SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

West Coast Times, Issue 332, 16 October 1866, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

The Social history of the month is of considerable iuterest. In political matters there hasbeen an unusual stir, and the successful launching of the first Municipal government on the West Coast, is an incident of special note. These matters will be found fully referred to elsewhere. The population since our last summary has been augmented by .upwards of 1500 persons, s chiefly miners. There have been about 1900 arrivals and about 400 departures. At the present moment two steamers are in the roadstead, with which communication cannot bo effected owing to the state of the bar; but the Sotheuburg, from Melbourne, is known to have two hundred and ten passengers for this - port on board. The' gold returns for the past fivo weeks are- of a most satisfactory character. Sin^Q the 3rd September the quantity, of gold cleared for shipment at the port of Hokitika amounted to 41,1 64 ozs. From the port of Greymouth, since the beginning of. September, 82,0051 ozs. have been exported; making a total of 73,215 ozs.,froni the two ports. <- There are now lying in the Banks, waiting shipment by the Gothenburg, upwards of 4000 ozs., and a further parcel of 2000 ozs. is expected to arrive- from Okarita, for despatch by the same boat. These figures give a total of about eighty tliousand OUNCES. We now turn to a less pleasant aspect of West Coast history. Our readers will haw become familiar by this time with the details ot' the Maungatapu tragedies. Iv another placo wo give the particulars received by telegraph of the execution of the three men against whom Sullivan informed, and of the commutation of the sentence of death passed upon Sullivan himself to imprisonment lor life. 4 This wretched criminal is supposed to be now outside \ the bar, in the steamer JEgmont, being brought down to give 'evidence against a prisoner charged with the of the lute Mr George Dobson, aT the Grey. ■ Our'local criminal annals have been marked, by few special incilents. * One case, hoAvever, that has been brought before the Resident Magistrate's Court is of ' a very painful character. The ' chief clerk of the Post. Office has been arrested on a charge, of embezzlement, and committed to take his trial on what appears to be very clear evidence. On the civil side, the Magistrate has 4iad to deal with the usual average of , cases involving important principles of commercial law ;" and on the whole the Court has had a busy time oi' it. The weather for the greater part ot the month has been of a most delightful character — clear skies, warm sunshine, and balmy aud invigorating brecz.es prevailing — whilst the si*svv-clad summits of the New Zealand Alps, standing out in bold and distinctly defined relief, against the azure background, have presented a scene of-beauty such as can be equalled in a few parts of the globe only. Within the last few days a change lias come over the scene, and the fitful and boisterous humor of opening Spring is venting itself in rains and gales that ahnosfc make us for the moment ungratefully, forget how beautiful Nature, that occasionally wears a frown, is in her move customary aspects. Certainly there is no finer — no more systematically fine — climate than that of the much and most ig'norantly abused West Coast

A movement has been initiated, with every prospect of success; for the establishment of a Savings Bank in Hokitika, under v the provisions of the Savings. Bank Act, which has been for some years in force in the colony, with . the most 'beneficial results wherever it has been applied. Mr Archibald Bonar, a merchant, of Toirj; standing in the colonies, and an old and warm friend of Savings Banks, has token the matter in hand. Ho recently delivered a most interesting and impressive lecture at the Fire Brigade Hall, on the advantages to be derived from these institutions, and referred *■ to facts in illustration conuected not oufy Vith the history of Savings . Banks in Scotland and filnglaud, but with his long experience as Manager of the Bank some time since founded in Invercargill, where ; its success during a time of very great i and general depression amongst all classes was surprising. The chair was occupied by Mr Bright, M.P.C., and a most cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Bona?, on the motion of Mr Commissioner Sale, seconded by Mr , ,Shaw. A further resolution was subsequently carried, proposed by Mr S. M.. South, and seconded by Mr Abbot, appointing a' committee to co-operate with Mr Bonar on tho subject. The committee met at' an early day afterwards, and forwarded the necessary application to his Excellency the Governor for the appointment of trustees" tinder the Act. This being done, the. institution will at once commence - operations, The members of the Church of England have at last taken effective measures for the erection of a large and handsome Church in llokitika, which is being so rapidly proceeded with that we may anticipate its being opened ibr^ nublic worship iv the course of a few weeks. It will be decidedly the most ecclesiastical-looking building in town. On. the Church reserve a handsome and commodious, parsonage hoiise has also been erected. The Yen. Archdeacon Harper (a son of the Bishop of the diocese), who is appointed to preside over the district, is weekly expected to arrive in HoMtika, having reached, Ohristchurch from England via Melbourne. In' the meantime the Rev. Mr Bagshaw continues to officiate at the "Superme Court House.

'1 he Hon. .m Catholic"* community, having erected a substantial aud handsome church and: residence for their pastor, tile Rev. ' Mr. M'Girr, towards defraying the cost of which very liberal contributions have been made, both by the members of that communion and, others, a grand sacred aud secular concert, in aid of the fund for liquidating the outstanding debt on the buildings, was given la>t wet k, at the Prince of Wales' Opera House, at which Miss Julia Mathews (Mrs. Mumford) rendered her valuable assistance. The rest of the programme was sustained by amateurs/ The concert was in every respect a great success, the house being densely crowded 'in everypart, and the receipts, amounting to a sum of about Ll6O.

The Presbyterians continue to hold service every Sunday 'in the Fire , Brigade Half, the Uev! J. Hall officiating, pending the erection of their proposed new church. Large congregations also continue to assemble every Sunday in tlie Wesleyan Church, where the services' are conducted by the Rev. Mr Cannell, the resident minister. We have to chronicle the opening of one new place of worship since our last summary, viz., the Jewish Synagogue, in Tancred-street. We gave a full account of the ppenmg services at the time. The following is a brief description of the building, which is externally a very unpretentious one. The ■ inner arrangements are appropriate and «• convenient, and the decorations when completed will afford evidence of great taste. The structure - is erected upon a block of land in j 'Tiincred street, measuring 200 feet by 100, granted to the congregation' , by the Government, in accordance with the policj' by which all the religious denominations have had free sites accorded to them The dimensions o£ the building are thirty-five feet by twenty, the walls being twelve feet iv height, the roof ascending to a height of about twenty feet from the floor. On either side are four windows, consisting each of a large single plate of frosted glass,. with an upper pane in a semicircular frame opening imyards for purposes of ventilation. Above the, door of tho synagogue is also a ventilator of colored glass, fixed in a circular frame. The lobby occupies a considerable space, as is required by seme of the- specialities of the Jewish ceremony. -On one side of it, in the interior, is the ladies' compartment — femal'-s not being allowed (0 join with the malo«s Engaged in the service. On either side of the building are ranged two rows of benches for the accommodation of tho congregation. The pulpit or reading-desk is, as usual, in the centre of tlie synagogue. Its dimensions are nine feet by seven, and it contains the desk on which the , " scrolls " are placed when removed from the Ark, and a seat for the use of the " officers, of the congregation. Immediately in front of the ' pulpit is- the enclosed pew reserved for the President and Treafjr'jr "f the congregation. At. the' upper eni of the, building facing thtp pew, is-the Ark, holding thej^sop «f what is called the altar in plac^p. of Christian worship. It consists" of a compartment closed by handsomely paneled cedar doors, containing the two scrolls of " the Law," wrapped in rich dressings of embroidered silk. The Ark proper is flanked on* either side by fluted pilasters, an d' x other architectural accompaniments, surmounted by the two tables of the Law, the Ten Commandments, which are in beautifully executed Hebrew character 1 * in gold, upon a white surface. The whole framewoi-k of the Ark is, we believe, to be finished in white and gold, and the effect .will be exceedingly chaste. In front of it is hung a massive, purple velvet screen or curtain, lined with white satin, and embroidered in gold, with the " Shield of David" worked in gold lace, in its

centre, and suspended by rings from a pole of polished Huon pine, with brass mountings. % The Ark is approached by two carpeted steps. The synagogue is well lighted, two handsome* bronze gaseliers depending from the roof, -and other lamps being ranged, round the walls, which, with six pulpit candles, make the total plumber of lights within the building twenty-seven. We need only add that the floors are well matted, and the ventilation complete ; and that when the painting of the interior is finished according to design, the effect of the whole arrangements will be at once elegant and imposing. Tift entire plans have boon .prepared by. and the works carried out under the 1 immediate superintendence of, Mr .Henry Cohen, to whom great credit is ' due for the taste he has displayed.

We have to record with satisfaction the progress of several works of public utility during the 1 month, projected and carried on purely by private enterprise. It has" been found that the system of light tramways is admirably adapted for the transit of goods and passengers in directions "where no very considerable engineering difficulties have to be encountered. Light wooden rails have for a long time pa*stbeen laid down into the bush,

for the purpose of bringing tim - ber to the saw-mills und other uses, the practice being to extend, them as the track gradually becomes cleared by the felling of trees and the removal of the thick undergrowth of vegetation. Works . of a 'similar, but, of course, of much more substantial character, are now bping constructed in various directions, and tbe level beach along which much of the communication between the town and the various diggings is carried on, presents admirable ' facilities for the laying* down of rails, well secured on transverse sleepers of a massive character. The abundance of timber affords an ample supply' of necessary material, whilst there* is plenty of sand and shingle available ' for "substantial ballasting. To the Hokitika and Kanieri Tramway Company, belongs the credit of having set the example of constructing these works on the scale we speak of. A portion of their line is already open, to traffic, and

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A much larger scheme is now being e 1 t-.'ken in hand by a few individuals tf whose enterprise and* public spirit can- s1 not be too highly appreciated, and who *>! ha\e given tho best guaranUe of f) th^ii hnnu files. This is the construe- v tion of a substantial tramway to cuiini'ct the two important towns of Hokitika and Greymouth, distaut from each other some twenty-seven miles. The line would easily connect by branches with the most important goldfields of the district. It is proposed to complete one portion of the work iv the firs^t instance, and the whole of the capital requisite for - this purpose has already been paid up and is now available. The first portion of the line is expected to be open for traffic within the next two months/anda further portion within probably about the same period after. Where the ground is level, and timber and ballast plentiful, these works can be pushed *m with amazing rapidity. We trust to see the wide extension of this nystein of roadmaking. The Government, through Mr Moorhouse, have promised to encourage tbeni by the cessjon of land, and by the guarantee of interest on capital invested, and we believe they will prove a gv,eat boon to the whole district. The principle of associated enterprise in mining operations is ooming into extensive application. Several new mining companies are being formed under the provisions of the Limited Liability Act, and constituted on a somewhat different basis from those previously existing here, which -were rather companies of working miners associated to j gether. The new feature is the formation of companies 'of shareholders who may or may not be otherwise identified with mining pursuits! If the movement is kept within judicious bounds — and by that we mean ii^ the calculations of the promoters of mining c.ompauies are based on ascertained and well considered data, and if no capital is rashly diverted from the ordinary transactions of trade — there is every reason to anticipate that the result will be satisfactory, in promoting ji wider and more rapid development of the mineral resources of ftbe district. . """ As interesting items of news, we may mention the reported discovery of rich grass-lands to the and the extension of a certain form of agricultural industry iv the immediate vicinity of our towns, viz., that of vmarkel gardening. The present season promises to furnish a large supply of all table vegetables grown within the distance of a short aud pleasant walk from town. It is understood that the Government propose to submit to the Provincial Council a measure for the sale of lands on thg West Coast for agricultural settlement, under regulations that will sufficiently secure the interest of -%\xe miner iv any land that may prove auriferous. Much might be written in the^vay of chronicling the local improvements j made in the town, in the shape Of new j and enlarged hotels and business premises, during tht* month 6 In our next summary, when many fine buildings now going up will have been completed, we propose to devote a special article to the recent architectural progress^of Ho- .: kitika. It will suffice now to say, in general terms, that in all directions hotels of great pretensions to chasteness and elegance of design of large size, aud furnished with ' - all the , accessories of comfort, may be found iii the principal v streets : that the banks are an imposing set of buildings ; and that fine handsome stores, and plate-glass shop frontages, lend an appearance to the capital of Westknd, that presents a singular contrast to the look of the town in'its more primitive days*. -For amusements we have had to depend only on the. Prince of Wales , Opera House. The engagement of ! Miss Julia M'-i thews at this house ter- j initiated some weeks back,"und she has since been on a very successful visit to the Grey. Having returned to Hokitika, on her way to Melbourne, to fulfil an engagement there, Miss Mathews lent her assistauce to a Catholic Church concert on Thursday night last, and on Saturday night she appeared on the occasion of a benefit given to, f Mr Bartlett. On both, occasions the house was very well fillqd.