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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 233, 30 April 1868, Page 2

All intending travellers are referred to the alteration of dates in the mail services for the month of May, commencing to-morrow.

Those who are about to pay a visit on business or pleasure to Nelson, Lyttelton, Wellington, Dunedin, Bluff Harbor, or Melbourne, or to the northern provinces of this colony, have ail opportunity afforded them by the Airedale, which will leave Hokitika about the 2nd, though advertised for the Ist. Persons leaving here by any boats for Hokitika to-day or to-morrow will, no doubt, be in time to catch theabove steamer.

At a meeting of the Westport Education Committee on Tuesday last, tenders were received for the erection of a school-house, and that of Mr Somner was accepted. The size of the building is to be 20x36 feet, and it is to be ready for occupation in six weeks. A schoolmaster will shortly be appointed, and we hope that when this is the case, the claims of Mr Frazer who established the first school in Westport, and struggled along against great difficulties in the early days will be taken into favorable consideration. We omitted to state that a master's-house, consisting of four rooms, is also contracted for, and will be built within the same period. The cancelling of the Brunner Coal Company's lease at the Grey has, we believe, given general satisfaction to all but the lessees. Some boatmen are now bringing down coal on terms, temporarily arranged with the Government, but there can be little ttoubfc that another lease will shortly be issued. In connection with this mine, Mr Frazer of this town, to whom a lease was promised some years ago, before it was handed over to the quashed company, has sent in another petition to the Provincial Council, to consider his claim and grant him compensation for the wrong he a d others unquestionably suffered. Thou h no lease was actually issued, yet the promise of one was positively made, and had it been fulfilled, it is quite possible that the mine, before this, would have been properly opened and profitably worked.

The news from the Caledonian continues to be encouraging, though there is nothing very decided to report. Grerman Terrace is looking up, and at Poverty Terrace there are a great many setting in, with every probability of being well paid for their labor. At the former terrace Strange and party have got their tunnel in about five hundred and seventy eight feet, and commenced washing on Monday last. Their prospects, so far, are excellent, and as a matter of course, they are 'in high spirits. The track to the Caledonian simply execrable, and a day or two more of wet weather will render it absolutely impassable. The nonchalance exhibited by the authorities on the matter is a - founding. A very little money properly laid out, would render the track good, but for this mud canal, in some places literally three to four feet deep, colonial black-mail in the shape of toll, id levied with the knowledge and consent of the Government. We only wonder our Caledonian friends submit to their fate with so much resignation. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday there was but one charge on the sheet —that of an inebriate, who paid the usual penalty of excess. The sale of goods, &c, by Mr John Munro, in the estate of Tlennelly and Millen, was well attended yesterday, and considering tho times fair prices were obtained. As will be seen by advertisement the sale will be continued to-day. The delay in getting coal at Mokihinui was occasioned through the lessees having to throw away some two hundred tons of coal, which was not of so good a quality as desirable. It seems that a now shaft had been lately sunk, but the mineral struck was of a soft nature, and

it was necessary therefore to drive for the old seam, and sixty fivo feet was gone through before it was reached. It is now right, however, and we are promised a continuous supply in future

Wo would direct the attention of those having correspondence to send by the Panama mail to the notice which appears in another column. The mail via Panama will bo made up by tho Nelson to-day, and though it is just possible that there may be a supplementary one, all' parties wishing to secure transmission per first mail had better forward at once.

In the resolution moved by Mr Tyler and carried at the meeting on Monday last, the word " hurtful" appears instead of " untruthful." AV~e are requested to make this correction. The weather during yesterday was boisterous and stormy in the highest degree. Some heavy showers fell with sharp squalls frona the southward, and there is no doubt that a stiff breeze from that quarter was blowing outside. One of the watermen's boats, when nearly on this side and returning from the landing, was capsized in a squall, and the two occupants have to thank their swimming abilities for the preservation of their lives. The boat was turned bottom upwards, but the men struck out manfully and reached the shore in safety. The boat was subsequently recovered.