CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 325, 15 August 1868, Page 3

CHARLESTON NEWS.

Some little stir was made iu town the latter end of last week, by talk of a new rush northward, resulting from a prospecting claim being applied for by four parties, named Joseph Richards, Alexander Walker, William Ireland, and Patrick Farrell. The locality is some rather high terrace ground situated about three miles to the north west of Brown's Terrace, and not very far from tho surveyor's track, leading from that place to the Shamrock Lead, But the exact spot is difficult to find, and several men who went out to look for the place returned without finding it, some spending Friday night in the bush. The sinking is about sixteen feet through—three or four feet of surface, gravelly cement, and grey sand, and the washdirt consists of about three feet of black sand of rather a poor quality. The " Herald" speaks of three hundred men being located on the ground, but we are informed by a good authority, that not more than sixty or seventy were there on Friday. Any number of claims were then pegged off and a few holes w r ere going down, but unless better prospects are obtained than the prospectors show, no great deal of work will be done. The prospectors stated in their application, that they expect the ground will yield about £4 per week. Very likely it may prove better, or superior diggings may be found in the neighborhood, the country being what is termed ' likely looking' and untried. We understand the Warden would have granted the prospectors an extended claim, only they had not the wherewithal to pay for the survey, and so protection has been granted in the meantime. On Saturday an application for a race in the above locality was made at the Warden's office.

On Saturday afternoon some forty or fifty persons assembled on the Back Lead to witness the starting of the large water-wheel and battery belonging to the Cosmopolitan Company. Some partial trials had been before made, but it was not till Saturday that the whole battery ■ was fairly set to its proper work. The water wheel, 26 feet odd in diameter, is said to be the most powerful in the district, being of greater width than the neighbouring one of Kirwan and party, though a foot less in diameter. The battery consists of twelve head of stampers, with double deliveries, self feeders and an unusually large spread of tables nearly 21 feel over all. The self feeders rest upon steel springs, and appear to act well. But probably the most pleasing sight to the visitors, was the view looking down from the edge of the terrace. Close to on the right, a steam worked battery was puffing away, while below three large water-wheels were spinning round driving their respective batteries, and the water dashing over them in sparkling showers, while a fourth glittered in the sunshine a little way off amongst the trees. All are fed by the same race brought in by the Cosmopolitan Company, Savage and party. The visitors, many of whom were from town, were very hospitably entertained, and they did not fail to drink with proper spirit, success to the enterprising company who have spent so many many months on their undertaking. On the Back Lead, Boyd and party have been for some time engaged in sinking a prospecting shaft on their claim, which was one of the very best on the lead. After putting a well timbered shaft to the depth of 115 feet they have knocked off, finding the expense pressing rather heavily on the two or three engaged. It is a thouj sand pities it should be so, for another twenty feet would probably prove the grouud, aud settle the vexed question of the existence of another bottom. Prom the level of the old lead of wash dirt, which is some twelve or fifteen feet from the surface, down to the lowest depth, is nothing but white sand without any change. A change, we believe, has taken place in the ownership of the Nile bridge, Mr Hutchinson having sold his interest to Mr P. Allen who is now the sole owner.

Another rather serious robbery took place on Sunday night, the unfortunate victim in this case boiug Mr. Nahr of the Empire Hotel. It appears some thief managed, at a moment when no one was in the har, to get behind into a small room that opens from the bar and walk of}' with Mr Nahr's cash box, containing thirty or forty pounds in money, a cheque for £7 and a number or papers of some importance to the owner. No trace of the rascal lias yet been discovered. The upper end of the town was kept alive on Monday night by Miss Murphy's Ball, at the Camp Hotel, as on a former occasion the place was crammed to excess by the numerous friends and acquaintances of the hostess, and the ball appears to have been, in every respect, a most successful affair.

The bar was quite workable on Monday, and the Constant and Brothers and Sisters entered without any difficulty. The former is from Westport, and the latter brings a general cargo of merchandise from Hokitika. The Volunteer appears to be somewhat unfortunate just now, not only doe 3 she get ashore at Mokihinui, but. her captain has been cast in the R. M Court here, to the tune of five and twenty pounds and costs, in an action brought against him by Messrs "Baillie and Humphrey for damaging cargo.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Mowdat, August 10. (Before Chas. Broad Eaq., R. M.) Dennis Plannery and another, were charged on an information laid by Messrs Rimmor and Forder, the livery stable keepers, with maiming and wounding a certain bay gelding, but Mr. Horne, who appeared on behalf of complainants, having stated that the information could not be sustained in its present form, the case was dismissed. Skoglund v. Limbrick—Judgment given by default for the sum of £llos. Walsh v. Morris—Judgment confiessed for £9 13a Cd, with immediate execution. Baillie and Humphrey v. G-reen — This was a shipping case of some importance wherein the plaintiffs sought to recover from the defendant, who is captain of the cutter Volunteer, the sum of £74 12s 2d, loss sustained owing to damage done to a certain cargo of oats. Mr O'Neill appeared for the plaintiffs, defendant being represented by Mr. Horne. The evidence 'of Mr Thomas Baillie, one of the plaintiffs was, in substance, as follows : The Volunteer was chartered in Dunedin to go to the Molyneux, and there load a cargo of oats for us at Westport. The bill of lading, produced, is dated the 20th June and the vessel showed up off the Buller about the 15th July ; after some days the Captain came on shore for provisions and was unrble to return for two or three days. Afterwards I sent him a note to say we would give him £25 if he would deliver the cargo at Charleston, and accordingly the vessel went on there. I sold the cargo to Allen Brothers at 4s 7d per bushel provided it was in good order. The cargo was found to be damaged, on discharging, and Mr. Allen caused a survey to be held ; 131 bags out of 310 were damaged, and rejected by Allen, and were sold by auction realizing only about 7s per bag. Iwas on board the vessel when she was discharging ; the bottom was dunnaged with wood, green flax and scrub, the scrub coming a little way up the sides of the vessel. In several places the scrub was rotting and there was no dunnage about the mast, and Ido not ciosider the vessel was properly dunnaged. The damaged bags were mostly taken from the sides and about the mast. The decks were leaky. I attribute the damage done to the want of sufficient dunnage. Cross-examined : The weather was bad about the time of the Volunteer's voyage. Several vessels sailed into the Buller, while the Volunteer was out side. There were two surveys held, the first on 31st July the second on 4th August. Philip Allen said he took delivery of 209 bags bnt rejected the remainder as damaged, and caused a survey to be held by Messrs Russell and Waterman. Mr. Russell identified the survey certificate handed in, and confirmed the evidence of Mr Baillie as to the insufficiency of dunnago about the sides and masts. Joseph Waterman aud John Allen gave evidence of an unimportant character, and Thomas Dwan proved the account sales of the damaged cargo, sold by auction. • Mr Horne having without success moved for a nonsuit, on the ground of t of the faulty wording of the survey s certificates, which merely considered i some of tie cargo damaged, and did 5 not express ar. opinion as to the cause, called the defendant

Fred. Green, who said: —The vessel was passed by a Government surveyor before cargo was taken in, having just: been overhauled. The shippers were on board while the vessel was being damaged and found no fault, and they saw the hatches well fastened down and secured. Experienced frightful weather during the passage round, the sea making a clear breach on board and sweeping away bulwarks and provisions, causing the vessel to strain very much and her seams to open. Afterwards had to man the pump every half hour. I could not enter the Buller the weather at being too bad, and afterwards the wind was unfavorable. When the first survey was held Capt. Beveridge and Capt. Bonar attendod on my account, a"id gave the certificate produced, stating the damage in their opinion was caused by the straining of the ship in bad weather. I consider the cargo was well dunnaged. Cross-examined —Did not make any protest on my arrival, because I did not know the cargo was so much damaged. Re-examined When I told the agents at Westport of the bad weather they did not advise me to take out a protest. The vessel was not in -ured but the cargo was.

Two seamen were called to show that* the vessel was properly dunnaged. Mr Home said the fact of thevessel being un nsured rendered it optional for the captain to enter a protest or not, but the whole matter rested on the question of dunnage, and he contended that the evidence for the defence on that point was infinitely more reliable than that offered on the other side, and that the loss sustained arose simply from the ordinary perils of the sea. Mr O'Neill having replied, His Worship said it was clearly the duty of the defendant to have made the usual protest. Although the evidence as to sufficiency of dunnage was conflicting, it agreed in one point, namely, that there was none placed about the mast, where a good deal of the cargo was damaged. He should assess the loss by giving a verdict whereby onethird would be borne by the vessel, and two-thirds by the owners of the oargo. Judgment accordingly for £25 aud costs.

A report has been published in the Gazette, furnished by Mr Wrigg,„on the Mount Rochfort Coal Pields, from which we extract the following items, but for the present refrain from further comment. He says that " the south east slope of the " valley known as Coalbrook Dale, " may be said to be almost one continu- " ous seam of superior coal of various " thickness ranging from three to nine " feet." On the lower part of the Dale coal seams are visible in various places on both sides of the valley, before its junction with the Waimangaroa Gorge. From these facts Mr Wrigg is of opinion that a line of railway cut along the south east slope of Coalbrook Dale would lay bare a seam of coal almost from the top to the bottom of the valley. The thickness of the seams in Waimangaroa Gorge far exceeds those of Coalbrook Dale, but they are exposed on the face of a perpendicular cliff which descends from the general platform in a distance of fifteen chains, no less than nine hundred feet. Mr Wrigg then proposes working the Coalbrook Dale coal only for the present, and constructing a line of railway worked by locomotives. He abandons the line proposed by Mr Burnett, and suggests one seven miles longer, viz., nineteen and three quarter miles in length, the average cost per mile, of which he estimates at =£5031, or the total probable cost, £133,326. Therollingplantwhichheineludedintbe above, will he says, be sufficient to enable 141,000 tons of coal to be delivered in Westport per annum. The cost of approaching the coal in Waimangaroa Gorge, he considers too great for attempting at present, but considers that; when once the saddle of the Coalbrook Dale Valley is reached, the railway system can easily be extended to Mokihinui, Buller Valley, and in fact very readily in any direction. As the Mount Rochfort and Grey coal goldfields are not to be given to the proposed Nelson and Cobden line of railway, Mr Wrigg is of opinion that there is no hope of its being constructed, an opinion which we fully endorse. _ In our issue of Monday we mentioned that Nichols and party had struck a new and distinct lead of gold on _ Giles' terrace. We have pleasure in informing our readers that this has not been the only fresh discovery of the precious me.tal, as two days ago Aleck and party who have been putting in a tunnel north of Deadman's terrace, in the 4th claim have struck a lead of gold, which is fine and appears to be of the same cIaRK as that struck by Nichols and party, and equally rich. Thompson

and party who are working at the other Side of Beadman's crock came on a run of gold on Saturday in their tunnel which would, yield about £o a week, but as they discovered it way only a branch, not the main lead, they have gone on with their tunnel and hope to reach the main run in a short time. We also have heard tllat gold has been struck on the Bald hill, between Ballarat Terrace and the Bulle'r river, but we will not vouch for the accuracy of this statement. These fresh discoveries of gold speak well for the future of Westport, and we think every credit is due to the prospectors, whose energy and perseverance, though, attended in many instances with great personal privations, have been the means of opening up this lino of country, the benefits derivable from fthoir labors will be of nearly equal advantage to several others of the mining class besides the general public, and we hope to see Westport advance commcnsurately with the progress of its goldfields. By way of Auckland we have a few additional particulars concerning the escaped prisoners from the Chathams. The number of prisoners who left.was seventy men, with women and children —a large number being left':behind. They have thirty-eight rides, seven fowling pieces, four pistols, two kegs of powder, and a quantity of cartridges ; so that the force is not so formidable a one as at first imagined. They acknowledge to having tomahawked one of the guard who offered resistance. He was not killed, however. The chief Koti is said to have intended to execute the native who did the deed. Koti says that his intention is to march inland, and after deposing the Maori King, to put down Hau-hauism, and establish his own religion. The native element recently imported in tho shape of four Maorie into the House of Bepresentatives does not appear to have been a success. Two of them have spoken through an interpreter. The first. Tureka, during the debate on Mr. Box's motion, got up and complained, that his cattle were occasionally impounded, though what that had to do with the question at issue, hon. members were at a loss to discover. A correspondent of the Nelson Examiner thus refers t«» the, other Mete Kingi who hosays "thuscommenced his address, ' Salutations to you all ; may you all live for ever!' [' Amen ' is fervently uttered by Mr. Cracroft Wilson.] ' Before the palcelui came here I was a cannibal.' Two minutes' pause —one of which is devoted to surveying, with the eye of an epicure, the goodly proportions of the Honorable the Speaker, the other to narrowly observing Mr George Graham—the predominating idea being, I fancy, that that gentleman was too old and tough to afford a pleasant meal, but no doubt would, if served in the same manner as the unfortunate Trooper Smith, lately murdered at Patea, make excellent soup. Having completed his observations, the converted cannibal went on to take his share in the debate on tho question before the House. The Daily Times of August 3rd, states : —The heaviest fall of snow we have had in Bunedin this winter occurred during Saturday evening and night. The first fall continued from about six o'clock until after eight, and the snow thickly covered the streets, but soon became sloppy. There was bright moonlight for two or three hours ; and before midnight there was another fall, the snow being in large flakes and firmer than during the evening. Yesterday the streets had a coating about 3in. thick; but there was a constant thaw through the day, and the paths and roadways were nearly cleared. There was some rain, accompanied by a strong wind, during last evening." The Nelson Volunteers for the Patea appear to have made a good begining. The -Evening, Mail of Friday, lias the following telegram :—The Wancjauni Herald says that Ensign Wrey and the Nelson volunteers left the place for Papea in the steamer Woodpecker. They had not proceeded isqvq than seven or eight miles when, according to the captain's statement, they commenced breaking up the cargo. The steamer returned to Waugauui, and the Captain reported the affair to Colonel Gorton, who went on board and induced Mr, Wrey and six of the most prominent rioters to accompany him on shore, when Mr. Wrey was immediately handed over to the civil power, charged with aiding aud abetting in the felony. Lieutenant Gudgeon was then put in charge, and the steamer proceeded on her destination. It seems that the men 'complained i that they had been forced on board • without arms, with only one blanket, • and several without boots or shoes to their feet. Ensign Wrey was brought

«*" ' " ■ ' rirrmmW before the Resident Magistrate's Couofc the next day. The case was remanded, bail being accopted. for his appearance." The laboring classes throughout America continue to make numerous " strikes " lor higher wages, and generally with success. In some cases these demands are made for the re* storation of wages, from which a percentage was taken during the dulness of business last year. Some classes of mechanics in New York are uow receiving 4 dqls. 50c. and sdols. a-day, and as a general thing their Trade Unions are so well organised that they can force employers to pay increased rates when demanded. The American working-man shows a Litter hostility, however to his fellow-crafts-men from abroad, who are now immigrating in large numbers to the United States, and who always underbid the native laborer. The Trade's Unions seem to be quite as much opposed to these as to the employers.

A savage assault was committed at Blanket Flat, Daylesford, ou 19fch July when, during a public house row, an Italian named Permoni struck an inoffensive man named Deripas on the face, forcing in one eye and bursting it. Prisoner is of course under arrest. In recording the death of Sir Benjamin G-uinness, M. P. for Dublin, the Home JS T cics says that he was a gentleman very much respected but who will be known to the world as the brewer of the celebrated porter, and as the restorer, at a cost of £150,000, of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Touching this latter matter a good thing was said.by—or made for—an Irish Cat-h olio peasant. When Sir Benjamin was being elected he was much cheered by the Eomanists as well as the Protestants, for he was equally kind to both. The agriculturist in question loyally joined in the plaudit, and then enquired confidentially of a byestander what the gentleman had done. "Don't you know that he has restored St. Patrick's Cathedral ?', Restored it, has he. Then Cardinal Cullen has got it, eh ?" The son of the benevolent baronet has been returned in the stead of his father to the House of Commons, with the unanimousa-?seut of all parties in the Irish metropolis. The Prospects of Smokers.—The Leader prints the following quaint negro story which is going the rounds of the American papers. Amongst the many welcome visitors and speakers on the lecture list of the Sabbatarians is a ■woman of the name of Sojourner Truth. Her courage, her originality, attract large audiences, and give her great popularity among the class of people in that neighbourhood. A few months ago she lectured in the college-hall at Milton. She was the guest of Mr. Goodrich, an out-an-out temperance man, and a noted hater of tobacco. Now, Sojourner, who does not intend to smoke hereafter, is given to smoking here ; and the morning after the lecture she was piu7mg < away with a long pipe m her mouth, when her host, Mr. Goodrich, approached her, and commenced conversation with the following interrogatory : —" Aunt Sojourner, do you think you are a Christian ?' " Tes Brudder Goodrich, I speck I am.'' " Aunt Sojourner, do you believe in the Bible?" " Yjs, Brudder Goodrich, I believe in the scripters, though I can't read em' as you can." " Aunt Sojourner, do you know that there is a passage in the scriptures which declares that nothing unclean shall inherit the kingdom of heaven ?" " Yes Brudder Goodrich, I have heard tell of it." Aunt Sojourner, do you believe it?" Yes Brudder Goodrich, I believe it." "Well, Aunt Sojourner, you smoke, and you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, because there is nothing so unclean as the breath of a smoker. What do you say to that ?" " Why; Brudder Goodrich, I expect to leave my broil behind me when I go to heaven."

A letter from Home says the Pope has ordered the exile of Madame Bar-posi-Prattochi, a lady well known for her beauty and gallantries twenty years ago. who belongs to the Liberal party. Sharing in the stupid superstition of some people who consider Pius IX. as a person who casts an " evil eye," she made use of the gesture—common in Italy as a supposed protectionfrorntheinalevolentinlluence —-which is called far la coma, at the moment his Holiness was walking past. The holy father saw the movement and gave orders that Madame Barhosi should leave at once. An agent of the police, M. Ciampi, a great admirer of the lady, notwithstanding her age, nearly 50, married her dir° ectly to save her from exile. There is every probability, however that the expedientwill not be successful.