THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1086, 12 May 1882, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1883.

Though nothing startling' was expected or has resulted, the visit recently paid by the member for the district, Mr Weston, has been productive of much good. Though only a unit in a House of 91 members, he is yet a power in himself, /and will yet make bis mark in the Legislature. That he is without fault would be to say altogether too much, but that he honestly and earnestly desireß to throw his whole energies into benefitting his constituents, no one. can for a moment doubt. He has more sense than even to pretend to the Inangahua people that he is a mere delegate to the House, and he is not likely to insult their understanding by assuming to be all things to all men. At the same time, he knows the locality thoroughly, has had experience of it at all times and in all weathers, and there are none that can tell more about it than he can himself. His experience as a District Judge, his consequent knowledge in appeals as to the mining value of the district, all tend to prove that there are few, if any, who could,, either from absolute knowledge or personal surroundings, be better fit to ably and properly represent the constituency in the coming Parliament, It U with the greatest pleasure, we believe, that the present member carries with him the entire confidence of those who elected him. As a matter of course there was fl struggle, but now even those who ■were defeated have come forward like men and assisted to do honor to the chosen one. Mr P. Brennan, the County Chairman, though & strong political opponent at the late election, has shown bis good sense, as well as prudence in taking the earliest opportunity to bury the hatchet after the temporary war has ended. He has t done all that man could do, and the newly formed friendship is one of the happiest results of the member's visit.

It would l>o anything but creditable to the head of the County Council and the member for the district to be at loggerheads, and if any good thing was to be asked for, the chances of success would be very greatly lessened were this state of things known to exist. As it has resulted Mr Brennan has gracefully accepted the position, and Mr Weston in an equally proper manner has acknowledged the courtesy of a late opponent. By this desirable union the County and the district will prosper, and the harmony that has been created will be of the greatest benefit to all residing within the confines of the electorate. No one will deny to Mr Weston ability, integrity, and power to express himself either in or out of the House, and the present or future Governments will not fail to recognise his sterling qualities, with the most beneficial results to his constituents. Taking the visit as a whole then, we may say that it was exceedingly well-timed, that the reception | was worthy of the people to whom it was paid, and that nothing but the best results must flow from it To the constituency, through being able more perfectly to fully understand the sentin\ettt»qf thttr representative; to the member,, through l>e^ nmde by personal"^iprience, moire fully aware of the wants and wishes of those he will be the champion of in days to come. There is one matter in connection with Licensing Acts that has so far escaped the attention of the Legislature both in the measure at present in existence and others preceding, which have now been abolished. This is that, as the law at present stands, in case of the proprietor and licensee of an hotel letting his house to any tenant, it is compulsory that the license shall be absolutely transferred to the said tenant, the landlord forfeiting all interest and right whatever in it as soon as the transfer is once legally effected. There have, been, scores. of instances in the colony where tenants having obtained possession have set the proprifttorfl of the Various houses at defiance, "refused t6'~"Piy rent, and threatened, if proceedings to recover what was due were initiated, to shut up the house virtually by holding on to the license. Though these cases may not be very numerous they do and have taken place, and it is certainly only just and fair to the proprietors that an alteration in the law should be made. It may be said that those letting hduses under these circumstances should take care to secure themselves, arid no doubt in a majority of cases they endeavor to do so, but this in every case may be impossible, and the law as it present stands permits the perpetuation of a wrong. Sureties for example, even if'provided, may leave, may come to, grief pecuniary, may die, or a score causes may arise that render them valueless, and the Act the li<»n^ecal«Sfy be renewed at the annual meeting, so that practically a house may be closed for half or more of a year in some instances. The remedy is very, simple, and a very little legislative amendment would supply it Let licenses be made inalienable, though provision be made, to allow the holders to temporarily transfer their interest on such terms as the Licensing Committees think fit. Thus, though proprietors would be really allowed to dispose of their houses as freely as at present, they would not sacrifice their interests in the license should occasion require them to resume possession of the premises. Otherwise let these transfers lie but conditional, SO that the occupier would not have the right of holding it in oase of breach of the contract under which possession was given. This would be only right and just as between man and man, and legislation in something like this direction would protect a class without committing the slightest public injury or committing any offence against morality. On the other hand it would allow proprietors to eject from their houses persons who by false or other pretences got possession of licenses, and who might make bad or scandalous use of the powers conferred. Altogether, we think it will be admitted that some change is required, and would direct the attention of our member to the subject, with a hope that some reform may be suggested and carried out.

Yesterday, the Greymouth coach arrived as usual, and the Westport mail (letters only) was brought up on horseback, . The Westport coach will come up to-day, and the usual communication, thanks to the weather having moderated, will be resumed. The Acting-Resident Magistrate and Warden, Mr E, Baker, will come up today from Westport, and hold Courts tomorrow, commencing at 10 o'clock. The business is not of material importance. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, there is a charge of assault of a trifling nature, and six civil cases. In the Warden's Court, there are eleven applications for gold mining leases, and ten ordinary ap plications. It is not at all probable that the property holders of Broadway will be sufficiently philanthropic to specially rate themselves for the purpose of making a footpath for the benefit of the public in general, and the proposal for them to do so is ridiculous. The footpaths, and streets tod, are in a scandalous condition, it must be admitted, but the County Council should spend more of the ratepayer's money in maintaining them in proper order. When the hoped for I borough is constituted, these and other complaints of a like kind will cease— till

that is an accomplished fact little change may be looked for. , It was with no little satisfaction that the people of the district were able to look on the sun again yesterday, for since the 23rd of last month there has not been a day without rain. Even the oldest residents admit that the spell of bad weather has been exceptional, but it is hoped now that the promised change for the better will last some time. The coach from the Grey managed to get up on Wednesday, and the rivers have not been so bad as the almost continuous downpour might have led people to anticipate. The river protective works have Btood well, and the public may thank them for immunity from serious floods. I Our Ahaura correspondent sends us the following :— " There are rumours of a new rush taking place about ten miles from the Ahaura township in the direction of the Paraparoa Banges, but nothing definite is known about it yet. The prospectors have been down to the Ahaura, and applied for a double area claim— the trouble incidental to getting a prospecting claim deterring them from applying for one. The gold is coarse and I shotty, of the same description, as Moonlight gold, whichis well knpwn im the coast* The proflPJetorß areTery t3|icent, Ifut from what can be learned on-i good authority, it appears the gold has been | found on both banks of a creek nearly in a line from the Seventeen-Mile Beach on the opposite side of the range, and the prospectors are at present engaged taking a paddock out of the creek, which will at once prove whether the gold is in the creek or not, and if so, there is no doubt it will cause a good rush, as the creek is ten or twelve miles long. There are now eighteen claims pegged out in the creek above the prospectors. Several new exhibits have been received for Christchurch, and the lot will be despatched within a day or two. Amongst those most recently to hand are samples of sandstone from Lankey's Gully, out of one of which a first-class grindstone has been manufactured. Samples of stream tin are also from the same locality, as . well tta coal. Some capital quartz specimens are in from the Phoenix Com pany, and the lot of exhibits is doily increasing. Though it was promised some little time ago that another constable should be stationed at Beefton, no additional man has yet been sent though so badly wanted. At some of the outside places the most perfect lawlessness prevails with impunity, there beng no policeman to be spared to even pay a flying visit still less to remain for any time. This is felt especially at Black's Point, and it is to be hoped that no further time will elapse without the additional police protection, so earnestly required being afforded. , We are sorry to say that the recent break in the weather will probably put a stop to tracing the tin indications, recently found. by Mr M'Kay, to their sources thraieason. The high ranges are now (Severed iHth snow, which is not likely to thaw* and permit exploration till flpring or summer, and further search must therefore be postponed till that time. It is at least satisfactory to know that the traces are unmistakeable, and there is every hope that a new industry will be befbre long added to the resources of the Inangahua. Mr R. Roulston of this town has been appointed agent in the Inangahua for the National Mutual Assurance Association of Australasia, Limited. This company, we are informed, offers exceptionally liberal inducements to intending assurers, particulars of which may be obtained from Mr Boulston. A special edition of the Times was published on Wednesday afternoon last containing the whole of the applications for publican's and accommodation licenses in the Boatman's Licensing District. It will be seen that three applications will be made for new houses in that district, namely, one by Mr O'Neill, for the Imperial Hotel, Capleston, one by Mrs Bourke, for the Imperial Hotel, Capleston, aud one by Mr R. Waite, for an accommodation license attheJuuction. All applications for the Boatman's District must be lodged with the Clerk, at Reefton not later than Monday next. The object of the Government in sending an expert to report on the rocks of the district, is not so much to say where gold is likely to be found, as to say where it is not probable, according to accepted geological evidences, that auriferous stone will be got. The results of the present mission will be to prevent Baiajakes and waste of labor, rather than to promote discovery. If time and trouble are economised great good will ! be effected, and it is to accomplish this i that the exertions of the Government representative will be mainlydevoted. Steeplechasing, observes the Lyttelton Times, is no doubt a more pleasant thing than attending the Resident Magistrates Court to be examined and cross-examined by learned counsel. A witness named Thomas Sheehan, who had been subpoenaed, and his expenses tendered in the case of jjudge v. Callaghan, was evidently of this opinion. He had told Mr Joynt on the previous day that he wished to attend the Ashburton steeplechases, and when hia name was called yesterday morning, he failed to answer. Mr Joynt at once applied for a warrant to issue to compel his defaulting witness to attend. His Worship replied that such a measure would be justifiable in a criminal action, but the most he could do to compel a witness attendance in a civil case, was to call upon him to show cause why he should not be fined £10 or undergo 14 days' imprisonment. A rather curious incident, says the West Coast Times displaying the attachment of animals occurred on Thursday evening, during the entree of the Royal Australian Circus. It appears that one of the per

forming horses, accustomed to "run loose behind the waggons, having missed the • road to Hokitika, took the road leading to the beach, where it was followed by one of the performing dogs who remained in charge of the horse until it was found on the beach and brought safely to the , stable. It may be remarked that this j dog only joined the show in Christchurch so that the acquaintance between the dog and the horse has been very short. An amusing item -has just reached us (the Oamaru Mail). At the close of last seasion Mr Speight, M.H.R., arrived in Napier on his way to the Thames. He is a great teetotaller, and the brotherhood thought it most appropriate that they should appoint a few of their number to wait upon that gentleman to thank him for his efforts in Parliament in the i furtherance of the cause which they have espoused. The deputation accordingly \ waited upon Mr Speight, arid, in flattering terms, referred to his assiduous championBhfp of what, in their estimation, is the greatest humanising agency of the age. Mr Speight listened with eyes aglow with delight, and occasionally appropriately acknowledged the compliments as they fell fast and thick from the lips of the head of the deputation. But just at this moment another member of the brotherhood appeared on the scene. He fixed his gaze on the recipient of the compliments, and exclaimed : "He Speight ! Why I saw him drink a glass of whisky yesterday." Nor was this accuser wrong, we fear, for the gentleman who had been deputationed was not Mr Speight, the celebrated teetotaller, but the portly Mr Speight, the Dunedin brewer, who was at the time on a business trip to Napier.