West Coast Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 367, 26 November 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1866.

We are compelled to hold over our usual leader, together with several matters of local interest, in consequence of the deuiaud made upon our space by tho news per the English mail, as well as the debate on the Westland Estimates, which was the proximate cause of the present Ministerial crisis.

Our Christchurch correspondent senda us the following telegram, dated November 25: — " Nothing lias yet been done in regard to the Ministerial crisis. Mr Stewart persists in refusing to "return lo oflice after tho division. The Superintendent will not send for Mr Wynn Williams, and has again applied to Mr Jollie to form a Government. The chango will be bad for Westland, and your members will do all they can to get Stewart back. There ia no de»iro lo extort the debt owing by Westland."

The Gothenburg left for 31'jlbourue ji-.t-i-day, with a valuable freight of 19,375 ouiuvs of gold dust aud 130 passengers. Of tho gold shipped, the Bank ol New Zealand contributed 12,869 ozs. ; Bank of Now .South Wales, 3000 ozs.; I T niou Bank, 3500 ozs., 6 ois. of which were cleared by passengers. A parcel of gold, awaiting direct shipment lo Sydney, is atill held by the Bank of New South Waloe at Greymouth.

Tho late inclemency of tho weather haa ho far relardcd tho workj in progress on tho Ilokitika and Cireymouth tramway as to necessitate the postponement of the opening of tho first section of tho lino to Tiu'sdnj next. Tho contractors arc deserving of every praise for tho energy they have displayed in pressing on tho work, thero remaining ou Saturday only ono break of about two or thrco hundred jards in length between (his town and tho Three Milo Creole, and some ballasting lo do !o finish the first section; while us to tho work, we may safely say that it could not be done bettor, being as straight and level as a usually expeimvo railway. For about two miles tho line follows tho beach, and then turns into the bush, after passing for some distance through a series of market gardens, and will be a very pleasant' ride, besides being a great improvement on tho old system of travelling through tho deep and yielding sand. The bridge over tho creek itself is nearly finished, and is a solid-looking structure, supported on five piers ; formed of huge piles driven firmly into the bed of tho rivor, and connected at the top by heavy cap pieces, on which the girders, sustaining tho roadway, rest. This solidity of structure has been necessitated by tho treacherous nature of the sh'eam to be spanned, and which, though not dangerous or difficult to cross in ordinary weather, is affected by the least rain, a violent " fresh " immediately resulting — tho turbulent stream bringing down with it huge logs and other debris which would provo fatal to any bridge nob of the strongest construction. JEn passant vre may remark that the first passenger carriage to bo used on the line is all but finished, and reflects great credit on tho skill of the contractor, Mr J. Gibson. It will certainly be the most commodious and elegant conveyance on the West Coast, and will doubtless be "extensively patronised.

To meet tho increasing requirements of passenger traflie in Westland, v/e notice that that enterprising proprietary Messrs Cobb and Co. have decided to run a line of coaches between tho town and tho Waimea. The success that has hitherto attended the firm, and the high estimation it is held in throughout the colonies, assure us that the new speculation will be rewarded by a large amount of patronage. By referring to an advertisement that is published in another column it will bo seen that a conveyance will daily leave tho Empire Hotel afc 9 a.m., and the Waimea at 3 p.m.

Amongst tho recent arrival on tho West Coast wo notice the name of Mr A. S. Hamilton, the well known phrenologist, -who has taken premises in Hokitika. and intimates his intention of practising his profession amongst us. Mr Hamilton has, we believe, already visited the principal places in New Zealand, and been afc considerable expense and trouble in obtaining casts of the heads of tho Maungfitapu murderers, the interest attached to which tragedy will doubtless prove an attmclive feature in Mr Hamilton's lectures, and add much to his success. On Saturday last, three drunkards were respectively fined by his Worship in the sum of 5v in clefiult *fcpayment twenty - four hours' impri*onn™P^James Cros^ley, charged with krceiiy; wnV afc tho request of <he police, remanded till the 27th instant. James Enndwick, charged with larceny of a gold ring, of the value of L 3, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, with hard labor. John nidc Topping! on, n recent arrival from Melbourne by the s.s. Gothenburg, was charged witlx larceny of three cases of drapery of the value of L6OO. Ho was committed to the Hokitika Gaol, pending the arrival of a warrant from the Government authorising his removal to Melbourne. A full report of this case will be found in our police columns. Representations have frequently been made to us by suitor 3 and witnesses of tho irregularity in the hours at- which the Court opens, occasioned by tho lateness of the Resident Magistrate. Instead of eleven o'clock, at which time the Court is supposed to open, we are informed that it is often from twenty to forty minutes after that hour that his Worship takes his seat. We feel sure that the above need only bo represented to Mr Fitzgerald, to remedy the annoyance and waste of time that delay in tho business of tho Court necessarily entails. The public, we are happy to see, seem fully aware of the advantages derivable from such an institution as a Savings Bank, as the one lately established in this town has already been very extensively patronised, and we may add deservedly so. On Saturday evening it was opened at the usual hour, and before closing time, L 133 were added to the deposits. The bank haa been iv existence one week only, yet during that short period fifty accounts wore opened, the deposits thus made amounting to something over LIOO. An accident occurred on the river on Saturday afternoon which resulted in tho loss of a boat and tho narrow escape from drowning of two men. They were trying to pull up stream, bul perceiving that the current ovorpoworod their efforts, made for the shore, and, unfor. tuuutely, run across the bows of tho steamer Challenge. Tho boat swdinpcd immediately, and turned bottom up/and the mou wore thus loft struggling for their lives amidol the dangerous eddies of tho stream. The mishap was observed by Captain Vannetfc, of tho schooner 10, who shouted to tho crow of the Challenge, and just as the unfortunates were sweeping past that vessel's atom ropes v/erc thrown to them, which thoy succeeded in catching, and both were pulled on board, nothing tho worse save a sound ducking. A sporting wager, of rather a novel and ex* citing nature, waß made on Saturday evening, and is to be decided within a few days. It uroso from a conversation about tho singular mile race, over 1G double jumps, only 11 yards apart, recently ridden by Mr F. D. Hamilton near Christchurch ; and that gentleman offered a bet, which was immediately taken up, fchnt ho would leap an untried West Coast horse over a gate on the comparatively confined space of the singe at tho Prince of Wales Theatre. If Mr Bartlett consents to Mr Hamilton running the plucky risk, tho event is to couio off on Saturday next. Wo hear that this well-known sportsman did tho same feat successfully in Melbourne ; but ho then rodo his own favorite hunter, whilst now ho must find a local nag.

Captain G. 11. Wilton, who has for some lime past been practisiug the ciu'e of rheumatism, by means of galvanism, in 'Canterbury and other parta of tho colonies, has ju&fc arrived on the West Coast with tho iutention of spending a short tune in Hokitika,

Tliij will be interesting to those who are suffering from rheumatism, as wo believe Captain Wilson is well acquainted with tho subject which he professes, having seen certificates of his success from patients on whom ho has operated, and that tho euro ho effects is accomplished in an extraordinary &hort time. Captain Wilson intends also to illustrate tho power of mesmerism, which will probably attract, ii large number of visitors to his studio at Mr Mark Sprot's,~Revoll street. The overland coach arrived in town from Christchurch at six o'clock on Saturday ovening, the journey having been made without hindrances of any kind. Mr Knox reports the road to bo in good condition, and that tho repairs at Rocky Point and (ho new cutting round the Waimakh'iri will bo completed in about a fortnight. Messrs White, Duke, and Brown booked through from Christchurch, We have boon favored by a correspondent with intelligence from tho new diggings at the Pakihi and Fox's River, bearing date tho 18th instant. It is of an encouraging nature, as our informant; states there are quite 700 men on gold, and thafc many of tho claims are exceedingly rich. Great difficulty is, however, experienced, in separating tho gold from t!>e jj quicksilver after amalgamation, and the store- | keepers, in consequence of its dirty condition, refuse to purchnsc. Sluicing would be more generally adopted instead of using tho quicksilver cradle, wore plush and blanketing procurable ; but as the market there is quite bare of these commodities, tho use of the latter is compulsory. A large quantity of gold is held by the diggers, who refuse to part with it at storkeopers' prices, and, in consequence, little or none has been exported ; and, until tho miners are enabled to get their gold properly melted, and its true value ascertained, there will be no means of arriving at anything like ac orrecfc idea of the yield of the new field. No vessels entered the Pakihi Cove from the Bth to the 18th through the tempestuous weather that prevailed, and in consequence supplies of all kinds ran short ; communication by land with the Duller being also cut off, as the different creeks and rivers to bo crossed were very much swollen. Tho Nelson Government have completed a good track from the Buller, and Mr Warden Ivyn1 nersleyhas laid out a township, and employed a number of men to clear and drain the streets. His presence appears lo be thoroughly I appreciated by the Pakihi community, and 1 his rule gives universal satisfaction. On the ] 9th inst threo men were drowned whilst al1 tempting to take out in a whalehoat a kedge and warp to the Emerald Isle. Ono of them was part owner of the schooner, and brother lo the master of her, and his bod v v was washed up ou the beach towards evening, niiuus the head which had been beaten off amongst the roekc To provide for tho growing importance of tho place the Warden appointed Captain Beveridge to be Harbor Master, at both Pakihi and Fox's River. The latter is described as a pretty good port, the river being well Micltevcd, with a depth of nine feet of water on its bar at high lido. The diggings at this locality are described n3 very good and daily extending, payable gold having been found some distance north and south of tho river, and also seven miles inland. Diggers who have travelled j between Pakihi and Fox's, describe the road as frightful, and as provisions for the new rush have hitherto been conveyed that way their prices rule proportionally high. \ The various places for Divine worship in Ilokitika, the weather being fine, were very numerou§ly attended. Service, according to the Church of England ritual, was held morning and everting at All Saints' Church, Fitzherbert street, by the Venerable Archdeacon Harper, who also officiated at the Kauien township in the afternoon. Mass was was celebrated by tho Rev. Mr M'Girr, at the Roman Catholic Chapel, in the forenoon, and the Presbyterians assembled morning and evening at the Fire Brigade Hall, to listen lo tho exhortations of the Rev. Mr Hall. In consequence of the absence of the Rev. Mr Caunell at Christchurch, a local preacher — Mr Portus — conducted service at the Wesloyan Church, Tanred slrcef . With reference to the late Ministerial crisis in Otago, the " Lytlelton Times'' contains tho following telegram : — "Dunediu, Nov. 21. — Mr Vogcl has formed a Ministry : Mr Yogel, Treasurer; Mr Mouat, Secretary for Public Works and Provincial Secretary ; Mr Maddock, Provincial Solicitor ; and Messrs Mollison and Orbell non-official members. In the Provincial Council to-day Mr Yogel explained tho policy of the Government, and gave notice of resolutions respecting, the relations between the General and Provincial Governments. The House adjourned till to-morrow.'' , Professor La Griff delivered his fint lecture on phrenology on Saturdny evening at the Fire Brigade Hall, and may congratulate himself on the numerous and attentive audience that assembled to hear him. The professor is enthusiastically devoted to his art, and tho earnest manner in which he spoke in its defenco and expounded its principles, judging from appearances, made not only a very favorablo impression, but achieved a marked success, several at the conclusion of the address expressing themselves converts to tho truth of phrenology. Tho lecture was illustrated by numerous diagrams und models, bebidus the casts of the heads of tho notorious Mauugatapu murderers, these latter having excited tho curiosity of many to attend. By thy bye, it may bo interesting to state that according to the phrenological development of the murderers' heads, Professor La Griff observed that of the threo men, Kelly was undoubtedly tho worst, and Levy^the best in natural disposition, Burgess being remarkable for an inordineto vanity and love of admiration. The next (and kst) lecture will be cleliveied to night at the same placo, and we would strongly rocommend those who have not yet clono so to pay the professor a visit, feeling quite euro they will be both interested and edified. We extract the following items of Dunedin news from the telegram contained in the Christchurch papers :—": — " The body of a new born child has been found in the city, suspected to havo been murdered. Alfred Clove, a merchant at Hokitika, has been cbmmitled for tvial for a breach of tho Fraudulent Trustees Act in tho estate of Fargio. Bail given. Mr Reynolds has resigned his seat for the city, and oilers himself for re-election." In tho Provincial Council ou tho 20th instant Mr Barff gave tho following notice of motion :—": — " That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent praying that the sum of LIOOO be placed upon tho estimates for the erection of places of worship in Westland ; such sum to be apportioned as follows— To the Church of England, L 20 0; Catholic Church, L 200; Weeleyan Church, L 200; Presbyterians, L 200; and Indepen1 dents, L 200."