West Coast Times WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25,1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 703, 25 December 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1867.

Old Father Christmas visits Christendom but once a year, but wherever ho shows his genial face, a hearty welcome greets him. Ho is übiquitous, and hi every clime he causes all who come under his influence to bo merry — even those who may deeply sorrow, for a timo forget their griefs, and share in tha general joy. But ,his welcome is different in different lands. In tho old country Father Christmas comes when winter rcigno iv stern majesty — when the dark green shining holly, with its clusters of scarlet berries, is almost the only shrub which decks tke palace of the princo, as well as tbo dwelling of the lowly cottager. Here how different is his advent — hero in ithe Southern Hemisphere he comes surrounded by all tho glory and beauty of an Austral summer. No dark green holly, no shivering cold, but forests clad in emerald green, and flowers bright in beauty welcome him, whilst sunny skies, and a balmy air combine to enhance the general joy occasioned by the corning of the timehonored visitor. In Hokitika, warm and hearty will be the welcome which " Father Christmas " will Jreceive, and mighty are the preparations to do him honor. Already the town has put on its holiday dress — tho principal streets are one forest of greenery — tho tree fern, with its fair and feathery fronds } being used profusely in tho decorations, and giving an almost indescribable air of grace and loveliness to the seene — whilst large numbers of flags of gay colours to contrast, add life to the waving mass of green below them. Visitors from tho country aro arriving in largo numbers, and will, jio doubt, continue to do so unti"-to-morrow's sun breaks forth. Nor have the comforts of tho inner man been neglected. For some days past mighty beeves, prime sheep, lambs, calves and pigs, both full grown and suckers, have been arriving, whilst turkeys, geese, ducks, and fowls, have appeared in all their glory. Delicate vegetables and oven juicy fruits — somo of them grown in Westland— ar<^ not wanting — whilst every tradesman, and each hotelkeeper stands ready to give ovon a stranger the warm greeting — " A Morry Christmas to you." We strolled last evening through the town, and took a glanco at tho various creature comforts exhibited jfor sale. Commencing with the meat purveyors, we first noticed the show of Mr R. Campbell, tho proprietor of the City Company's establishment. Hero there was Bplondid beef, delicate lamb, from Nelson ; juicy veal, from Mr Clapcott's celebrated dairy farm ; and a whole army of sucking pigs, giving promise of delicious crackling. Mr Moffat too had first cla3s beef, tender lamb, excellent pork, and some fine sucking pigs. Mr Rawlings had also a capital show of Christmas meat,and co had Mr Price. Amongst tho poulterers,

Messrs Ro3s and Wagner were conspicuous for their capital show of turkeys, geese, ducks, and fowls ; they had, also, for sale some fine vegetables, flowers, and fruit. Mr A. Walker had not only a splendid collection of vegetables and fruit, but also some rare confectionary, prepared expressly for tho Christmas sea3on. Mr Marshall exhibited a collection of floral beauties ; he had also red currants and cherries.grown by himself ; first-class potatoes (silverskins),a cucumoer,and gigantic lettuces, from the garden of Mr Bladier, Park-street,aud a stray. berry plant (Trollope's Queen Victoria) in full bearing, from the garden of Mr South. But the next week will be a perfect carnival, and we therefore will not weary our readers ; but will only add that prepn rations for athletic and amusing sports aro going on in every direction. Wo aro to have a regatta, horse races, a pantomime of suipassing splendor at the Theatre, Bal masques, pic-nics, and a variety of other sources of enjoyment, and we heartily wish each and every one of our friends and readers a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The front of tho Prince of Wales Opera House was profusely and tastefully decorated with ferns last night, and a number of Chinese lanterns suspended amongst the greenery, gavo it a very picturesque and pleasing appearance. The performances which took placo before a capital house, opened with tho comedietta "Nine Points of tho Law," which was well put upon the stage — the defects which we previously pointed out were remedied — and everything went smoothly. Then followed the inimitablo performances of the Nathan Troupe. La Potito Marian and Miss Seliua Nathan, dividing the honors in "Andy Blake," and in the burlesque of "Paddy in India." In fact the applauso which greeted each performance, was not got up for the occasion, but was the delighted ebullition of honest and delighted hearts. The Theatre will not open again until Boxing night, when the pantomime " Gulliver on his travels " will bo put upon tho stage, with a splendour, we are told, hitherto unknown in Hokitika. The scenic effects are said to be strikingly beautiful, and we may predict a long run for tho Christmas Pantomime. Sim c the above was in type Mr Batlett ii if orms us that tho pantomime will be played on the afternoon of Boxing Day.

Amongst the luxuries for Christmas a supply of fine oysters have arrived from Sydney, consigned to Messrs Levy and Moses, fishmongers, Revell street. Their shop window yesterday wa3 crowded with those delicious bivalves, and they had also on view some capital Westland trout.

At tho conclusion of the performances, on Saturday night, the members of tho Caxton Amateur Dramatic Club were entertained at a supper, provided by Mr R. Walker, of the Westland. Tho spread was firat rato, and a very pleasant hour was spent after tho fatiguo of tho evening.

A new musical and panoramic entertainment, given by Thatcher and representing " Life on tho Goldflclds," is thus noticed in a late number of a Melbouruo contemporary : — Few amongst the residents — nnd especially the early ones — of our gold Gelds will forgot " the inimitable Thatcher," as he was called in the placards, by far tho most popular comic singer wo ever had here, and from whose pen streamed hundreds of songs bearing comic reference to the events of tho day, especially if that event were the misconduct of a "Camp official." Mr Thatcher has for s'ome yews retired from public life, having earned, we believe, no inconsiderablo amount of profit by his performances, and his name has since been more than once honorably connected with efforts at acclimatisation.' Now, however, ho has reverted to his old profession, and has availed himself of his vast stores of experience to place that together which gives a wonderfully accurate and comprehensive idea of what goldfields life was ten or a dozen years ago in Victoria, and five or six years ago in New Zeals-nd. His panorama is truthful and picturesque, nnd his lecture is original, sparkling, and witty. Of course ho has largely copied the stylos of Albert Smith and Artonius Ward, but the imitation is not a slavish one, and tho thing itself is full of fun, which, if not of a very high order, is fresh and lnirthprovoking.

The " Groy River Argus," of Saturday, says :—lnformation: — Information was received yesterday of a case of sticking up at Greenstone. A butcher named Thomas, who resides at tho Greenstone, was on his way to Hokitika to purchase cattle, and when near tho old Maori pah, about four miles from the Tereinakau, he was attacked by two men, one of whom ceizod him by the collar, but lie managed to froc himself and get off. The police aro on the track of tho men who committed tho outrage.

The " Sydney Morning Herald" remarks : — " There aro various surmises as to tho reason why his Royal Highness is to visit Tasmania previous to Sydney. If; did not originally appear to have been the order of procedure laid down for tho Prince, as there was some doubt whether his Royal Highness would proceed to that colony in tho Galatoa or take a passage hi an intercolonial steamer. Some explanation, however, is offered in tho following rumor, for tho accuracy of which, however, wo cannot of course vouch. It is stated that when the Galatea arrived at tho Cape of Good Hope, Prince Alfred brought his vessel to anchor, with tho royal standard at the mizen; ho aftorwards visited Commodore Purvis, attired in plain costume, and on reaching the quarter-deck of the commodore's ship was received by that officer who was in full uniform. He welcomed his Royal Highnes3 to tho colony, and after a short conversation, begged tho Prince to excuse him, as ho was waiting to receive the captain of tho Galatea. Priuco Alfred took tho hint, returned to his vessel, and shortly after appeared beforo tho commodore, in full uniform, as Post Captain, and paid his respects to tho commodore. It is said that the Prince at onco observed tho anomalous position in which ho was placed, and as his visit to tho British colouios as Princo of tho blood is of a character distinct from that of post captain, His Royal Highness at onco wrote home for instructions on the point, and at tho same time expressed his intention of not entering the port whore a commodore's vessel lay until an answor to his inquiries had been received. Wo do not vouch for tho truth of the above, but it does not seem improbable." The body of Patrick M'Kinty, who was drowned by tho capsizing of a boat up the river last week (says the " Grey River Argus " of Saturday) was found on tho Soven-milo Beach, near Point Elizabeth, on Thursday

morning, by a miner named John M'Coy. Information having been given to the Cobden police, the body was brought down to the North Spit, and identified as that of the missing man. It was afterwards conveyed in a boat to this side of the river and taken to the house of deceased's brother, where an inquest was held yesterday before W. H. Revell, Esq., Coroner. The evidence was in accordance with tho accouut published in this paper of the accident "which caused the death of the deceased, and tho jury returned a verdict according to the facts.

With reference to the convict Wilson, the "Nelson Colonist" of the 20lh says— "At eight o'clock this morning, tho murderer Wilson will be executed. He has been in a very dejected condition ever since his condemnation, and has taken very little food. He has made as yet no confession. It was intimated to Wilson after the receipt of tho telegram announcing that the warrant for execution was signed, that he was to die on Wednesday morning ; and we believe he asked that morning why he was not taken out for his doom, and expressed his regret that there had been delay, as he had prepared himself to meet his fate that morning. The delay was necessary, as no execution could take place until tho Sheriff was in possession of the actual order, which only arrived yesterday by the s.s. Egmont. Last night tho carpenters wore busy' fitting up tho scaffold, which is tho same as was used for the execution of tho Maungatapu murderers, the drop being somewhat reduced in size. About nine o'clock last night, Wilson was sleeping very tranquilly. His grave was dug on Tuesday, on the hill behind the Gaol, and Sullivan was tho gravedigger. The hangman who will perform the revolting offico this morning, is one of tho convicts, who we believe offered his services. By some means, probably through that mysterious system of telegraphy which is so common among prisonei'B, it was known to the road gang that this man was to be the executioner. They were all in tho Botanical Gardens last Monday, and' while (here it was observed by a bystander, that three of tho gang advanced to their fellow-prisoner, the hangman; and without a word took him up , aud ere tho wardera could interfere, they with " one, two, three, and away you go," flung him into a water-holo in the garden, whence he was dragged out by the warders like a halfdrowned rat."

Our Grey contemporary of yesterday says — " Greymouth had about as narrow an escape from destruction by fire on Sunday morning as ono could well imagine. At about six o'clock in tho morning referred to, Mr Trist, blacksmith, was on the quay, when his attention wa3 attracted by what appeared to be smoke coming out of the uncompleted new premises of Messrs Thompson and Barkley, near tho shop of Messrs Forsyth and Masters. Ho immediately proceeded to the place, and inside ho found a man in the garb of a digger coolly squatted down smoking by a fire which he had kindled on tho woodon floor ! Tho man was in tho act of piling on more wood when Mr Trist found him, and the fire was fully two feet in diameter. How in tho world the whole premises escaped getting alight is a puzzle, for the floor was covorod oyery bit over with shavings. Ot course, Mi* Trist immediately extinguisher! tho fire, find the police having been sent for, the man was given into custody. He appears to have been under the idea that ho was in the bush, and seemed to be under the influence of drink."

Tho "Grey River Argus" of yesterday says — "We have received information from Dufler's Gully, stating that considerable excitement prevails in that locality in consequence of good payable gold having been struck in a terrace situated on the right-hand side of tho creek tqwai-ds tho head of the main gully, on tho ranges dividing it from Noble's. Our informant states thab about forty men have set in, and that, 'if report is to be believed, there is ground enough and length of lead sufficient to re3lore DuScr's to its ancient glory.' "