West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 393, 28 December 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1866.

The news of the re-election of M Stewart was received throughout this district with feelings of very general satisfaction, not only because of his personal popularity and the guarantees he has given of his good will towards Westland, but because almost any release from the present dead-lock would have been welcome. The province has suffered greatly from the long delay in the progress of business ; ant) a further procrastination would have been most disastrous to this district. We congratulate Mr Stewart upon the triumphant majority by which he has again been returned for Papunui. The event is a marked vindication by his constituents of the course he has pursuer!. Nothing was letl undone to ensure his defeats It was made a public boast that no money should be spared, and it was notorious for days before the poll took place, that the most powerful influences were being brought to bear, to induce those who had supported Mr Stewart on former occasions, to transfer their allegiance to Mr St. Quentin. It was avowedly a political struggle, the opposition being abetted by nil the strength of the party favorable to Mr Jollies return to power. All tlvse facts render Mr Stewart's victory the more signal. The state of the pofl places Mr Stewart uot only a very long way, indeed, ahead of Mr St. Quentin, but within seven votes of Mr Duncan. Now, it was understood from tlie first that Mr Duncan was safe. Personally, he is one of the most popular and respected members of the Council. His position as an independent member had kept him entirely aloof from the late entanglement. He went to the poll free from all disadvantage and drawback. It was against Mr Stewart that the whole force of the opposition was directed. Yet there was only a difference of seven votes between the two colleagues — the Provincial Solicitor and the Provincial Secretary. The electors of Papanui understood and accepted the political issue that was raised, and we have the result before us. Whilst the two ministers polled an almost equality of votes, the champion of the opposition party was left a hundred votes behind. Yet, probably, no man belonging to that side would have had an equal chance with >Ir St. Quentin. He represented the strength of his party, and his defeat is the sign of its weakness.

We have then a Ministry in office not likely for the present to be displaced, and there is, consequently, some chance of the business of the session being proceeded with, after a long aud dreary interval of inaction. Mr Wynn Williams, it is true, has given notice of some amendment on the motion to go into Committee of Supply. He has not formally put his amendment into shape. When he gave his notice, he did not know what form the new estimates would assume. He had not the slightest means of knowing what the nature of the financial proposals of the reconstructed Ministry would be. They had simply proclaimed their intention of meeting as far as possible the views of the House, by pui suing a policy of retrenchment, and had explained their purpose so to recast the Kstimates as to avoid the fallacious appearance of a large excess of expenditure over revenue. And with nothing more tangible before him than this stitement, Mr Wynn Williams jumped up in his place and announced his intention to move an amendment ! An amendment, in what form ? An amendment upon what ? The notice was precisely of a piece the other notice given by Mr Leslie Thomson, of a vote of want of confidence in a Ministry that was not formed.

We sincerely trust that all this factious work will be over, now that the triumphant return of Messrs Duncan and Stewart has proved to the Opposition that they have less strength out of the House even than they have in it. We believe that amongst a large section of members who voted against Mr Stewart, there is a growing sense of the unwisdom of continuing a crisis thu only possible effect of which, would be to postpone all useful measures of legislation. Many, no doubt, voted with the most honest and patriotic motives. The unsaiisfied claims of the lload Boards constituted a substantial grievance for which the members for the rural districte felt themselves justified in demanding redress. In the new Mini»t«-

rial programme these clums are met, and in many directions therefore we may anticipate that opposition will be disarmed. At the same time, the fact en-mot l>e disguised that parties in the Council are very evenly balanced, and that both sides will find it necessary to keep their forces well in hand during the remainder of the session.

The Westland members have rendered good service to the Stewart Ministry. They have stood manfully by it through many a hard -fought field. They have saved it from defeat in tlie House, and by their support only it is now enabled to hold its own. They have surely established a strong claim to its sympathy with the interests ol the district they represent. It is to be hoped they will well aud wisely — firmly and faithfully — use the power they have proved themselves to possess. They have rendered a loyil service. They have a right to claim their guerdon.

Tho second Hokitika regattft was held yesterday, and ju Iging from the very large attendance and the intense interest displayed in the Various races, we certainly consider ifc a decided success, albeit one e^elit wa9 marred by the most reprehensible behaviour of some of the 'competitors. We allude to tho Hauliers race, -which was declared open to all duly licensed watermen's skiffs and for which there were five entries, One o( the boats named Rebecca was, however, of lighter build than the others, and in f.vct may bo iairly considered as a racing skiff of no mean pretentious, and in consequence thereof her entry was objected to by the others. This was very properly overruled by the stewards, and their decision was accepted, although from what afterwards transpired ifc was only too evident thftt a collusion existed to destro\ , at all hazards, her chances of winning. This was the last race of the day, the names of the boats which entered being the Rebecca, pulled by Stewart ; Jan.-, by Hankin ; Pride of Erin, by Craddock ; Sarah, by Ward ; and Arra na Poglme, by Melbourne. Tlie course for all the evenrs was from the end of Revell street, round a boat moored about half-a-mile up the river, then down lo the lagoon and back to th.d Starting-point. An excellent start wfts effec'teii, Rebecca leading off, closely followed by Jan'ef, Immediately afterwards a "foul" destroyed the hopes of tlie remaining three, but the r.ice was kept lip nevertheless, R.-becca being the firs* to round the upper boat about ono length ahead of the June, the latter being evidently a good match for her, and both came down the river at -ratiusj speed, and an o\citing contest was anticipated, when, suddenly, VVurd, in the Sarah (who had not rounded the boat), was observed to cufc across the river, and run athwart the Rcbocc-a's bows, jamming her over to the North Shore entirely out of the race. This unmanly proceeding was viewed with intense disgust by the onlookers, and groans and shouts of execration were very deservedly directed against him as the boats arrived abreast the stair-, where all, excepting the June, gave up the race. That, boat, how-eve i° continued onwards, and having pulled qound the course, was declared the but a protest was afterwards entered against her on the grounds that Hankins was not possessed of a -waterman's license. The first event of the day was a four-oured whale boat race, for which there were three entries — the Mary Anne, Surprise, aud Mary. From the first it was cv dent that the Mary Anno was the winner, as blio took the lead and kept it, winning easily by several lengths; the prize was Lls» The secoud event, was a pj-ir-oarcd skill' race, which nrdved most 3xcitfn X -»wi-»..n 1 ,ioj. — G»*tsirbonnr-en*-tered for it, viz., June, steered by Turner ; Lady Don, by Pinnic ; Pride- of tho West, b} Pitt ; Pride of Erin, by Craddock ; Anne, by Him ; Maria, by Ward ; and Know Not, by

. The boats got away well together, and kept in a line for nearly a hundred yards, when Pride of Erin drew ahead, with the Jane close upon her btarboard quarter, the rest well together. In this order the upper boat was rounded, Lihly Ddu being a good third ; and as the skitfs passed the starting point it was evident that, barring accidents, tlie race !ay between the three. Pride of Erin was, however, Ihe favorite, and deservedly so ; as her crew pulled a steady stroke, that slowly but surely increased her lead, rthe was first round the boat moored in the lagoon ; Lady Don, a good second, iollowed at about two boais' lengths by Jane, which positions were maintained to tlie finish, Pride- of Erin winning by about three lengths, and claimed the prize of LlO. The sailing race did not come off, there being little or no wind. The duck hunt was also postponed. We see by an advertisement in another column, there will be a continuation of the reuatta to-day, and that it is decided to run the scullers race over again, fouling boats (very properiy) beiug disqualified. From this it is evident that the protest against Hankins was considered to be valid. The sailing race also comes off (weather permitting), and the usual duck hunt will conclude the regatta. There was a continuation of the North Revell street sports yesterday, and, owing to the better order kept, the proceedings went off very weil indeed. The sports commenced with an excellent bout of wrestling between two smart young fellows named TJiomas Peydon and John Bryden, for £5,' first livu throws out of nine. After a' well contested struggle, Poydon won, having thrown his man five times against three falls received by himself. Tho afternoon was devoted to the tilting match, for which there wero eight entries, twenty-one rounds being allowed each competitor. Tlie first prize of L 5 was won by, Mr Cath erell, who took fourteen riugs; the second being accorded to Mr Gower, ' who secured eight rings. He was, however, run very close by Mr Molfatt, who lostjby one point only. At the conclusion of thejTil'ting match tho second heat of the foot hnrdli race was run, and as Ormond, who won the first heat, refused to agaiu compete, Bell and ipicrs, who wero placed second and third in the first event, ran off for tho prize, which, after a very exciting race, was won by the former. The day's spirts concluded with another wrestling mate i between Peydon, the victor of the mornirj, and an athletic looking young fellow, n>mi sd A> cher. Cumberland style was adopted, uu l tlie contest was one of the closest we ev^er ivitnesso J, as the men threw each other iii succession, until each scored four points. The inal event was won by Archer, who thus semred the prize of Li 0. An immense crowd witnessed this boi t, and a considerable ainoun of money changed hands upon it. Not to be behind their neighbors! the publicans of middle Revell street issLecl a programme of sports, attached to mich were very liberal prizes. They were coitendea for yesterday, the events being the ruining high leap, tliree standing long leaps, am vaulting. For the first there were three ent/ies, in tho names of Ormond, Sp'ers, and Dal^, the latter winning the first prize by a jump ft" 4ft. 9in., and Spiers the second by 4ft. 6in. ' First pri/;e L 5, second L 2. Daly, Spiers, Wdls, Quin, and M'Gill contended in the sicond event, upon which depended two prizes of Lo and L 2. They were secured by Daly, who covered 31ft. 6in., and Spiers, who fell siort of that distance by 18m. The vaulting match was vtry -well contested by G. Holpes, Nolan, M'Kinnon, and Daly, the result finally resting with the two former, who jumped inch by inch for nearly an hour, until a height cl Bft. 7in. was attained. This was cleverly cleared by "Geordie," but proved too much for Nolan, who, failhg in the three attempts to get over it, ivas declared defeated, and tlie prize of L 5 fell to hie antagonist. Thiß oonoluded the day's sports, which, however, rooommenoa to-

d«y hi agfeiiiu ttU'silin;; inutcii in the Corni <h j and Devonshire style. Tlie ring will be formed in Weld street, between Temple Court and Kittson's Koyal Hotol, and as vorv liberal prizes are declared, jnckete provided, and every needful preparation male, excellent sport may bo saft-ly anticipated. To hand are the distrii-t Gaol returns for the week ending December 22nd, from them it appears that 6 males under committal to tho Supremo Court were admitted, whilst L prisoner, who had completed his sentence, and 1 debtor, were discharged from custody. Lho number and classification of the continues at tho nbove date, ar* 1 an follow : — Under committnl, 23 nuiL-B; hard labor, 21 males and 3 females j debtors, 4. Total — 48 males and 3 females.

Very little alteration occurred in the liutnbar of tlie coutineea in the Rr-vell street Gaol during last week, the discharges and admittances being about on a pur; as fivo new hands were placed on the hard labor gang, and five liberated from it, whilst one lunatic was confined, two sent away to the district Asylum, and also one prisoner, under sentence of simple imprisonment, was discharged. The number of prisoners remaining in the establishment at the above date, was 17— who may bo classified as follows : — Hard labor gang, 12 males ; imprisonment only, 1 m»lo ; lunatics, 1 male ;on remand, 3 males. . „ This eveniiur, before 9 o'clock, all entries and nominations for the forthcoming Races tnußt be made at Osborne's Empire Hotel. Tlie Clerk of the Course will bo in attendance from 6 o'clock, to render any assistance required by owners of horses. Sweeps on every event in the programme will be started touight, and Jbe continued e.ich evening till the meeting is over, so that all parties may have the chance of some pecuniary interest in the horses engaged.

There was no business transacted at the Resilient Magistrate's Court yesterduy. The boty.o'f Robert Cashinor'e, one of the men whose lives were lost by tho late accident to the punt on the i'otara River, was recoveiv i by some boatmen yesterday morning, more tiian a mile up the stream, whither it had been washed by the tiJe. Information was nt once forwarded to the police, and the remains will he brought into town, and an inquest held this day at the Okarita Hotel.

An awfully sudden death occurred yesterday to a miner nahied William Tanurdy, agod 26, residing in the Waimea district. It appeared that the deceased left his tent at about 8 o'clock in the moaning to go to the butcher's; but as he did n-Jt return after some time search vras made for him, and the body discovered about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, within five hundred ytrds of Russell's store, between the Little Paddock and tho Blue Spur It a.l. As the deceased was of sober ami stea ly habits, and had been kuo\Vn frequently to complain of pains in his chest, it is supposed that tlie cause of death was heart d^ease. An inquest will be held either to-day or to-inorro^.