Untitled

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 183, 2 March 1868, Page 2

The Mining Conference. —On Saturday the long talked of mining conference was to have met at the Court House, but with the exception of Messrs Clune, Daley, and Connor, from Addison's Flat, who attended not as delegates to the conference, but merely out of courtesy to the Commissioner, who had called upon the miners to aid legislating for themselves. A conversation, more of a private character than otherwise, ensued between Mr Commissioner Kynnorsley and the gentlemen above-named;iir-wiiich they—staterl that, although fully qualified to act as delegates, they were not authourised to do so, and the only thing that would satisfy the miners would be the establishment of Mining Boards. The Commissioner observed that he should like to get the opinions of miners on various subjects connected with mining, and stated that meetings would be held on the various diggings to ascertain them.

Amateur Concert.—The concert in aid of the Church of England Parsonage Fund will be held on Tuesday evening at Stephenson's Assembly Rooms. On Saturday ladies were busy selling tickets, and we believe a large attendance may be expected. Catholic Church.—The Catholics, as usual, are the first to erect a church in this township, and the building, which will be a plain structure, is in a forward state. We notice elsewhere a concert in aid of the Parsonage Fund —"When will money enough be got together to erect a fitting place for Church of England worship? The Eiver.—Yesterday the river was alive with sailing boats, the fresh breeze blowing during the afternoon having apparently brought all the watermen's boats into requisition, and to enhance the pleasure of boating; the day was remarkably fine. Grand Masquerade Ball.—This evening Mr Stephenson gives a grand masquerade ball, at his Assembly Eooms accompanied with fireworks and a balloon ascent.

The Murderer Sullivan.—The Nelson Colonist of the 25th inst, says ; —This hated convict was removed from Nelson to Dunedin gaol, in the Phoebe, which left this port on Saturday moaning. He was taken down quietly, late at night on Friday, dressed in the uniform of a policeman. The facts leading to his removal are not generally known. He has caused a good deal of trouble in Nelson gaol, either making, or stirring up other prisoners to make mischief and discontent; and one great evil consequent upon the smallness of the establishment was strongly felt here, that there was no means of separating great criminals from small offenders or short sentence men. This want, and the absence of that complete classification and prison discipline which prevails in large gaols, together with the difficulty of managing Sullivan, induced the Provincial G-overmentonthe advice of the Visiting Justices, to apply to the G-eneral G-overnment for nis removal to a larger prison, in order that they might be relieved of such an undesirable burden. The reply was that he might be removed to either

Auckland or Otago, and Dunedin prison was fixed on, the Provincial G-ovemment of Otago having consented to take the convict, provided the Nelson Government would bear the expense of his maintenance, which was agreed to. Otago gaol has a large staff, ample accommodation, and rigid rules, whieh are strictly enforced. Sullivan it appears does not like the removal, and would far rather have staid in Nelson. The Wellington Evening Post of Saturday last mentions the arrival of the prisoner Sullivan, by the Phoebe, on that day, en route for Dunedin. The miscreant, on coming on deck, was recognised, and received anything but a sympathising welcome from those assembled on the wharf; hissed and hooted, he was conducted to a trap, and immediately forwarded to gaol, in the safe custody of Mr Inspector Atchison and three policemen.