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Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 143, 15 January 1868, Page 2

Departure of Prince Alfred prom Melbourne.—The sojourn of the Duke of Edinburgh in Victoria has ended. The .Galatea left Hobson's Bay on the afternoon of the 4th inst. in company with the Alhambra. Her destination was Hobart Town. In the capital of Tasmania—a fair and beautiful city, thoitgh of far less magnitude and pretension than Melbourne—His Royal Highness will, no doubt, receive a worthy reception. He will arrive in time to be present at the great Champion Race Meeting and the Champion Regatta, Prom Hobart Town His Royal Highness will proceed to Sydney, and from Sydney he will embark for "Wellington. Post-office Accommodation.—lt has often been a matter of astonishment to us how the "Westport Postmaster manages to transact the whole of his business in the building designated the Post-office, especially when we consider that it has to serve as a sitting-room, bedroom, and kitchen for Mr "Winstanley and assistant. The amount of business that is transacted would strike anybody with surprise, and being so close and confined it must be very prejudicial to health, to say nothing of inconvenience. The necessity for increased accommodation is so obvious that we believe it only requires attention to be drawn to it in order that the want may be remedied. Mint for Victoria.—By late Sydney papers we learn that a Mint is about to be established in Victoria, the necessary authorisation from the Imperial authorities having been received by the Government of that Colony. The machinery has been ordered, and a large sum —£IS,ooo—for the maintenance of the Mint, has been voted by the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

The Election for Charleston. — It will be seen on reference to our Charleston news, that a requisition is in course of signature to Mr Hennelly, of the firm of Hennelly and Millen. We have before alluded to this gentle, man as an eligible candidate for that district, and we only hope that he may be induced to comply with the wish of the requisitonists. Ta.ijj-ka.oes on Addison's Elat.—A question of vital interest to the future prosperity of Addison's Elat came before the "Warden for adjudication on Monday and yesterday, in two different applications for protection to the claims of the applicants while they were engaged in cutting tunnels to serve as tail-races for the drainage of their particular claims' and incidentally of the whole of the neighbouring claims. There was a very strongly organised opposition, on the ground that while work was going on water would be accumulating in the shafts belonging to the applicants, which would be veryinjurious to the objectors, but this objection was not made out, as it already appeared that the claim of the parties who proposed to dig the tail-race was far below that of the objectors, consequently the latter could not possibly be injuriously affected by the drainage of water from it, to any serious extent. Mr Beauchamp, the surveyor engaged by the applicants, stated that he believed the making of these races would be the salvation of the flat, and that it was only by these means that ther?. was a chance of working it profitably. The Court took the same view and granted the application, with certain restrictions as to the time within which the work was to be completed. "We fully believe that these drainage works will be of as much benefit to the mining community at large as to the spirited proprietors who have undertaken them.

Home Scholarship fob Australian Students. —A despatch has been received by his Excellency Sir D. Daly, Governor of South Australia, informing him that a scholarship of £IOO per annum at one of the English Universities is about to be established by the Home authorities for the benefit of distinguished students in Australian colleges.

An Inch of Bain.—We often hear the question asked, " What is an inch of rain?" A late weekly return of the Registrar-Grencral gives the following solution, combined with other information with regard to rainfall which will be interesting at the present moment: —Rain fell in London to the amount of 0.43 inches, which is equivalent to 43 tons of rain per acre. The rainfall during last week varied from 30 tons per acre in "Edinburgh to 215 tons per acre in Grlasgow. An English acre consists of 6,272,640 square inches, and an inch deep of rain on an acre yields 6,272,640 cubic inches of water, which at 277,274 cubic inches to the gallon makes 226,225 gallons ; and as a gallon of distilled water weighs 10 lbs., the rainfall on an acre is 225,225 lbs. avoirdupois; and consequently an inch deep of rain weighs 100,933 tons, or nearly 101 tons per acre. For every 100 th of an inch a ton of water falls per acre. If any agriculturist were to try the experiment of distributing artificially that which nature so bountifully supplies, he would soon feel inclined to " rest and be thankful." Bkeweky eor Westport. —We understand that a brewery will shortly be opened by Messrs McCarthy and Robinson, at the rear of Mr Trimble's hotel, Westport. The want of a brewery has long been felt in Westpert, and we have no doubt but that it will be well suppoitsd.

Thompson's Monument Burned Powjt by the Kingites.—The following telegram was received in Auckland from Waikato on the 23rd ult.:— " The Ngatiporous have burned down Firth's monument to Thompson, and given notice that they would attack Kihikihi in a month." The monument was inaugurated some months ago in presence of the Queenite and Kingite sectious of the ISTgatihaua, Thompson's tribe. The Herald of the 30th says this piece of mischief was the work of a few East Coast natives. "With regard to the threatened attack upon Kihikihi, the Southern Cross says " that bodies of armed men have been moving lately from the Piako, Upper Thames,. and other quarters to the neighborhood of Tokongamutu. It is probable that some of these men, passing near Kihikihi, have threatened the settlers in a loose way, without any authority from head-quarters. But it must be remembered that Kihikihi was Rewi's pet village, and would likely be the first place attacked." Southland Railways.—The Southland Times, of January 3, publishes a correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and the Superintendent of Southland, on the subject of the pro-

posed railways in Southland. Tho Provincial Council recommended a grant of 60,000 aer.;s for the completion of the Invercargill and Oreti line, and of 150,000 acres for the formation of a lino between Invercargill and Mataura. The Superintendent has agreed to let the latter project rest for the present, and Mr Stafford declines to recommend to the Governor a grant of 60,000 acres for the former until it is seen 'that the lands opened up by the line will be sufficient to repay its cost in a short time.

General Government Prize Firing.—The Gazette, of tlie 31sb ulfc., contains the following alteration in the rules previously published, respecting the firing for the Government prizes : "In clause 2, the number of shots at each range for the Ist set of Colonial prizes, t') be five instead of three. No prize will be given for a less score than 30 marks. Highest possible score, 60 marks. In clause 3, preliminary c >inpetitive firing, seven shots instead of three. Highest possible score, 84 marks. One representative for every twenty men, who sc< rJ 42 (instead of 18) marks. The minimum score for a representative will be 50 (instead of 24) marks." The State op Auckland.—The following description of the state of Auckland is given by the correspondent of the 'Hawkes Bay Times : —" The financial condition of Auckland is both critical and extraordinary. An immense amount of undeveloped wealth exists within her territory ; her natural maritime advantages are almost unequalled, certainly not surpassed, in the Australasian group. If the population of the goldfields were left out, Auckland would probably yet number the largest population; yet her Provincial Government will find its very existence threatened, owing to scarcity of cash. How is this ? Firstly : Previous to the war something like 90 per cent, of her lands were locked up in the hands of the Maori. Even after the confiscations, probably 75 to 80 per cent, remained aboriginal. Out of this large proportion no revenue could be obtained. The small portion had to provide the means to improve the whole. Secondly: For several years her politicians of both parties have been striving, by two opposite methods, to accomplish one end.; and it is scarcely surprising that they have succeeded, and annihilated her territorial revenue. One party agitated for the removal of the restrictions on dealing with native land ; in other words, direct purchase. Under direct purchase a large territorial revenue was out of the question. The other party insisted on giving land away, urging that by attracting population we should increase our customs revenue (which is partly true), and gain more indirectly than the value of the land. This appears plausible, and might be a correct view, provided we had the land to give, and further if the customs revenue belonged to the province. But to buy land to give away appears as good policy for the province as to destroy the territorial revenue, which is Provincial, for the sake of increasing the customs, only half of which falls to the Province ; however,

both parties have had their day ; direct purchase on one hand, free grants on the other, coupled with a severe commercial pressure, have made territorial revenue a thing of the past. The confiscated lands have been so managed, or mismanaged, that they have been eaten up by officials; in short, have hitherto involved a loss to the Colony, and our Superintendent has declined to accept the land with the charges on it. "While our territorial revenue is e;one, our Customs have also decreased considerably, and when the interest on our debts is paid, the portion remaining to the province out of the ''provincial half"

is net sufficient to maintain our provincial establishments. Hencfl local taxation is unavoidable, and most of the settled

districts have been divided into highway districts, and rates levied for roadmaking, bridge building, &c.; but here again the irrepressible Maori rises in view, for Maori land is exempt from highway rate?. Our unfinished railway is a standing monument to the incapacity of those entrusted with its

management. "What with the rapacity of land owners, the blundering of commissioners, and the stupidity of engineers and contractors, an amount of money has been muddled away, sufficient to have completed a great proportion of the line, if judiciously expended. It appears a Bill has passed the Assembly to provide funds for completing the Onehunga branch of the line, but the money will have to be borrowed on security of the works. . A Sea. Walt,.—A contemporary gives the following account of the great sea wall about to be erected on the water front of San Francisco : " A pit or channel sixty feet below mean low tide, will be excavated for the

foundation of the wall, which will consist of a rock embankment thirteen feet wide at tl\c top, at the level of mean low tide. When the settling of this wall is complete, a body of concrete, two feet thick and ten feet in width, will ho laid on ; and upon this will be constructed a wall of solid masonry, seven feet three "inches wide and nine feet eight inches high, vertical on the land side and sloping on the water side, with an offset for tho reception of timbers On the lino of each street sewers will be constructed through the wall. Tho face of the embankment on the water side will be protected by a riprap wall of stones to weigh not less than 590 lbs each. All wharves, piles, and other obstructions within the limits of the work are to be removed by the contractors. No earth will be used in tho formation of the rock embankment, nor any stone sub* ject to decomposition by action of air or water, the larger stones to bo deposited on the sea side of the wall. Benicia or Jlosendalo cement is to be used for the concrete portion, preference being given to Benicia cement. The front of the masonry wall is to be Polsom or State Capitol granite blocks laid to break joints. The riprap wall is to be made of some kind of hard stone not subject to decomposition by the waves."

RESIDENT MAGISTATE'S COURT. Before J. Giles, Esq., M.D., R.M. Tuesday, January 14. an idle and disorderly person. Kate Kent was brought up on the charge of being an idle and disorderly person. Detective Lambert deposed to having found the accused under a verandah in Gladstone-street, soliciting men to go with her at a late hour of the evening. Constable Rhodes stated .that he had known the prisoner for six months: He had seen her down at the Orawaiti a ting most indecently. She and another woman were the only persons who walked the streets publicly. He had frequently cautioned her to leave this town or she would be prosecuted as a vagrant. The prisoner tried to shake the evidence against her, but failing, the Court inflicted the penalty of one month's imprisonment.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Thomas Walsh was brought up on this charge, and admitting the offence, was fined 10f. CIVIL CAUSES. Houston"v. Melville —£2 for boots, &c. Jacob Weitzell v. Damms, for beer, £4. T. W. Melville v. Fred Norton, for £2 10s. Hunger and Meldrum v. Temperley, of Mokihinui, for labor done, £5 0s lOd. K. Gibbons and Go. v. D. H. Murdoch, for lumber, £l2 5s 7d. Rimmer and Ford v. Knoppe, for £3. In each of these cases judgment was given for the amount claimed with costs.

WARDEN'S COUET. Tuesday, Jan - . 13. (Before J. Giles, Esq., M.D., E,M.) Hoskins and Party, Younghusband and Party, Dougherty and Party, v. Campbell. —This was an application, precisely similar to that made the day before, for protection to the applicants' claim while they were engaged in driving a tunnel to serve as a tail-race to carry off the water from their claim into a creek running in the neighborhood. The objection was that while the applieants were occupied with their tail-race, the water in their shaft would be lying stagnant, and would be soaking through into the neighboring claims. Mr Beauchamp, mining surveyor, said that lie was engaged to take levels for a tail-race inteuded to drain his clients' claim ; if carried out, it would incidentally benefit the whole of the claims on that portion of Addison's Plat. At present the water either overflows into the different claims or soaks through the shingle, so as to swamp them. It was his opinion that without such a tail-race as that now proposed, the Plat could not bo worked ; with it, all the claims now in occupation could be worked, and it was very possible that in tile course of cutting it they might come across auriferous ground richer than any yet worked, as it had never hitherto been properly prospected. The storm-channel and the flood-race that had been cut by the united action of the miners Avould no doubt be of great value, but they would not obviate the necessity of deep draining, which it was the object of this tunnel to supply. There were only two now applied for, but in all probability four would bo required to properly drain the flat. These would drain Skibbereen and all the surrouuding ground, and there was every probability that a good payable goldfickl would be revealed by this simple operation. By the fact of

the ground being so tossed about in the various workings, the streams had been diverted from their natural courses, and had spread about in every direction on the flat. No permanent benefit could bo attained without deep drainage. The flumes often gave way, and suffered all the dirt and rubbish to fall into the creek, and choke it up. His clients' (Younghusband's) claim was the deepest on the flat. If they were to spend their time in baling, every other claim would reap the advantage, and be Avorked out before they could begin. The others would be worked out in one or two months. His clients had at least twelve months work before them. There was po difficulty about the making of the tunnel; it was merely a question of labor. He believed that this tunnel would be the saving of the flat. Unless some such work were constructed, the greater part of the miners would leave the district. The tunnel would require the labor of 30 men for about three months. Its total length would be 1247 feet, and the total fall 65 feet 6 inches. The fall of the bottom of the tunnel from beginning to end would be 14 feet G inches. There was at present no natural drainage in the direction of the tunnel, probably because of reefs and mullock-bars.

llobert Teunant deposed that their's was the deepest shaft on the lead. It required seven men and a horse to keep the water down. They had not yet one man's ground worked out. They met with the water at 2S feet depth, and puddled it back. On going through the wash-dirt they again met with it, before the surface-water came 171 from the floods. They proposed to work constantly, night and day, in six or eight-hour shifts. They would sink shafts, if possible; if not, they would drive the tunnel from the face through 1 ! out.

Other witnesses were heard and many questions asked, but no new facts elicited.

The Warden, after a very careful sifting of the evidence on either side, decided in this case, as well as in the application heard the preceding day, to grant the protection asked for to the claims of the applicants during the time they are engaged upon the works of the tunnel, with the proviso that if "the work be not pursued with all due diligence, or to an ultimate completion, the protection will be forfeited, and they will be called upon to bale out their claim or abandon it. With regard to such other claimholclers as may afterwards wish to join in the making of the tail-race, but as yet have not signed their names to the application, they wall have to make special application to the Warden's Court for protection during the time they are employed upon the joint work.

William and Adam Williamson and Joseph Scolly v. Henry Phillips. —Mr Tyler appeared for the complainants in this case; Mr Pitt for the defendant. It was an application for a decree by the Court of a dissolution of partnership and a winding-up of accounts, on the ground that the defendant would not work amicably with the complainants, nor come to any friendly arrangement with them. Mr Tyler said that the continuance of the partnership was rendered impracticable by the acts of the defendant,

Mr Pitt said he was willing to submit to a decree of dissolution ; all his client wanted was a settlement of accounts. It was pretended that there had been a settlement on the 7th of September, but he was prepared to prove that this was no settlement at all, but a simple statement of accounts. The accounts then produced were put into an envelope, sealed up, and delivered into the hands of defendant's wife.

Mr "Whitford was appointed by the Court to examine into the partnership accounts, and ai'bitrate between the parties, this being really the whole subject of the matter in dispute.