BEACH PROTECTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 651, 25 October 1867, Page 2

BEACH PROTECTION.

The following telegram was received yesterday by the Town Clerk in reply to a message forwarded to Mr Bonar : — " Christchvch, Oct. 21, 1867. " Town Clerk, Hokitika. "Mr Balfou- is expected by the first steamer from "Wellington, and will probably leave here by next Tuesday morning's coach. "James A. Box>i, ' " Golclfields Secretly." ♦ A rumor is in circulation to the effect that Mr Houghton, ono of the Otago membei's in tho House of Representatives, is to receive Iho appointment of official agpnt of the General Government ia Westland. "We are informed that the mouth of the Grey River is swarming with codfish, which have been caught in large numbers and in capital condition in that locality. "Whitebait is now very plentiful in tho Ilokilika River, and wo hear that tho river Avon, in Christchurch, is literally alive with this delicious fish, which is hawked about at loss than sixpence a quart. Wo understand that a movement is on foot to establish a Quoit Club in Hokitika, and we wish the promoters of this aueient and manly gamo every success in their endeavore to establish in Hokitika a source of hepHlnV amusement. Mr G. W. Binney sold by auction, yesterday, a quantity of pigs, ex Gloncoo, from Hob" % t Town, which realised good prices. October is generally looked upon as a very unsettled month on tho tho West Coast, and indeed tho experience of tho past word seem to indicate tho truth of tho assertion. The weather for some days past has been most changeable, alternating between bright sunshino and storms of wind and rain. There seems a probability of this continuing until the middle of next month, when wo expect the weathor to change to" that gloriously fine character which is indicative of a Westland summer. j Wo understandthat tho Hon. John Hc'l may be expected to arrive from Uhristchurch by coach on Saturday. Tho Lecture which was to havo been delivered last evening in tho Court-house, by the Roy. J. Gow, was postponed in consequence of the extremely wot weather. Tho weather of this month nearly corres- | ponds with that of October, ISGS, which was [ notoriously wot and iuelement, and continued so dnriug the greater part of November. We trust such another infl'ction w'll be spared us, but must confess small comfort is to be dcrivpd from present appearances, which anything but indicate a. favorable change. Yesterday was especially inclement, the rain being stsady and incessant, and culminated at night iv a furious down-pour that threatened to lay tho town under water. Happily the increased drainago which has been provided since the period above referred to will go fur towards preventing such a cnlamity, but at tho same time we anticipate a heavy flood this morning that possibly may again render the uso of boats necessary in the low lying [parts of the town. Mr George Cozens, auctioneer, sold the) Star Hotel and Bowling Saloon, yesterday, for tho sum of L3OO. Tho attendance at the salo was good, but thero was no competition. Mining at Kanieri 3?lat is at a standstill for the present, the Victorian Co-operative Company being flooded out, consequent upon tho stoppage of the Great Western Water-wheel Company, wliich ceased work to reorganise upon a d ; fferent basis. We are glad to say the new arrangements arc very nearly completed, pnd that the operations of both com. panics arc likely to be resumed early next week. Gold, however, is freely coming to hand from other parts of the district whore sluicing operations arc "'i vogue. At tho Eight Milo (Woodstock) tho diggers are doing very well, and, although the place has been long held in light estimation, wo have it on good authoiity thero is scarcely a claim there that does not give remunerative returns. The condition of the Tucker Flat miners has vastly improved within the last month, a great deal of payablo terraco ground having been opened. Tnnnelling is the modus operandi to work it, but was water more abundant it could bo -worked to greater advantage by tho hydraulic process, winch we are euro would bo generally adopted. Sovoral paicics of tried diggers — amongst whom is that well-known pioneer and experienced miner, Mr Arthur — pve making determined efforts to trace tho Kanieri gold into the Totava country. They have been prospecting the terrace at the back of Arthur's Town and tho Maori reserve, and tho indications met with aro so far very encouraging — the strata ! gouo through in tho several shafts sunk being similar to thoso of the Han Hau and Paddock workings. A little gold was found in the last shaft bottomed, and induced the men to commence another, which they arc sanguino will go down upon a main load. , The " Hobarfc Town. Mercury" slatos : — "An enormous swell named Addison has for some time past been gracing Hobarl Towa with his prcsenco, no society hero being thought good enough for him, not oven that into which ho forced his way. At one time, he might be seen riding about with his Worship the Mayor ; at another, in company with ono or other of tho officers of tho garrison; Webb's Hotel being tho place in which ho sought rest for the sole of his foot when not otherwise engaged. With that restless desire for change, however, to which, we understand, he is much given, ho took his departure for Melbourne in tho Southern Cross on Wednesday last, without having had the grace to call on his friends and bid thorn good bye. Mr Webb wants Ll5O from him, and would havo presented his bill for that amount, had lie been favored with any opportunity. Many othor gentlemen also in-ITobarl Town have claims on this person for sums varying from fivo to five and twenty pounds — in ono case to forty — which he doubtloss forgot to pay, and which they did not like to ask him for, seeing Win in such company. But his Worship tho Mayor will havo to bo more careful in future. Ho must not allow persons, who live by thoir wits, to bo seen with him. If this person should turn up in Melbourne, thoso with whom ho comes in contact musb insist on his paying as ho goes on. Ho did not, wo understand, cloar out in his real name. But hotel keepers havo a clue to tho date of his arrival." Tho Wollington correspondent of tho " Lyttolton Times" says : — " The sittings of tho Court of Appeal began on tho 14lh instant, tho caso of Camoron, appellant, and tho 'Otago Daily Timos,' respondents, being proceeded

with first;. Tho main facts of the case are as follows : — The action was origina^y brought by tho appellant (plaintiff below) against the ' Otago Daily Times,' in consequence of the defendants having, on the 21sfc day of June last, printed and published in their paper a report of the proceedings of the Otago Education Board, which report the plaintiff contended was libellous. The declaration set forth that the plaintiff was a schoolmaster at Alexandra ; that a number of people residing there had drawn up a memorial addressed to the School Committee, charging plaintiff with ineompetency a3 a teacher, and unnecessary severity in his treatment of the children, and on the grounds stated, praying for his removal. This petition was forwarded by the committee to tho General Education Board, and was read at a meeting of that body. The 'Otago Times,' in its report of tho proceedings of that body, published tho memorial, and so committed tho alleged libel, tho plaintiff stating that ho had been greatly hurt and injured hi his reputation by reason of the said publication, and seeking to recover LISOO as damages for tho same. The defendants pleaded that the alleged libel was a fair and truthful report of the proceedings of a public body constituted by a Provincial Ordinance, and the meetings of which were by law open to the public, and that therefore the publication was a privileged ono. The plaiutiff demurred, and after argument Mr Justice Chapman overruled tho demvrer. In the course of an elaborate judgment, taking it as tho real question at issue whether a faithful report of the proceedings of the Education Board, tho sittings of which wore by law pubi; c, published lond fide without malice was privileged, his Honor decided in tho affirmative, concluding his judgment thus: — 'The I decision of the learned judgo in tho case Cox v. 3?eeney, cited by the counsel for the defen- | dants, seems to mo to clearly apply to the case, and therefore decide that the defendants' pleas are good in law, and the demurrer must be overruled.' It was against this decision that the appeal was made. The arguments of counsel in this case were concluded on the following day, when tho Court took t':ne to considor its judgment."