THE WESTLAND COUNTY BILL.

West Coast Times, Issue 628, 28 September 1867, Page 2

THE WESTLAND COUNTY BILL.

The following telegram was received yesterday morning by Mr South, the President of the Sepai'ation League, from Mr Stafford, the Premier : — ' Wellington, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. Mr South, Your two telegrams received. Second reading of Westland County Bill, moved by Mr Stafford ; supported by Mr Hall. The Bill was opposed by Mr Moorhouse, who moved adjournment until Wednesday next. The motion was lost, and the debate adjourned until Monday. Reply. E. W. Si'iFrOßD. To this telegram a reply was sent, to the effect that the Bill was approved of unanimously here ; that the district placed great reliance upon the perseverance of the General Government in pressing their measure. The message also asked the Premier to keep the League informed as to the progress of the Bill, and enquired whether it was proposed to increase the representation of SVestland in the General Assembly, as a consequeuce of the withdrawal of the Westland members from the Provincial Council.

His Honor Mr Justice Richmond yesterday announced that afc the sitting of the Courl this morning ho should adjourn the whole of the insolvency cases which were set down for hearing to-day before his Ilonor E. Clarke, Esq., to Friday, the 4th October, al 10 a.m. Parties whoso cases were on the list for to-day will not have to appear until Friday next. The trial of Edgar v. tho Hokitika and R'anicri Tramway Company (Limited), which commenced on Thursday at the nisi pr'ais sittings of the Weslland Circuit. Court, occupied the whole of yesterday, and will be resumed this morning at ten o'clock. This evening, Professor Ffrost will giro the first of two lectures on Electro-Biology, at the City Theatre. We happen to know that the Professor is singularly successful in hi 3 experiments, and those who attend his lecture may rely on an evening of intellectual amusement. Mr Ffrost has most judiciously adopted million prices for admission. A meeting of the members of the Hokitika Cricket Club was held last evening at the Empire Hotel ; Mr Bees in tho chair. The following officers were appointed : — President, Mr J. Sonar ; Vice-President, Mr G-. S. Sale ; Treasurer, Mr Mace ; Secretary, Mr P. Flannagan ; Committee, Messrs Mace, B. Osborne, Pocook, Eees, Jones, Bowon, W. Fisher, T. South, and Bloxham. The tender of Messrs Murphy and Co., for clearing and levelling tho ground was accepted, and also that of Mr Hearn for fencing it. The committeo will meet this evening at 7-30, at the Empire Hotel. The bill for the consolidation of the provincial loiins was read a second time on the 17th inst. All .discussion upon its merits was avoided by Mr Fitzhcrberl stating that the Government merely wished the Houae to give an expression of opinion on the principle of the bill— the advisability of consolidating the provincial loans — and, as upon this question all parties are agreed, debate upon it was unnecessary. The mode in wliich tho consolidation can best be effected Mr Fitzhcrbert proposed to refer to the consideration of a select committee, whose names lie mentioned j and a3 the impartiality of the choice of members that ha.l been made could not be disputed, it was at once appointed, a hope, however, being expressed that it would get through its labors as quickly as possible, so a3 to expedite the passage of the bill. Tho only members present in tho Town Council Chambers last night were His Worship tho Mayor, Councillors Anderson and Shaw, and as this number did not form a quorum, the meeting was declared to be adjourned till Friday evening next. Wo ai-e glaJ to hear that a resolute attempt 13 to be made to test the auriferous resources of that block of country between the Hokitika and Totara rivers. In a former issue we made known the ease of a party of diggers who were prospecting in that locality, and had sunk a shaft to tho depth of seventy fuel, but — running short of funds — wore unable to proceed with it. Aware of the immense benefit that would accrue to Hokitika by tho discovery of a payable goldfield so close to tho port, several gentlomon took tho matter in hand, and on Wednesday last three of them — Messrs Mowat, Macfarline, and Wagner visited the prospectors' claim, and were very favorably impressed with the appcuranco of the country about it. Wo believe they intend to canvass tho town, with the view of raisin" 1 funds to supply the prospectors with the means necessary to bottom the shaft, which it is expected will run to a great depth from the appearance of the strata gono through. In the event of a liberal responso on tho part of tho public, ono or two prospecting parties will be fitted out to test the above block of country in other places, care being takon not to oncouragejtho "loafing tribe," as nothing more than Hie bare nocessarics of lifo and tools will supplied. Wo aro confident that an abundanco of gold exists in tho block, as it lies diYoctly in the run of all the main leads that have been hitherto discovered on this coast. Hearty co-operation is alono needed to solve tho question. Major 11. A. Atkinson has given notico that ho will move, in the Houso of Representatives, nB an amendment to the motion for going into Committee of Supply, two resolutions, reducing tho sums to bo voted under clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and G, to L 320.00 0; and instructing tho Grovernmont during tho recoas to tako such uioosurea as will rcduco the total sum voquirod uoxfc yoai 1 for tho eorvieos provided ft? twiov faW PIfHWW to £230,000,