West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 669, 15 November 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1867.

I The Duke of Edinburgh appears to be a man of considerable ability and of veryvaried attainments. Iv acknowledging complimentary addresses presented to him he displays to admiration the tact and discretion that befits his position and the novel and delicate circumstance in which he finds himself, as the first member of the Eoyal house who has been received in the Australian Colonies. In the ball-room he both dances quadrilles and polkas, and occasions infinite delight by his Scottish reels. In the botanical gardens at Adelaide, he surprised the learned Superintendent by his extensive and accurate knowledge of the most technical of sciences. When the Germans of So\ith Australia honored him with a grani torch-light procession and a serenade, he conversed witli the leaders of the party in their own tongue, and showed his knowledge of the music of the " Vaterland," by TeqiflJStnrg-nie performimee-uf bume-ar the most celebrated masterpieces. We have yet to hear the story of his exploits as a huntsman and a fisherman ; but it appears that his own inclinations led him to add several sporting excursions to the programme of the South Australian Reception Committee. What Prince Alfred is on board his ship we have some means of knowing, and what we know is sufficient to prove that he is at once a sailor, and " an officer and gentleman." He appears to have caused great disappointment to a crowded congregation of Church-going sight seekers by his not attending the Church service in Adelaide, on the Sunday after his arrival. But surely the Captain of the Gralatea did what was much better. Instead of making himself a gala show at the worship of God, he quietly betook himself, early on the Sabbath morniiig, back to his own ship, to join the sailor congregation of the Galatea, in the customary Sunday service of the navy. We cannot imagine a more admirable instance of good taste, good sense, and strict discharge of the duties of his official position. The Prince has been trained in a good school, and has benefitted by the careful education that was bestowed upon all the Royal children ; whilst his habits and opportunities us a sailor, constantly in active although peaceful service, have doubtless made him an acute and constant observer of men and manners iv the various scenes through which he has travelled. He is now a man of twenty-three years of age, and has lived a life calculated to give him, at that age, some maturity of mind. His impressions of the countries he visits will be received, on his return, with much curiosity. We do not know whether ho will follow the example of his ltoyal mother, and write a book, but memorials of his travels will doubtless be prepared and published by some of those about him, in which his Royal Highness's own impressions will be reflected. Presuming that the Duke is not altogether without interest in political matters, it niuy be remarked as a singular circumstance, that in the whole of the colonies he visits he will find indications of a political crisis, and of the elements actively at work of constitutional change. South Australia has, as yet, scarcely emerged out of the grave difficulty occasioned by the eccentric view taken by a Judge of the Supreme Court as to the validity of laws passed under colonial constitutions ; and the final judgment of the home government upon the removal of Mr Justice Boothby by virtue of a forced interpretation of an obsolete though unrepealed law has yet to be waited for. Victoria is in the throes of a crisis threatening the very foundations of the constitution, and causing virtually the suspension of all legal government. At this moment the Houses of Legislature are at deadly feud by the assertion respectively of irreconcilable powers; the country is left without " supply" ; and a direct appeal has been made to the Queen by the

Legislative Council. Meanwhile the political quarrel wages so fierce, that the proposed parliamentary banquet to the Duke has fallen through, solely and undisguisedly because the members of the two houses refused to sit down together at the same table.' In New South Wales the Ministry have just been saved by a formal vote of confidence, to neutralise the effect of a previous vote adverse to their most essential feature of policy. And what state of things will the Duke find in New Zealand ? A change progressing in the whole constitutional system of the Colony; the decadence of Provincialism, and the initiation of novel experiments in administration. Everything unsettled; everywhere the elements of change seething. If the Duke conies as a mere sightseer, these aspects of the political condition of the colonies may not attract his observation. But if he has penetration to look below the surface of the mere show that will surround him, he will find much subject of study, and many things to report upon when he is asked at' home what he thinks of the Colonies. Many believe that very important changes are ahead of us. Speculations, we notice, are rife that a few years ago would have been thought very daring. It is not impossible that this royal visit may have some influence in solving the problem of the future.

It will be seen that, in compliance with a vevy numerously signed requisition to that effect, tho Mayor has convened a public meeting, to be held afc tho Prince of Wales Opera House, on Monday afternoon next, to consider the propriety of taking step 3to securo a Tisifc of the Duke of Edinburgh, to Westland. The Municipal Council will meet this evening, at half-past seven o'clock. An advertisement from the Secretary requests that all accounts against the Council of tho Westland Separation League, may be sent into him, Mr Sale the treasurer of the Dob3on Memorial Fund, has convened a meeting of the Memorial Committee for to-morrow. '• A miner, whose name has not transpired, was accidentally killed at Greenstone Creek on the 12th instant, by a fall of rock. This morning the District Engineer, Mr Rochforl, left for Greymouth, for tho purpose of inspecting and reporting on the damage clone by tho late floods. This prompt action on the part of the Goldfields Secretary, Mr Bonai", is in strong contrast to the system of red-tapeism formerly prevailing on tho West Coast. Mr G. W. Biuney sold by auction, yesterday, two hundred tons of Adelaide floui 1 , ox Sarah and Mary, to Messrs Cassius and Comiskey, at Ll7 per ton. The surf during yesterday and the previous night was unusually high, and carried away a large portion of the beach, near Orr's rightof way. Tho sapling protection has been greatly denuded of sand and shingle, and a portion of it has been swept away ; but the groyne lately laid down near Moffat's right-of-way still remains, tvnd appears to bo doing its work well. Wo understand that a Concert in aid of next, when several vocalists, professionals and amateurs, will appear. A crowded attendance is anticipated. * The escort arrived yesterday from the Waimea, with upwards of 4000 ounces of gold consigned to tho various Banks. The following is a return of the number of people and stock that passed tho Otira to and from the Wc3tland Goldfields during the week ending November 9th : — To the Goldfields, 27 men, 17 horses, and 122 head ot cattle ; from the Goldfields, 42 men, 2 women, 21 hoivses. Tho new Bankruptcy Act passed during tho late session of the General Assembly come 3 into force on December 1, 1867. A telegram from Dunedin in our Timaru contemporary of jS t oy. 9, states that goldfields have been discovered in Stewart's Island, and that they promise (o turn out well. A considerable number of diggers are already at work, chiefly alluvial. Later information slates that quartz reefs have been discovered. The "Lyttelton Times" says :—"ltappears: — "It appears that tho cause of the present interruption in telegraphic communication with tho North is. a fresh in tho Waiau, which has washed away about a dozen telegraph posts. It is found impossible to effect any repairs until the river subsides. The lino is now only workable as far as tho Cheviot station." With regard to the anticipated visit of tho Duke of Edinburgh to Chris tchurch,| the " Press " of tho 12th inst. says : — " Some surprise Ims been very generally expressed that no signs are given of any intended preparations on the part of tho Provincial Government for the reception of his Royal Highnesß the Duke of Edinburgh. The time for his arrival is rapidly approaching, and the people aro preparing for it in tho North and Southin Auckland, Wellington, and in Dunedin. It was indeed only the other day that tho Superintendent took the trouble to inform us, upon the very best authority, that wo should soon have the pleasure of seeing his Royal Highness. Now wo have for come time back had the pleasure of seeing our Provincial Government adopting useful measures just a day too late. Such was tho case with the appoiutmont of a Goldfields Secretary, with the appropriation of moneys for Timavu harbor, and with granting justice to the Road Bords. The results aro all before us. Westland is separated, Timaru is quasi-independent, and tho Road Boards are about to extinguish our Provincial legislators altogether, and send in their own chairmen to occupy their place. There remains, however, one final opportunity for arriving a day after the fair. On the first occasion on which a member of tho Royal family of Great Britain has crossed the line, and is about to visit our distant settlement, and while active preparations are going on all around us, there is still one opportunity left for our Government to show that it can bestir itself ' too late.' If practice leads to perfection, Canterbury ought to play tho part of tho foolish virgin rotnarkably well. But unfortunately this system of delay is not merely an awkward one, leading to bad arrangements and absurd mistakes; it is also very costly. Half the money expended with deliberation, and in good time, will do far more work, and provide a far better appearance than can be accomplished by the whole when it is spent in hurry and confusion."