West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 291, 29 August 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1866.

The proprietors of this journal have replied, from their own point of view, to the speech delivered by Mr Bartlett from the stage of the Prince of Wales Opera House, on Monday evening. It was Mr Bartlett himself who first introduced tbe business relations existing between himself and the West Coast Times office, as an element into the controversy occasioned by our critique of Monday morning. With this feature of the case we have nothing whatever to do, and* must express our regret that our notice of the performances and the management, of the Opera House should have excited so much angry feeling. The whole episode is an illustration of the utterly false basis on which the common syotem of the.trical criticism rests. No men are more vain or more sensitive to the slightest word of dispraise, than those who strut and fret their little hour upon the stage and theu are heard no more. It will not be disputed by any that the enterprise which resulted iv the opening of the Theatre, received from the beginning the most cordial support from the press of Hokitika. Nor will it be disputed either, we think, by any dispassionate person, that under the influence of a kindly disposition to indulge in all praise, there was a growing tendency towards a stereotyped style of theatrical notice — not consisting of criticism at all — in which the stock phrases were allusions to Miss Rosa Cooper's "grace and finish," Mr Lionel Harding's "efficiency," Mr Bartlett's " gentlemanly ease," and so forth. The whole matter of criticism indeed was gettiug to be a perfect piece of twaddle, and if we had tolerated it iv our columns we should have been at 'once insulting our readers and ourselves, and doing both injustice to the public and harm to the actors. For some time w« refrained from sending a. reporter to tho theatyo—not oaving to oqwUmtw, ami do-

feeling at liberty to praise where we could not honestly say that piaise was deserved. Beyond silence under these circumstances there was nothing to be resented in the attitude taken by this journal. But this silence could not of course last, and the engagement of Miss Julia Mathews, the first actress Onjoying a colonial reputation who had visited Hokitika since the brief engagement of Mrs Charles Poole, furnished the convenient occasion for reviewing the policy of the past management of the Opera House. Certainly 1 1 no previous time had the defects of the stock company engaged at the Theatre been illustrated so pointedly as when they were set in contrast with the brilliant acting of Miss Mathews. That these defects were strongly commented on was simply because they were strongly felt. The extraordinary indignation that has been the result, shows how little actors are accustomed to have their merits discussed, except by a circle of admiring friends using soft-nibbed pens and satin paper. We hope, for the future, a more healthy state of things will be established, — that theatrical criticism, without being unkind, will be faithful, and that actors will acknowledge it is best it should be so, for the true interests both of their art and of themselves. As to Mr Bartlett, we have never hesitated to recognise the enterprise he has displayed, and never ceased to wish him success both in bis business and his profession. Before concluding, we must depart from our usual strict custom, by expressing our deep regret that a gentleman, whose identity is ill concealed under his forced attempt to disguise it, should have had the excessively bad taste to write, and the "Evening " Star" the indiscretion to publish, an attack so gross and inexcusable as that made on Miss Julia Mathews by the writer who styles himself " Cameo." Knowing, as we cannot fail to do, the authorship of this letter, we were greatly pained to think that any man — v thoroughly up, 1 ' as the " Star" describes him, in theatrical matters and theatrical etiquette — could be guilty of so foul an outrage upon a lady so universally respected as Mrs Mumford. Any "theatrical" ought to be ashamed of himself *o make it an imputation upon Mrs Mumford that she retains the professional name under which she first gained celebrity. To say that such is not the very general practice of the profession is the veriest affectation of ignorance. Helen Faucit, Priscilla Horton, Grace Egerton, and a hundred other names, might be mentioned ; but need we go beyond Miss llosa Cooper herself, whose husband we are reluctant to think " Cameo" would consider degraded by the retention by this lady of her maiden name. However* the whole letter, to which an unenviable place has been given in a public journal, is so bristling with bad taste and absurdity that it scarcely deserves the notice we have given it.

We will add but one thing more. The recommendation to the management of the Prince of Wales with which our notice of Monday morning closed, was intended as a sound aud judicious piece of advice. It is only in accordance with Mr Bartlett s original promises, that the dress circle of his theatre should be kept to a reasonable extent select The credit is due to him of having introduced one great, reform — that of suppressing* tobacco in the theatre to which ladies are invited. But there are other nuisances even more intolerable ; and when the presence of persons in an utterly \infit condition, in the dress circle of the Opera House is complained of, Mr Bartlett might adopt a happier course than he did on Monday night, when he appealed to the sympathies of the unwashed, as his allies, against the critic who had gone in for clean faces and decent raiment in the boxes. Much allowance is to be made, however, for an irritation induced by a taste of somewhat strong criticism, following a reign of unvarying and fulsome praise. Let Mr Bartlett take our not unkindlymeant strictures in good part, and he will find us, in the honesty and fidelity of our criticisms, a better ally than a journal whose stereotyped platitudes of panegyric fail to command any public regard.

We again publish a supplement, continuing our extracts from the English papors.

Tho prevalent impression that a new petition, signed by upwards of a hundred householders., praying for the erection of Hokitika into a municipality, is necessary to bo presented, iv consequence of tho lato meeting of electors having lapsed, is incorrect. The diEtrict having been once proclaimed a municipality remains such, although the measuros adopted for the election of the first Council have fallen through. AH that is requisite to set the electoral machinery once moro in motion is the issue of a notice convening another public meeting, and any ten of the original petitioners are competent to sign this notice. It will thon be incumbent on the Superintendent to appoint a chairman.

The English mails, bringing dates to the 2nd July, which reached Wellington on Saturday last by the Kaikoura from Panama, may be expected to arrive in town by the Christchurch coach this evening. We notice that the " Grey River Argus" of yesterday contains a telegram from its Wellington correspondent communicating the following items of news :— " American news to July 1 1 states that a tremendous fire occurred at Portland (Maine), and destroyed one-half of the city. The loss is estimated at ten milKon dollars. The attempts to implicute Mr 'ExPresident Davis in the plot for the assassination of Lincoln have failed. The Fenian excitement has subsided.

We direct public attention to the official anuomieenwnt in another column to tho eftfeot tliiiv th* tinw ftp tite wguUKttou wl ctalmi'ta

sections in Hokitika has been extended to ►Saturday next.

It lias been determined by the Leichnrdt Search Committee in Melbourne to continue the services of the exploration party for a further period of two years, during which time they will be engaged amongst the Gulf natives, under the leadership of Mr Sloman.

Our next Snmmaiy for Europe will be published for transmission by the Panama boat fl'om Wellington, probably on Monday next. In the " Leader" of Friday we shall furnish a special resume of Mining Intelligence for transmission to' Europe and the American States by tliis opportunity.

The new drapery establishment of Messrs Manson and Co., Revell street, was opened for business on Monday last, and, to appearance, is certainly most handsome, and second to no other structure of the kind in Hokitika. Constructed of heavy sheets of plate-glass, and tastefully dressed, the show window is really imposing ; whilst the interior — which is heavily-stocked with a well-assorted variety of choice goods — confirms the favorable opinion formed from an outside vie-w. The enterprise displayed by the merchant drapers of Hokitika is creditable to the trade, and their establishments in no slight degree contribute to the general appearance of the streets.

TJn'ough the multiplicity of other business in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, the adjourned enquiry into the stranding of the s.s. William Miskin, was further postponed until two o'clock this afternoon.

Cobb's overland coach started for Christchurch yesterday morning, at the usual hour. We notice on the passenger-list the names of Mrs Sale and Messrs Callagan and Sheppard.

The following extract from the Melbourne " Argus" is significant of th i state of the times on the once golden Bendigo :— ' The Bendigo goldfield ia just now the scene of a conflict between labor and capital, which threatens to terminate, as such contests all but invariably do, in the defeat and injury of the working man. Persons with labor to dispose of are perfectly justified in selling it at the highest rate they can obtain, juat as the purchasers of the commodity are entitled in tho way of business to buy it as cheap as they can. But labor is a thing that will not keep, and if a man misses the market for a day's work he cannot store it up for sale until the price im& proves. The working miner's wages are being reduced from L 2 10s to L 2 5s a week, and the men, while apparently accepting the reduction as inevitable, are endeavoring to obtain a concurrent diminution of their day's work, ironi ten hours to eight. On Saturday evening there was a large meeting of miners at Eaglehawk, when it was resolved that it would be ' detrimental to the best interests of the district, and unjust in the extreme,' if wages were reduced without a corresponding reduction in tho length of the working day. Of course, we should be glad to see the working miners relieved of a fifth part of their daily labor, but they must k«>ep in view that the thing is not to be accomplished by their own resolutions. The plea on which the employers justify the reduction of the miner's wages, is the plea of necessity. Some of the companies are heavily in debt, and are being pressed by their bankers, while the yields of the mines are not sufficient, at the old rate of wages, to enable them ta extricate themselves. The increased cost of materials also tells against them, and to avoid getting further in debt, it becomes necessary to save on the wages account — an explanationwiden there is no reason to doubt, for it is well known that many mining operations, on other fields besides that of Bendigo, yield nothing to the capitalist, but are carried on in .the hope that tho yield will improve."

The " Grey River Argus" reports that a clever capture of a highwayman was made on Sunday night, about 10 o'clock. A miner was walking along the edge of the scrub just beyond the reach of the surf on the beach . When about a mile below the Ballarat Hotel, two men rushed out and demanded his money. He called out for his mate, who was not far off, and although only a small man he tripped up one of his assailants and managed to hold him until his mate came up, when they pinioned him hand and foot and brought him to the camp. The other robber took to his heels, and has not been since haard of, although tho police hope to arrest him. The prisoner, whose name is J. M'Gee, was brought up yesterday morning, but at the request of the police, remanded until today."

The " Argus" has received information from the Postmaster that the mails despatched from Greymouth to Brisbane on the 3rd and sth, and to Sydney on the 4th ultimo, havo been saved from the wreck of tho s.s. Cawurra. Witli reference to the case of the prisoner Bertrand, the " Sydney Empire" of the 17th instant says :—": — " Our readers will remember that, in Bertrand's case, after his conviction of the murder of Henry Kinder, his execution was stayed on appeal to the judges of the Supreme Court, on the ground that the reading of the evidence given at the first trial upon the second trial, was illegal. Notice was then given by the Attorney-General of his intention to apply to the Privy Council, for leave to appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court. We learn that the Government have received by the mail just arrived, a telegram from London, dated June 30, in which it is stated that in the case Regina v. Bertrand, leave lias been granted by the Privy Council to appeal, and that in the meantime all proceedings here are to be stayed. The decision, we presume, will debar j any further application being made for the ! prisoner's discharge under the Habeas Corpus Act."

The Eesideut Magistrate's Court (says the " Grey River Argus ") was occupiod for several hours yesterday in the investigation of an extraordinary case of alleged forcible robbery. The prosecutor was Mr Freeman, who, until lately; carried on business as a storekeeper at Red Jack's, but who is now an insolvent ; and the accused was Mr D. Buckley, a boatowner. The charge was, that on the morning of the 16th inst. the complainanfcFreoman had occasion to proceed to Hokjtika to attend tho Court tlwe as awito^ia, ftud/Uo wa.s voting at % %m RiY«' Hetal, Sitotw^ fa U

coach to come up at about half -past seven o'clock, whon the accused Buckley, aceonipa 1 mod by four other boatmen) appeared at tlie Hotel, and i'eflised to allow him to proceed on his journey until he had paid some money to Buckley. Prosecutor a wore that he was put in bodily fear, tha 4 ; the accused swore he would have liia life if he did not $yd him an IOU for LBO, and otherwise used such threats as to compel the prosecutor to write the IOU and, also, to hand over two L5-notes. This was denied by the witnesses for the accused, whose defence was, that ho had become aware that the coniplainant Freeman was going off by tlie coach, and had reason to believe he had plenty of money, and could afford to pay him (defendant) his hard-earned money, as had been previously promiaed by Freeman. It wai proved that beyond the annoyance he might naturally feel at being prevented going by the coach, the complainant was in no unusual state of mind, and that he ordered the writing materials and penned the IOU without hesitation. It was also proved that Freeman had offored for L2O to make the charge a light one for the prisoner. After a very patient hearing, which lasted over (three hour*, the Magistrate dismissed the cftae»