West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 678, 26 November 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1867.

Although the tides were very high yeßterdoy, yet comparatively little damage was done on the beach. During the day, several xaen were employed under tho direction of Mr Rochfort, tho District Engineer, in placing rows of fascines to protect those spots most exposed to the action of the surf. We understand that the tender of Mr Hurst lias been accepted to lay down three additional groins, and that this work is to be commenced immediately. It is to be hoped that the sectionholders in Revell street will not hesitate, today, to call at the Goldfields Secretary's office, and pay for tho land they occupy, in order to enable tho Government to complete the necessary works for tho protection of the beach. As usual on benefit nights, a pouring rain descended last evening, when a benefit was given at the Princo of Wales Opera House, for - Mrs Pablo Fanquc. The performance consisted of " O'Callaghan on his last legs/ followed by & variety of singing and dancing. We had almost forgotten to mention that the drum and fife band clad in their new uniforms appeared on this occasion, and porformed several lively airs. Another attempt to prospect the undoubtedly auriferous country between the Hokitika and Totara rivers has resulted in a failure, owing to the depth and wetness of the ground. Wo stated in a former issue that a party of diggers were engaged in sinking a shaft about three miles from the sea beach, but having run out of funds, after gaining a depth of between seventy and eighty feet, they had applied to some of the leading merchants in town for assistance. This was accorded them in the shape of provisions and tools, and they proceeded with the undertaking, and sank to ninety-five feet, at which level they pricked a very wet' drjft that flooded the shaft with water. As constant bailing failed to make the slightest impression upon it, they unwillingly gave up work, being convinced that payable gold lay at no great distance beneath. We fear, however, that the question will not be decided until a company is organised to place machinery upon the groundTho following is the return of the state of Hokitika Gaol for the week ended 23rd November, 1857 : — For trial, 7 males. 1 female. Penal servitude, 5 males. Hardlabor, 33 males, 4 females. Imprisonment, 1 male. Default of- bail, 2 males. Default of fine, 4 males. Debtors, 7 males. Total, 59 males, 5 females ; 11 of tho males for hardlabor are employed at the Polico-camp. Received during the week, nil ; discharged, 2. Mr Armson, accompanied by Mr R. Reeves, visited the Race-course yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of inspecting the Grand-stand. We understand that, acting on fllr Armson's suggestion, several improvements will be made in the structure, adding to its security and comfort. We are informed that the course is in splendid condition, and greatly improved since last year's ruining. A grand concert, in aid of tho funds of St Mary's School, will take place this evening, |at the Princo of Wales Opera Houso. The chidren ot the school, fifty in number, who have been trained to part-singing by Mr H. Friend, will take part in the performance. Several ladies and gentlemen have kindly volunteered their services, so that a rich musical treat may be expected. The Wellington correspondent of tho "Otago Daily Times" writes : — " As Parliamentary ' doings no longer servo to fill up letters and j newspapers, you may count upon hearing more frequently of the ' Native difficulty' than you have for the last few months. There is an enormous amount of land-buying from the Natives going on by private individuals. Clever Maori linguists,' or rather men' who, besides talking Maori, have a knowledge of Maori habits, and are personally liked, are making a good deal of mosey, and will continue to do- so for a few years. I know surveyors who can earn with easo their LBOO or LIOOO a year surveying Native lands, and some land negotiators make fabulous amounts. I know one negotiator who, although three or four years ago gladly took an interpreter's situation at less than L2OO a year (but was out again in ! something like a month, because his clerical abilities were at fault), has made at the rate of a couple of thousands a year during last year and this. I know another who, on being applied to by a company of capitalists for the purpose of getting a block through the Court, received a written promise of a thousand guineas fee, with a cheque for a hundred guineas down as a refresher — a piece of business which will occupy that particular gentleman probably not mere than three or four days in each of three or four months. Fancy a man like Mr M'Lean pottering in his Superintendency at Hawke's Bay for a paltry six or eight hundred a year when he might have clients by tho score, whose fees for procuring leases and sales would render him an independent laird by the time this land game is over ! Or, faucv him drawing tho ordinary pay of a Nativo Minister and hearing himself accused by some Octagon demagogue of being a ' harpy preying on the public vitals.' "

Tho crimo of infanticide is increusing in France. At the assizes of the Gironde a young woman of twenty-five has been condemned to five years' imprisonment with hard labor for throwing her new-born infant into the river ; and another woman lias been sentencod to eight years' penal servitude at Straßburg for disposing of her child down a watercloset. At the assizes of Saono-et-Loire a girl of eighteen waa committed to prison with hard labor for seven years for burying her child alive.