The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 259, 30 May 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1868.

A day or two ago we stated that W. 11. Harrison Esq. M.H.R., had called a meeting at Cobden for the purpose of convincing the inhabitants there of the advantages they would derive from the annexation of the whole valley of of the Grey to Westland. The meeting was duly held, but though Mr Harrison charmed the Cobden natives ever so wisely, they could not be induced to regard the proposal in the same rosy light, or with the same magnifying spectacles that the speaker desired. The Grey River Argus tells us that " the attendance was very limited," and that there was some difficulty in obtaining a chairman, but the latter obstacle having been got over, and the former accepted as unavoidable, business commenced and ended in the proposition being most unmistakeably rejected, only one hand being up in its favor. Now as we have before said the Buller district or those lying immediately adjacent, cannot have the slightest possible objection to Cobden and the other places in that vicinity, throwing themselves into the arms of Westland, for by their so doing they would neitherinjure or assist the northern coast, but we must say we think they have shown soundsenseinnot being inveigled, or rather persuaded into such a course, for though they might have placed themselves in a better position, they were quite as likely to put themselves in an infinitely worse one. One speaker, Mr Langdon, paid a high tribute to the manner in which the Nelson Government had treated them. He said: —" that the old residents in the district were very well satisfied with the Government under whiich they at present lived, and they could not see any benefit whatever from making a change and being annexed to the other side. They did not want protective works on their side of the river. Any wants they had were attended to by their Government, and if they wanted a change they could have a Northland as well as the people the other side had a Westland. The fact was that the people on the other side wanted to get hold of the resourses on the Nelson side. At present they were satisfied. They had models of wardens who did their duty whenever they were required, in rain or in sunshine, and they had a model of a Government which attended to all their wants as well and as quickly as it possibly could." Now though we by no means go the whole animal with Mr Langdon still, without doubt, altogether the Coast has had very little to complain of and beyond question the manner in which the diggings here have been fostered, has in a great measure been tho cause of their, at length, attaining such welldeveloped proportions. But in the remarks quoted there is another sign of the times —the little cloud no bigger thanaman'shand comingup into thesky, and that is the reference to a new Northland. Without doubt it will not be long before tha northern portion of the West Coast will have a Government of its own, for it is now tolerably certain that it is quite old enough and strong enough to run alone. Nay, we do not think that to such a proposal the Nelson people proper would object, for we are looked on as an expensive luxury, that is very troublesome but very useful, and it is probable that the old easy-going class of pure Nelsonites would be rather glad than sorry if their West Coast charge was off their hands. This, however, is a question that it is well for people to be thinking of along tho whole coast, from the Grey to tha Karamea, and it is one that will be shortly forced upon us on the meeting of the Assembly next month. That we can manage our own affairs as well on the coast as they -can be managed for us in Nelson, we think no one will deny, and however well-satisfied men of Mr Langdon's belief may be with the ex.

isting state of things, it is tolerably certain that others already are ambitious enough to believe in the rudest application of local self-government. Before long wo venture to predict tho Cobdenites, if they choose, will be able to return members to a Northland Council, and hold in their own hands completely the disposition and allotment of their funds.

A mail for Greymouth llokitikaand j tho Australian Colonies will bo made up by the Bruce this day at 11 a.m. Notwithstanding the warning given only a day or two ago. on the occasion of the high tides and encroachment of the sea, nothing has been done to put a stop to the removal of sand and gravel or of wood from the beech, and yesterday carts wer eengaged digging excavations that may some day be trenches to enable the water to carry off a large slice of what is at present terraflrma. A regular canal is being cut in one place, andthe houses of some of the residentsare thereby greatly endangered incase of aftood, In any case natural pitfails are plentiful enough, and we hope the authorities will put a stop to any additional artificial ones being constructed.

As will be seen in our advertising columns, Mr John Munro will sell this day, the entire cargo of the William and Julia, from Kaiapoi, consisting of produce, &c, the whole of which is in excellent condition.

In our report of the proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court of yesterday will be found a case of some little interest to those who buy property sold under bills of sale. In this instance Mr 11. Mace bought some trucks sold by the Bank under one of these documents, and the probability is that he will be a very considerable loser on what appeared to be a very excellent bargain. It is supposed that he can recover from tho Bank, but we have high legal authority for believing that chance at least doubtful, if the Bank refuses to refund, and conteststhe point. Of this however, we should think there is no chance, for though no expressed, yet an implied guarantee w r as given to all purchasers, under the circumstances.

Mr Ching, of the firm of Messrs Clung and Russell, had a very narrow escape, at Greymouth, on Thursday night last. The p,s. Bruce was lying alongside the wharf at Greymouth, and asCapt.Kerleyintendedto leaveearly in the morning he had the Bruce boomed off, leaving a space of some 15 or 20 feet between the wheel-house and the wharf. A stage of two long narrow planks was put out from the top of the paddle-box to the top of wharf. Mr Ching, returning from a stroll in town, placed his foot on one of the planks forming the stage, and at the same instant the opposite end of the plank slipped from the paddle-box and fell into the river, a distance of at least twelve feet, Mr Ching barely saving himself from following suit by catchinghold of the other plank. It was very dark at the time, and the chances were at least 10 to 1 against his being fortunate enough to save himself from a cold bath, and most likely being drowned, as the water was not only deep, but the current was running very strong at the time. It will be a lesson to him on going aboard crafts at night, and should also be a caution to others.

It is with great regret that we have to record another fatal mining accident which occurred at the Caledoni m last evening about six o'clock. Just as the party were about to knock off a false set of timber in the drive gave way, and two tons of earth fell on a miner named Sam. Gillinham, killing the unfortunate man almost instantly. Assistance was promptly rendered, and in fifteen minutes the body was extricated, but life was quite extinct. An inquest will be held to-day at three o'clock in Westport, the mates of deceased having undertaken to bring down the body. The claim where the accident occurred was tho third from the original prospectors.