The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 249, 19 May 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1868.

Though the centre of two large populous and prosperous mining populalations—Addison's and the Caledonian, though being the chief port and possessing the best river on the West Coast of this island, Westport is admitedly and confessedly dull. We get a little excitement up occasionally, and there are some things that can strike fire out of even as usually an inert population as this town contains. We have spasmodic seasons of activity succeeded by even a gloomier calm than before, and so with every means placed within our reach to become busy and flourishing, we dream our time away, and present as good an example of Dickens' celebrated idea of " how not to do it" as could possibly be found in this hemisphere. The retail people, and their name is legion, complain that business is dull, that customers are scarce, and that cash is scarcer still; and when we look at the empty shops and the vacant streets, it is quite possible to realise how truly they complain. But that is the very anomaly of our condition. The yield, of gold is high in proportion to the number employed in its search. We have but few idlers about our streets ; work is not by any means hard to obtain, and yet a fixed cloud seems to hang over the Buller prospects, which a little energy on the part of those chiefly interested would readily dissipate. The formation of a rail or tramway to Charleston through A_ddison's, the opening of our coal mines, a passable track to the Caledonian, a completed track up the river, other tracks opening up the country, are all that is required to turn the present drone-like aspect of our streets into the busiest hum of busy life. All admit that the fulfilment of these needs would make a rapid and vast change for the better in our condition. All are unanimous that they should be set about at once, and every man waits for his neighbor to set to work instead of heartily and at once putting his own shoulder to the wheel. What is every body's business is nobody's business, consequently nobody attends to it, and everybody suffers for it. So it will be ever under the existing circumstances unless some one of rea,l public spirit comes forward, and endeavours to galvanise into life any fluttering vitality that the mass of the Westport people possess. Take the con. struction of a tramway for example and a glance will show what a chance is going begging, and what advantages those who choose to carry out such a speculation must derive from it. A regular trade is now established between here and Charleston, and three or four times the amount would arise if transport, whether of passengers or goods, was facilitated between the two places. The cost of a lino would be comparatively trifling, the profits large,

the public benefit immense. Tet it is everybody's business and nobody does it. Again, with reference to our coal resources, we have scientific proof that a coalfield some sixteen miles in extent, that is Dr Hector's estimate, with millions on millions of splendid coal lies a few miles distant from us. We have an inexhaustible supply, a ready market, every facility for shipment, and easy access, and yet to utilise all this is everybody's business, and nobody does it. The tracks there are some hopes of as soon as the the Commissioner is disentangled from the web of red tape that he has been spinning round him for some weeks past. Wlipji tracks are completed we may expect that the diggers from the Caledonian will sometimes visit us, that the riches of the Buller banks and bars will have a chance of development, that goldfields as yet unknown will be opened up where approach is at present impossible. The question is, since everybody so carefully shuns his responsibilities, though by cheerfully accepting them he would benefit both himself and the public, what is to be done? Of public spirit there is none, all are so intent on their own immediate affairs that they cannot understand the importance of acting in general matters. Such being the case, possibly the formation of a Progress Committee in the town might have a beneficial effect. It is certain that we want some one to take up questions of vital importance, that we require some body of men to stand between the Q-overn-ment and the public, and who will, to the best of their ability, act as public guardians. It may be that Westport is not ripe enough for Municipal Institutions, and indeed it is something more that we require than the strict municipal routine. "We want men to urge our claims for concessions in case of the works we have referred to being undertaken, to obtain a promise of land or other inducement to form the railway, to seek for a Grovernment guaranteed interest on capital expended in the development of the coalfields, and in fact to present to the world schemes calculated to advance the district in moral and material prosperity. People in a body would not object so to act, and very probably some energy from at least a portion of them might be evolved, instead of as we do now hopelessly talking about this that or the other. A public committee of the kind could correspond with the Government ascertain exactly what privileges would be given, or what inducements offered to capital and enterprise, and when this was obtained, set it forth clearly so that the general public would know that such opportunities were open, and might form an accurate estimate of the desirability of embracing them. The functions of a Progress Committee'should be manifold, and the formation of such a body could not be attended with aught but good. Like many other bodies, though possessing no legal, they would actual recognition at head quarters, and this influence properly used must result in good to the district. We have only crudely thrown out the suggestion, and hope others will enlarge and reflect upon it, with a view to carrying it into effect. Such a body has done good service in other places, why should it nut do so here ? That something is needed to resuscitate the Buller is apparent to all, let us call in a Medical Council in the shape of a Progress Committee.

The committee appointed a few day's ago for the purpose ©f establishing the Westport Athenaeum have been busy, and already have secured upwards of sixty subscribers. A formal application to the Provincial Council was despatched on Saturday, and there is little doubt that a small sum will be set aside for the purpose. Other similar institutions have also been written to for copies of rules, &c, and altogether the gentlemen selected have been eminently energetic in the discharge of the duties they undertook. We understand that the Parsonage is now completely freed from debt, and that in a very short time steps will be taken for the erection of an Episcopalian church in Westport. The Church of England in this town is largely and most respectably represented, and after so praiseworthy an example as that set by the Catholic portion of the community, no time ought to be lost in the good work. We are sorry to say that the p.s. Bruce was unable to proceed on her return trip yesterday morning as was intended, as a leak was discovered between some of her plates which it wan found necessary to repair. She was taken over to the lagoon for this purpose, but will not be detained long before she is again all ataunto. But for this mishap she would have proceeded to Mokihinui for coal before again going south.

The coal mine at Mokihinui is looking up a little and a first-class seam of mineral is now being worked. The proprietors hope to be able to meet future demands as they arise, but are crippled through want of capital and proper appliances. A better spec was never ventured into, and this want should not exist long with so certain a return ready to repay the outlay with handsome interest at once.

A very numerously signed expression of confidence in Mr Eraser, the present and the pioneer schoolmaster of Westport, has been presented to him in appreciation of his past services in the cause of education in this town. In addition to acknowledging the past, the memorial expresses a hope that the gentleman in question will apply for the position of master of the public school about to be established under the Education Board, and we believe it is his intention to do so. The memorial is signed by nearly one hundred and fifty householders including the names of the principal leading men in Westport, and it will no doubt meet with due consideration at the hands of the local committee. Mr Eraser has had a very uphill game to fight during the past year or so, and we are sure we express the feeling of the majority of the people here, in wishing him success in obtaining the appointment referred to. As will be seen by advertisement, Monday next is appointed a public holiday in honor of her Majesty's birthday. The public offices will be shut and all claims will be protected on that day. The 24th happens on a Sunday, and hence the celebration of the day on Monday. The river continues to give Up any quantity of finny treasures to the young Isaac Waltons who fish from morning to night. Herring are the, chief almost the only captures, but some of these are of very large size indeed. Apropos of this amusement we anticipate one of these days that some harm will happen to one or more of the boys who swarm around the edges of the wharves whilst they are engaged in this pastime. A very slight push or overbalance, will send one of them into deep water, on to the woodwork of the wharf, or boats lying near, and in either case serious consequences may ensue.

Our contemporary the Charleston Herald backed up by an authority, who writes under the title of" Veritas," repeats his statement that nearly threefourths of the gold shipped at the Buller, is the produce of Charleston and Brighton. We have already proved the fallacy of such a statement, and only need appeal for confirmation to the veritable Veritas'letter. The latter states " that only on one or two occasions, and then many months back has the Brighton gold been shipped at the Buller." It is clear therefore that none of the 16176 oz shipped here during the past month could have been Brighton gold, but the Hvrald after crediting Charleston with what it really was entitled to viz., 8223 oz takes credit for another mythical parcel of 3000 oz on Brighton account, and winds up by assuming therefore, that those districts contributed elevens'xteent'is of the whole 16000 oz. The very authority that is quoted to support this argument states positively as above, that for many months back no Brighton gold has been shipped at the Buller but sent direct away. "We reported 16176 oz last month, how therefore can our incomprehensible contemporary come to the conclusion that Charleston and Brighton sentaway nearly three-fourths of that ?

Another jetty at the foot of Lyttel-ton-street is all but finished, indeed it is so far complete that vessels can lie alongside at once. It has been very substantially built —some of the piles having been driven 28 feet into the solid ground, and are 24 feet below low water mark. The greatest length of pile used was 45ft. 6in., and the shortest 35ft. 6in., the inside piles being only seven or eight feet above the ground. Diagonal braces, 9x6, run from one end of the wharf to the other, and are bolted to each of the piles. It will also be transversely braced with the same sized material. The angle on the upper side is at about 42 to 45 degrees, it is 57 feet in length, and the walings or stringers are double, and run the full length of the weir, being bolted to the piles at the top, and at low water mark. It will be seen that it is strong enough to stand anything. Mr Sloan, overseer of the work, to whose courtesy we are indebted for the above particulars, informs us that the frame of a new pile driving machine is nearly completed, and will be ready for the other wharf work. It will stand forty feet high, and is 12 x 14 p,t the base, and will have attached a monkey cast in Nelson weighing cwt., with winch, gear, &c, all in working order. It will be used to-day for the first time.

Some interesting information regard* ing the southern diggings has been received by the West Coast 2>imes t from the captain of the cutter Harry Bluff The cutter Harry Bluff arrived in the river yesterday from a long cruise to the southward, where she has been absent since the 12th of last month, on an expedition undertaken for the purpose of supplying provisions to the many parties of miners who were then scattered up and down the coast. The venture, which was on ship's account, did not, we are sorry to say, prove a pro-" fitable one, as the great majority of the diggers down south told a lamentable tale of unsuccess, and instead of being able to lay in fresh stores. Were clamorous f.»r a passage back to Hokitika. The Harry Bluff left here on the 12th April, and firstly proceeded to Guard's Bay, where she arrived on the 15th. Found about thirty diggers there, who complained of the poverty of the place, and made good their statements by expending very little money indeed Upon the cutter's cargo. From Guard's she went to Jackson's Bay, which turned out a worse market, as only five men were located there. Her next place of call was Smooth-water Bay, which she stripped of its population by taking away the only party of diggers who were to be seen or heard of in this out-of-the-way locality. Gorge Eiver was her next port of call, and her arrival there being heartily welcomed.by between forty and fifty others, who requested Captain BroWu to wait a fortnight whilst they prospected a piece of country up the river, which they believed to contain payable gold, and in the event of its turning out a duffer, the majority promised to take passage for Hokitika in the cutter. At the end of twelve days they returned with bad accounts, and thirty-two of them left in the little vessel on Friday last. She made another call at Smooth-water Bay to land a few of the men, and then headed northwards. Put into Jackson's on Sunday, to find the steamer St. Kilda at anchor there, all well on board, and the same evening made a final start for Hokitika, off which she arrived on Tuesday evening, and was towed in by the Yarra. Twenty-nine passengers returned by her. The Harry Bluff experienced very fine weather during the trip, the only exception being ' a bit of a blow' that came on from the N.W., on the sth instant.

The Argus of the 25th tilt., says—"On the fourth instant, a New Zealander named Butty found a, bottle, on the beach near Two People Bay, in Western Australia. The salt water had penetrated bottle, and the writing on a piece of paper which it contained was therefore in some parts wholly, and in others partially obliterated. Mr Taylor, the owner of a station in the neighborhood, forwarded the document, on the 7th, to Sir A. C. Campbell, at Albany, who conveyed it to Capt. Brown, o± the Alexandra, on the 9th instant; and the latter, on his arrival here, placed it in the hands of Captain Mathews, Lloyd's agent; who in his turn, forwarded it to us. We placed it in the hands of Mr Cosmo Newberry, analyst to the Greological department, who kindly undertook to try whether it was possible to revive the faded writing. He reports that the piece of paper that was found was such as might have formed the fly-leaf of a book, and the writing is in four languages.—Dutch, German, French, and English. He obtained the assistance of Mr Edward Ploos Van Amstel, and all that can be made of it is : "to send it as fast as to Lloyd's ,when and where it has been found." The ink in the upper portion has been washed out. On the third line the figures 46 deg. SOmin [lat] are to be seen. On the fourth line is OE SOdeg. 31min ; and as this part is written in Dutch, it probably means longitude east of Greenwich. It was supposed in Western Australia that the waif was an appeal by some shipwrecked people on Amsterdam Island for assistance. It now appears, however, that the bottle was thrown overboard to test the ocean current ; and this notice of its having been found may reach the eye of the navigator or man of science who threw it overboard, and so his purpose may be accomplished."