THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1123, 30 August 1882, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1882.

We are told that it is intended to prorogue Parliament, probably, on the sth of next month, which will be next Tuesday. In such * case the " slaughter of the innocents " in the shape of bills before the House of Representatives •will be great indeed, and a large pi'Oportion of the important questions of the day will have to be relegated to next session. Amongst these are the Local Government bills, for which so much information was gathered, and on which such hopes were built. The Government proposals, or something approximating to them, were to be the very salvation of impecunious Counties, Road Boards, and other local machinery, and their abandonment will prove a sore blow to the needy bodies throughout the Colony. It is only reasonable to suppose that a subject of material importance, on which such a diversity of opinion must exist, and which consequently must prove a fruitful source of debate, will not be brought forward to be dealt with in a day or two, especially . as there are already so many bills in an advanced stage that have to be finally disposed of before prorogation. If then, as seems certain, local self-govern-ment be allowed to remain as heretofore, a great deal of inconvenience and confusion will arise. Throughout the Colony there are local bodies of every description that have been out-running the constable to a great extent, and are at the present moment actually in a bankrupt condition. We have not heard of any, so far, that have \>een subjected to the experiences of the Southland province, when that was in articulo mortis, for its' seal was seized and sold, its offices besieged, and eventually captured by bailiffs, and a Provincial bankruptcy finally consumnated,' but a great many existing institutions could, without violating the truth, make a declaration that they are not able to meet their engagements, and might add, have no hope of being able to do so without outside assistance. The unfortunates in this respect are not confined to any Provincial district, or either Island, but are dotted about pretty well over the whole Colony, and comprise every description of local representative body. There would, under the circumstances, seem to be no help for it other than the State coming forward to relieve these difficulties, but it is somewhat hard on the people of the whole Colony to be called on to pay for the extravagance and utter incapacity of some of those bodies who ha/c thus plunged themselves into the slough of despond. There is no doubt that local self-government is a burning question, and one that the Ministry have very improperly shirked during the session. It is true that they have been harassed and embarrassed by the scandalous tactics of the Opposition, but at the same time there was such a pressing necessity for readjustment in this direction that any sacrifice should have been made to bring .it about. There are Counties so heavily handicapped in being compelled to maintain long lines of expensive main roads that they cannot help falling into arrears, and there are others blessed with railways through their length and breadth, that have scarcely a pound to expend in the same way, and have ten times the income. The burdens are not at all fairly placeed, and the Government, well knowing that to be the case, should have met the difficulties by prompt legislation. Like, -other bankrupts, some n of the present' sufferers have been unfortunate, others have been extravagant, but; all alike will, we presume, receive relief, justly or unjustly. It would be well, oven in the short time that the House will sit, if an expression of opinion, a direction to the Government in fact, could be obtained relative to the course the Government should pursue during the r^cftss, in connection with the, impoverished and distressed local repre- ; si'iitafcive bodies that will, and must, apply to them for assistance. This is not yet too late, for th« report as to the Parliament proroguing on Tuesday may he incorrect, and we hope that Parliament will not close the session till the. House Ims cxT'rwd it?! viov.-s

Inspector Emerson returned to Hokitikaon Monday last by way of Greymouth, after a comparatively prolonged visit. It takes gome travelling for him to inspect .all the stations over which he has supervision, for the number, fifteen in all, extend from here to Okarito, sixty miles south of Hokitika, in addition to a number of stations inland from Hokitika. The Westland police district, in area, is, we believe, the largest in the colony, and a much larger force is needed than is at the command of the Inspector. It is true that there is little difference between the streets and the footpaths in this town, as the same boulders present themselves in both, and the formation is alike, but at the same time it would be just as well if spring ttncl other carts were not to use the latter in common with the roadway proper. At the present time vehicles, heavy and light, are driven over the space, supposed to be devoted to pedestrians only, with the most perfect nonchalance, and it ia hardly necessary to say that the paths are not improved by the traffic. Whether the police have any power to put a stop to the practice we do not know, but if they have, they would do a public service by interfering. Loose horses are at all times dangerous in thoroughfares that children frequent, andean, instance of this occurred a few days ago. A little after 12 o'clock, aa the children were coming from the State school, four dray horses, apparently just unharnessed, galloped up Lower Broadway, and turned the corner into Smithstreet very sharply, in doing which they very nearly ran over two little girls who were coming in the opposite direction. The escape was a very narrow one, and the question comes whether the main streets of the town should be permitted to be a recreation ground for loose horses or not, •We are glad to say that Inspector Emerson, in accordance with the urgent request of the Licensing Board, and the wish of the inhabitants, has sent up an additional constable to this station, and Sergeant Neville will now have a. force of two under hia command. The new comer, constable McManus, hails from Hokitika, and is reported to be a muscular Christian of a very pronounced type, being one of the strongest men in the force on the West Coast. He is said to Be able to lift a chair with a heavy man sitting on it on to any table, and to be able to perform other feats of strength. This piece of information may be useful to some of the rowdy class who otherwise might get into trouble through resisting or assaulting the new officer. Inspector Emerson also hopes to be able to get a constable stationed at Boatman's, and that such an addition to the community there would be welcomed by a large majority of the residents we have no doubt. In the meanwhile the addition just made will allow of some kind of police supervision at Black's Point, which is at times very greatly needed. We undt rstand that Mr Willis has sent in his resignation as collector of the Hospital, as he has found it im,possible^fe> davote the time required as well as discharge his other duties in connection with the R.M. ( ourt. A meeting of the shareholders of the Herald Company was held on Saturday evening at Beilby'& hotel. Mr Hindmarsh was appointed socretary, and Messrs Pringle, Cummings, Kruzenga, Roulston, and Gin, provisional directors. J his lease is situated in Lankey's, and from its position great hopes are entertained of the enterprise being most successful. The meeting of the No. 2 Keep-it Dark, called for Saturday evening, was adjourned tiil this (Wednesday) evening at half-past 7 o'clock at the Southern Cross Hotel. As will be seen in our advertising columns, theUriionCo'as.s. Hero willleave Greymouth on Sunday next, the 3rd inst, for Melbourne direct, thus affording an excellent opportunity for intending passengei's to proceed to Australia. Considerable interest was felt in the enquiry into the last fire in Shiels-street, j which was held by Mr Revell on Friday last. It was expected by some that startling l'evelations would be made, but those who had that idea must have been greatly disappointed. The proceedings lasted twelve hours, and no less than sixteen witnesses were examined. Our report though long was 1 necessarily by no means a full one, and but for doing justice to parties concerned, we should have still more materially curtailed it. At the close of the evidence, and before the jury retired, the foreman asked Mr Revell if Sergeant Neville had had the entire getting up of the case and summoning of witnesses, to which' the latter replied that as being in charge of the district it was Sergeant Neville's duty to prepare for the enquiry. He added that out of the witnesses who had given evidence no less than seven had been summoned at the special re<jut;st of Mr Gardner, who had written both t<> him (Mr Rovell) and Mr Inspector Emerson, asking that they might be brought forward. This had been done," and there could not therefore be the least suspicion of unfairness in the matter. Mr Collings said his only object iv asking was because Mr Neville was so materially interested in the matter. The subject then dropped. It was 10 o'clock at night before the veVlict was given. A meeting of the Bhaveholders of the Gladstone Company was held on Monday last, when it was determined to form a fresh company, Mr T. Lee was appointed manager, Mr Roulston auditor, and Mossrs Trennery, Thorburn, C. Fraser, McKenny, and Wooilhouse, directors. It was reported that a reef 2 feet wide had been struck, but that the country was somewhat hard. It was resolved that two more men should be put on at once. The new company will be in 24,000 shares £1 each. We understand that Messrs Girdvood and Lahman, of Greymouth, onntemolnt* .■,-.•' i l '■'■■■'.. U,.: ■: ;.;••;'.:.■"'■■ •.;• Ha.; b'.;;:r..-.:.j ij;