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Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 141, 13 January 1868, Page 2

Testimonial to Mb Apted.—The testimonial to Mr Apted from the inhabitants of Charleston, as a token of the respect entertained for him, Avillbe presented this evening. First Chubch op England Service at the Caledonian Lead.— On Sunday morning the Eev. B. W. Harvey, the Church of England minister for "Westport, held divine service for the first time, in the prospectors' hut at the Caledonian Lead. There was a goodly attendance of miners, and the rev. gentleman was listened to with great attention. We must congratulate Mr Harvey on his pluck in thus penetrating to a district which stouter men than him have turned back from, and feel assured that his perseverance will be appreciated by the mining population.

The River Bank. —The gradual denudation of the north, shore iof the river is still proceeding, some* large pioco crumbling away at every tide, and leaving the bank more and more exposed to the further action of the water. It is to be feared tbat the temporary expedient adopted by Mr Sloan, of putting down fascines, filled in with shingles, behind the Customhouse, has not answered its intended purpose, yesterday's tide, which was an unusually bigb one, having washed away much of the earth, and reduced it nearly to the condition it was in before the brush was laid down. This would probably not have been the case had there been time between the tides to drive in proper piles, or a machine to drivo them with. At the time this is written it is raining heavily, and as the next tide may be expected to be extremely high, and there is a good deal of snow on the ranges, another fresh in the Buller is a disaster which may be looked forward to with some apprehension. Coal fbom: MoKraiNUT.—The first fruits of a nascent enterprise which may come to have important results on the prosperity of the port may now be seen in the neighborhood of the Stanley "Wharf, where lies the Mary, a small ketch, which came in with yesterday afternoon's tide, bringing the first cargo of coal from Mokihinui, of which she has on board 25f tons. The coal appears to be of excellent quality, quite equal, if not superior, to the average of Newcastle coal, and fully equal to that of the Grey. It is clean and bright, and burns freely with a strong gaseous flame that augurs well of its richness in all desirable qualities. It is the produce of a mine between three and four miles up the Mokihinui River, where it crops out on the face of a cliff, 30 or 40 feet in height, and is easily worked from the face ; but the mouth of the mine being below the level of high water, some difficulty arises in its transport, as none but very small boats can go up to the spot at such times as it is possible to deliver it, which renders its carriage somewhat troublesome and costly. But this obstacle is about to be overcome by the sinking of a shaft down on to the crown of the seam from the top of the hill, by which the miners will be able to work at all times and load boats at the most favorable period of the tide. The seam is not less than six feet in thickness, so that the workmen can stand upright in the claim. It has been traced back to a very considerable distance, and there are indications of other seams in the immediate neighborhood. A very curious formation is observable in the face of the seam > it is permeated by a distinct stratum of rosin nearly a foot thick, dividing the seam of coal into two distinct strata. There are at present four men employed in sinking the shaft, and two men and a lad in getting the coal. Messrs Batty and Milne, to whose enterprise the opening of the Grey mine was mainly due, have undertaken this new venture, and have every reason to be satisfied with its prospects ; Mr Batty, regarding them as much more promising than that of the Grey appeared to be after it had been opened for a similar length of time. We have not learnt the price at which it can be delivered here, but whatever it may be, it is quite certain that it would be immensely reduced by the making of a short and inexpensive tramway, which could be easily constructed to a point about three quarters' of a mile from the place of shipment, to which it could be taken in boats of 10 or 12 tons. The present cargo is consigned to Mr Arthur Beauchamp,and we have little doubt will prove a highly profitable investment. Should all these anticipations be realized, we have here the germ of an invaluable commerce one that will do much to raise Mokihinui from its present undeniable depression, and add another to the many advantages Westport possesses as a port of call for steamers, and harbor for sailing crafts, over every other on the West Coast. Any one who feels sufficiently interested in this matter may examine a specimen of the coal in our office.

Inspection of Steamships.—Mr Nancarrow, the Colonial Inspector of steam vessels, arrived yesterday in the Wallaby en route for Hokitika and other ports, where he has to make his quarterly inspection of the steamers employed on the Coast. Sales by Auction.—There were several auctions on Saturday held by Mr Dwan. At those of the remainder of the stocks-in-trade of Messrs Williams and Co. and of Mr John Lewis, the attendance of bidders Avas numerous, and the biddings sufficiently brisk, but in mauy instances goods were parted with at a remarkably low rate. The Casino de Venise, in Free-man-street, realised £9B. All the accessories for carrying on the business i were also disposed of, most of them great bai'gains. '

(Jtxoi- Returns.—The following is a return of the state of H.M. Gaol, Westport, for the wook ending 11th January, 18G8 : Recoivod Hard labor : men, 2 ; committed for trial, 1; debtors, nil. Discharged—Debtors, 3 ; hard labor, nil. At present confined— Debtors, 4 ; hard labor-men, 10 ; committed for trial, 2. Total, IG. The Governor.—His Excellency Sir George Grey returned to Auckland from Ohinemuri and the Upper Thames on the 21th ult. The tSturt went up the Ohinemuri stream nearly as far as Te Hira's house, but did not show himself. His Excellency made an attempt to get the country thrown open to the diggers, but without success. A deputation from the Provincial Council presented him with a farowell address. The Crops in Australia.—"With regard to the reported failure of a large portion of the Australian crops, the Geelong Register makes the following remarks: —" Notes on the state of the crops hero and in the neighboring colonies are of great interest at the present moment, and, although the various accounts concur in stating that the diseases incidental to cereals had given just cause for alarm, yet the magnificent weather experienced of late has done much to repair the damage that had been sustained. Pears of a failure of the crops are now dissipated, and generally the farmers have much cause for hope that the forthcoming harvest will yield them average pecuniary returns." The Caledonian Leao.—All the intelligence wo have been able to gather of the diggings in this locality seem to point to one result, that there is about to bo established hereabouts a large and very lucrative goldfiehl. Numerous parties of diggers with whom we have conversed, who have abandoned their claims on Addison's Plat in despair of ever effectually subduing the water, have been up to the new ground about the Caledonia, to judge for themselves of the probabilities of bettor success there, and without a single exception they express themselves so highly satisfied with the prospects as either to have pegged out claims or sent one of their mates to prospect that part of the country. The great obstacle to a more rapid development of the auriferous wealth that doubtless lies here awaiting the research of the miner is the villainous character of the road, or rather the want of all road whatever, which enhances the cost of provisions to an almost prohibiting point. "We are glad to see, however, that the Government have begun to move in this matter, as tenders are out for a footbridge over the Orawiti Lagoon, above Jones's Bridge. They were to close on Saturday, so that this much-needed work will probably be proceeded with at once.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Friday, January 10. Before J. Giles, Esq., M.D., E.M. Tonks and Hughes v. Campbell. — Claim for £2O, reduced from £2O 7s, to bring it within the jurisdiction of the Court. Mr Campbell applied for an adjournment on the ground of not having received the summons until the preceding night at 10 o'clock. JBalmer v. Rosenberg. —Claim for £6 10s on a promissory note given to Campbell, and held by plaintiff. Judgment by default. JBailie and Humphrey v. Captain and Owners of steamer Qo-a-Head. —Claim for £5 12s 6d, for over measurement of goods, 1 ton, 35 feet, at 60s per ton. Mr Bailie had measured the goods with Mr Watson, agent of the vessel, who admitted the over charge, but could not return it, from not having the captain's signature to the account. Judgment by dofault.

" SCENES SO CITARMINO." The scenery of the Adelphi Theatre, which has so frequently been the subject of dispute in this Court and elsewhere, was again a matter of lively altercation between Messrs Hamilton and Gouf/h and P. A. Jones. The former claimed £7, the amount paid to the latter for certain scenes sold by him, but of which he had never given up possession. After a considerable amount of evidence, pro and con, a verdict was given for plaintiffs with costs. Frederick Walsh v. Johi Crawford, for labor done, £llos. Dudgeon and Co. v. O'Donnel, £2 15s 2d. Adjourned to 20th inst. In Beid and Curie v, Ryan, O'Brien, and Thornton, Eyan admitted his liability for a fourth share of the amount, £3 15s, but denied his responsibility for the other three-fourths. The Court decided that each partner was liable for the whole debts of the firm. Judgment for plaintiffs, with time granted.

Judgment was given for tho amount claimed and costs in Dudgeon and Co, v. Peterson. Paul v. JEoans was adjourned till Tuesday, tlio 2Lst. DAMAGING A 110 AT. Thomas O'Toolo suminonod Lionel Fibbes, Joe the Greek and another, for £lO, the amount of damage done to a boat, taken away by them on Sunday week, and smashed. Tho plaintiff said ho was a boatman. On Sunday night week a party of persons took away his boat without witness's leavo. Ho wont up above the garden, where lie found tho boat lying with these boards stove in. Found defendant there with others. Asked him to pay tho damage, which he only laughed at. Tho amount dojnanded was partly for the damage to the boat and partly for tho loss of time during six days whilo she was under repair.

Lionel Fibbes said he did not take the boat, but had been askod to help to pull her up tho river as far as tho falls. Had consented. She had got a slew round, and came on tho sua"-. The Magistrate said that it was no defence to say that tho party now sued did not begin the transaction. Judgment would be given for plaintiff for the full amount claimed. THE TRACK TO THE CALEDONIAN. Malcolm Stevenson, v. Williams, Avas a claim for £2 for tolls for eight horses at 5s each, for passing over the plaintiffs protected bridge, seven miles from Orawiti Lagoon, on the road to Caledonian Terrace. Mr Pitt appeared for the plaintiff. The defendant did not appear, and judgment was given for the plaintiff. THE REGATTA PRIZE DISPUTE. Hale v. Bcid. —This was a claim for £lO against Mr Eeid, as Treasurer of the Sports Committee, for a prize alleged to have been won by the Hose of Denmark in the sailing match of the late Christmas Regatta. Mr Pitt was for the plaintiff. Mr Tyler, for the defence, stopped the ease at tho outset by reminding his Worship that he, as a member of the Committee could not properly adjudicate in the matter. It was accordingly adjourned till Friday, to give an opportunity for settling it by arbitration. UNDEFENDED CAUSES. Judgment by default was given in Hennelly and Millen v. W. Jones for £l2 Os lOd; Lewis v. Adam Porter and Co. for £4 9s 6d ; Clarice v. Harris for £5 12s; Smgfhe v. PatricJc Burke, £7 lis Gd; Macintosh v. Damms and Young, £9 19s 6d. Judgment was confessed in Canfield v. Spring for £5 ; and in TattenJiam v. Neville Thornton, for washing, £1 2s, with time allowed. Nonsuits were entered in Patich Martha v. George Morris and Partrg.