West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 317, 28 September 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, 1866.

Surely the candidates for Municipal honors — the twenty gentlemen who have been formally proposed, and have accepted their nomination — will not allow the few days that are to elapse between this and Wednesday next, when the poll is to take place, to pass without some explanation of their views upon town affairs To do so would be simply to offer an insult to the electors There a? 1 © very important' question? awaiting

the consideration and decision of the Municipal Council. We fear that there is nothing like an adequate public appreciation of the large powers with which this body will be invested. We presume the candidates themsolves understand the nature and tlie extent of the duties that they are willing to undertake ; but what opportunity have the public had of coming to a satisfactory conclusion as to the principles ou which any of the twenty candidates are ' prepared lo act ? Is the rating power to be exercised to its utmost limits in oi'der to expedite public works in the town 'I Or i* the authority to levy taxes to be used gently, so as to effect a compromise between convenience and economy? To what extent is the borrowing power to be exercised, and the., town> revenues to be mortgaged/? And, if large municipal funds are raised, to what purposes and itfwhat manner are they to be applied ? There are a hundred other similar or equally appropriate questions that might be a<«ked. But it is for the citizens to urge |- them, and to call upon the candidates to p answer them. At the meeting at* the Theatre, at which the nominations were made, there' was of course no proper opportunity of demanding explanations on the one hand, or of volunteering them- on the other. " But is the same silence on both sides to be maintained ? "Is the election to proceed without any discussion of the respective or comparative merits of the twenty men df *whom eleven have to be set aside ? We trust the candidates will not show such great disrespect to the people, whose suffrages they are seeking to place them in a position of honor. We crust the people will not be content to sustain, without resentment a treatment so cavalier. Yet it is a fact that the' day of election is rapidly approaching, and that the twenty candidates are all of them, maintaining silence, What private action there i may be going on, to secure the election of one < and another of these gentlemen, vre have no knowledge. But we confess that we should infinitely prefer, to see the contest conducted openly and honestly, in the good old homo- fashion :, and .that can only be done by the candidates being brought face lo face with the people who are to choose between them.

By the Albion, which arrived from Nelson yesterday, Sergeaut Dyer, Constable Grleeson, and Mr Stout, whb were subpoenaed to give evidfenccat the trial of Burgess' gang — returned to Hokitika. They bring uo ccrtaiu information as to the Ijme of Sulljvati's arrival here, but state- he may bo expected in a week, or teu days, permission for his removal having to be first obtained from the authorities at

It CJllUglUJi, It is at all times gratifying tq find that there are not wanting among the mixed population whiuh the goidfields hnve attracted to our coast, some, at all '"events, who have the leisure and ability to cultivate other arts besides those which aim directly at the rapid acquisition of wealth. A striking instance of local talent", which has recently come under oi*r notice, is an excellent portrait of the murderer Burgess, exhibited^in a shop window in P-.evoll street. The* general effect of the countenance at first glance is not unpleasing, bui' the villainous lineaments of the murderer have bceir faithfully and sternly pourtrayed, and every feature bears evidence of tho determination and firmness of character which were so .conspicuous in the conduct of this "ruffian' throughout. Altogether, we regard this picture as one of the mosjt promising efforts which hare yet been displayetNn Hokitika; but while congratulating the artist on Jiis work we cannot but regret that his undoubted talent was not bestowed on a more worthy subject. - We furnish to doy an abstract of 1 the scheme, of the Colonial Treasurer for imposing Stamp Duties, ns an additional means of taxation in New "Zealand. We had made 60me comments upon the details of Mr Fitzherbert's measure, which we are obligod to withold until our next issue. , In some instances, we are afraid, the new duties will operate op; pressively ; in many unequally ; and in many they will be ovaded. It is, however, undesirable to anticipate our general review of this new arm of taxation.

Tho lurid appearance of the sky in the direction of the north-east, which we mentioned yssterday morning as having excited very general attention during the preceding evening, and many conjectures as to its Cause, has been satisfactorily accounted for. The prevailing impression was that an extensive conflagration had taken place at Stafford Town, and a trooper was despatched at an early hour yesterday morning to. ascertain the fact. He discovered the surmise to be utterly unfouuded, but further enquiries elicited the information that ji largo bush firo had taken place near the Three Mile Creek"; and last evening we learflt that the fire wa's purposely caused, in order to clear a large portion of the bush for depasturing cattle. It was th'olight of this lire that was visible for so many hours on Wednesday night. It was conjectured yosterday, by some ignorant persons, into whom the elementary facts of physical science we're probably not sufficiently flogged in their school days, that the appearance was that of the phenomenon known as the Aurora Australia, or Southern Polar Light. For their instruction, we beg those of our readers whose education has not been neglected, to excuse our etatiug that it is not customary for tho Polar light to omit masses of dense smoke, and that no well authenticated instance is on record of the Aurora Australis so far forgetting th'o habits imposed upon it by such a strict disciplinarian as Nature, as to break out so far away from home as a spot to the north--east of 'Hokitika. For further information on this subject we refer those who have forgotten their lessons, back to their school books.

The West Coast Murders case seems likely to pass into a new and extraordinary pliase before' its history is finally closed. We understand that legal steps are about to be taken which may result in tho three condemned murderers—^Burgess, Kelly, and Levy — being brought down to Hokitika, to give evidence, together with Sullivan, on' the trial of the man Wilson, alius Murray, before they are hanged. The man Murray, as> well as the ex-policefltan Carr, has been for weeks past remanded from .time (a time, awaiting tho evidence of Sullivan. Th« proceeding 1% certainly

a very extraordinary one. The power exercised in this instance by the Resident Magistrate, would seem to imply his authority to keep a man in perpetual imprisonment for an offence for which ho has not been tried by a jury. Th'ero is no doubt, however, that the man Wilson, or Murray, will have the case against him substantially investigated, as soon as the long-waited-for evidence of Sullivan becomes available, and we learn that ifc is the intention of an eminent logol firm in this town to movo fd*r a writ of Habeas Corpus for the production also of the other three condemned men, Burgess, Kelly and Levy, as essential witnesses for the defence of the accused. We do not well see how such a motion can be resisted. Sullivan will come down for the undoubted purpose of the conviction of Wilson. But the evidence of the other three condemned men may be claimed by the counsel for the defence, as equitably as the evidonee of Sullivan is claimed by the Crown for the prosecution. We shall probably learn more of the matter in the course of & few days. But the immediate result of any motion made on the subject will be the postponement of the execution of the convicts. information supplied us la»t night, by a gentleman just arrived from the Waimea, it appears that a gang of plundering ruffians, some twenty in number, made a descent upon Stafford Town, yesterday morning, and committed several barefaced depredations. From one store a cash-box containing L 25 was abstracted, and L3O was filched out of the till of another, and numerous petty thefts were committed besides. These losses becoming known, business people were chary- of admitting strangers in£o their establishments, and ejected without- ceremony several suspicious looking characters, whose intentions it Avas very 'evident, were of "a predatory character. It is high time that increased police protection was accorded to this district, and we are glad to hear that the camp buildings are completed at Stafford Town, and will be occupied to day by a staff of constables from Hpkitjka. \ • escort arrived in towu on Wednesday night .from the Waimea, with the heaviest parcel of gold sent down from that district for many months. '3300 ounces was the amount, 2300 ounces of which was purchased by the Bank of New Zealand, and 1000 ounces by the Union Bankf This marked, increase is the first fruits of the Scandinavian and other late rushes, and we nothing doubt will be 'followed by a much heavier returnwhen " washing up " becomes more general. / Skn advertisement appears in our issue this morning, notifying an extensive sale of land at Manawatu. iv the Wellington Province, comprising towu, suburbau, and rural allotments in the new townships of Foxton and Palmeraton. This district is situated ou the shores of Cook's S, traits, halfway between Wellington and Winganui, and the land in it has always been regarded' as the cream o t f the proviuco. This portion of the Manawatu, which 1 ''comprises some 300,000 acres, was purchased a few years ago, and is contiguous to the Manawatu block, about which- our readers have frequently heard lately as being under offer to Mr Sand, Purchase Commissionerj Featherston., and the payment for which (L 25.000) is to be made on the sth of -November next. The extinguishment of the native title over the townships advertised for sale at Wellington on the 7th November, has been gazetted by the Governor, and there is, therefore, nothing to prevent their becoming rapidly populous. Foxton, it appears, is situated on the banks of the Manawatu river, near its mouth) and Paonerston inland a few niileSj from whence the navigation of the river ( ceases,ithe former open aud the latter wooded' As the Manawatu i 3 the only navigable river south of Wanganui, there is every reasonable prospect of the, new townships' rapidly going ahead.— [The above paragraph is communicated.] /

We are informed (says the " Grey River Argus") that the suspected case of attempted murder at Noble's GuUy, reported in our columns a few days ago, turns out to be simply a case of self-inflicted injuries', tlie person in question having been drinking heavily, aud in a state of delirium .wljen the wounds were inflicted. We understand lie is recovering.

With reference to the approaching session of the Provincial Council, the " Lyttelton •Times "of the 17th says :—": — " A notice has appeared in • the " Gazette" calling the Provincial Council together Yor the sth October. It is thought by some that the session will not be a long one, and that the business will be confined chiefly to the discussion of Ways and Means. As, however, this is the first session of a new and enlarged Council, which includes an unusual number of new members, if is not improbable that many matters of interest, at present untliought of, may crop up, and the field of discussion thus become considerably widened. Matters of interest connected with the various public works, with the system of immigration as at present conducted, with tho rights of the pastoral community, and with the general economy of the Government, are sura to arise, in addition to the various .wants of Westland, uud it will be difficult, «yen if it is desirable, to put off the discussion of such as these." , The "Grey River Argus" of yesterday, says': — "The District Surveyor has commenced the survey of" the proposed line of route through the Maori Reserve, of the Grey mouth and Saltwater tramway. It is expected that the siu-vey will be completed in about a week, when tho directors will be able to call a special meeting of the shareholders, to decide which route shall be adopted."

A case of sudden death is reported by the "Argus" to have occurred on Tuesday night at Cobden. Shortly before^ten o'clock a .man named Collins, who' was living with two mates in a tent near the road now being made to Coal Creek, went out of the tent and cried out " I am' dying." One of hiß mates weut for medical assistance, but the man died in a few minutes. He had been complaining of illness for some time. An^ inquest was held yesterday, but it was adjourned for the purpose of having a post mortem examination made on the body.

With, reference to the condemned prisoners' at Nelson, the "Examiner," of Tuesday, says : — " There-has, we understand, been but little alteration in the demeanor of the four condemned prisoners in Nelson gaol since our last publication. Wo are informed that both Kelly and Levy are in a great state of mental prostration, which has had a corresponding effoct upon their bodily health. .Neither can be induoed to eat bit food j Kelly, especially, I hju fearooljr ti>k»& » mouthful for faj%\ b«

remains all day in his bed, occasionally read • ing the religious books which' have been allowed him by the authorities. Burgess is said^to have softened somewhat in his manner, and to give more attention to his religious advisers, wlrt> have frequent intercourse with him. We hear that the report that he was again engaged in writing his life, is not true. Sullivan, from his behaviour, anticipates par- • don ; he is, cheerful, and hrfg been heard to say that, since his trial, his mind is much easier. There has ' been no news received relative to the day of execution, which, however, it is supposed, will take place about the Bth proximo."

The following refers^to the fiscal future of Tasmania : — Consequent on the vote of the Lower House, in opposition to the Ministerial " scheme of taxation, the Tasmanian Government recommended the Governor to prorogue Parliament, with a view to an appeal to the country. The Governor has assented to the proposition, and has prorogued Parliament by proclamation to the Ist November. On the evening of the 7th instant, a Ministerial memorandum, addressed to the Governor, was laid before Parliament, setting forth at great length the policy of tke Administration, and its reasons for udhering to its fiscal proposals. Tnis memorandum declares, respecting the adverse vote of the Assembly, :— ' Your Excellency's advisers accept this vote as a decisive indication of the discrepancy between their . views and those of a majority of the House of Assembly on a question so large and impor« tant as the future fiscal policy of the country. The fiscal and financial measures which Ministers are prepared to recommend to your Excellency, and to urge -upon the adoption of Parliament, are based upon the broad general principles of direct taxation, and a large remission of Customs dutieo upon the necessa* nes of .life and articles of general consumption. They regard v the adoption of this policy as the most offectual ntode of resuscitating the public finances. By these means they conceive it practicable to fulfil all tho conditions of the problem of our present embarrassment. On these principles they are prepared to provide a revenue adequate to tho indispensable necessities of the State, and sufficiently certain and elastic to maintain the public credit. These views are not shared by a • majority of the House of Assembly, which seems desirous' of continuing to rely upon Customs, as the main source of revenue, and would rather raise the .present rate. of duties upon imports than, subject property and income to direct taxation.' After the reading of the memorandum by the clerk, the House was adjourned to Friday, ( the 3.4 th instant, % and on Monday, the 10th, was prorogued as already stated v A- proclamation announcing tho dissolution (A the Lower House is expected to be issued immediately. — The "H. T. Mercury " adds : — ' The state^ of excitement into which the country has been thrown by the Government lias had its effect on the 'Customs. The last month's returns are worse than of any previous month in the year. The amount collected at the port of Hobart Town during the month of August was L 4085 7» 4d ; and at Launceston, for the like period, L4BIB 6s 6d ; total, L 8903 13s lOd, which, all things considered, i 3 mors than might have been expected, but much short of a proportional share of the Treasurer's estimate."

A telegram iv one of our recent issues annbuueed the death of a child of great musical genius. We take the following - from* the "South Australian Register". — " Many of our readers will be grieved to'learn that thß Infant Musician, whose exquisite performances oh. the. violhi have so delighted audiences in-tiis and the neighboring colonies, died oa Sunday morning, September 2, at Norwood. Several days _ ago he was engaged to accompany the Lancashire Bellringers on a country tour, but as he seemed indisposed, medical advice was taken as to whether he was well enough to carry out the engagement. After thoroughly examining him, Pr Bayer expressed his opinion Hhat country air would probably do him good, and he started to go North.' He was announced to play at Salisbury ; but ifc was not considered advisable that he should do so, and at Gawler he was only able to appear in the first part of the entertainment. After consulting medical men in that township, he was taken on to Kapunda, but as-he still showed eveiy^ 3ymptpm of getfing worse, his father brought him back to town, and* went to reside with him at a friend's house at Nor-

wood. About a week ago he took to bed from low fever, and that disease eventually qaused his death.i The deceased was an amiable, docile child, and, as may be supposed, his loss is severely felt by bis parents and "friends. Of his musical predilections the public had" numerous instances of judging, and :.ve are assured that he took a positive delight in the study of music, a real love of the art, und a readiness to' perform the parts allotted to him."

The " Wellington Independent" supplies the following digest of the report of the Civil Service Commissioners on the proposed new Income Tax ;— "The final report of the Civil Service Commissioners has just been laid before the Assembly. It is devoted to. a consideration of the manner iv which' an Income

Tax might be raised, and suggests that incomes below L2OO a-year should not be taxed; that incomes, of between L2OO and' L3OO a-year should pay a rate of, 7d per pound, and incomes above L3OO, a rate of lOcl per pound. The Commissioners estimate tho amount of " practically taxable income" in New Zealand at L 5,400,000,' on which they think a tax amounting to L 191,250 could be levied. 'They further statef that an Income Tax Department, with commissioners, surveyors, inspectors, assessors, ethoc genus omne\ would be required to collect, the impost. The cost of/ collection' is estimated at eight per cenfc. on the amount got. Of course there is little likelihood that an Income Tax will be proposed this session, but the people of the colony should watch jealously for any further attempts being made to increase the taxation, as this report is suggestive o? what may be proposed at a future time." A bill has been introduced by the Government for the purpose of rendering the office of Attorney-General of tho colony a non-poli-tical one. * . A bill has been introduced by Mmisteirs for authorising the Colonial to issue any number of Treasury Bills for any sum or sums not exceeding in the whole L 150,000, to be made out and issued under the authority of the Treasury Bills Regulation Act, 1866, prpvided the currency of the said bills shall not extend fceyond the 30th day of June , ' 1869, . ,

.RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COU. JJT. -- (Before G. G. FitzGerald, Esq., R.M.)

.. Thub߻at, September 27.

There was no criminal business before the Court to-day, not even a "■ drunk and incapable."

CIVIL CASES.

Smith and Co. V. Munro. — For goods supplied. Judgment for the amount claimed, L3B 4s 6d and costs. Cassius and Co. v. Jones. — For goods supplied. Judgment, by default, for L 36 16s 8d and costs.

Morison, Law, aud Co. v. Grcer. — Adjourned till 11th October. Allardes v. Addie.— Mr Rees for the plaintiff. For goods supplied and money lent. Judgment, by defauH, for L 97 12s and- costs. Walker v. Liuneman.— Mr South for plaintiff. Mr Rees for the defendant. This was a claim for L2l 10s, ,for the use and occupation of land in Tancred street, for forty-one "weeks, at 10s per week. His Worship reserved his judgment until to-morrow (this day). M'Kin x y v. Doolari.— Mr Rees for the plaintiff, and Mr Button for the defendant. This \vas a claim for L7O 12, for carriage of gooils by^ boat, from Greymouth to Ahaura. Defendant admitted L495s of the debt, which amount' he had paid into Court. Judgment was given for the* amount paid into Court; plaintiff paying all costs. •

Black v. Ryan.— This case was adjourned till the 4th October, on the application of Mr South ; plaintiff paying the costs of the adjournment. Patterson -v. Thomson.— For seaman's •wages. Judgment by default for the amount claimed, L 96 5s 4d, and costs. Collins v. Glynn. — Mr South for the plaintiff, pnd Mr Rees for the defendant. This was a claim for L 52 11s 9d, balance due for goods sold and delivered. , L 23 had been paid into Court. Judgment reserved until to-morrow (this day). In the cases of Povyell and Co. v. Cook, Salmon and Ramsay v. Bullen, Craigie v.Nankervis, Spence Bros. v. Marshall, Davis v. O'Connor and O'Brien, there was. no appearance of plaintiffs or defendants. ' . • The Court was then adjourned until eleven o'clock to-morrow (this day). ,