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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 279, 23 June 1868, Page 2

A committee was appointed by the Provincial Council to report on the late Westport wharf, and it has brought up its report: —The committee conclude their report by expressing their intention not to recommend that any action "should be taken on the matter referred to them, but they cannot avoid expressing an opinion that the supervision of the work at the Buller wharf was entrusted to inefficient hands, that as a consequence the contractor was not duly kept up to his duty, that he was paid (in fact over paid) for his work without sufficient enquiry, and that no payment should have been made under the circumstances without appeal to the Provincial Council.

By the courtsey of Mr Kirby, purser of the s.s. Murray, we are placed in possession of Nelson files up to the date of that vessel leaving. We should esteem it a favour if the pursers of other vessels would, like Mr Kirby," oblige us in this respect, for of late our files generally have been sadly irregular from all ports.

Mr J. V. Smith has tabled a notice of motion in the Provincial Council, that a bill be introduced for the purpose of giving a bonus of £SOOO to any company or private individnal forming an iron tramway between Westport and Charleston, by way of Addison's Flat, this sum to be given in lieu of 5000 acres of land formerly offered as a bonus for the undertaking. The Colonist in an able and exceedingly well-written article, strenuously advocates the present grant, and in the course of it says—" This and the determination to lease the coal-mine at Cobden, would help to move from the hands of mouthing " patriots " the idea of separation " Though we cannot go as far as this wirh our contemporary, still without doubt doubt this grant would give great satisfaction on this portion of the coast, and if made thera would be little doubt of the railway being successfully launched. We may add that the motion was to come on for discussion on Friday last, but we have not received files of a later date, so caunot tell how it fared.

The Westport Amateur Dramatic Society gave an entertainment last night at the Adelphi, in aid of the funds of the Westport Hospital. The pieces selected were Luke the Labourer, and the farce of Urgent Private Affairs, and they both ran smoothly and well throughout, giving the greatest satisfaction to the visitors. A musical interlude with dancing was given, and a very pleasant evening's amusement was produced. We do not know the exact amount of money taken, but should think it would be about £3O for £l9 lis. was taken at the doors, and a large number of tickets were issued which are not included. Two of the Hospital committee, Messrs Munson and O'Conor, at the request of the amateurs, acted as money takers at the door. A warrant was issued yesterday at the Resident Magistrate's office for the arrest of a man named O'Toole, who is charged with committing a serious offence on a married woman who keeps a small store at Addison's. Tho woman states that the offence was committed some month back, but the injuries she received were of such a nature that she has been unable to come down to Westport to lay an information before yesterday. The woman is an Italian, and from her ignorance of the English

law was not aware she could have the offender arrested till she appeared before a magistrate. It is stated that two of her children, aged five and seven years, wore present; when she was attacked, a fact which adds, if possible, to tho atrocity of the alleged crime.

The amount collected at the offertory of the Church of Englaud, on Sunday lust, was £3 Os 6d.

We beg to draw attention to the important sale by Mr Munro, this day, of the Adelphi and Quartz Beef Hotels, fixtures, stock, &c. The sales commence at 12 o'clock, and there is absolutely no reserve. Messrs Morrison, Wrigg, and gentlemen connected with the survey staff here, have made their excursion to Mount Eochfort, have returned, and are now en route for Grreymouth, where they will examine the B runner mine in the same manner. They no doubt have learnt at Mount Eocliford what they could have known without the trouble of going there, namely that a magnificent coal mine exists in the bowels of the range, and that the " great lump of coal" is no bad designation for the mount in question. Bnt that capitalists will gorge even such a bait as that, and the few other millions of acres, is not at all probable, and the whole present survey is a farcical waste of money. We shall have more to say on this subject, but in the meanwhile would wish our Nelson rulers distinctly to understand, that on the West Coast, those who do not laugh are incensed at the folly of the whole affair.