The Lyell Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1885.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume V, Issue 241, 26 September 1885, Page 2

The Lyell Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1885.

The return of amalgam from the plates, ripples and berdans at the United Alpiae b&Uery for the week ended yesterday, is blOozs., from 220 tons of quartz. The next sittings of the R.M. and Warden's Courts, are fixed for Wednesday, the 30th inst., at 10 o'clock, a;m. In anocher column are a>nnou<nced the respective dates of the next half-yearly meetings of the United AJpin*, Italy, and Croesus Companies, The Rev. Mr Spencer is to deliver a Lecture here, on the occasion of his next visit. Due notice, as to date and subject, appear in a future issue.

The Rev. Father Rolland, from Reefton. will arrive here this evening, and conduct Mass and Vespers at St. Joseph's tomorrow, at the usual hours, —morniug aud evening. The athletic contest of the day, is a quarter-mile foot-race between Thomas O'Loughlin, of Bruunerton*and T. Hunt, of Wellington. The stake is .£1)0 a-side, and the event is to take place at the Greymouth racecourse, 011 Monday next. Dr Gaze, of Westport, is announced to arrive litre to-morrow, and may be consulted at the Empire Hotel. Local and distant shareholders in the Manuka Flat Compan), will be glad to hear that good progress is being made with the extension of the prospecting tunnel. A report upon the locality, and present operations, will be given in our next.

According to advertisement appearing in another column, a poll of the ratepayers throughout the County, is to be taken ou Monday next, upon the important question affecting the proposed erection of a bridge over the BuUer river, near Westport. If there is any place under the sun which needs better roads, and more bridges, assuredly, it is roundabout this part of the Coast; and thereiore, anything which aims at facilitating traffic, by removing punts and the ferry charges attached to them, will be heartily and generally approved of. The site of the bridge,—under notice, will be some considerable distance removed from Lyell, but that is nothing; it is a step in the right direction ; with good roads and bridges spread about, direct taxes and delays aud hosts of other inconveniences will be banished; and we may then, in time, be able to get about like people ia other places. It is a matter of common remark, that the drags upon, and obstacles to decent travelling and transport,—-even on the mam trunk line of road, are, in instances, just as deep set, as in years upon years ago, when settlement was perhaps in as doubtful a state of chaos as anything<dse. Now, the case is tliiferetft; and the importance of regular inland communication, together with the steady development of ali that which is fast adding to permanency of settlement, certainly warrant that at least, the main trunk line of road should get that expenditure which alone will \nAa it fit for the purposes intended.

Sergeant Russell, who resigns his charge at Kumara at the end of this month, will be succeeded by Sergeant John Keatimr, of Boatman's, who, .in July last, was promoted to the rank of third-class sergt. The Otago Daily Times says :—" Whatever may be the fault of Mr Balance's policy and administration, it is impossible to doubt that they are grounded on principles which do credit alike to him and to the House. It is pleasant to see a Minister taking so high a stand and acting upon it."