West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 593, 19 August 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1867.

The English mail by the Suez route reached the Bluff on Saturday morning, being brought by the Rangitoto from Melbourne. London newspaper dates are to the 26th June, and telegraph dates to the 13th July. The April home mails were punctually delivered; those via Southampton, on the 20th, and the Marseilles portion, on the 14th June. The principal items of home news were received in Hokitika by telegraph from Christchurch early on Saturday afternoon. We give an epitome of the intelligence, which is both of interest and importance.

Her Majesty's health, continues good, and that of the Princess of Wales has so far improved that her Royal Highness is now able to leave her bed.

The Sultan of Turkey and the Viceroy of Egypt were both visitors to Her Majesty. London had for some time been occupied with preparations on a very magnificent scale for the reception of the former, who arrived on the 13th July, having been feted at Spithead at a great naval review. The Sultan was to have'an-interview with the Queen on the same day. The Viceroy of Egypt was entertained at a grand banquet in London on the 12th July, at which he expressed, in a very marked manner, his sense of the obligations which Egypt owed to England, Jje a&id it was

to her protection and encouragement the successful progress of Egypt was entirely due.

Fenian ism appears to be still alive and in force in Ireland, another extensive rising having taken place. At Waterford, a large body of Fenians, joined by contingents from Cork and Limerick, made a violent demonstration, which unfortunately! resulted in a large loss of life and in severe personal injuries. A fierce struggle took place before the police succeeded in quelling the disturbance. The movement is attributed to the intrigues of American Fenians.

The Irish Catholics had also broken out in Birmingham, and very serious riots had taken place in that town. The cause was the delivery of lectures against Catholicism, which greatly excited the Roman Catholic population. The military were called out to restore order, which they succeeded in doing with great difficulty, although no loss of life on this occasion is reported.

v The outlines of a marvellous story of

crime is told, the details of which when they reach us, may be expected to surpass in revolting interest almost every previous chapter in the criminal annals of England. Unfortunately, the protracted and fierce struggle between capital and labor, especially since the introduction of machinery on an extensive scale, has made us too familiar with strikes. But Avhatever may have been the unwisdom of the Trades' Union men, regarded from a politicaleconomy point of view, they have always hitherto kept themselves free from the taint or suspicion of crime in the shape of vindictive or secret assassination. The old times witnessed the riotous breaking of machinery, but none of the incidents of those clays prepared us for the story of such atrocities as are reported by the mail to have been perpetrated by the Sheffield Trade Union, or by the men who acted in its name and on its behalf. We arc told that fearful disclosures have been made of muj ders aud attempts to murder, and of the infliction of violent personal injuries ; and that these crimes were " instigated" by the Secretary to the Trades Uuion Society — a Mr Broadhead — who had a regular tariff of murder premiums, ranging from Ll2 to L2O per life. It is said that " the evidence is fearfully revolting" — so that we can scarcely cling to the hope that the story, as furnished to us, is exaggerated. It is easy to understand that it is causing great public excitement.

The Derby-Disraeli Reform Bill has passed the House of Commons, the third reading being assented to on the 10th June. The Bill has been passed in a form very different from that in which it was originally introduced. The Ministry can hardly be said to be in any substantive sense the authors of the Bill. It has been greatly modified by the adoption of suggestions emanating from every section of the House, and is less a part) r measure than any Act of the kind to Avhich Parliament has ever assented. Amongst the amendments vf>porto<l to uo by tlic proeout mail, is the concession by Mr Disraeli of a third member to' each of the towns of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, and an additional member to the city of London. An amendment in favor of cumulative votes was proposed on the 6th June, but rejected by 314 to 174.

The Duke of Edinburgh sailed on the 11th June, his Royal Higness's immediate destination being Madeira, whence he sails for the Cape of Good Hope. His stay at the Cape will be a mouth, and he will sail from there direct for South Australia.

Amongst the other official announcements are the appointment of the Earl of Belmore, the present Under-Secre-tary of State for the Home Department, to the Governorship of New South Wales, in succession to Sir John Young, and that of Lord Lyons, as Ambassador at Paris, in place of Lord Cowley. The following are the only remaining items of home news : — the attempt to repair the Atlantic Cable of 1866 has been entirely successful ; the- directors of the Panama Royal Mail Company haveprcsented their report to the shareholders, but no dividend has been declared ; the prosecution of ex-Governor Eyre has been altogether abandoned by the Jamaica Committee ; a Royal Commission has been appointed to enquire into and report upon the present ritualistic practices in the Church of England.

We may add that the rate of Bauk-of-England discount is almost imprccedentedly low, and that a further reduction is anticipated ; that great inconvenience to the shipping interest in Londouis occasioned by the yet unsettled Sailors' strike ; that an Indian Telegraph line with a capital of a million sterling to include Australia has been projected; and that the Great Eastern Railway Company is in Chancery.

In connection with foreign affairs, we note the revival of a prediction, which until the last mail or two came to us regularly with every steamer, "War in Europe is imminent." The prediction of war is, in this case, based upon the assertion that the settlement at the London Conference of the Luxemburg question is nothing more than a temporary truce, and that it is believed that no really friendly feeling lias been engendered between France and Prussia. The French Chambers have voted a sum of 150,000,000 francs for the construction of arms. At the same time, there appear to be even more than the usual peace indications. The meeting of most of the monarchs of Europe at Paris, as visitors to the Exhibition and to the Chantilly Races, ought to be accepted as signs of " fraternity." " We are told that the speech of the Emperor of the French at the distribution of prizes was most pacific in its tone ; that the Czar and the Emperor exchanged more than the courtesies that are usual to princes, on the occasion of the former's departure from Paris, after the attempt to assassinate him; that an animated debate took place in the Chambers denouncing the attempt ; and that Napoleon's groom,

who saved the Czar's life, has received a reward of L 12,000, and the Cross of ttye Legion of Honor. The Czar left Paris on the 11th June, and religious services were offered for his escape throughout Russia.

The long agitated Cretan question appears to be in a fairway of settlement, the proposals made by the Porte being supported by England and Austria. In Russia prosecutions- have been quashed, and an amnesty granted to all political offenders, and the restrictions against Polish priests have been modified. In Italy a new scheme for the secularisation of Church property has been presented to the Chambers.

Amongst minor items of European news we learn that the health of Napoleon's heir, the Prince Imperial, has been completely restored, and that he was received with great enthusiasm on his visit to the Paris Exhibition ; that the King of Prussia and his Prime Minister Bismarck were welcomed with tremendous enthusiasm on their visit to Potsdam ; aad that the French Government have awarded the gold modal to India for cultivation of cotton during the Americad war. Whilst India has received this imperial compliment on the one hand, its Government has been strongly censured at home by a Royal Commission for its want of energy in dealing at the outset with tLe great calamity of the Orissa famine.

The Atlautic telegraph brought sad intelligence. The Emperor Maximilian has been shot by his captors. The news has, of course, created much excitement throughout Europe, and all the Continental Courts are in mourning. The city of Mexico has been captured by the " Liberals," — which means the patriotic party who have been fighting against foreign intervention. The story of the abortive attempt to establish a European monarchy in Mexico will be one of the chapters of the Napoleonic history which the" imperial biographer will find it perhaps the hardest task of all to write.

Most of the items of American news have been anticipated The aunouncement, for instance, that the Impeachment Committee in the ease of Jefferson Davis have recommended a censure upon the chief of the late Southern Conference, in substitution of a prosecution for treason. Mr Davis's arrival in England Avas "daily expected" on the 26th June, but the telegrams of the 13th July contained no mention of his having reached Great Britain. The session of the American Congress was to open in July, and the Panama steamer will no doubt bring us the report of its earlier proceedings. President Johnson has been making a tour through some of the principal States, and is reported to have been heartily received. In his speeches he declared for a complete restoration of the Union, and said that if he were successful in accomplishing it, he would retire from public life and from all further ambition.

Three American steamers have been seized in Montreal for navigating the River St Lawrence without the permit required since the abrogation of the Reciprocity treaty. Much sensation was caused in New York.

In accordance with the resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Separation League, a public meeting was held at tho Bendigo Hotel, Ross, on Saturday evening, to discuss the question of Separation. Mr Barff was deputed by the League to attend* on their behalf, and in a somewhat lengthened address explained the present position of Westland and our grievances, and proposed as the cure immediate Separation from Canterbury. Mv Hoos suggested some apparently impracticable scheme of throwing ourselves upon the mercy of the General Government, but very iuconsistly seconded a resolution having for its object the appointment of a local committee to co-operate widi the League. A resolution in favor of entire separation from Canterbury, and the creation of a new Province, was curried unanimously, not a single hand being held up against it. Tho cordial support of tho population of the various mining districts may well be a source of congratulation among the well-wishers of Westland. We ihtond to publish, in to-morrow's issue, a detailed report of the proceedings of the meeting.

Tho following report upon the Okurita dis> trict for the month of July has been forwarded to the Government by Mr Warden Price. " I have nothing new to report, since my last return 3 the inclement wcul.hur \\ hieh has prevailed during the month having interfered with mining operations throughout tho district, and entirely btopped prospecting. I have granted during tho month three extended claims at the Three Mile Beach, and 1 also gave permission to construct a water-raco from a lake in tho ranges to the Five Milo Beach, tho distance between the points being eight or nine miles. This undertaking will involve a considerable outlay of money, and much arduous labor ; but when completed it will prove a greab boon to tho diggers of Iho Five Mile, who, lucking motive power to drive pumping machinery, have hitherto rot been able to work a great deal of payable auriferous but wet ground, known to exist at tho Five Mile Beach. The suspension of track cutting is much to be regretted, as it will materially check the prosperity in this part of the country. Had the work beon contiuuod about the Paringa and Blue Rivers, it would have opened up a track of country where gold has already been found, and wliich is spoken of most favourably by the few diggers who have been there, but who were unable to remain long enough to thoroughly tost it through want of provisions, and tho next to impossibility of penetrating the thick bush. Moreover a track between Bruce Buy and tho Haast River is much needed, as it would open up a line of communication of which I am quite certain the diggers would havo freely availed themselves. I returned on tho 24th day of the month from my visit to tho Haast, and have already forwarded to the Government a report upon that district. Thero were about forty people remaining at tho Haast, and from what I could learn about tho same number at Big Bay. Sinco tho date of my last report tho population of Bruce Bay has been increased by the arrival of some thirty Maoris from various parts of tho coast. The number of natives located at Bruoe Bay arc about forty, of whom tho majority aro omployod in mining pursuits, Tho population of the distriot north

of Haast River may be estimated at 487 distributed as follows : — Okarita Town 130, North Beach 20, Three-mile Beach 25, Fivemilo Beach 137, Waiho 13, Sandfly Beach 60, Gillispie's Beach and Cook's River 25, Bruce Bay aiad Hunt's Beach 77.

The Bombay Government is reported by the mail to have received despatches from Mr Scward, British Consul at Zanzibar, dated April 28, stating that many natives had just arrived at the East Coast from the country where Dr Livingstone's murder is alleged to have taken place, but they have heard no rumors about it.

We learn that the P. and O. Company's steamer Azoff narrowly escaped foundering in the Rod Sea, but was most opportunely saved by the timely assistance of the French steamer Sarthe.

A statement which has been promulgated that the Governor of India was about to resign and return to England, receives a positive contradiction from Simla.

Much excitement prevailed in town yesterday morning, in consequence of a report that a man named John Smith, a miner, had been violontly assaulted with an axe, by a boatman named Griffith Jones, who had absconded, and nfter whom the police, both horse and foot were in pursuit. The report turned out to be too truo. The assault wliich was of a fearful character, took place about one o'clock yesterday morning, in Park street, jealously on the part of Jones being stated to be the cause of the act. Smith's head is wounded in three places, and his skull is also fractured. Shortly after the assault was committed, the wounds were dressed by Dr Mourilyan, and although still extremely faint from loss of blood, Smith was yesterday morning removed to the Hospital. The Surgeon-Su-perintendent, Dr Riley, deemed it necessary that a consultation should be held upon the case, and accordingly Dr Young proceeded to the Hospital. It is hoped that the patient may yet recover, although from the serious nature of the injuries he has received he is necessarily in a very precarious rtafce. About noon yesterday, Griffith Jones was apprehended in a tent in the bush, not far from the Three Mile Creek, by Detectives Dwver and Browne, w"io had been most unceasing in their efforts to capture him, and he will probably be brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, and remanded.

A serious accident was very near happoning on Saturday aL Professor Allen's baths. A now .steam boiler, formed of copper, had recently been erected for the purpose of heating tho water used in the baths. This boiler was in full operation when, with a loud report it suddenly burst. Fqrtunatcly no person was injured.

Signor Vcrtelli made his grand ascent on Saturday evening on a wire rope stretched across Ucvcll street, from the West Coast Hotel. The feat was successfully accomplished, and was witnessed by a large crowd.

We are glal to learn that Mrs and Mr Holland had a most successful benefit at the Thcutre Royal, Ross, on Friday evening last. The house was densely crowded, and most of tho business places in the town were closed ou the occasion. The performance consisted of Dance's corner, in two acts, of " The Young Widow," an interlude of feats of swordinanship by Mr Holland, and a musical melange and challenge dance betweeen Mr Peel and a Ross amateur. Both Mr and Mrs Holland wore loudly called for at the conclusion of tho performance, and were enthusiastically welcomed on their appearance.

There was a large attendance at tho City Theatre on Saturday eveniug, when the entertainment consisted of a musical melange and two comediettas. Mr and Mrs O'Neil returned from Ross yesterday, and will appear in " The Irish Emigrant " and " The Two Husbands." Mr and Mrs O'Neil will be supported by a powerful company.

Yesterday morning, a man named Archibald Stewart was observed walking in the surf on the North Beach. As he appeared Excited in his manner he was taken into custody, and will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. It is not thought that he intended to commit suicide, but ho wos evidently laboring under the effects of hard drinking, so much so that lie scarcely appeared to know what he was doing.

On Saturday evening, a case containing upwards of fifty-two dozen eggs was btolcnfrom the door of the shop of Mr Gawne, Revcll street. The eggs were disposed of in various ways ; but the police, having been informed of the robbery, apprehended two men, named John Carburry and Theodore Mow bray, on suspicion, who will be brought up at the Itosklonl. Magistrate's Court this lnovniut*.

The following is the return of Rcvell street gaol for the week ended the 17th instant : — Admittod during the week 5 males, sentenced to hard labor. Discharged 2 males j transferred to Iho North gaol, 2 males. Remaining, 23 males, sentenced to hard labor.

The coach from Christchurch arrivod ou Saturday afternoon, shortly after four o'clock, with tho following passengers all through :—: — Mcssi'3. Parsons, Johnson ant' Mitchollj Misses Swale and Hunter, and Miss Jackson for Gvpymouth. The coach came all the way through from Christchurch, and although the snow is still deep on Porter's Pass, yet on tho whole the roads is reported to be in very good condition.

A gentlemen who arrived from Clu'istchureh on Saturduy, by Cobb and Co.'s coach, states that for some weeks the weather in that city and in various parts of Eastland has been positively frightful — nothing but a continuous downpour of rain having prevailed, floodiug many parts of the City of tho Plains. In the country districts also, tho losses to the rnnholders have been very heavy from the number of sheep swept away by the overflowing of tho rivers, and it is said that one gentleman — an extensive sheep farinor — has sustained from this cause losses to the amount of LIO,OOO. Tho southern road has been much damaged, and in many places completely swept away.

We take the followiug with reference to the Three Million Loan from the " Wellington Independent' : — "From papers laid before the Assembly by command of his Excellency the Governor, we learn that up to the 31st December, 1866, the Crown Agents for the Colonies had received the sum of 5141 12s in respect of the sinking fund for the redemption of L 500.000 of the L 3,000,000 to be paid off in 1915, which they had invested for the most part in Ceylon and Victorian three per cents., LlB being invested in English three per conts. Tho stock held on this acoount reprosonted a value of L 4853 5s 9d. On account of the sinking fund of L 500,000 to be

paid off in 1891, the agents had received L 10,021 3s 3d, LSOOO of which was lying in tho London Joint Stock Bank awaiting investment, L 4940 17s 6d had been invested in Victorian six per cents, and LBO 5s 9d in three per cent, consols. The debentures held to represent these investments were worth L 4788 16s. On account of the LIOO.OOO portion of the loan, LIOOO had been received towards tho sinking fund, which had been invested in Ceylon debentures and three per cent consols. The Crown Agents had received L 46.713 16s 5d on account of the sinkiug fund of 1,000,000 to be paid off in 1914, which they had invested thus ; — Cape of Good Hope sixes, L 11.600 ; Natal sixes, L 3447 10s ; Queensland sixes, L 5567 12s 6d ; Coylon sixes, L 417 j three per cent consols, L 97 5s 2d. The stock held represented a value of L 21.907 los 4d. The remainder of the amount received, amounting to L 25,584 8s 9d was lying in the bank awaiting investment."

The " Lyttelton Times," in a notice of tho several measures before the House of Representatives, introduced by the Government, says :—": — " The .Bill, proposing to reduce the export duty on gold, aud ultimately to extinguish it altogether within five years, i 3 not likely to pass into law. Considering the privileges awarded to miners, the withdrawal from sale of all land likely to be an object to them, and their changeable and uncertain habits, wo think no duty more reasonable than this one, and would sooner see it increased than reduced. Another Act provides that the Governor may, when he sees fit, delegate to the Executive Council instead of the Superintendent, his powers over the Goldfields. This measure is likely to pass without any further discussion. It 3 only provision is that it increases the power of the Governor to make delegation to a body, to the Executive Council, as well as to a Superintendent or any other person. It does not limit in any waj the power of delegation to Superintendents, nor is it likely to be often exercised in the way of diverting that delegation from the usual quarter."

Referring to the Medical Practitioners Bill, now before the General Assembly, the " Lyttelton Times" says : — " We are glad to see that the opposition threatened to this measure by some of the Ultra-Provinciulists has been withdrawn. This is probably owing to the gradual conviction of their strength which is coming over the Provincial parly, as well as to the fact that a systematic course ought in all such matters to be as far as possible enforced throughout tho whole colony. It will be a great means of expediting that most desirable work of bringing the various Provinces under one uniform system of subordinate yot still important points, when tho defenders of Provincial rights shall be satisfied that thero are no underhand attempts made to upset them, and that the majority of the Assembly is pledged to protect them. The fact that legislation on such a subject as tliis Medical Practitioners Bill had to be delayed througli the suspicions of the Proviucialists, and that the sole point of discussion upou tho bill concerned its interference or non-interference with Provincial institutions, proves how strong this feoling is. We believe that the result of this session will be to satisfy all parties that no Ministry can stand which is hostile to tho Provinces, aud that tho business of the country can be very satisfactorily carried on when this decision has been accepted."

Wo learn from the " Wellington Independent," of the Bth instant, that Dr Hector has published the Colonial Museum and Laboratory reports, the former of which states that, on the 15th Juno la3t, the total number of specimens in the museum was 15,239, of which, since the last report, upwards of 3000 had been fully labelled and arranged. The number of visitors from the Ist January, 1866, to the end of August, 1866, was 1000 ; and from the Ist September, 1866, to the end of June, 1867, 3000. These returns are, we believe, taken from the visitors' book, and the actual number of visitors was probably much in excess of these figures. The laboratory report states that Mr Skey had been principally occupied during the past three months in examining the intimate composition of the rocks passed through in the Lyttelton tunnel, as collected by Dr Haast. A number of samples of coal have been examined, many with very satisfactory results. A sample forwarded from Waiapu, by Dr Brown, though very inferior on account of tho large por-centuge of ash it contains, yet proved to be 11 truo bituminous or caking coal, and is a sure indication of the occurrence in the district in which it was found of coal strata of superior quality to the ordinary brown coal. It was intended that* Mr Skoy should commence a series of ultimate analyses of New Zealand coals as soon as possible. Analyses of tho Tarauaki and Poverty Bay petroleum arc given, which show the oil found at tho latter place to be far superior to that found at the former.

Tlic following statistics extending over a period of fourteen years, which we take from tho " Independent," will show tho development of the trade of New Zealand. The imports during thut time were> — 1853, L 597.827; 1854, L 891.20 1; 1855, L 813.460; 1856, L70L.868; 1857, L 992.994; 1858, L 1.141,273 ; 1859, L 1.551,03 0; 1860, L 1.548,333 ; 1861, L 2,493,811 ; 1862, Ll-,626,082 ; 1863, L 7,024,67 4; 1864, L7,000,655j 1865, L 5,594,977; 1866, L 5,894,863. The exports during the same period were — 1853, L 303.282; 1854, L 320.801; 1855, L 365.868; 1856, 318,433; 1857, L 369.394; 1858, L 458.023 j 1859, L 55.1484; 1860, L 588.953 ; 1861, L 1.370,24 7; 1862, L 2,422,734; 1863, L 3,485,405; 1864, L 3,431,667; 1865, L 3,713,21 8; 1866, L 4,520,074. The valuo of gold exported from the colony, between the Ist April, 1857, and 31st December, 1866, is L 11.842,721.