PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION

West Coast Times, Issue 349, 5 November 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION

The nomination of a member to fill the .-eat lately vacated by Air K. 11. Reaves, in the Piovincial Council, took pl.ice on Satuiday last, at the Warden's Court House, and considering that the occasion was one of such importance to Hokitika, we feel constrained to admit that it ex cited but little interest, if the very limited attendance may be accepted as a criterion. Moreover, the greatest apathy seems to have existed ou a matter woich closely touches the political life of this community, a* only one candidate arrived on the ground, with gentlemen ready to piopose and second him. Once we thought the proceedings would terminate in a mere w>lk over on his part, and that the good folks of Hokitika would have to forego the pleading excitement of a polling da} ; but thanks to the considerate courtesy of Mr Sale, 'the Returning Officer, time was granted to remedy a few mistakes of omission, and after a great deal of delay in seaiching through the crowd for another "fit and proper person," who would content tiie election, a gentleman was at last found to opuose Mr Snaw in tiie person of Mr M. Cassius.

At twelve o'clock the Returning Oiiieer opened the proceedings by slating that he had received a writ on the 29th October, :>uthoiising him, us Mr R. 11. Reeves bad resigned his siat in the Council, to hold another election, and fill t'le vacancy thus caused in the House as soon as possible. He had given the usual notice by advertisement, and, after reading the writ, cail-d upon any qualified elector to come forward and propose a candidate. He might add that the qualification consisted in either enrolment on the electoral list or the pos^ension of a business license dated mx month* hack.

Mr F. L. Clarke hud much pleasure in proposing Mr W. Shaw as a fit and proper person to represent the town of Hokitika in tlie Provincial Council. A great deal could be said iv favor of that gentleman, who having resided so long in the place, was well acquainted with its many requirements. But he (the speaker), not being long , winded, should refrain fiom further comment, feeling certain that tho claims of Mr Shaw for support were fully recognised by the public.

Mr South (harrister) felt no. small gratification iv seconding the proportion of Mr Clarke, as he knew Mr Shaw to be a most valuable man, and one who would faithfully represent the constituency who might return him. The Returning Officer having reported progress, invited any other gentleman to advance his claim, This remark iippe^d to tqke \\\§ wwtiuy by surprise,

! a» no oiii' seemed prepared to In ing for- , wavrt an il.er Crind'nlaie. Two gentl -nit'ii ' li'isiud themselves for *oine miiiut os in j seaiching the- crowd f->r a proper man, mid many names were submitted to tlie ltej 'inning Officer, who, however, waa cnni. ' pel ed to reject them, the o« ners not being ! quaUfiLil. Matters were r.pidly u.s-uin-itilc *» ridiculous aspect— o if gentleman hinting that the services of a bellman migut he found efficacious — when Mr T. Prmgle proposed Mr Mii-hael Ciiasiu.- as a fitting gentleman to oppose Mr Sh.wto sit in the Provincial Council. Mr Mace came forwar.i to second the proposition, hut unfortunately had left his business licenseal home, which compelledrln Returning Olticer to refuse him. lie (Mr Salt') however, agreed to wait ten minutes in order that it might be obtained, and Mr Mace hurried off post-haste to redeem his error. Several minutes then elapsed, and the delay was becoming wearisome when ■ MrW. Shaw advanced andsaiti that to save tin c he should be most happy to second Mr Cassius, who was accordingly placed on the list. As there was no sign of another proposition the Returning Officer called for a .•.how of hands, winch resulted in thirty being held up for Mr Shan-, and twelve for Mr Cassius. The former was accordingly declared elected A poll being de manded by Mr Oassius — was announced by the Reluming Officer, to tnke place on Monday (this day), at the Warden's Court House, between the hours ol 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Me&srs .Shaw and Cassius made tin usual acknowledgments, and a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.

In accordance with a requisition which appears in another column, a public meeting wns held at the Fn-e Brigade Hall on Saturday last, to discuss the vexatious restrictions imposed upon the landing of merchandise by the operation of the new Customs regulations, and certain alterations upon the sjstem hitherto adopted by the Customs authorities liurc, especially as regards sight goods. The meeting was largely attended, and Mr Lemming, the head landing-waiter was present to represent the Customs. Mr Lunar, chairman of (he Municipal Council, presided, and in his opening address, alluded to "the great inconvenience iniliefced upon the mercantile community b\ the present system. Several merchants and shipping agents addressed the meeting, and frmi the tenor of their remarks it was evident tiiere was just cause for the actim tnken. A great imiuj questions were discussed, but as the subject is so exceedingly technical we refer our readers to another column for an explanation of it. A i esolution was proposed by Mr Prosser and carried, I hat " A committee be appoiuted to enquire into the working of the new Customs Act, and to report to a public meeting to bo hold on Monday, the committe t . to consist of the following gentlemen : — Mc-srs Mowat, M'Ffiriane, Carey, Scott, Bunks, Fi->her, While, Alcorn, Evans, Chesnei, Munro, Spence, Ohing, and Brown, with power to add to their number." The public meeting then adjourned, and a meeting of the committee was held (Mr Prosser in the chair), when the following resolutions were proposed and curried : — Moved by Mr M'Farlaue, " It is the opinion of this committee that the Customs should accept marked and stamped cheques upon the several banks." Moved by Mr Boimr, "That all passed on sight entries, alter being examined, shall be delivered to tlie importer, provided a deposit suilicient to cover the amount of duty ha 9 beau paid by him, and that the mode of perfecting sightsbo as 7~->retofore." Moved by Mr Mowat — " That tiie transit shed being under divided control, is the cause of great, annoyance and expense, aud it is the opinion of this committee that the shed should bo entirely under the control of the Customs, and that no charges should be made on any goods brought there, unless such gooJs be allowed to remain in the shed over twenty-four hours after being passed by the Custom home oiiieer." Moved by Mr M'Farltine— " Thai the committee unit upon Mr Commissioner Sate, and Mr Seed, Inspector of Customs, in reference to the Provincial Customs Shed and other Customs matters." Tho committee then adjourned to 2 p.m. on Monday (this day). Wo notice by an advertisement in another column that the members of the committee ha\e convened the adjourned public meeting for half- past four p.m, this day, when they will lay the result of their deliberations, and the action taken, before it.

'i lie " Lytteitou Times " of Monday states that "in addition to the companies recently raised in the Northern districts, we hear that theiv is a possibility of a nativo contingent composed of Maoris residing at the Kaiupoi pa being organised. Du:iug a visit of Captain aud Adjutant Rookes to Kniapoi on Friday last, he was waited upon by two of the Kaiapoi Chiefs, Pete Te Hori and John, who requested permission to enroll names with a view to forwarding them for the acceptance of his Excellency the (xovernor for that purpose. The nei-essun permission mis granted, and the list of names is (o -be prepared and handed over to (he Commanding Oiiieer of the regiment al the forthcoming inspection at Woodjbihl on the 21-th Jane. The uniform which tho Maoris have selected is as follows :—: — Scarlet Garibaldi, trousers and cap with short leggings, and blue vest. How far this selection will meet, with his Excellency's consent or approval, we know not ; but we should imagine that one more unfitted for this novel branch of the service could scarcely have been chosen. It is well knevn that the natives are not the most, particular in matter pertaining to the preservation of dross or cleanliness of habits, aud therefore we should imagine that some material which would not so easily be soiled would be preferable to the one which they have selected from a mere love of wearing gay colors."

The heavy storui of wind aud rain that ushered in Friday morning culminated on Saturday night, when a furious south-west gale whirled through the streets of Hokilika, accompanied by driving torrents of rain. So violent was the wind that many of the ambitious two-storeyed buildings in town showed symptom-, of a desire to change theirvertical position to a horizontal one, causing considerable alarm, not only to the proprietors, but also to their neighbors on each side, and nervous lodgers gave notice of their intention to spend a night with a friend." Chandeliers were on the swing, window-frames and bottles rattled and tho customary loose sheet of iron on the roof — without which in the builder's estimation aoparently, ncKhouso would be complete, kept on the usual demoniac clatter. Several oluwueys nmdg acquaintance with mother e^rth., ana ganvw v«y«li|h! gftro ntffw tg

their proprietors to substitute iron or wm>.l. Long before midnight ev*ry bouse was closed except the Theatre au 1 the oyster ouloon iu;\t door, aud the bulaieJ wayfarer only »aw a dreary perspective of extinguished and half extinguished lumps, -bedding a ghastly flickering ray upon a series of puddles of various degrees of profundity. The bedraggled dogs had scarcely enough courage to bark at the unfortunate compelled to grope his way along under such a combination of a Iverse circumstances, and even the übiquitous pigs had forsaken their accustomed haunts. We are speaking of North Revell streot, but if bad" there, what must have been the condition of the bush-atreets ? The imagination almost bliriuks from picturing the luckless wretch "doomed for a certain space to walk this earth" in those dismal^ localises— where you slip, stumble, and slile, splash, swim and wade, atick-fiist and wrench yourself out ugnin by the feeble glitnmor of the " colonial limtern," a machine which appears to havo beon constructed for the express purpose of amusing the wind, and ascertaining to what extent the patience of man can be tried without causing either madness or suielle. The wind moderated on Sunday, though it was still high enough to .raise clouds of sand, and render walking on tbo beach — tho only promenade Jin Hokitika — the reverse of pleasant. Judging from last night, however, fine weather may be confidently looked for to-day.

It would be well if a little more care were exercised in the examination of goods by tlie Customs authorities here, as an instance has been brought, uuder our notice of heavy loss sustained by an importer through culpable carelessness in the repacking of merchandise after inspection. A large case, ' containing paper and a tin of lithographic varnish, was (we suppose) opened on the wharf, and a-j the tin «vi(ieutly contained a liquid, an incision was mado in the shape of a huge gabh, to aseertaiu its quality. The case was then closed up again, but the bole in the tin waa left unstopped, and, in consequence the varnish rau ouLand destroyed nearly L 25 worth of pnper. /A meeting of the directors of the Hokitika .md Kanieri Tramway Company was held ou Saturday evening last, when it was resolved I bat tenders should be immediately called for Hie completion of the line to the Knnieri. We understand that it is the intention of tho company, at a future date, to substitute iron rails for the present wooden ones, and a locomotive for horse traction. It is very satisfactory to observe the resumption by the company of this important v\ork, and we feel assured that Ibe line which has already '>een of such l'lunensd value to the residents of Gibson's Quay, will, when completed, prove, of equal importance to the inhabitants of Hokitika and the numerous diggings of which the Kanieri is tlie centre. S

We understand that a race for L2O aside took place on the beach yesterday afternoon, two well known cattle dealers having backed their respective horses in that sum. Had this cv mt taken place on any other day, we should have h.id pleasure in giving a detailed report of the same. As it is, however, wo cannot express too strongly our disapprobation of such sports taking place on the Sabbath.

A sweepstake on that favorite annual sporting event, the " Melbourne Cup," ia to be drawn at eight o'clock, to-night, ah the Cafe de Paris. There ara forty-two of the most famous horses iv Australia engaged ; and us the race was run last Thursday, iv Melbourne, the lucky drawers of the first three nags will liavo only a few days to wait before the news reaches here, and their proportionate sh;iros be paid. Those who intend taking tickets should leave their names at the Cafe, during the day» so that no delay may take place in the drawing.

The following description of the Hokitika Gaol has been forwarded to us by a contributor: — The G-nol is surrounded by a stockado which encloses an area of 150 feet, constructed of posts ten incliPß in diameter and 21 feet in length, which posts are sunk into the grmind 6 feet, and arc about 9 inches apart. O.i the inside of these, horizontal rails are fixed at a distance of, 3 feer; the top of the posts ar 0 capped with a plato 8 by 6 ; the whole of the inner side being lined wMi one and a half boards^ running 3 feet into the ground, and within 3 feet of the top plate, the whole bi-ing covered with corrugated iron, which is well rivetted aud nailed, thus presenting a very a very substantial and imposing appearance. On the western side of the stockade is the entrance gate, 10ft. wide by Bft. high, aud in the frame of which is a small gate. Immediately on entering, and turning towards the right, is tlie receiving-room, attached to which is a commodious bath-room, so that the upon the admission of a prisoner ho is at ouce convey .-d to the bath-room to undergo tho first ordeal, viz., a total ablution. After whioh lie is decked out with the prison attire and shown to his futuve associates. On the loft hand side is the Gaoler's office, lift, by 12ft., a sufliei'iitly hpaeious building for all that is required. Theso two buildings are enclosed with an iron fence, running to the heigh* of tbo Btoekade, in which fence a pair of iron gates ara hung, formed of upright bars 4ins. apart, by which admittance to tho yard is gained. Continuing forward the gaoler's residence is arrived at, on tho right hand, opposite to which are the warders' quarters, a building that comprises two roomn 14ft. by 12ft. ; going on a little further the the main building i 3 reached ; it i 3 29ft. wilei le by 56ft. long, having walls 12ft. high. There are seven apartments in this building, opening out of the passage (sft. wide): First, on the loft-band, is the larder, 10ft. pin. x 9ft., which is iitted up with tables and shelves. A little further on is tho storeroom, 14ft. x 10ft. Gin. ; directly opposite which, on the right, is the kitchen, 15ft. x 10ft. 6in., and in which, are set in brickwork, two copper boilers together with a large oven and fire place, the flues of which are carried up in brick through the roof— this kitchen is replete with every convenience. Adjoinining this is tho scullery, Bft. x 10ft. 6in., which is also fitted up with a plate-rack, tables, and sink through which the refuse of the kitchen is carried into the main drain. Returning to the passage, I come to two sliding door 3, through which, on the left> is conveyed the debtors' food, and on the right^ that of the females. These doors are so constructed as to prevent any communication between the criminals, the females, and the debtors, each clnss being kept distinct from the other. At; tho end of thia is the inspection-room, 16ft. x 27ft. 6in. which is decidedly too small for tho purpu-w. Tlie htigbt from tba floor to the ceiliugii

roof, through which tho light is admitted by five windows on each Bide. On tho north and uouth sides, running at right angles, are attached two buildings, 43ft. long x 22ft. wide, with a passage from the inspection room, on either side of which are eight cells. Tho four at the north end are set apart for tlie debtors ; the four on the south end for the females. This passage has two partitions, separating the debtors from the criminals. There are twenty cells in all, twelve of which are lined with iron plates rivettod and nailed to the framework, and covered with l^in. boarding ; the doors of these cells are very substantial) being 3in. thick, and sheathed with iron on the inside, and hung to solid frames ; each cell bus four ventilators. Directly over the four cells on the eastern side is a promenade or look-out, access to which is gained by a ladder from tho inspection-room, and from whiuh position the warder on duty has an entire command of the yard and Btoekade. The debtors now have the convenience of a verandah, 50ft. long x 6ft. wide, by means of which egress and ingress is obtained to the debtors' dining-room, the dimensions of which are 15ft. x 10ft. 6in. The debtors' yard is divided frjm the main by a fence, which lies directly north and south, and offectually separates thorn, when exercising, from the criminals. The same care has been taken with regard to the female prisoners. In these yards there are ten tanks, which are capable of holding 3300 gallons of water. While on this subject we may remark that the yard has yet to be levelled and drained. Tho ventilation in the buildings throughout is admirable, and is well calculated to pi omote the health of its unfortunate inmates. There is one imporfection, to which it ' is desirable to draw attention, and that is the non-existence of a washing-shed. It must be apparent that it is all too much to expect the conlinees to stand in the rain to wash themselves, and thereby have to remain in a damp shirt all day, when thi? could be obviated by tho expenditure of LIO or Ll2. There is ample room for one in tho eastern yard, and I would suggest the desirability of its being at once erected, as without it the gaol requires " the one thing needful." I think the authorities have evinced great taste in the construction of such a site, as it undoubtedly commands a view most picturesque and imposing.