The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 292, 8 July 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1868.

The poor fellow O'Brien who recently met with so serious an accident at Addison's, succumbed at last, and died on Monday in the hospital, through the effects of the injuries received by his fearful fall. It was for sometime hoped by his medical attendants that he would recover, and the strength of his constitution added to the fact, that he had sustained no fracture of any bone induced a favorable opinion as to his case. Since being received into the hospital he met with every care that could be bestowed on him, but inflammation of the bladder and peritoneum at length set in and carried him off. Yesterday a funeral cortege of fully two hundred miners from Addison's, paid the last tribute of respect to his remains, and accompanied them to the cemetery. The corpse was first taken to the Catholic Church, where the rites of his faith were performed, after which the procession, headed by the Catholic clergyman, in full canonicals proceeded to the grave where the last prayers were said, and the corpse consigned to the earth. The attendance of so many at the funeral showed the high respect deceased was held in by his fellow miners. We sincerely hope that this is the last fatal accident we may have to record from this or any other quarter. Two lives have been quite recently sacrificed in this manner at Addison's, through what we cannot help thinking was in some measure the fault of the unfortunate men, who have paid for their carelessness with their lives. We trust that these sad warnings may induce greater caution amongst the mining population. With the utmost care, they must of necessity run great risks of life and limb, and the slightest recklessness, may in a moment be productive of death and disaster.

We have repeatedly warned our Westport readers that the track from Charleston to Brown's Terrace and right on to Addison's, was to he a dray road. We can now tell them that a dray road has been commenced, and will be completed in about six weeks. The merchants of this town will be in a short time in a position to despatch goods by dray via Charleston, cheaper than they can supply them from here by pack horse. How they will like the picture we cannot say, but if they do not choose to exert themselves we may assume that they are satisfied with such a state of affairs. Dr Peacock, who recently was convicted of stealing a bottle of brandy at Addison's Plat from a person named Duce, turned the tables yesterday, in the Resident Magistrate's Court by laying an information against his quondam prosecutor, for illegally selling three glasses of brandy to himself and two friends. The bench thought the doctor's evidence of the sale so satisfactory, that they adjudged Duce to pay a fine of £3O or be imprisoned for three months with hard labor. As the amount of fine was not forthcoming, defendant was removed in custody to

undergo the alternative of imprisonment. At the late Supreme Court sittings, at Nelson'a maltser named Sowman, was fined 40s for not attending as a juror after being duly summoned. His Honor Judge Richmond, who inflicted this, penalty, said that by the law of England, malsters were exempt from serving on juries. If such is the case, how does it come that the trade are not equally favoured in British colonies ? A large number of passengers came by the Kennedy, including most of the Supreme Court witnessess in the late trials. Amongs others, Dr Giles is one of tho returned prodigals, and his advent is exceedingly well timed, as Mr Kynnersley has made arrangements to leave by the first boat. Some new ground has again been opened to the north of Deadman's creek, and tunnels have been appliedjfor. There is not the slightest doubt now that a highly payable and continuous lead will be found from the Caledonian north, and some of the prospects go to prove that one of the most extensive, as well as the richest fields on the West Coast will yet be developed in that district. At one of the terraces already in work, on Friday last three pennyweights of gold were got from a hatful of stuff, and in a dozen or two other claims the prospects, if not quite, are nearly as rich. Mr J. V. Smith has, as will be seen by advertisement, resigned his seat in the Proviucial Council, for reasons there stated. Mr Smith , during his term of office, has been an industrious, intelligent and painstaking member, and we are extremely sorry that he is about to leave the district. During his career he has earned the hearty respect of all parties, and we doubt whether we shall readily get another to do us equal service, in so efficient, yet unobtrusive manner. A correspondent from Addison's, speaking of the bad condition of the track between here and that place, says " Why do not the Government let the contract to keep , the road in repair. There are plenty along the line of road who would do it at half the cost t.j the Government that they now have to lay out." There is reason in this, and we cannot see why the system so long in vogue in the old country and other places, as to the acceptance of contracts for the maintenance of roads or tracks, for periods, could not be as well and beneficially carried out here as elsewhere.