The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, MAY 25, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 254, 25 May 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, MAY 25, 1868.

The people of Greymouth have set an example that may with great advantage be followed by those of Westport, in applying for at least an instalment of local self-government, in the shape of a Municipal Council. A petition, signed by some hundred and fifty householders has been despatched, and Mr Hall has recommended that the prayer be granted, so there is no doubt that as soon as the time required by the Act has elapsed that Grcymouth will be constituted a Municipality As to the advantages flowing from the establishment of municipal institutions there can scarcely be two opinions, though no doubt to this as to everything else desirable, there will be always found some objectors. It may be said that we do not require any streets to be made, and that a municipal council is unnecessary, but to that we would reply that street-making is only one of the many functions of a council of the kind, and that any money raised could be with great advantage laid out in a host of public works and in supplying public wants. Again, within a few weeks, or possibly days, a large amount of money will be voted, by the Provincial Council for various improvements that are required, and it is tolerably certain if a municipality was established that these funds would be entrusted to them for distribution. Many make a great fuss about the fact of being taxed to support municipal institutions, but they forget that though money is raised in a town from the inhabitants, it is again expended in the same place, together with a large addition, probably twice as much, that is given in aid by the Government. Is it not better too that the public shall have not only a voice in that expenditure but the absolute control of it ? and is it not well to have some body t© communicate with the Government on a variety of topics that do from time to time arise ? A great deal of the present dullness may be attributed to the absence of any public spirit whatever—to the apathy and indifference of ourcitizens on subjects that most nearly concern themselves and their interests, and till a Municipal Council or some body analogous to it is chosen the same suicidal condition of things may be expected to prevail. The steps necessary to procure Municipal privileges are very simple, though two months have to elapse between the receipt of the petition by the Executive and granting the Municipality. The reason for this is to allow time for these antagonistic to the petition to send in a counter one; if the latter is signed by more householders than that in its favor, the request as a matter of course, is refused. In reference to the preliminary steps, the Act states "if not less than fifty of the inhabitant householders resident within any such District as in the last preceding section mentioned, shall sign and cause to be presented to the Governor, a petition praying him to constitute such city, town, or place a borough under this Act, and in such petition shall set forth accurately the boundaries of the city, town, or place, to which such petition shall refer, and the title of the Act or Ordinance, «fec, &c, it shall be lawful for the Governor, by proclamation, to constitute such district or borough under this Act, if it shall seem fit to do so." This is all that is requisite to do, and a form of petition is given in one of the schedules. The above refers to cities or towns incorporated under any Act or Ordinance, and a subsequent

clnuse requires one hundred householder's signatures in new districts; tinder which Westport would come, we cannot say, but even if the larger number was needed there would, we should imagine, be no difficulty whatever in procuring them. The number of Councillors is fixed at nine, and as to qualification the Act says, " In order that any person may be qualified to be a councillor of any borough, he must have been entitled on the 20th day of June, which shall for the time being, have been last past, to have been enrolled in respect of rateable property whether of one or more tenetnents,amountingto£2sperannum." In new districts of course no roll has been prepared, therefore, property holders would be qualified without that condition in the first election. The qualification to vote for members of a Council is as follows:—" Every person of the full age of twenty-one years, who on the 20th day of June in any year shall be in occupation, or be the owner of any rateable property within any borough, and shall on that day have been under this Act liable to be rated." As every dwelling or place comes under the latter portion of the sentence, all persons owning or occupying tenements of any description can vote. Municipal Councils, we may add have authority over the streets, bridges, sowers, lighting, markets, wharves and water supply of the towns where they are established, as well as well as over other matters, and for the due regulation of these, they have power to make such bye-laws as are necessary. The process of getting a district constituted a municipality is, as will be seen very simple, and we trust that sufficient public spirit will be manifested to bring about that very desirable consummation as far as Westport is concerned. If a public meeting : was called to consider the subject, it i would be all the better, but if this is not done the preparation of the petition is easy, and signatures could i readily be obtained by any persons i interested, The benefits of such an in- : stitution would be early and most , beneficially felt by all classes, and it is to be hoped, as its possession is so easily obtained, that no time will be lost in grasping it.

The Grey River Argus records the following : —" A young lad, named Brimble, had a very narrow escape from being swept out to sea on Thursday evening. He had started from the Coal Wharf at Cobden in a small flatbottomed dingy to cross the river, which was running very strong. "When about in midstream one of the gunwales gave way, and he could only use one oar, which to one so inexperienced was perfectly useless. The current soon carried the boat into the most rapid part of the stream, and it was swept along at a fearful rate, the poor lad shouting an alarm at the top of his voice. Although he was seen before he had reached Boundary street, there did not happen to be any boats at that point, and it was feared that he would be carried out over the bar. Before he had reached the end of the Government Township a boat was put off by Alec the Greek, Mr Hansen, and Mr Ashton, but there is every reason for fearing they would not have been able to overhaul him. Just as he got opposite the entrance to the Lagoon, a boat containing sheep happened to be coming down, and the boatmen, named "Antonio," and " Frank," at once pulled with might and main to overtake him, which they did not far from the bar, and pulled him into their boat, leaving his dingy to drift to destruction in the breakers. The poor lad had not been without presence of mind, as he had taken off his coat, vest, and shoes, in case he should have to make a jump and swim for it. Great praise is due to the rescuers, for their exploit was by no means unattended with danger to themselves." A new Ministry has been at length formed in Victoria as follows:—" Chief Secretary, Mr Sladen; Minister of Justice, Mr Fellows ; Attorney-General, Mr Macdonnell; Treasurer, Mr Langton; Commissioner of Trade and Customs, Mr Bayles, Minister of Lands, Mr Gilles; Minister of Mines, Mr Kerferd; Commissioner of Public Works, Mr O'Grady. Mr Aspinall was invited to accept the office of Attorney-General, but in consequence of private and' professional engagements, he asked to be excused, although he at the same time stated that, if absolutely necessary, he would take office."

A correspondent of the Hawke's Bay Herald, writing from the Chatham Islands, has the following:—" A few months since, a pedestrian exploring the nooks and corners of Pitt's Island, came upon a little sandy bay, on the south side, where perchance the foot of white man never trod before. At the extremity of this bay arose a high and conical hill, covered with brush-

wood. With the utmost difficulty he effected an ascent, and not far from the summit discovered the month of a cavern. Upon entering the cavern he discovered the remains of two aboriginal natives in a perfect state of preservation ; the skin was dried on to the bones, and the features of each, a man and a woman, as perfect as iu life. Around them were shreds of matting of unusually fine texture, and vast heaps of pawa and other rock shells lay around them in heaps ; how they were conveyed into that almost inaccessible spot is a mystery. The probability is, that this cavern was a place of refuge for the aboriginal natives, when harassed by Maori invaders. We understand that the discoverer intends forwarding the remains to a scientific society in London." A telegram from Christchurch, published in the Westland Observer of Tuesday states that the Jennie Dnncan from the Eijis, reports that Captain Hayes, of the brig Rona, has been shot by his mate, who afterwards weighed anchor. A private letter, received at Christchurch from Vancouver's Island mentions the arrival of the Bona but the captain is not named. We are informed by the Observer, of Thursday, that Daniel M'Quarie, a seaman lately employed on board the Bruce, was found dead in his tent, which is situated on Cass Square, off Britten-street, Hokitika, at about five o'clock last evening. It appears that he was admitted into the Hokitika Hospital about a month ago, suffering from rheumatism, and was discharged from there on Saturday last, and went to reside with a man named Greorge Thalbeck, a ship-carpenter. The latter left the tent about 2.45 p.m., for the purpose of purchasing some provisions in town, and he heard of the death of his mate about 6 p.m., when about to return home. When Thalbeck left the tent the deceased was cutting firewood close by it. A man named Greorge Smith, a ship-carpenter, who lives near, states that he was assisting the deceased to cut some firewood, and that he saw the deceased go into his tent, and lie on his bed, and some time after he found him lying on his face on the floor of the tent, with a scarf twisted tightly round the neck by means of a piece of wood. Dr Dermott was called, and arrived at about 8.30 p.m., when he found that life had been extinct for two hours, as the body was then quite cold. The deceased was a native of Scotland.

It gives us no little pleasure to state that Captain Alexander Beveridge, harbour-master of Charleston, has at length received well won recognition from the Royal Humane Society of England, m the shape of a bronze medal presented by that body to him for saving thirteen persons from drowning at Constant Bay, on the 14th of April last year. Captain Beveridge has repeatedly been the means of rescuing drowning people from a watery grave, and the case for which he now receives the medal is only one of a long series. In every part of the coast and elsewhere, on the high seas, he has repeatedly risked his own life to save that of others, and if ever a medal was gallantly and honestly won this one has been. It is an honor that he may well be proud of, and that he may long be spared to wear it is the sincere and heartfelt wish of thousands on the coast, who well know how deservedly he has earned it. We are not aware whether it has yet been delivered, but the Nelson papers tell us that the Superintendent has had it forwarded by the Colonial Secretary for presentation. If not to hand we hope that the presentation will be a public one. A movement is on foot in Greymouth having for its object the annexation to Westland of Cobden and the diggings on the north bank of the Grey, in fact, the whole of the Grey valley. Mr Harrison, M.H.E., is to address the Cobden people to-morrow, in order to induce them to petition the General Assembly in favor of the scheme. As far as the residents in these districts go they do not care a rush whether Cobden is or is not detached from the Province of Nelson, but we much doubt whether the Assembly will concede any such change, especially as most probably the Nelson Provincial Executive will strongly object to having territory sliced away in this manner. It is more than probable, should Provincialism not receive its death-blow in the approaching session of the Assembly, that this side of the province will be erected into a county similar to Westland, and there is no doubt if such an application is made that it will be successful. Should this bo the case, Cobden and its district will have every power of self-government that it can need, and the present proposition be unnecessary. On the other hand, if Provincialism ceases, shire councils or

road boards, or similar bodies with large governing powers will be constituted, and Cobden, as a matter of c 4 ourse, would have its own, .so let whatever happen very little 'benefit Would accrue from the proposed annexation.

It is t6 be hoped that the wretched weather that prevails at the ti!ihe "We write will improve in order to allow today's holiday to be enjoyed. The vvrilunteers will parade this morning, and some sports will be held on the other side of the river we believe. To-night there will be a free masquerade ball at the Nelson Hotel, Gladstone stroet, and another ball at the Australasian Hotel, Caledonian. A ball will also be given at the Lifeboat Hotel, Charleston, and altogether the caterers of public amusement offer lots of inducement for patronage-

Mr Emaauel of the Little Grey Hotel gives a select ball to-night, and has made great preparations for the occasion, in order to make it worthy of the day it is held to celebrate. A •really excellent band has been engaged, the supper will be all that could be desired, and indeed, equally as good as those given when the charge ia four times as much, and the price of tickets is so moderate as to be within the means of all. No pains has been spared to provide a pleasant evening's amusement, and we have no doubt a large number will avail themselves of the opportunity. We understand that Inspector Franklynhas applied to the Commissioner for a public enquiry in reference to c€rtain remarks made by Mr Tyler, on Friday last, in the E.M. Court, reflecting on Sergeant Williams in connection with the prosecution of Varey for alleged larceny. In addition to what was said by Mr Tyler, the enquiry will embrace statements made on oath in the same case by Detective Lambert, which were in effect that he believed the prosecution had been got up at the instigation of the above officer. The Commissioner has granted the request, and the enquiry will be held to-morrow (Tuesday) at the Court House. A good deal of interest is felt in the matter, and the Court will doubtlessly be crowded during the proceedings.

The Japanese Troupe gave their entertainment on Saturday night to a crowded house, and many of their tricks were exceedingly clever, "and indeed astonishing. We believe it is their intention to pay Westport another visit after they have completed their engagement at Hokitika.