West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 391, 24 December 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1866.

The closeness with which political parj ties in the Council are divided, and the [ very doubtful issue of the contest for the representation of Papauui, which is | to come off to-day, render it of some I importance to consider what coarse will be left open to the members for the district to pursue, in the event of Mr Stewart's defeat on the poll, and his consequent exclusion from the Housr. Such an issue seems sufficiently likely to justify us in considering what must be done under an altogether altered set of political conditions from those under which our representatives have hitherto had to act. When they first went to Christchurch they found Mr Stewart iv a position, apparently, of great political strength. The House was without parties. They found Mr Stewart in the full confidence of his Honor the Superintendent, and greatly interested in the welfare of a district which he had visited, and with whose affairs he had become familiarised. The course of political duty was clear to them, and it became clearer afterwards when, in framing the Estimates, their views were consulted, and their suggestions in almost every case adopted. Whatever ill effects may result from the dead-lock which has arisen, no blame, as we have already said, can be attached to them. But they will doubtless feel (if, unfortunately, Mr Stewart sustains a defeat today) that it is no part of thetr duty to cany their devotion to that gentleman — much as they respect him —to the length of obstructing the formation of any new Ministry that is prepared to give them hostages on its fair and honest dealing with Westknd interests. We cannot afford to cling in a spirit ot chivalrous self-sacrifice to the fortunes of a dethroned dynasty. With us " life is real life in earnest," and wo must postpone sentiment and affection to the urgent call of necessity. No doubt the House contains ample elements out of which more than one new Government may be formed, and as there is a tolerable average of ability, so tar as we can judge from the published reports, amongst the more prominent members, it will probably matter little to us how the personnel of the new Ministry is constituted, provided always that one objectionable element is excluded from it ; and by that element we mean Mr Jollie. No Government of which he is the head can ever be tolerated by Westland. His name is identified with all the bad government of the past, and by bis recent iueults to the people of this distrfot ho has ndded to the (lebt tlhsyovw !iii« — a ck-ht u'!iw»h will r,\>\

soon be wiped out Ifc appears to us that the first duty of our members — should Mr Stewart be driven from office — will be to intimate to Mr Moorhouse in a body their inability to supp >rt any administration of which Mr Jollie might be either chief or a prominent member, and their readiness to give a discriminating support to any ministry from which he is 'excluded. Of course it is impossible to deal more largely with this question in our present ignorance of the actual result of to-day's contest. We are prepared from the lecounts that have reached us to regard Mr Stewart's loss of his seat as not improbable. In that event — much as we regret it — the practical necessities of the district demand that all help should be given by our members to the formation of a government on a new basis.

A statement of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Ordinary Revenue of New Zealand, for the quartet 1 ended the 30th September, "1866, ha 9 just been issued. It shows that Canterbury — thanks to the wealth of the West Coast diggings, and the prosperity of its commerce — continues to raaiutain its position at the. head of the provinces. The only other provinces with which it can compare in point of revenue are Auckland and Otago. The total revenue of Auckland for the quarter is L 40,191 • of Otago, L 50,930 ; whilst that of Canterbury is L 64.978. Taking the several items of revenue, the same relative position is maintained. Thus, under the head of Customs duties, Auckland is put down at L 38,219; Otago, L 45.971 ; and Canterbury, L 58,530. A clear excess of Ll 3,000 for the quarter (representing L 52,000 for the year), of Canterbury, over her neighbor and rival, Otago. shows unmistakeably how vast an impetus has been given to this province by the industrial population of the western district. The gross revenue ot the colony for the quarter amounts to L 215, 515, of which the sum of L 192,7 11 was collected in the shape of Customs duties.

It is at all times an agreoabledufcy to record the introduction of anything that tends to promote the advancement of oitr social status and add to the reputation of our townspeople^ in a scientific point of view, We see by out 1 advertising columns that (thanks to private enterprise) an opportunity is now presented to the lovers of rifle-shooting of practising that manly and serviceable art, without difficulty. A rifle-gallery, constructed in a cylindrical form, about 100 ft. in length, has recently been opened by Mr Jeffreys opposite the Prince of Wales Theatre ; and from what we hear, is likely to become a great success, the proprietor having already secured the patronage of a large numberol the best " shot*" and leading residents of Hokitika. As an assurance of their excellence, wo need only mention that the rifles have been imported direct from the makers, Messrs He"nvy & Co 1 :, of London, and there is a probability 'of arrangements being made for several intprcst* ing matches to take place shortly. While offering a rational pastime, the practice of the use of the rifle fulfils a higher object ; and it is to bo hoped that 30.r Jeffreys' efforts to introduce it amongst us will be appreciated^ The "Brighton Times" informs us that tenders have been accepted for a road twenty feet wide between Brighton t Fox's) and Charleston (Pakihi) ; and also that the Q-0.-vernment have supplied lifebuoys and lines on each point of the entrance to Constate Bay. At tho latter place we learn that — "mining all'airs are steadily progressing, tue district offering employment to all who are- at present located on it. A fair business is rtomg without any appearance of bustle or excitement. The small number of miners about the township may be accepted as a pr?of that the present population are profitably em* ployed." \ We are again comptjllo 1, through want space, to bold over till our next several arfit^ cles, letters, &c. , *\ ; ~_ - \