West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 286, 23 August 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1866.

TemsguLvpiiicj intelligence is a luxury for which those who are desirous of enjoying it must be content to pay. ll v he electric telegraph has been of infinite service to the public, in placing them in possession of much later dates than those brought by the ordinary mails. The colonies are content to subsidise very heavily the several mail services, as well as pay the postage upon the letters they receive by them. They do so for the sake of the advantages resulting from regularity and promptness of correspondence. But the public have a small appreciation of the expense incurred by newspaper proprietors in making use of the telegraph as a means of supplementing the intelligence received through the ordinary channels. In the case of the late European news, the dates covered by the contracts entered into by the several governments, were supplemented by nearly three weeks later intelligence, supplied by press messages received by the Anglo-Indian telegraph. Three weeks later news than that brought by the mail, in such a crisis as is at present convulsing Europe, is something indeed worth having. Had nothing but the English papers, which the mail contracts bring, been received *by the Ellora, the public would have remained, until the arrival of the next mail, ignorant of the fact that the Queen had, after some manifestation of reluctance, accepted the resignation of the Russell cabinet, and that the actual rulers of England at this moment are tie Earl of Derby and Mr Disraeli. The most important operations of the war were subsequent to the 26th June, on which day the mail closed. It was on the 28th that the defeat of the Prussians in a pitched battle, and the refusal of Austria to grant an armistice were announced by telegraph ; on the 29th, that the story was told of a Prussian victory counterpoising its previous disaster, and of the surrender to Prussia of the Hanoverian army. Under subsequent dates are chronicled further decided triumphs gained by the Prussian forces ; the cession of Venetia ; the desire of Austria for a restoration of peace ; the acceptance of Louis Napoleon of the office of mediator ; the refusal of Prussia and Italy to end the strife in its then stage ; and, finally, the announcement that the "peace negociations are broken off." Thus, during the three weeks subsequent to the mail dates, of which the telegraph tells the story, the Whole condition of affairs was changed, and the war passed into entirely new phases. What would not the history of the subsequent fortnight be worth ?

\et, as a rule, the whole of this intelligence is supplied to the public free. The cost to the newspaper proprietor is enormous ; but in colonies largely populated, where the press enjoys a very wide circulation, and where it meets with a liberal support, the returns are doubtless sufficient to cover the outlay. On a more limited scale, the colonial telegraph system is of great value and interest, both to business men and to the general public. But proportionately, the telegraph service is as costly. In this department, there has as yet been no Rowland Hill to effect reforms and reduce rates. So long as present charges are maintained, it is only equitable that those who reap the benefit of telegraphic communication should combine to defray the cost of it — that is, in other words, honestly pay for what they enjoy. It is a matter of some surprise that this principle has not been acted on here. In a much smaller, and a much poorer place (Invercargill), a sub-scription-room has been for a long time past maintained, in which telegrams from al] parts of the colony are posted, for the use of members, at successive hours during the day, or as frequently as any matter of interest occurs in any place with which the wires communicate. The expenses are, we believe, defrayed by annual subscriptions of five guineas each. But, necessarily, the number of members in such a community is small. Here, a much more general support might be calculated upon, and the cost of each subscription would be proportionately reduced. Merchants and shipping agents would be saved the expense of a good many private messages that are now transmitted. The telegrams received, as a rule, at fixed intervals during the day, would embrace, of course, the latest shipping and commercial news, and other items of special interest, as well as more general news. In the room used by the subscribers might be displayed regular files of English and colonial newspapers, and the attractions would, we are satisfied, be amply sufficient to induce an amount of public support that would more tnan defray all necessary expenses. We should feel greatly surprised if an estimate of probable expenditure and receipts did not more than prove the self-supporting power of such an association as we have suggested. At all events it is most desirable that public feeling should be tested on the subject, aud we bespeak for it the attention of those to whom it would afford, under the most equitable and satisfactory conditions, the advantages of full and prompt telegraphic intelligence.

Who will now take the necessary first steps to reave the movement for the establishment of municipal government in Hokitila ? Owing to the absence of Mr Sale at the date to which the former meeting was adjourned, the whole of the proceedings previously taken lapsed,

and it is necessary novV to bfcgin the work anew*. Another petition must be presented to the Superintendent, praying For the application to the district of , the Municipal Ordinance •; another I meeting of electors must be, appointed 5 another chairman ctesigiidted, and thus the ordinary machinery of election brought into operation. Nothing can now be gained by any further delay in repeating the requisite preliminary steps. In all probability Mr Moorhouse will have succeeded in carrying his promised bill to amend the law of qualification through the Assembly, 'before the time conies round which must elapse before the actual election of Municipal Coun^ cillors can take place. Hte constituents in Hokitika look to him for that public service, and there is no reason to ap • prehend'that he will swerve from his word. It is time, then, that action should be taken. The necessity of the establishment of municipal government is admitted on all hands, and is, indeed, feh daily; and the public will most Undoubtedly stultify themselves if they continue to manifest their present indifference upon a subject on which, not very long ago, they were so earnest and clamorous.

The jtei-fofmahce of the celebrated opera of "The Daughter of the Regiment," at the Prince of Wales Opera- House, on Tuesday evening last, can only be viewed with mingled feelings of enjoyment and regret. The part of Josephine'— in whifch vTe'nhy Lln'd created such a profound sensation, on her first appearance in that character, in London — is well calculated to display the capabilities of Miss Julia Mathews, whose acting is so honest, earnest, and sincere, that she required but a few moments to enlist the sympathies of the audience. It is true that the character is itself exceedingly romantic and attractive, but she who plays it well must possess an extraordinary amount of taste and judgment ; for, to an artiste Of mediocre abilities, it offers temptations towards vulgar, saucy, and audacious display. Miss Julia Mathews presented to us the daughter of the regiment with abundance of vivacity and spirit, but without a tinge or tincture of vulgarity, and sang the songs incidental to the character with a charming grace and genuineness of feeling. The difficulties this young lady had to contend with, owing to the imperfections of some, and the utter incompetency of others of the corps drumatique, were painfully obvious to the audience, and completely marred some of the finest and most successful situations of the piece. The part of Guillot, the lover of Josephine, was taken by Mr Andrews, who 1 is always comic, and cannot help being so — but it did not appeal 1 to us that he formed a true conception of the points of the character. Mrs Crosby acquitted herself very creditably as the Marchioness; and Mr Burford deserves praise for his Sergeant Scalade. As to the remainder of the acting characters Aye decline to make any comment upon them ; but we may advise several of them who appear active and well looking, to turn their attention from the stage to some other aVocatiort more suited to their special qualifications. It is to be sincerely hoped that the management may be able to remove some of the inconsistencies and crudities of the present arrangements, and do justice to Miss Mathews, in relieving her from the onerous task of prompting and directing the other performers whilst sustaining her own part, and thus allow the public a greater measure of enjoyment.

It will be seen that persons claiming to be owners of sections in town within the boundaries of Fitzgerald and Fitzherbcrt streets, the river, and the sea beach, are required to register the sections or parts of sections claimed by them at the Mining Registrar's ofllce within a week from this date, and to sign their names as claimants at the Registrar's office. Notice is also given that objections to tho claims made must be lodged at the Warden's Court within three weeks. It may be inferred that it is tho intention of tho Government to bring these sections forthwith into the market.

Very great improvements are being effected in Eevell street — especially architecturally — by the enterprise and public spirit of the business people in that part of the town. Quite a metamorphosis is being effected in • the old street \>y the erection of buildings with imposing frontages. We have lately noticed the Banks, and are glad to observe that the New Zealand JBank are erecting what promises to be a handsome screen in front of the smeltinghouse attached to their establishment. Messrs Byrne and Co.'s new Corinthian Hall can boast a very handsome frontage-; and Messrs Alcorn and Co., and Prichard and Co. have given a face to their premises that some few months ago would have been thought an incongruity in a young diggings town. In this work of improvement the hotelkeepors have not been backward, and the public have no doubt been struck during; the last few days by the- handsome pair of pillars for the support of a fine lamp erected by Messrs Jones and Moe, of the G-olden Ago Hotel. We arc sorry to learn that the police have seen fit to summon the proprietors for a breach of the police ordinance, in consequence of the base of these pillars being somewhat in excess of the dimensions authorised by the regulations. It is to be hoped that the summons will be allowed to lapse. The lamp is a great ornament, and a moat serviceable street - light, and the posts aro fitted with rings for securing horsep, whose owners may have business at any of the shops in the vicinity. Practically, they offer no impediment whatever to street traffic. It is most undesirable that the police authorities should unnecessarily and vexatiously interfero in a matter of this kind, at a moment when the town is waiting the early establish" incut of municipal institutions, which will enable a proper code of bye-laws to be established.

Prior to the receipt of the telegraphic news of the defeat of the Stafford Ministry, a petition was prepared and circulated 'for signature in Christchurch, Lyttelton, Kaiapoi,- and Timaru, praying the House of Eeprcsentatives to reject any measure not preserving to the provinces then* existing revenues. Reier-

ring to this subject, tho " Lyttelton Times" of Saturday last has the following remarks : — " A strong feeling ia at length rising Up tn this province, Of at least 111 Christchurch, against tno intolerable burden of Northern taxation. We call it Northern taxation be* cause, though tho taxes aro mainly raised here, they are expended — every penny of thorn — in the North. We should like to See tho attention of the West OoaSt and iMmaru drawn td this little circumstance. It is iloit t)hristchurch that absorbs the fundfi) but tlio North Island. It is quite possible that a sop may be thrown to them in the way of securing for local purposes tho proceeds from certain local taxes and other sources. But let tiicm keep in view that this will be done only after the main sources of revenue have been devoted to Northern purposes. The measures introduced by the Colonial Treasurer not only impose new taxes upon us, butcompel tlie imposition of fresh taxes by the Provincial Councils, ia order to meet the current necessary expenses) and absolutely stop all but tlie nibfet necessary and least costly' undertakings in the way of public workß. We invite, therefore, the inhabitants of all tlie outlying 'districts to unite in memorialising tlio House of Ee-j presentaUves, or tlie members for their respective localities to protect so far the interests of the Middle Island aa to secure to us our wonted three-eighths of Customs revenue. This is to our mind the best, perhaps the only, step which the people of Canterbury can take hi this Miatteh Moiiiorials from all the districts to their members in the House of Representatives would have a good and direct effect. We are persuaded that these memorials would bo signed by thousands, and would be opposed by few, if any. At so eventful a crisis in our affairs no time should bo lost. Our common interests are at stake, and We have apparently but one remedy. Let the provinces of the Middle Island have the three-eighths of their Customs Revenues guaranteed to themi We must bow submissively to the decision of our Parliament in the settlement of the minuter taxes, But in so threatening & matter as this is — one which decides the financial prospects of our province for years— it is the bounden duty of the people to give expression to their opinions, and to make their influence felt."

Cobb's Christchurch coach arrived nearly two hours before time last night, after a very pleasant trip overland. Messrs Hawkes, Josephs, Crofts, Wilkes, and Jones were passengers by it. The Kanieri terrace will shortly have at command an abundant supply of water for sluicing purpdscs, as tho Pioneer Eace Company expect to complete the branch ditch from the Kanieri river in the course of a fortnight, and in the driest weather this will carry 600 inches of water, which is equivalent to fifteen Government sluice heads. The work would have been finished much earlier but for the very bad cutting on some parts of the line, rendering it necessary to flume a great portion of the race along the sides of terraces which, when the survey Was made, were supposed sufficiently firm to carry a cutting. Their formation, however, was so shingly and loose that, when broken into, the sides gave and came away in heavy slips, compelling the company to build and flume nt a considerable extra expense. Lately tho weekly outlay ha 3 amounted to as high as L3OO, and this week's disbursements are expected to approach very closely to that sum. Just' now there is a scarcity, of water in the old race, and in consequence only a few miners are at work on the terrace, and even these cannot depend upon a regular supply, which renders their labors almost nugatory, for in poor ground the sluice box must be kept going to produce anything like fair returns on " Satm-day night.' 1 No reduction in the price of water has yet been made by the company, who deny ever having promised such a concession, and state that diggers are pei'fectly satisfied to pay present prices providing the supply is constant. But we believe it is proposed to lower the rate so as to enable those who hold the poorer claims to realise a fair balance out of their proceeds. The Pioneer Eace Company have encountered and overcome great difficulties in the prosecution of an undertaking excelling in magnitude any other on the coast, and we trust they will reap a commensurate reward-. .

We were somewhat startled, yosterday morning, at observing a strong posse of police standing alongside the Maid of Erin, and, oil enquiry, learnt that, through a misunderstanding between the captain of that vessel and his agent, the latter had taken forcible possession of the vessel, and was there hard at work delivering cargo to several anxious looking consignees, who very readily accepted it, and seemed desirous of getting it away from the wharf as quickly as possible. The action taken by tho agent having been made known beforehand to tho authorities, the police were sent down to provent a fracas and arrest the first person guilty of a breach of the peace. The proceeding was certainly extraordinary as the rights of a ship master arc clearly defined and by law should be held inviolate, but we believe this case to be somewhat peculiar, and one which must be decided in n court; of justice where the true facts will be doubtless elicited. In taking possession of the vessel the agent mot with no resistance. She is to bo sold to-day by public auction.

We extract the following from the " Grey ■River Argus" :—": — " The accounts from the New Kiver Rush confirm the fears we liave previously expressed with regard to the nature of the ground requiring a more expensive system of mining than many of the claimholders cau afford to carry out. The great quantity of water offers great obstacles to sinking, and it is the opinion of men experienced _in this class of mining that pumping machinery will have to be erected before anything very great can be accomplished. Of the richness of the ground there is no doubt whatever, and although the lead has hitherto appeared to be rather narrow, it is well defined, and there is a good depth of very rich washdirt. But the water will not allow' tho men to bottom without very constant and arduous exertion. One miner tells us that in the claim of his party, the cessation for a single hour of baling causes at least five hours' work to overcome the water again, From this

cause v and the 'generally expensive kind of sinking requited, many men have been driven from the place through want of means, or being indisposed to set in where SUiih lleilvy work is required. Still, if the minors adopt co-operative working, and establish proper machinery, there can be little doubt that tiife New Rfvei' diggings will last for years, and be as profitable as any on the coast; We know of two or three minof discoveries iil the neighborhood, but nothing of special importance." > Writing froni Duffer G-ully, on the 13th instant, tlie " Grey Riyer Argus", correspond deiit says s— " Of ldte sd much' Kaß bddii said of tlie 1 great doings over the Saddle and at Burton's, that tho once pile claim creeks, known as Duffer's and Noble's, have not been so much in people's mouths ; in fact, if you saw a party of men with swags, and asked them where they were going, the answer was sure to be 'Over tho Saddle,' or 'To Burton's Rushj 5 but tlie greater miiiiUer *lid idffc here have" returned, and liaVe steddily set in to work. There must be somo pretty good induceiherit, or else a man who has orice come the five or six miles of totld and water — for it can hardly Be called a road— tllat one ha 3 W walk td get td the wbmiigs of township, would not venture on such a walk for nothing. There are a great niany still at work in the creek, but a few months ago the gold was found to run out in the creek, and so easy was it to get oh to good ground again that very few .troubled themselves about it ; but one or two parties have put tunnels in the terrace at the back of the township, and they have struck good gold ; in fact, it is supposed to be the gold wliich ran out in the creeks. They are making from LlO to Ll2 per man per week, with eighteen months or two years work, and now tunnels are being started every fow days by different parties at almost every bend in the creek. One party here have just finished bringing in a race, fluining over the Creek, &Ci, to gound sluice a point aud arc being well repaid for their trouble. At Noble's dno hears no complaints, as nearly all appear to be making fair wages, and some have, as at Duffer's, struck the metal on the terrace."