The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 270, 12 June 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1868.

In order to make room for our Charleston report we withhold our usual leader. We would caution travellers to the Caledonian to be very careful on their way, for the track is now not only in a bad, but an absolutely dangerous condition, and there are mud holes in it, seriously speaking, deep enough to smother a horse. One packer during the last few months has had one horse killed, and four others so seriously hurt as to be almost worthless on it. There are bogs into which the unwary may flounder, and along several parts there are stumps and stakes sticking up, but covered by mud or water, that may in a moment injure man or beast. Of course we may hope for better things shortly when the new track is completed, but till that is done too much care cannot be exercised in the journey.

As was expected, a very strong fresh poured down the river yesterday morning. The warm and almost constant rain fed it as it were, and towards evening increased its volume immensely. Large snags were swept past the town and out to sea all day, showing that the rain has been heavy on the ranges, and that this, combined wish the melting snow, has cleared out several of the smaller creeks branching off the Buller. There does not, however, seem to any danger of a flood, though the quantity of rain that has fallen has been enormous. The bar, yesterday, though far from smooth, was not nearly as bad as might have been expected, the tide and the fresh meeting in force on it. Some of the unimproved streets of the town are, however, in a wretched condition, and we know of one cottage where the water on the floor rose to some six iaches in depth. We remind our readers that tomorrow is fixed for the election of three members of the local Education Committee, in the room of the three members who retire, in accordance with the Act. They are, however, eligible for re-election, and, we understand, will again offer themselves. In addition to them, we believe that several other gentlemen will also be nominated, and a tolerably exciting contest may be anticipated. The election will take place at the Court House, and the hour fixed is twelve o'clock. We may again state that all persons liable to be rated, that is, all householders, will be qualified to vote. Messrs G-oodwin and O'Conor delegated by the Provisional Hospital Committee, proceeded to Addison's Flat on Wednesday last, and a meeting was held that evening as announced. Unfortunately, however, the weather was such that but few attended, though amongst the number were all the leadiug men of the Flat. It was resolved after some deliberation, to adjourn the meeting till last night in the hope that the elements might W more propitious. Unhappily this did not prove to be the case, but Mr O'Conor stayed at Addison's in order to do all that is possible. There is no doubt that a good subscription will be gathered there; and if such is the case we hope some of the residents will be elected on the permanent Committee when it is appointed. The Caledonian deputation were to have gone yesterday, but the weather was so frightfully bad that it was quite impossible for them to get up there. The public meeting that was to have been held to-night, is therefore postponed till Saturday.

We are sorry to find tliat Mrs Abrahams, the person who was lately assaulted in so cowardly a manner, has not yet recovered sufficiently to attend the Court, or indeed leave her house. Dr. Worrall, who is attending her, states that some days will elapse before it is possible she can be convalescent, and that at present she is suffering from low fever.

A party who came down from the Lyell the day before yesterday, report that things are quiet up the Buller, the weather as everywhere else being awful, and mining operations being consequently not only retarded but actually temporarily stopped. Great hopes are entertained that Manakau Plat, about two miles from the Lyell will turn out remunerative, and parties who were sinking expected to bottom in a day or two if the rain permitted them to work. The result will be known as soon as the weather breaks. The time of his Honor Judge Clarke, in the District Court, was occupied the whole of yesterday in hearing the mining appeal case of O'Brien and party, appellants v. Scott and party and Mitchell and party, respondents. The subject of dispute is the right or otherwise of the appellants to some surplus water. On the case being brought before Mr Warden Broad in May last, he decided adversely to the appellants, and it was to upset that verdict that the present case was brought. The suit was not finished when the Court rose, and will be resumed this morning. The details are not of the slightest interest to any other than the parties concerned, and we do not therefore publish a report of the case. Amongst the insolvents who obtained their order of discharge oh Wednesday last at the District Court, we omitted to report H. Mann, publican, of Charleston. In his, as in the other cases mentioned, the proceedings were final, and he is now released.

The Hokitika Star gives the following : —" We have to caution shopkeepers and traders generally against receiving Victorian, New South Wales, or other colonial notes, as under the present objectionable Stamp Act, all notes not inter-provincial, must have a Is. stamp placed on them before they are allowed to leave New Zealand, which, together with 6d. commission charged by Banks, reduces the value of the note from 20s. to 18s. Gd.

The Evening Neios of June Ist states :—" Intelligence has been received in Auckland of a discovery of kerosene at Biverhead, by a gumdigger who is working about three miles from Lamb's Mills, and it is supposed that a nice vein will be tapped, by sinking, in a short time. It is also said that there are indications of gold in the same locality, which will be developed to sufficient extent to test the value in a short time; so that between gum, oil, and gold, there is a good prospect for Biverhead."

The Daily Times of May 28th says:— A number of the salmon ova at Mr Greorge Duncan's mill, Water of Leith, have been safe hatched; and the young fry have been since Sunday last in a lively state. We understand that the success in this minor experiment is likely to be altogether satisfactory. The following is from the same paper of May 29:—The following telegram was received by the Grovernment yesterday, as to the salmon ova at the Wairewa: ' Balclutha, 20 minutes after three—Ova hatching ;50 fish out —very healthy.' The schooner Mary Ann Christina arrived at Lyttelton from the Fiji Islands on the 24th ultimo. We take the following from the Lyttelton Times of the 25th : —" Captain Simmonds informs us that he does not think there is any truth in the report of the murder of Captain Hayes. It was stated on the Island that he had bought the wrecked missionary ship John Williams, had got her off the reef, and had taken her to Valparaiso. King Thakombau's party had been repulsed, but another of the friendly tribes had been victorious, and had burned a large village, killing all the people in it." Beferring to the distribution by lottery of the stud, owned by Judge Cheeke, the Sydney Morning Herald remarks : —The stud numbers thirty-four head (exclusive of foals, which will be given in), in addition to the celebrated three-year-old Fireworks, who is undoubtedly the best public performer that we have upon the turf, and it is proposed to dispose of the whole in £1,400 shares of £5 each. The stud includes several good public performers; among them, Sir Patrick, an entire; Zoe and Jessina brood mares; Clove, Varroville, Sir John, Emerald, and the two-year-old Bawdon. We understand that the European population of the Colony amounts to about 218,000. To this must be added the Maories, of whose number there is at present no exact information. |