The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 156, 30 January 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1868.

Mining Delegates.—Mr Kynnersley invites the attendance of miners of the Buller District, at Westport CourtHouse, on Saturday the 29th prox., to elect representatives to a Mining Parliament, whose function will be to amend and revise the Goldfields Regulations. The advertisement gives the qualifications necessary for a delegate to obtain a seat on this Board. A Reminisence op Westpokt.— Yesterday six years the inhabitants of the Buller district or township were startled out of their propriety by the arrival of the steamer Tasmanian Maid, under the command of Captain W. Whitwell, now of the s.s. Nelson, which crossed the bar at six o'clock in. the morning, bringing about 70 or 80 passengers. As this was the first steamer which had ever crossed the bar or entered any of the rivers on the West Coast. It caused a great sensation both here and at Nelson. The population up to that time amounted to about 200 including the natives, 70 in number. The principal diggings at that time were at the "Waimangaroa and at the old diggings about 27 miles up the Buller River, where gold had been discovered about two years previous by Mr John Eochfort's survey party in an attempt to reach Nelson by the Buller. The next visit paid to this port by a steamer was made under very peculiar circumstances ; the supplies of provisions were rather apt to run short, as two little hookers, the G-ypsey and Jane, were all the tonnage that could be employed or that would enter into so risky a trade as that requiring a visit to that terra incognita the West Coast These two vessels had both been chartered to leave Nelson, loaded with stores, but were windbound for 42 days and at sea nearly the whole time. The inhabitants of the Buller where the utmost straits with famine, being placed on an allowance of three potatoes per day; a whaleboat was despatched praying for relief from the Government. On Friday, the 2nd of November, the two vessels entered the river, and on the Sunday following the Wonga Wonga, with stores and provisions sent by the Nelson Grovernment, crossed the bar, being the second steamer, amid the hearty cheers of the grateful population, Captain Plowerday, of the s.s. Ahuriri, being first officer on board at the time. Resident-Magistrate's Couet.— There was no business beyond one case of drunkenness yesterday morning. There will be no Court to-morrow, Dr Giles having to leave at an early hour for Mokihinui, and on Saturday the Court will be closed as well as the Banks, Custom-Honse, and other public establishments, in celebration of the Anniversary of the Foundation of the Province.

Gbeyhottth Election. —Tne Greymouthians seem to look upon their election as a much more important matter than our candidates here did, as one of them, Mr Harris, more popularly known as " Jack," of the Star Hotel, has taken the trouble to come as far as the Buller to canvass the few stray electors residing here who may have votes for that district, in which we believe he has been tolerably successful. Combining personal with political business, he has taken the opportunity of purchasing 20 tons of potatoes, which he takes down with him to-day in the Waipara. It is a curious instance of the round-about ways of commerce that it shjtfjßbe possible to supply Auckland potatoes, landed at and re-shipped at Westport. The Theatbe.—Ben Bolt and a new burlesque entitled Ching-Chang-fou were played last night to a tolerably good house for the benefit of Mr. F. J. Passy. The Mail by Panama.—The Fluahine, with the English mail of the 2nd of December, and telegraphic news via the Atlantic cable, to the 16th of the same month, reached Wellington on Saturday afternoon, at five o'clock. As no steamer wa9 known to be likely to leave Wellington for Nelson before the Bth of February, an offer of the services of the steamer Nelson to proceed to Wellington and bring on the Nelson mails has been accepted by the Government. She left here last evening for the purpose, and will return with the mails early to-morrow morning:

News from Nelson. — The Ken-1 nedy, which arrived late last night, hrings papers to the 28th, but they contain nothing of any particular importance. Prince Alfred's Visit. The Canterbury Press, of the 20th, hears " thas it is in contemplation to get up another race meeting, to take place during the visit of his Royal Highness Prince Alfred, which will probably occur about the end of March or beginning of April next." Nelson Railway.—We, Nelson Examiner, notice that the Melbourne Weekly Age, of the 14th, reproduces the report, circulated by the Argus, and contradicted by us on the 16th, that the Nelson Q-overnment had granted power to Erancis Stevens, Esq., to form a company for the construction of a railway from Nelson to Westport and Cobden. East and West Canterbury.— The jftgttelton Times, of a recent date in speaking of the accounts between the two divisions of the province, says:—" A general summary has been published of the state of accounts as between East and West Canterbury, drawn up by Mr. John Ollivier, Provincial Auditor. The various sums are given which have been expended upon different departments since the the first occupation of the West Coast gold-fields. These are interesting in themselves, but the chief importance naturally attaches to the total amount as compared with the actual revenue. The total expenditure, then, down to the close of last year, was £450,000, while the total revenue was £333,000. Thus, Westland starts in its separate career with a debt of <£117,000 owing to this Province. As to the repayment of the debts, there are two methods. Either Westland must con-

tribute yearly out of its revenues towards the clearing off of the provincial debt of Canterbury, or it must accept the transfer of so much as it actually owes. The former course was that preferred by Mr. Mborhouse in the General Assembly last year, and adopted by an almost unanimous vote. It has been very unnecessarily and very foolishly complained of by some who think they are advocat-

ing Westland interests. Canterbury would greately prefer to transfer to Westland, the debt pure and simple of £117.,000, to running the risk of obtaining a yearly contribution which at any moment may dwindle down to the most insignificant sum. Mr. Moorhouse's proposal was the only practicable one at the time for the actual amount in which Westland then stood indebted to Canterbury was not ascer-

tained ; and indeed it could not be ascertained till now, when the accounts

are finally closed. But it should now be as decidedly agreeable to Canterbury as to Westland, that the overexpenditure upon the latter district should be transfered to the account of Westland as its sole liability. On this side of the range, we should certainly regard this arrangement as much safer, and probably the inhabitants of Westland may regard it as more equitable."