The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 246, 15 May 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1868.

Our Charleston contemporary, not satisfied with being contemptible in a literary point of view, must add to its reputation by publishing foolish, mischievous, and deliberate falsehood, in reference to this district. In Tuesday's issue, the Herald has the subjoined, and we give the whole of his paragraph, so as to prevent us from being accused of garbling it. We may add that it was written with the intention of confuting some remarks relatiye to this district published in our local evening contemporary. " The diggings that may be included in the Buller district are the Caledonian and Addison's, a few miners are scattered along the beaches to the North, and also up the Lyell, and the tributaries of the Buller river, but these, so far as we can learn, are not remuneratively employed. As a rule, the miners on the Caledonian Lead are doing well. _ On Addison's the ground is exceedingly difficult to work, and the miners hitherto have not reaped the reward of their continued perseverance. Looking generally and impartially at the prospects of the Buller district, they must be declared to be bad; it possesses a large population, which, if not undergoing the process of being starved out is very far from earning adequate wages. "We have good authority for stating that nearly three-fourths of the gold shipped from Westport is the produce of the districts of Charleston and Brighton, in which case it is idle for the "Westport local papers to refer to the shipments of bullion as a proof of their prosperity." Now anything more utterly and maliciously false could not well be strung together, and as facts are the strongest arguments, we resort to them in order to prove that assertion. In the first place, it is tolerably certain that all the gold got in Charleston and Brighton is sold in those places 'and comes up to Westport by escort. * It is equally certain that the gold shipped from Westport over and above that so brought from Charleston, must be the produce of the Buller district proper, including the places mentioned in the paragraph in question. We think all will allow that such a method of ascertaining the relative yield, cannot be other than a fair one as far as Charleston is concerned, though for reasons we will subsequently show it is not just to the Buller in forming such an estimate. We cannot take isolated weeks, for we have no escort here nor any means of checking or ascertaining what our returns are, excepting by reference to the amount on which duty has been paid at the Customhouse here during, say the past month. We find that the Charleston and Brighton escort during April, brought altogether the very handsome amount of 8223 ounces. The returns for the same period show that 16,1760z. 15dwt. of gold were passed through the Custom-house here. If we deduct the Charleston gold from the gross quantity and place the balance to the credit of the Buller district, we find that the latter contributed 7953 oz. as against 8223 oz., or only 270 oz. less. Yet the Herald, with characteristic cool mendacity, states that " nearly three-fourths of the gold shipped at Westport is the produce of the districts of Brighton and Charleston." In order to allow our contemporary the fullest latitude, we have assumed that

all that gold was the bona fide produce of Charleston and Brighton, but such is by no means the case, for much of the gold purchased at Addison's is either sent to Charleston by the storekeepers, or sold there actually by the miner. This is an incontrovertible fact, and is weU known. Even if it were not, however, we have we imagine fully proved the assertion we set out with, as to the Herald's untruthfulness. Now, on that paper's account alone we should not have cared to contradict the statements made, but there is from some inexplicable cause or other, a disposition on the part of other more reputable journals to disparage as far as possible, the Buller and its prospects, and it is on their account that we expose our envious friend at Charleston. We have in these remarks not the slightest desire to underrate the resources and the wealth of Charleston and its neighborhood; on the contrary, nothing would give us more pleasure than to hear of its yields being twenty times as great as they are. Westport cannot but heartily acknowledge the value of Charleston, and the most cordial good feeling prevails between the two places. Such mean petty jealousy as the Herald shows is not felt by the Charleston people—it springs from a most unworthy cause, persona to the paper, and is worthy of the jour nal and its belongings Still, in order to gratify its own spleen it need not vilify a district; the Charleston district in itself is quite good enough to stand on its own bottom, and its inhabitants, we are sure, do not desire it to be exalted in the world's eyes at the expense of truth.

The accounts from Hokitika are, we regret to say, eminently unfavorable to shipping. The bar is so bad that steamers dare not venture in, and till a fresh occurs to scour out a channel this state of things must continue. The Bruce generally comes out when other boats are stuck, and it is to be hoped that she will not fail us in the present strait. It is the more especially provoking to have Hokitika sealed up at this juncture, when the news from there is of such interest. If Captain Whitwell, with the Kennedy, cannot face it, there is little hope for any other boat on the coast to do so with safety. It gives us no little satisfaction to announce the safe delivery of the p.s. Nelson from her unpleasant predicament in Hokitika. As was expected, we are informed that she was safely launched yesterday (Wednesday), and has sustained no material damage whatever from her sojourn on the spit.

Accounts from Mokihinui are to hand, but there is nothing new to report. As hitherto a few are still doing tolerably well, but no fresh ground has been opened. The hopes of the Mokihinuites are now fixed on their coal-mine, and if the lessees only show any like activity in opening it up, there is no doubt that it will be the means of supporting a small population. The Waipara went up yesterday, and if the mineral was to hand would bring down a full cargo, but as it is, in all probability she will only get a few tons, just enough in fact to keep her own wants supplied. Both for the sake of the place and their own profit, surely the lessees should display a little more energy. If want of capital is the occasion of delay, there would not in the face of the present demand, be much difficulty we apprehend, in getting it.

Last evening Mrs King, of Glad-stone-street, invited a large number of the rising generation to a tea party at Sloan's Hotel. Cakes, nuts, fruit, &c., were supplied in plenty and as may be imagined duly appreciated. After tea some good music followed, and the little ones enjoyed themselves to their heart's content.

A correspondent writes to suggest that there should be a regatta on the Buller on her Majesty's birthday, the 24th inst. There are lots of boats to compete, first-class watermen to pull in or sail them, and the best river on the coast, if not in New Zealand, for testing the merits of men and crafts. More than that, the competitors could be viewed the whole distance, and the races would afford amusement to all. It is to be hoped that the idea will be carried out, and we are sure if a little energy is shown by those chiefly interested there will be no difficulty in making all necessary arrangements. Some of the back streets are in a dreadful condition, and as the winter is fairly set in, we may expect them to get still worse unless something is done without loss of time. There are sums of money on the estimates for the work, and in justice to the inhabitants who reside in mud flats, a portion of it should be applied as soon as passed. In some of the streets in question every section is taken up and occupied by

cottages of greater or less pretensions, whilst at the same time dray approach is utterly out of the question. This has been endured some time without complaining, because no funds were in hand. There ought to be no delay when this very valid objection is removed. We take the following from the Queenslander of the 25th April:— "The question of relief to able-bodied and destitute persons came rather suddenly upon the Municipal Council of Maryborough last week, as we learn from the local papers just to hand. Sixty-two ' starved-out diggers' presented a petition for relief to that worshipful body at their meeting on the 17th inst. The petition set forth that the petitioners had been ' deluded and misguided' by the different reports which had appeared in the papers, and had come to that part of the colony for the purpose of earning an honest livelihood, but after spending what little means they had on arrival they found nothing before them but starvation. The Municipal Council suspended their Standing Orders at once, to consider the petition, and having decided without much trouble that there were no Corporation funds available, either to find employment for these men, o p afford them relief in any way, they fell back naturally enough upon ' the Government.' "

A rather dangerous experiment was made on the 29th ult., with the view of testing the efficacy of Shires' antidote for snake-bites. The proprietor of the remedy has been exhibiting his snakes during the last few days at the Canterbury-hall, in Bourke street, allowing himself to be bitten by snakes which had previously killed fowls without suffering any injury. Amongst those who happened to have their attention directed to the matter was Mr W. H. Drummond, P,M., who ehanced to be staying at G-arton's Hotel. He expressed an opinion that the snakes used by Shires in his experiments were not venomous, and in accordance with his own wish he was last night bitten by a blacksnake,whichhadforsometime been in the possession of Shires. The reptile was allowed to fasten upon his wrist, where it inflicted a severe wound. Shires, who was present, immediately applied the antidote, and, as may be imagined, the result was anxiously awaited by the rash experimentalist. He suffered to a considerable extent from the effects of the poison, though his own statement was that it merely produced temporary giddiness and partial loss of sight. He was able, however, in about an hour's time to write a note and walk from the hotel.

At the police-court to-day only one case, that of Thompson Scott, charged wich drunkenness, was on the sheet. As this was one of the prisoner's repeated offences in this line, he was sent to gaol for seven days. The practice of permitting wild bullocks to be driven through the streets at all hours of the day, is one that strongly calls for the interference of the authorities, for if no notice is taken we shall have some serious accident one of these days to record. Only lately a man was gored by an animal in the public street, and yesterday another wild bullock was driven right through the most crowded portion of the town, fortunately, on this occasion, without injury to anyone. At the time there were numbers of children about who had to scamper for safety to the nearest shelter, and indeed others of larger growth were most active in beating a retreat. "We do hope that the practice may be put down and that, as in other places, certain hours may be appointed when stock may be driven through the streets. Such an arrangement can injure no one, but would, on the other hand, greatly conduce to public safety.

A letter has been received from Mr Bentley, M.P.C., stating that the petition of the memorialists in reference to the disposal of tbe Coal Eeserve in this town, has not by any means been shelved, but that he intended to bring it on again as last Tuesday, and to apply for a committee to investigate and report on the whole question. It would be far more satisfactory if this was done, for though there appears to be no intention on the part of the Government to interfere with present occupation, it would be better to have their ultimate intentions clearly known, and we should think there can be no objection on their part to declare them. The next Nelson boat will bring us the result of Mr Bentley's exertions. The following from the letter of the "Waimea correspondent of the West Coast Times may prove interesting to our mining readers : —At the Fin's lead, Fourth Scandinavian Terrace, some of the old ground has been again taken up, because a party there has discovered a plan of washing auriferous dirt with despatch in large quantities. They use a box about twenty-four feet long,

covered with perforated iron plates along its whole length, and plush placed at the bottom of the box, about three inches below the plates. By these means a great deal Of stuff is washed with success, the gold having ample time to be caught by the plush before it reaches the tail end of the box, and the necessity for a man stirring the wash dirt about over the hopper is thereby obviated, the only work to be done being the throwing the dirt into the head box. About thirty loads a day are easily run through, and the plan has been adopted now by several parties. Kynnersley's terrace though but little known is doing about as well as most places in the district, and the population there is settled and contented. It is about five or six miles from here, and is approached by the Addison's track for some little distance and then by turning to the left. There are now several wheels and races in full operation, and more than twenty substantial and comfortable huts. The gold is got both from black sand and cement, and both are at least rich enough to pay good wages, if not considreably more. In reply to an enquiry as to the dates of acceptance of service of volunteer corps on the Coast, we may state that the Westport Rifle Corps was on the 26th of March, the Greymouth Rangers on the same day, and the Westland Light Horse on the 30 th of that month.

The Lyttelton Times of the 7th reports that a meeting of the promoters ol the Grey River Coal Company, was held the previous day at Messrs Wilson and Alport's offices, for the purpose of deciding upon future operations. Amongst those present were —Messrs H. P. M. Aynsley, R. Rhodes, Inglis, Richardson, W. Wilson, W. S. Moorhouse, R. M. Morton, G\ Holmes, and Dr. Haast. After a lengthened conversation, it was resolved that the shares for the present should be limited to 6000, at L 5 each, and that a local directory should be formed at Grreymouth, at once, with power to make immediate'arrangements for opening the mine. Some other business of a routine nature was transacted, after which the meeting broke up. The following amusing but somewhat ambiguous paragraph we extract from the Wellington Independent;—"T. W."—"T. W., Wellington," is an ingenious inventor, and having contrived to make a pair of swimming shoes, he submitted them to the Editor of the Wairarapa Mercury to try. That gentleman, however, was too cautious to put the shoes to the test, so he lent them to somebody else probably to some troublesome correspondent—and the result is told in last week's Mercury, in the following notice to correspondents:—"T.W.—(Wellington). —The swimming shoes you left with us, we lent to a gentleman to try their efficacy in the Waiohine river, and he assures us that he was nearly drowned."