in common with the vileßt offenders, under the charge of constables with loaded firearms. Duriug the day's proceedings in Court he was penned with the criminals, after giving his evidence as a non-criminal witness, until the convenient time came for the removal of the whole lot in the mode we have described, to their place of confinement. Such is the working of the law of imprisonment for debt in Westland, and anything more infamous can hardly be imagined in any Christian or civilised country.

The framework of the transit ahed on Gibson's Quay is erected, and if no delays intervene the building will be completed in a week or two, and a long existing requirement supplied. At the same time we consider that the size of the building is totally disproportionate to the trade of the port, and weiLrust that no time will be lost in erecting another lower down the wharf. Perhaps this was intended ■when the plan oftheshednowbeingerectedwas drawn out. and if so, discriminating foresight was discovered ; for apart from its size the shed is inconveniently placed, winch will cause great delay to vessels discharging cargo at cither end of the wharf, as all goods to be examined by the Custom House officers must pass through it. We have also a word to say touching its construction, and wonder why the piles which constitute the foundation were not cut a foot or two longer ; as the floor -will not<be more than eighteen inches (at the outside) above the ground, and in the event of a heavy flood will stand a very fair chance of being submerged. This is- a. mistake which of coui'so ■will be rectified by raising the floor although in so doing an extra» expense will bo incurred, which considering the impoverished state of the Provincial cofi'ers might as well have been avoided. We must live and learn, however, and pay for our experience like " ither folk," although it is grievous to witness such costly bungling in -works of public tuility,