The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 635, 22 March 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1870.

Ox the Nelson Goldfields there is unfortunately a feeling prevalent that it is worth no man's trouble to possess himself of the power to vote for a member of the General Assembly. That there are some grounds for this feeling cannot be gainsaid. It is not only anomalous and exceptional, but altogether scandalous that the richest gold-producing district in the whole Colony—a district sustaining so lar<*e a population and contributing so greatly to the revenue—should be all but totally unrepresented. "We refer not to the representative qualifications or to the personal earnestness of the member elect, Mr Gallagher, but simply to the fact that he is, in the House of Assembly, the solitary type of the intelligence, the interests, the enterprise, the wealth, and the numbers of the entire population inhabiting the West Coast from Grey Eiver to Cape Farewell. So situated, were he a Hercules, physically, morally, and intellectunlly—were he " a host in himself," which, except in a commercial capacity, he has no pretensions to be—Mr Gallagher must of necessity be utterly incapable of coping with the numbers representing other districts and other widely di£ ferent interests. With all respect to him, or to anyone who might discharge his little thanked or thought of duties, he can at best be but " a drop in the bucket." It is this consideration—this hopelessness of achieving anything by either possessing or exercising the franchise—which makes the population of Westland North so indifferent as to the inclusion of their names in the electoral roll. And that they are not indifferent without cause is demonstrated even by the action of the' Governments, General and Provincial. In cultivating this spirit of indifference, the Governments seem sincerely to sympathise with them.. If any information is desired as to the means and mechanism of securing one's name on the roll, it must be diligently sought for. Though it may the practice in Britain to place the elector on the roll without even his leave asked or his authority given, obstruction and mystification are here I

preferred. Even the forms for application arc not furnished. At least such is the case in this part of the country. In other parts—in Otago, for instance—the Registration Officers are amply furnished with forms of application, and notification of the fact is Etiven to the public, the public there being supposed to be an element whose interests should be consulted—if not by the General Government, at any rate by their Provincial representatives. Hero the Government prefers to "loaf" upon the generosity or the political spirit of the poor printer, and significantly sympathises with the indifference of the peoplo by being itself the very acme ot inaction.

While this indifference may, in some respects, be justifiable, it is in others condemuable. The infinitesimal small. ness of the representation should really induce people to select a representative of the very best material, political and social. J1 he can effect nothing by action, he might at least be able by his attitude to communicate dignity to his constituency. And there is the further consideration that, with a proper representation of the facts, another or other seats in the Assembly may, during the next session, he created for Westland North. Should that happen, many may have reason to regret that they have not qualified themselves as electors, and to reflect upon apathy and indifference as attributes which, except in rare instances, it is by no means desirable to cultivate. Briefly, anyone who has not yet applied to be placed on the electoral roll should do so at once. It only requires a duly qualified elector to certify to his signature; it ought to be done before the end of this month, or it cannot be done at all; and forms are obtainable for the asking at the office of the Westport Times. " When 'tis done, 'twere well it were done quickly."

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before Dr Giles, Mary Daniels •was charged, on the information of Emma Melville, with using provoking and insulting language. Mrs Melville, and a witness whom she called, stated that while passing her house, Mrs Daniels said " Very awkward bacon and fowl would be, wouldn't it? Have you had any lately ?" And she added "He'll get seven years the next time he's up before Giles." Similar expressions, it was stated, had been used on previous occasions, and one witness, a young girl who was called, said that on one occasion, at Mrs Melville's door, the defendant remarked " A fine lassie you are, to go there! She's after giving a man ten years, and the child's blind." For the defence John Rafferty was called, and he stated that Mrs Daniels had called on him to write a letter for her. "On her stepping along" from his house past Mrs Melville's, and referring to the letter he was to write, she said " You needn't wait for your tea; I'll have some fowl and bacon for you." Mr Pitt, for the defendant, suggested that an invitation to tea and to particular fare given to Mr Eafferty had been misconstrued By the sensitive mind of Mrs Melville. The Magistrate considered that, not in the intrinsic or literal meauing of the words, but in their association with circumstances, there was insult and provocation, and that the complainant was entitled to the protection she asked. He ordered the defendant to pay the costs and to find one surety of .£25, that she should keep the peace for a month. Amongst the passengers by the s.s. Kennedy from Greymouth, we notice an old townsman, Mr F. J. Piesse, who was one of the first and most active promoters of the Westport Amateur Dramatic Club. Mr Piesse has been most successful, with two or three other gentlemen, in inaugurating a similar club in Greymouth, which gave a highly satisfactory opening entertainment a few nights since, realising the handsome sum of £OO. Prior to Mr Piesse's departure he was presented with a testimonial by several members of the club, in the shape of a purse of sovereigns, as a mark of appreciation of the valuable services he has rendered. We hope to see, now that we have such an active member in our midst, our Westport Club brought to life again.

■ The Postmaster has directed our attention to the fact that, in the tenders which were recently called for inter-provincial steam mail services, Westport is included in two of the services contemplated. Tho first is from Hokitika to Nelson, via Greymouth and Westport, and vice versa. The second is from Hokitika to Manukau, via Greymouth, Westport, Nelson, and Taranaki, and from Manakau to Hokitika by the same ports. It is the stipulation that in the first service the steamer shall leave Nelson not more than four hours after the arrival of the English mail, arrive at Hokitika, including stay at Westport and Greymouth, in 48 hours afterwards, and vice verm, arriving at Nelson on the evening prior to the outward mail leaving that port. The second service is to leave Manukau not more than six hours after the arrival of the inward English mail, and arrive at Hokitika, including calls at Westport and elsewhere, in 90 hours ; and vice versa, arriving at Onehunga at 9 a.m. on the day fixed for the departure of the outward mail from Auckland.

Some gross carelessness or wilful neglect on the part of the Hokitika bailiff, in matters of judgment warrants, has of late been frequently complained of. One case in particular has come under our notice this month. It is that of a distress warrant procured in Westport against a defendant residing in Hokitika. The plaintiff in the case, after waiting for some time without being able to ascertain anything of the result of the service of the warrant, proceeded to Hokitika, where he called on the bailiff there, Mr Christian, who informed him that he (the bailiff) had taken another party's I O U for the amount, and that the money would be remitted forthwith. This interview took place more than a fortnight ago, since which time there have been two mails at least from Hokitika, and on inquiry at tho R. M. Court yesterday the plaintiff again received the reply of "No advices from Hokitika." Such a case should surely receive some inquiry, as similar reports are by no means uncommon.

The Grey River Argtts announces positively that Mr T. A. S. Kynnersley has bean made a member of the Nelson Executive, the official head of the South-West Goldfields. If this be the fact, Mr Kynnersley will, no doubt, visit the Coast on an early day. It is to be regretted that Mr Kynnersley has not also accepted a seat in the Provincial Council, but that is an alternative the necessity of which, it is to be hoped, both he and others will be

made to see before the close of the next session of the Provincial Council. Nelson, Wellington, Auckland, and Wanganui mails were received yesterday by the steamer John Penn, which brought a cargo of cattle from the last-mentioned port. As some definite information may be desirable in reference to the Now Oalifornian route, wo give the following particulars : The Oalifornian, New Zealand and Australian lioyal Mail steamship Wonga Wonga or City of Melbourne, will bail from Auckland on 2nd April, 4th May, 4th June, 7th July, and after that on the 7th of each month. The time occupied on the trip to England will be as follows :—Auckland to Honolulu, 14 days; Honolulu to San Francisco, 10 days; San Francisco to New York (by rail), 6 days; New York to Liverpool and London, 9 days; total 40 days' travelling. The fares from Auckland to San Francisco will be saloon, ,£35 ; second cabin, X'io; intermediate, £18; and across the Continent of America by Central Pacific Railroad, ,£10; beds and provisions costing about £4 extra. Passages from New York to England can be had by the Cunardline—saloon, £22; second cabin, =BIO. The Inman line—saloon, £l6; second cabin, £9. Passengers can thus get home by this route for ,£OS in the saloon, and £47 in the second cabin, and £4O in the intermediate. Arrangements can also be made with the railway for the issuing of tickets available for two months. Passengers by the first steamer, which leaves on April 2nd, will require to leave by the John Penn. As yet no arrangements have been made to book right through, but negotiations are being carried on, and it is probable that shortly through tickets will be issued from New Zealand to England. Greymouth was never more crowded with visitors than it was on Thursday aud Friday last. Quite a sensation was created in town about noon on St. Patrick's Day, when a procession of miners, over two hundred in number, marched in from the EightMile, headed by the Greymouth Brass Band. Most of the men wore green sashes with white crosses, in honor of the day. A special service for them was conducted by the Rev. Father Holland. The men then dispersed, after taking off their green sashes, and most of them made their way to the racecourse.

The local papers say that at Hokitika, on Thursday, there was nothing to indicate that it was St. Patrick's Day. A large influx of visitojs was expected, but none arrived, and it was the dullest anniversary of Ireland's Patron Saint ever passed in that town.

Mr John Cirgill and Mi- A. J. Burns have resigned their seats in the Assembly. Mr Cutten and Mr Brown are candidates for the seat vacated by Mr Cargill. We observe from the Hobart Town papers that Sr Francis Smith, brother of Mr James Snith, solicitor, Dunedin, has recently been appointed Chief Justice of Tasmania. By some papers a statement has been made that cireulars have been addressed to members of the Assembly, asking for their opinions on the subject of holding the next session in Auckland. The Lyttellon Times has reason to believe that there is no foundation whatever for the statement, and that there is no intention on the part of the Government to change the present locale of the Assembly. The Times considers that the removal gf the seat of Government to Auckland would inevitably lead to separation of the two islands. Petroleum shale has been found at Pine Hill, near Dunedin. The Colonial prize firing comes off at Dunedin on the 29th and 30th of April next. Southland sends three representatives to compete at the Colonial firing, the highest score made by them being 43 points. The firing for representatives for Otago is not concluded yet. The Wellington representatives are Batham, Halse, and Barron, who scored respectively 44, 43, and 43 points. Mr James Boxer, traveller for Mr Strachan, brewer, Dunedin, formerly connected with the Press, and who held a very high position among the Oddfellows, has died suddenly at Waihemo, of heart disease.