The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume 2, Issue 150, 23 January 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1868.

Election Notes. —Yesterday wasa quiet day in electioneering matters. though we understand that two of the candidates Messrs. Goodwin and Graham—were to adelress the electors on the Cnledoninn Lead last evening. Mr. J. V. Smith will address the electors this evening at Westport, and MP. Goodwin will do the same at Addison's Plat. Mr Ferris addressed a large and influential meeting of the miners and residents of Addison's Flat on Tuesday evening, and in answer to a numerously signed requisition, which will be found in another column, bas consented to stand, and will explain his views to the electors of Westport on Saturday evening, at Trimble's Nelson Hotel. The Escort. The escort from Charleston Drought in between 3000 and 4000 ounces of gold yesterday.

Odd Fellowship.—The local paper states that a new room has been constructedat the Club Hotel, Greymouth, for the special use of the Loyal Greymouth Lodge of the M.U., 1.0.0. E. The society is also progressing favourably in that town.

Telegbaph Communication.—The Argus of the 21st says —" The line for the telegraph wires from Greymouth to Wcstport hasjbeen cut for a distance of about 12 miles, which brings the route up to a poiut where very little culting is required for about twenty miles. The surveyor expects that the line will be so far laid out that the suspension of the wires may be commenced in about' a month. It is expected that telegraphic communication with Brighton, Charleston and Westport will be established some time in March."

The Thames Goldpiems.—The local papers report that there is a steady increase in the monthly export of gold from the Thames. The Banks of Australasia and the Union Bank of Australia have sent away by the s.s. Auckland to Sydney, 298 and 1415 ounces respectively, while the Bank of New Zealand sends by the Taranaki, for shipment at Wellington for England, 1480 ounces. In all, the Banks alone send this month. 3113 ounces, as against 1200 ounces sent away at the b ginning of last month. On January 1, 800 ounces arrived from Coromandel, aud 30 ounces by the Enterprise from the Thames, which will swell the amount forwarded to Sydney. The above only represents the amount forwarded by the banks, and does not refer to private parcels forwarded elsewhere. Looking at the very little increased crushing accomodation afforded to the miners during the past month, the increased quantity of gold produced is satisfactory. It is still nearly all the produce of Berdan crushing. There is still an enormous demand for machinery, and there is ample room and an unlimited amount of work for some score or two of machines, if they were only on the ground. The assay of gold from the Thames was concluded with the following results : —Eureka, 15 carats 21 grains ; Long Drive (two samples), 15 carats 2| grains, and Kapanga, 15 carats 3 grains. An assay from an ingo't, containing various small parcels, gave 15 carats 8 grains. The best result that has been obtained was from gold from M'Mahon's claim, situate in the neighbourhood of Mania. This was found to be 18 carats 3 grains, fine. An assay of gold from Carpenter's claim gave 15 carats 3 grains ; another from the Charleston, 15 carats 3;} grains, and a third from that of S. E. Carter and Company, 15 carats £ grain. The other assays ranged from 17 carats 4f grains to 14 carats 2fgrains.