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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 228, 24 April 1868, Page 2

A memorial has been prepared and will be sent round for signature today to the Provincial Executive and Council, praying that the Coal Reserve in this town may he either sold or that the occupants be permitted to hold the ground as at present, under business license. The idea of leasing on any terms is distasteful to a majority of the holders, and under the circumstances, their petition has every right to obtain f ivorable consideration.

The Nelson Examiner under the head of Grey Coalfields has the following : " Wo understand the Government has terminated the lease, granted two years ago to a Ballarat Company, to work the coal at the Grey. The conditions of the lease have been violated in several ways, but the Government were nevertheless desirous of seeing the company work the mine, if they gave any guarantee that they would do so properly. But when it was found that the mine was being worked in a way to seriously injure it, the Government decided on the course we have stated."

We are requested to draw the attention of the trade to tho sale by auction, of cattle, sheep, and pigs, ex Wanganui, on the South Spit this day, at 8 o'clock, by Robertson and Co. Auctioneers. The stock to bo offered is of the very primest description and thecargogencrallyissaidtobeone of the very finest lots ever olfered on the B tiller. Wo learn from the West Coast Times of Monday that the child George Gething. for an aggravated assault upon whom Win. Robinson, late landlord of the Duke of York Hotel, was, on the 7th February last, sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labor, died on Tuesday, and that an inquest will be held on the body today. Previous to this a post mortem examination will be made to ascertain whether the child's death resultedfrom natural causes or from the effects of the injuries received. In the latter case the prisoner will, doubtless, be arraigned on a charge of manslaughter, The former activity that prevailed at Dead man's Creek has quite ceased, and the population has almost disappeared. Most of the men have gone northwards, aud a good many are now at work about four miles from Deadman's, and are earning fair wages from beach diggings. A meeting of members of the Church of England was held at the Court-house, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of appointing officebearers in connection with the church. Messrs W. Pitt and Winstanley were chosen as churchwardens, and Messrs 11. Pitt, Tyler, Williams, Moore, Haskins, Harris, Whitefoord, Parry, Morrison, and Garland, vestrymen.

A case of suicide occurred at Wellington a few days ago. A young man, a house-painter by trade, and of the name of Henry Woodward, walked into - :.i.' ;.. i. „i 1, i ft CLlUtUlftlj » 111 lAJ WII iIUUUU 11UU11, C4U.U UUI" chased half an ounce of laudanum. He then went further down the street to an hotel, walked up to the bar, called for a glass of brandy, poured the laudanum into it, drank it off, told the barman he had poisoned himself, because he didn't feel exactly happy, and then fell down insensible, in which state he remained for a short time and then quietly died. The report in reference to the probability of a rush to Mokihinui, in consequence of new ground being opened, turns out to be without foundation. It is true that some six men at a terrace about three miles north of the river, have been for sometime getting a little gold, but scarcely more than enough to give them tucker. There is nothing freshly opened in that locality of any kind whatever, and the halcyon days of Mokihinui, as far as gold-getting goes, are apparently as far distant as ever.

The lessees of the coal mine at Mokihinui are making strenuous exertions to open up their ground, and supply thef] demand that has recently sprung up for' their mineral. The Waipara, on Wednesday, was delayed through want of coal, and the Bruce alone can take nearly as much as they have hitherto raised. The coal is of first-class quality, and is improving every day, as the work advances. The lessees have arranged with a craft to be occupied wholly in carrying their produce to this port, and when their preliminaries are completed they will be able, we are told, to supply private persons with coal at £2 10s per ton, and as a matter of course, large consumers at a reduced rate. At this price it will be cheaper than wood, and will no doubt soon become a household necessity. There was no Resident Magistrate's Court held to-day, as Dr Giles was absent, holding a Warden's Court at Addison's.