West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 645, 18 October 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1867.

Mr Button addresses a letter to the " Evening Star," in which he charges the West Coast Times with having east ridicule upon himself and his relatious. Tho only allusion made iv the West Coast Times to Mr Button's relatives, was contained in the following passage in our leading article of yesterday :—": — " Mr Button says his father and uncle were Mayors. But they had done good civic service before. They fought their way to the dignity, aud having won it by fair labor, it sat gracefully on them." We cannot detect anything in these words justifying Mr Buttons' sentimental talk, about " ridicule thrown upon those who are dear to him." If any one of the candidates for the Mayoraltj' chooses to make a jest about Mr Button's boast that he has been " cradled " in Municipal Institutions, and if he is reported with tolerable accuracy, what has that to do with " Mr Button and tho ' West Coast Times'." Mr Button stoops to the italic meanness of addressing the " Evening Star " for his vindication against some imaginary slight contained in our columns, upon his] relatives. Mr Button insinuates that because he has " no proprietary right in the columns of a newspaper, to enable him to answer reflections that have been cast upon him," his explanations are excluded from our columns. Surely this is most unwoithy. Has Jlr Button ever found the columns of the West Coast Times closed against any single line he has ever written to vindicate his personal character or his public conduct ? Does not Mr Button sufficiently well know that the fact of his having no " proprietary interest" in this jourmil, would be all the more certain to ensure his receiving fair play in its columns ? There is something utterly unworthy iv his italicised insinuation, which no man knows better than himself, is altogether without justification. With whatever type of journalism Mr Button or Mr Button's relatives may have been identified, he might know — and he does know — that this journal never descends below the level of honesty, honor, and fair dealing.

Tho examination of tenders for the construction of protection works, so as to join the two works already erected at Moffat's and the Empiro rights -of- way, took place yesterday at noon, at the Council Chambers. The follow3ng tenders wore received : — James Kellock, seven chains at Ll9 10s per chain, L 136 10s ; John Hurst, Ll6 103 per chain, Lll2 ; Cornelius Foote, L3sper chain, L 245; Brown and Stapleton, L2l 13s 7d per chain, Llsl 15s Id. Mr Hurst's tender was acccj)ted. Tins .evening, Mr Fraser will deliver a loctuve in connection with the Literary Institute, at tho Court House. Subject — " Ou the trail of civilization." A meeting was held last evening, at the Golden Ago Hotel, Revell street, for the purpoße of considering the propriety, of adopting permanent measures to prevent the encroachment of the sea on the North Beach, at the back of llevell street. Mr C. E. Button occupied the chair. The following resolutions were passed : — " That a deputation be appointed to wait upon Mr Bonar, requesting him to urge upon the General Government the absolute necessity of taking immediate steps to prevent Hokitika bsing washed away by the sea, such deputation to report to a meeting to be hold at tho Golden Age Hotel, this evening, at eight o'clock, and to consist of Messrs Mcc, Aicorn, Mowat^ Cosgrave, Pritchard, Frew, Smilh, M'Fuiiane, Button, Boos, Prosber, Hall, and Ilunie." "That life deputation appointed to wait upon Mr Bonar suggest to the General Government, through him, a plan as follows :—l.: — 1. That plans should bo immediately called for and submitted to Mr Bonnr and the Government Engineer.— 2. That all persons willing to advauco mouoy for the prosecution of tho nccssary work be permitted to do so, and tho money so advanced should bo credited to the persons advancing it when the town lands aro sold. — 3. That tho Governmont niako up tho remainder of tho sum necessary for' the completion of tho proposed defences, and tho work be executed under the superintendence of such persons as tho Govern - nionl think fit. A voto of thanks to tho Chairman terminated the proceedings.

Tho first experiment made with the view of checking the invoads of tho surf has been tried and found wanting, and the town is again exposed, defenceless to the attacks of a merciless foe which is making rapid advances direct for the heart of Revell street. Until within the last few days the pile and brushwood works constructed at the end of Moffatt and the Empire right-of-ways were never submitted to the rough iest . of an attacking sea, and ono at lenst (that of Moffat's) has been worsted in the encounter, the sea having completely destroyed it by undermining and wasliing round the piles. The Empire construction withstood the brunt, less owing to the soundness of its principles as a protective work than to the make up of the beach in front, and to the southward of it, which to a very great extent broke the force of the advancing surf. Between the two rights-of-way, which are about threehundredyards apart, ; the sea has scooped out a deep indentation in the beach, tho face of which has receded to i within one hundred feet of the back of some !of the principal shops in Eevell street. Sad havoc was made amongst tho outbuildings by | yesterday's'heavy surf, and excited the gravest j apprehensions for the safety of the main premises. Hasty expedients to protect them were adopted by the proprietors, who could have been seen, shovel hi hand, during the afternoor. erecting rough breast works of cases filled with sand to check the rush of the surf at high water. Tliere is no disguising the imminence of tho danger which threatens a large section of the town's chief thoroughfare with annihilation, and we would therefore urge the immediate adoption of temporary measures, to stave off 1 the impending clanger, and as soon as possible aflerwaivls tho construction of a substantial breakwater of p'les and sheet piling, driven into the sand, to at least a depth of twenty feet, and backed up by j facines, and other material that would collect i and retain the sand, and so promote the reformation of the beacfe. When his Honor Mr Justice Richmond was here last month, the members of the bar ;n; n Court mentioned to him that many persons in Westland — especially in the outlying districts — practice law who are not qualified, to the detriment no doubt of legally-qualified men, who, after having paid large fees on being admitted membors of the profession, aro subjected besidos to annual payments, which are, according to the law, to give to the holdei s an^ exclusive right of practising. The penalties on persons pretending to act who are not authorised are and barristers and solicitors — who can take caro of themselves woll enough — no doubt w. ; U do what is requisite to prevent wrong-doing. But the general public aro more defenceless, as many of them never know who is or who is not a lawyer until after losing much money and incurring great and unnecessary anxiety. In ono case among others which we have heard of, a paper was imposed upon a miner as being a proper deed, which was wrong in every possible way. Ifc absolutely had no meaning, was wrong stamped, was attested before a person having no authority for purpose, and scut to a wrong district to be registered after the time for registering had gone by. Parties incur penalties, as well as throw away their efforts, by joining in transactions of such a kind. It appears that the Judges of the Supreme Court some time ago directed, by way of precaution, that names of members of the legal profession ought to be communicated from one Supreme Court Office to another throughout the colony, so that the public at each place might know who they are. Wo have been at tho paius to" obtain the names of legal practitioners who in Hokitika have taken out certificates to practise this year, as follows, being tho same order in which the certificates were taken out, namely, Charles Edward Button, Walter Scott Reid, William Lee Rees, Edward King Tyler, Hem-y Elmes Campbell, Samuel Munckley South, George William Harvey, James Henry O'Loughlin, George Samuel Wegg Home, John Ellias Do Id, and John Smith Johnston. In the House of Representatives on October 8, Mr Vogol asked whether the attention of the Government had been officially called to the statement that a French man-of-war has claimed to take possession, on behalf of France, of the Island of Opara. Ho said it was clear that the fact of the French having taken possession of Opara Island would probably cause the New Zealand Panama Company to be subjected to various annoyances in the way of harbor or port charges and other taxes. He thought that a further examination should be made to see whether any other island could be discovered in that portion of the Pacific. One had lately been discovered in the same direction, and could the colony possess any right over some island in that part of the Pacific, the mercantile community of this colony would benefit by it. Tho Hon. the Colonial Secretary said that the attention of tho New Zealand Government had not been officially called to the fact of the French having taken possession of the Island of Opara. They had been informed of the fact, however, and had, since the opening of the Panama Sorvice, wished to have the harbor and approaches of the island surveyed j but it hod not been possible to procure the assistance of. a man-of-war to undertake the work. Tho Imperial Government seemed to have established the rule that tho colonies were, to a certain extent free from control in matters of the kind, aud he, for one, approved of the gradual tendency shown, by the authorities at home, to leave us to our own management as much as possible A colony like New Zealand might take possession of such an island as Opara, if the French or any other nation had not already done so, and hoist the British flag upon it. He was glad the attention of the Government had beon drawn to tho fact. It was not possible to effect a treaty with the aboriginics of any island with much effect, as European powers could not recognise such. Tho " Taranani [Herald " suggests the uae of the bark of the Towai tree for tanning purposes. The bark has been used as a dyo, but, from experiments made by a Mr Grayling, it a extract seoms highly serviceable for tanning, and tho supply is unlimited. Tho " Southern Cross " authoritatively states that, after the prorogation, Mr Stafford is to go up to Auckland to superintend tho arrangements for the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh. It is expected there will bo a large Native gathering,

In the Houso of Representatives oil Oct. 8, Mr Haughtou asked: the Colonial Secretary whether, in accordance with, his instructions, his Excellency the Governor is empowered to assent to the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill. He thought that the measuro in question had been uselessly brought forward, inasmuch as some serious doubts were entertained as to the powers of the Governor to give his assent to the bill. He felt assured that the time and work of the House, when devoted to this bill, had been entirely thrown away. The hon. the Colonial Secretary was not aware that anything existed to prevent his Excellency from assenting to the measure in question* He had now before him a despatch from Lord Stanley to Sir Henry Barkly, written in 1858, to the latter, as Governor of Victoria, when the divorce question was first raised in that colony. This despatch seemed to set the mattpr at rest, although suggesting doubts which he thought were most unsatisfactory, and should not be allowed to remain unsettled by the Home Government. Ho admitted there were doubts on the point. With reference to the Bankruptcy Act which has lately been passed by the General Assembly, the New Zealand "Times" says— " The BUI in its details is similar to the one brought before the Imperial Parliament last session, and it contains clauses rendering any property acquired by a bankrupt, subsequent to his insolvency, liable to his creditors until they have been paid ten shillings in the pound. These clauses in the original Bill were struck out duving its passage through committee, reinserted in the Council, and finally agreed to by the House of Representatives after a conference. It is hoped that the new measure will prove satisfactory, for the present law is certainly not so ; indeed, as was said by several members whilst the Bill was under consideration, any change must be one for the better. In connection witli the Bankruptcy Act, a Bill to abolish imprisonment for debt passed the Lower House, and was ordered to be read a second time that day six months by the Council." We take the following from the " Melbourne Argua" of the 3rd : — " Tho frequent turning of the tables which has taken place sinco the case of lira O'Neill, the actress, first came before the public, is calculated to produce some bewilderment in the minds of those who are not thoroughly acquainted with tho legal difficulties involved in the case. One day we find that Mrs O'Neill has been arrested for larceny, and soon afterwards we are informed that the detective who arrested her has felt the grasp of the law's strong, hand. While people were manifesting some anxiety to know how the case would ultimately end, Mrs O'Neill was again arrested on a warrant from Hokitika, backed by Judge Williams, and brought before tho City Court yesterday, Mr Aspina ll appearing on her behalf, and Mr M'Keau for tho prosecution. Detective Hams, of Canterbury, repeated the statement which he had previously made relative to the finding of the veil described in tho warrant which was issued j by the resident magistrate of Hokitika, and again swore that Mrs O'Neill, when quesI tioned about the matter, confessed that she had taken the article from Mrs Marian Hollaud, of Rosstown. Mr Kelly, tho publican on whoso information a warrant had been issued for the arrest of the prisoner for larceny, corroborated a portion of tho evidence of the detective. Mr Sturfc considered that there was not sufficient evidence before tho Bench to justify them in remanding the prisoner to New Zealand, from which place no depositions relating to the case had arrivod. The prisoner was therefore discharged." Wo take the following Acclimatisation paragraph from the " Lyttelton Times" : — The brace of trout which have been batched out have been removed from the ova box to a place supplied with water which has passed through all the ponds. In this water animalclure are present in sufficient number to sustain the young fish. There are now but six ova remaining out of the batch which present any sign of vitality, and the Curator is not very sanguine as to their successful development into fish. It seems that the ova received by Otago have been more unfortunate than those received here, not a fish having been hatched, and all tho ova are declared to be bad, with the exception of two, in which no change was apparent. A box containing ova had been sunk in the river to ascertain how they would thrive there, and on ono occasion Mr Johnston captured three young leeches in tlus box. It appears that some lceehes were placed in a pond in the gardens about three years ago, where they bred j and the Curator supposes thaf from this stock these young depredators had sprung. The collection of seeds brought by Mr Johnson from Tasmauia has given great satisfaction to those members of the society amongst whom they were distributed. They are found to be of excellent quality, which is no doubt duo to the fact that they "have boen gathered from plants already acclimatised in Tasmania, which possesses the oldest established garden in the Australasian colonies. Some of the Madagascar and Lima beans have been planted by Mr Hislop under frames, and are already up. Both descriptions of beans are extremely productive, the latter growing to the tops of tho highest trees in Tasmauia, and producing pods over eighteen inches long. Tho Lima bean is used as food both in the green and dry state ; tho Madagascar only when dried. Mr Johnson has also introduced a valuable description of water snail, which have spawned in the grounds. These fresh water mollusc 3 are expected by-aud-by to perform the usual function of devouring much of tho water-cress in the river ; and in their turn to serve as food for fishes. They wore introduced from Eugland into Tasmania by Mr Allport, of that colony, In the House of Representatives, on Oct. 8, Mr Reynolds moved the insertion of tho following clause in the Appropriation Act : — " Whereas it is not expedient that members of tho Assembly should bo in the employmont of the Government ; it is hereby oxpre33ly provided that, excepting under the head of Responsible Ministers of the Crown, Speakers of both Uousos, Chairnion of Committees of both Houses, and Auditors under Audit Act, no other payments on account of salaries shall be mado to any porsou who has been a member of the Aw.ttbly dicing ths

session for which this Act is passed." The Hon; tho Colonial .Secretary said that tho Government was not ,prepared to receive the amendment proposed, although he, himself, approved of the object intended by the introduction of the clauseproposed.~ Thciimffer would bo considered early next session. Two members of the Assembly would to draw salaries after the present month." TVtr JReynolds begged leave to .withdraw the .motion on the assurance given by the Qo^onial Secretary. The 'motion lapsed. '•''-'-- A Bill to promote. Immigration has been read a second tune in the Tasirianian Parliament. The intentions of the Government, which it embodied, were described by the Colonial Secretary as follows : — The immigrants would have to pay their own'passoges first. They would then be placed in possesBiou of a piece of land, and, after residing on it a certain time, would receive a grant. Ho believed thafc'a few would be induced to co»ie out under the act, and that they would remain in the colony. The provisions of the bill were few and simple. The machinery of the present act would be used, and the Boardwould only have to pcrfovm enlarged functions. If v laborer came out, he would 1 most likely take a situation ; and if he was a thrifty man, he would be able to save money, and then take up his land and reside on it. It had been objected that there was no area of land to set apart for this purpose. But if ifc was necessary, it could be done by tho Gover-nor-iu-Council. There might be some difll" cnlty in putting them on the land, for at present they hardly knew what the land of the colony was. It had been stated that in the settled districts there were 2,000,000 acres of land fit for agriculture. Ho believed there must be some exaggeration in this amount, but there was a great deal of really good land fit for agriculture the settled districts, which would be available for immigrants. South Australia has planted its telegraphic signals along 1076 milea of country ; Victoria, along 2526 miles ; and New South Wales, along 3042 miles. Queensland, although later in the field, has now 1416 miles of telegraph line in working order. In the House of Representatives, on October 8, tho Hon the Colonial Treasurer said that the- Estimates this year had been nominally reduced by L 16,539. The net reduction was represented by a sum of LIO,OBO, but in reality the correct reduction was only LI4OO 9s lOd. With ref«reuce to the census the "Lyttelton Times" says : — " We learn that the night of Thursday, tho 19th of December next, has beeu fixed for the taking of the census, and that the time for the delivery of tho forms at the several dwelling-houses is from Monday, the 2nd of December,' to Thursday, tho 19th, inclusive. Wo further ■ understand that the census district of Canterbury is the Province before tho Westland • Act ' comes into force. The divisions of tho electorul district for members of the House of Representatives will, as before, be made use of in compiling and classifying the information to be obtained. By an Act passed during the late session of tho Assembly, provision has been mado to supply a great deal of additional useful matter, consisting of agricultural and industrial statistics, which, if carefully and truthfully collected, and published in a form readily intelligible to the public, will provide a source of information which the agricultural and commercial community of the Province have long desired to obtain in a reliable shaje." The latest news from Aucklaud with respect to the alleged goldfields at the Thames is that a meeting has been held at Mr Cochrane's Rooms, for the purpose of raising a sum of L 250 to complete the sinking of two abandoned shafts on the Karaka Flat. Tho chairman (Mr J. W. Bain) slated that about L2O had been subscribed, but as there was a very small attendance at the meeting, and as'the matter had so far been treated with apathy, he proposed au adjournment. This was carried, and the meeting adjourned without transacting any business.