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West Coast Times, Issue 308, 18 September 1866, Page 2

Actuated apparently by the most conscientious scruples touching the retention of property not- his own, the convict. Downs, who escaped from' custody on the 15th instant, lias rcry politely returned to the authorities tho clothing which gentlemen of his^ dogrce are provided with oa their admittance into Her Majesty's Gaol. It is quite iinnecessaTy for us to state that the clothes were not returned by tho prisoner in propria persona, but were found yesterday morning by tho night watchman, neatly tied up in a bundle, and hanging to the goto which leads from Camp street into the Police Reserve. Tho bundle was neatly addressed to Sci'geant M'Myn, gaoler, Police Cam]), Revell street. We should imagine that this action was the result of mere bravado on the part of Mr Downes, who is, in all probability, laughing in fancied security not a hundred miles distant from the scene of his late labors. It is, however, just possible that he may, sooner or later, again have to don the suit so scornfully rejected, as by this time the notice of his escape and his personal description have been telegraphed to every police station in New Zealand, so that his recapture is next to certain. We truat it is, as he was found I guilty of ono of the most brutal assaults it has ever been our lot to chronicle, for which ho received a most\ disproportionately light sentence. Jl most trumpci*y and vexatious charge against Mr Alex. Orr, a respectable tradesman of this town, of " forgery," in appending tho signnture of a man to, a letter which ho had • written for him, was yesterday dismissed a3 a I matter of coimo by the Resident Magiahute. Cobb's Christchurch coach arrived in town on Saturday night last, having made a good journey across tile ranges. The road is described as in excellent condition. On the waybill wo noticed the names of the following passengers who booked through : Messrs Langston, Griffiths, . Prosser, Mudden, Maxwell, and Groom. A very sad accident, which wa3 all but attended with' fatal results, occurred on Saturday last to a fine little boy, the youngest child of our respected townsman, Mr J. It. Anderson. It appears that the little fellow, who is only one year and^ten months old, was playing in front of his father's house, Hamilton-street, and unfortunately strayed into the roadway just as a dray was passing, and not being noticed by tho driver, was knocked down by tho wheel, which passed over his right arm, barely missing his head. The child was immediately picked up, and Dr Acheson being sent for, pronounced, after examining the arm, that it was not broken, but bruised very severely. Under his skilful treatment, we are happy to say, the little sufferer is progressing favorably towards recovery. Miss Julia Mathews' engagement at' tho Prince of Wales Opera House, which terminated last evening, has been the great event of the theatrical soason. 'She has appeared in a succession of characters in comedy, melodrama, and burlesque, and by her vivacity and talent has more than sustained the high reputation she "lias established for herself, as a colonial actress of the first rank. In her impersonation, of the, jealous wife, in the play of "Faces in the Fire;" and as the Invisible Prince, in the burlesque of that name, on the occasion of her benefit on Friday night, she acquitted herself as a true artist in two very di3tinct classes of character, ancVwas rewarded with the continuous applause of the most crowded house of the season. The shortness of hor engagement, which has been through* out a most successful one, is a matter of general regret. She will carry with her from the West Coast the warmest good wishes of the thousands who have been delighted with her performances. It Is said — and we trust the - rumor is correct — that Miss Mathews intends to give one or two concerts previous to her final departure from Hokitika. _, The Kaikoura, steamer, now due in Sydney, (says the " Argus,") was to leave Pinama on the 24th July. Some doubts have been oxpressed as to whether, from the date of her leaving Sydney, she would arrive at the American terminus of the line in time to coal and keep her mail engagement, but- those are scarcely well founded. The Kaikoura left Sydney on the 15th June, and" Wellington on the 22nd June, making her due at Panama on the 19th July, or five days before she was required to leave. The Kuahine i 3 to bring on the mails following those by the Kuikoura>' and will be due here at the end of next month. In October the probability §eems to be that no mail will reach Australia by this route, as in consequence of tho two-fold alterations made in the date of the mail's despatch from Sydney no steamer connected with tln3 line will be at Panama at the end of September. There is a chance of the head-office of the company in England becoming acquainted with the changes made here in time to despatch tho fourth boat— the Matoura— to Panama, in place of sending her to thes c waters, but it is a forlorn ono. Under the old arrangements "she is due here by way of the Cape about the Bth September. In the House of Representatives ouTuosday, the 6th instant" a motion' proposed by Mr Reynolds, one of tho Dunodin raoinbers, wus carried with the assent of tticGovornmenfc expressed through the Hon. John Hall, tho Postmaster-General, to the following eiFcct :— " That is desirable tho arrival and departure of shipping should bo telegraphed and posted at tho various telegraph stations at least twico a-day." In supporting tho motion, Mr Vogol said he thought Hokitika should bo at onco "connected by Governmont telegraph with tho rest of tbe colony, particularly as it rpcaived new> only four and a-half days old from Melbonrne."

A public meeting was held last 'night, at the Cafe do France, for the purpose" of devis* ing means to, in the event of firo, to compensate those persons whose premises should be sacrificed in the attempt to 'stay its progress. Mr Munro was voted to the chair, and the following resolutions were carried :—lst.: — 1st. Proposed by Mr'BariF, seconded by Mr C. Williams— "That this meeting, looting forward with fear and apprehension to the consequences that may ensue upon a fire talcing place in Hokitika, deems it desirable to take such precnutions ns may be reasonably expected to confine such a calamity within the narrowest limits." 2nd. Moved by Mr J. E. Anderson* seconded by Mr Munchanson — " That as,, -in carrying out tho principles of the previous resolution, it may be necessary to pull down buildings to arrest tho progress of fire, this meeting is of opinion that the owners of such buildings should be compensated, and for this purpose the owners of properties in Hokitika should combine for the purpose of mutual indemnification," 3rd. Proposed by Mr Hankins, seconded? by Mr Hudson — "That the most equable manner of carrying out the principle of mutual indemnification would be by a per-centage upon tho annual value o r rental of ench building ; such per centage not to exceed 2 par cent., to be paid by monthly inptalments." 4th. Proposed by Mr Marks, seconded by Mr Samuel — " That three trustees be appointed, in whose names all moneys shall be deposited in one of the Hokitika Banks." sth. , Proposed by Mr Clark, seconded by Mr C. Williams—" That a provisional committee' be appointed, consisting of the following gentlemen : — Messrs Clark, C. Williams, Munro, Bladier, Millard, Eccleifield, Samuels, Anderson, Munchausen, Barff, MIP.C." 6th. Proposed by Mr Bladier, seconded by Mr Munchausen, — " That a subscription list be at once opened to defray necessary expenses." The list was then opened, and a moderate sum collected. A rote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. The first meeting of the committee was appointed to be held at the Cafe de France, at eight o'clock this evening. There was very iittle criminal business transacted in the Resident Magistrate's Court last week, as, exclusive of petty cases and the ; consignment of oue debtor to the keeping of Mr Dale, only two prisoners were sentenced to hard laboi\~ , The following district gaol returns, for the week ending Saturday, September 15, have been furnished to us by Mr J)ale, the gaoler : — Discharged during tho week, 2 hard labor men, and 2 debtors. Escaped from custody, 1 hard labor man. The number and v classification of the remaining confineesat tlie above date, were — 3 males under committal, 24 undergoing sentence of hard labor, 2 flimplo imprisonment, 6 debtors. Total, 35, males. Auuoxcd aro the particulars of the. escape above alluded to, on tho 16th inst. : Patrick Downs, who was undergoing a sentence of six months hard labor, for committing a violent assault upon his mate at the Kanieri, watched his opportunity whilst working outside tho stockade, and suddenly slipped into tho thick scrub which surrounds the gaol clearing. His absence was not noticed by the warders for some little time, and -then, of course, no traces of him could be discovered. Information was at onco forwarded to town, and all the police force immediately started in pursuit of the missing felon ; but, notwithstanding that tho buah was scoured for miles, and the search kept up during tho following day, the attempt to recapture him failed ; and up to a late hour last night he was still at liberty.