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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 240, 8 May 1868, Page 2

The track to the Caledonian is as a matter of course, hopeless, but it gives us no small satisfaction to learn that the survey for another, which will not be a waste of bottomless mud, has already been completed by the Government. Specifications have been drawn out for it, and tenders will be called for «,s soon as instructions are received from Mr Kynnersley. These will probably arrive by the next boat from Nelson, and the disgraceful imposition that has hitherto been permitted will thus be put an end to. The new track touches partly on the old one in some places, but it will be formed similar to the one to Addison's. It will enter by Poverty Terrace where a bridge is to be built. It crosses the bottom of the gully there, and is cut up a sidling to the right. It goes then right at the back of the shanties, and keeps the top of the spur the whole way, till the diggings are reached. The new track will be about one mile shorter than the present one, and both diggers and business men will, on its completion, be able to travel up or down with comfort. A project is on foot to bring in water to the Caledonian from a creek some four miles distant, for the purpose of sluicing on a large scale—in fact, for washing the whole of the terrace that the prospectors first opened. An extended claim under the regulations has been applied for, and if it is granted a party of practical miners will set to work at once in order *o carry out the scheme. It will take several months to accomplish ; but if it is brought into Working order, some of the intended share* holders think that their " pile" is made. We shall be able to give fuller details on another occasion.

West Coast weather is proverbially bad, but yesterday was one of the most miserable of miserable days. It rained almost without ceasing; the air was raw and cold to a degree, and every one was about as uncomfortable as it was possible. At the time of writing, this wretched state of affairs appears likely to last, and heavy rain is threatened. One good thing, however, is, that the miners are prepared for it both at Addison's and the Caledonian, and at the former place no fear need be entertained of a recurrence of the disastrous floods that have so constantly retarded the advancement of that district. The floodraces, &c, now cut there will preserve it from any such calamities as formerly visited it.

Yesterday there was no Resident Magistrate's Court held, Dr. Giles being away at Addison's Flat and Mr Kynnersley absent at Nelson. Man-thrashing is becoming a favorite pastime of the ladies of Westport, of late, two lords of the creation having suffered chastisement at the hands of

two of the opposite sex during the post week. The first victim was very roughly handled, and if the latter was less hurt, it was no fault of will, but lack of power on the part of the indignant fair one, who belabored her object of vengeance with all her might in a public place, in the direction of the North Spit, on Tuesday evening. We strongly disapprove of wife beating, or of females being assaulted, but really the weaker sex are coining out as the stronger in more senses than one. An unhappy male animal under such circumstances is at a very considerable nonplus. If he retaliates after the same fashion, he is denounced, and justly too, as a coward for striking a woman ; if he submits patiently to the castigation, he becomes an object of ridicule, if he resorts to the law he is laughed at and despised, with the comfortable certainty of elevating his assailant into a heroine, and obtaining a verdict of " sarved him right." We only hope the practice will not extend farther.

The high spring tides of the last two days have had a very materially damaging effect on the river bank opposite the Esplanade. It is being gradually eaten away, and before long, unless some greater protection is afforded, Morey's Hotel is likely to share the fate of the saw-mills. We believe something is being done for river bank protection, but would specially draw attention to this portion. To-day and to-morrow are the highest tides, and an opportunity is offered for those curious in watching the process of river encroachment to gratify their tastes, and see it practically illustrated.

The telegraph, wire for the Charles-! ton district was shipped here in the schooner Louisa, and she made an unsuccessful effort to deliver her cargo at Charleston, but was driven back again. Since her return she has been overhauled, and was found so damaged that repairs are necessary before she can proceed to sea. Under these circumstances, the authorities very prudently had the wire landed on the other side of the river, and will send it down overland. This is far the most expeditious and certain mode of transit at this season, and we are glad that it has been adopted. It would be a great pity if through any cause the construction and efficiency of the line should be delayed, especially if the possibility of such a misforture can with certainty be avoided.

An instance of perseverance under difficulties is afforded by Randall and party, six in all, sinking at the Caledonian on the second terrace at the back of the township. It seems that some three months ago they commenced to put down their shaft on the above ground, and during that time they have worked hard with every chance of having a duffer. The ground was wet and every inch of the shaft had to be slabbed from top to bottom. After sinking 160 feet, the deepest shaft on the Caledonian by the way, they struck payable wash about four feet in thickness, and their ground will last them, they consider, from eighteen months to two years. Though not extraordinarily rich, their dirt will pay them well, and they well deserved their success. After striking this they found it impossible to work the ground without putting in a tunnel, which will occupy them eleven or twelve weeks longer, making pretty well altogether six months before they begin to be remunerated for their labor. They complain bitterly of the trouble they have been to to get permission for their tunnel. Owing to a trifling informality in the notice they had to wait fourteen days for a grant, and when they got it they were squeezed up into a corner, whilst the party in the adjoining tunnel held no less than 140 feet of ground. Notwithstanding all difficulties they are in high spirits and are a good sample of the persevering and undaunted mining class, that the West Coast can now boast of.

The subjoined obituary notice taken from the Otago Daily Times, of the 28th ult., announces the death of the oldest Freemason in these colonies:— " On the 27th April, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs Muir, Bedford House, Mr Thomas Allen, in the 82nd year of his age. The deceased was one of the earliest colonists of South Australia, having arrived there with a large family, in 1836, and presumed to be the oldest Freemason in the Australian colonies. Adelaide papers please copy."

The following case, taken from the Invercargill Weekly News, heard in the Kesident Magistrate's Court, Campbelltown, on the 20th April, will be of interest to pursers and stewards on board the coastal steamers:—-" C. F. de Sales O'Toole, sub-collector of H.M.'s Customs, Bluff Harbor, charged Charles Barry, fore-cabin steward on board the s.s. Hangitoto, with having

unlawfully in his possession 401bs. to-* bacco, with intent to defraud the revenue. Defendant pleaded not not guilty. Mr O'Toole stated that shortly after the arrival of the Rangi* toto, he noticed the defendant with what appeared to be a package of fruit on his shoulders, but on examining it, found the contents to be two 201b. boxes of tobacco. He took one of the plugs and compared it with the other stores on board, and found it cor-> responded. The case was proved, and defendant Was fined in the sum of £IOO, or to be imprisoned till the same be paid. The prisoner vVas removed to Invercargill on Tuesday.*'

Madame and the Misses Carandini, and Mr Sherwin gave their farewell concert on Wednesday evening to a very poor house we regret to say. They Went on board the Nelson the same night, and proceeded to Hoku tika where they will give another series of concerts.

To-night Mr Emanuel, of the Little Grey Hotel, gives a ball and supper to celebrate the opening of his new room. A large number of tickets have been issued, and an excellent supper will be provided; a first-class band has been engaged, and nothing has been omitted that could add to the comfort or pleasure of visitors. The Bruce Herald has the foU lowing amusing paragraph : —' What crop do you call that,' said a visitor to a Taieri farmer the other day, as they looked upon a field of wheat sown upon ground occupied by Oats last year. ' Deed weel a wat,' said the WelUknown Taieri farmer, scratching his grey pow,' I dinna ken what to mak o'd exactly, if wheat's dear an' oats cheap, I think I'll ca'd wheat, an' if oats is dear an' wheat cheap, I'll just ca'd oats.' We only hope he may now succeed in persuading the millers of Otago that his wheat crop, grown under such a careless system of farming, is worthy of being ranked as the dearer esculent."

A correspondent of the_ Lake WaTcatip Mail has the following : ' The filing, by so distinguished a man as Mr Harris, the Solicitor-Greneral, of a deed of arrangement quite took people by surprise. The office of Mayor is vacant, but I have been unable to obtain, even from the best informed quarters, how his position as Attorney-General of the colony is affected. But one thing is certain—his other positions will not be affected by it. Mrs Harris possesses large landed estates and property, and, it is stated, recently received a present of a very large sum of money (£5000) as a slight recompense for kind services rendered by Mr Harris. It is under these circumstances thatpeople wonder at the filing under the Bankruptcy Act of this deed of arrangement; From the same source We learn that Mr Gr. E. Barton, barrister and solicitor, has returned to Otago, having made up his mind that it is the best available field for settlement —or litigation. A fellow-townsman has permitted us (Invercargill Weekly News) to make the following extract from a letter written by a medical gentleman in extensive practice at Ballarat:— - " Tou have heard, of course, of the Duke being shot at. I have known O'Farrell for years, and have attended him. He is an unfortunately exciteable man, and has been in the habit of giving way to any of his passions to such an extent that he can no longer control himself. He has drank very heavily at times, and has had delirium tremens. When last I saw him he was as mad as he could be—"l believe this madness to be at the bottom of the crime, and not any Fenian complicity. ... I was nearly going to Sydney to give evidence as to O'Farrell's state of mind, but his friends would not subscribe sufficiently. They offered £BO, but I wanted £25 and £lO per diem. The " latest thing out" (says the Argus) in relation to the petitions v. the Crown is, that learned counsel have advised that upon all certificates signed by the prothonotary for the salaries of the civil servants, and in all other actions against Her Majesty in which judgments have been obtained, interest can be recovered upon them at the rate of eight per cent, per annum from the date of the judgment. The Common Law Procedure Statute, 1865, sec. 299, provides that " Every judgment debt shall carry interest at the rate of eight pounds per centum per annum from the time of the trial or inquiry, or if there shall have been no trial or inquiry, from the time of entering up judgment, or from time of the commencement of this action, cases of judgments then entered up, and the amount of such interest shall be stated in the body of, and may be levied under a writ of execution in such judgments." It is understood that certificates representing about £500,000 are now in the

taarkot, which have been principally Bold at the different pawnshops of the city, at five per cent, discount. A meeting of the "Westport Rifles was held last evening at the drill-room, now a portion of the Little Crey Hotel, late Wittkowski's store. The object of the gathering was to elect four sergeants and four corporals, and a large number of volunteers, eightysix, exclusive of officers, were present. For the sergeantcies there were fourteen nominations, viz., Messrs Martin, Cheswas, Fagg, Whiteford, "Watson, Curie, "Winstanley, McDowell, Bodkin, Nutmato, Best, Bentley, Daly, and Suisted. On a ballot being taken, it resulted in the election of Messrs Martin, Fagg, and Nutman. A ballot was then taken for the corporals, and out of a large number nominated Messrs Cheswas, Daly. Curie, and Suisted, were elected. Mr John Munro had been nominated; color-sergeant by Captain Pitt, but; before the other business commenced, he stated to the meeting, that although the captain, under the regulations, had power to nominate him to the office, he would not accept the appointment, : save with the consent of the corps. He therefore desired an expression of opinion from those present, and the result was that the appointment was unanimously approved of After the 'elections had concluded, some routine business was transacted and the meeting separated.