WESTPORT DISTRICT COURT CIVIL SITTINGS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 330, 21 August 1868, Page 2

WESTPORT DISTRICT COURT CIVIL SITTINGS.

During the hearing of the case, Ranson v. Porter, Mr Tyler said that in this case he had acted for hoth parties, hut was looking more after the interest of Mr Ranson than Porter, as Mr Ranson was his client. His Honor said he wished to make a few remarks respecting such cases. When one solicitor was acting for two parties, it was utterly impossible to give satisfaction, and it left all transactions' open to grave suspicion. If he (his Honor) was practising he would not act for two parties, and it would save much litigation and trouble if each client were to engage their own solicitors. Mr Lowe, district engineer, went over the Celedouian track yesterday and expressed himself satisfied with its condition, with the exception of one or two small bits. He has also taken steps in reference to the formation of a track to Giles' terrace, and if gold is struck in a few more claims the work will be at once proceeded with. There are three parties there who expect to be on gold this week, and if their anticipations are reoclisd, no doubt the track will soon follow, Mokihinui is still as dull as can be, and even the small population,hitherto there, is dwindling by degrees. The coal mine however is bning worked more vigorously, and some excellent mineral is now being got out. The ketch Enterprise is there, and is to be sent nearly a mile up the river, to the foot of the first fall, taking advantage of the spring tides. This is only half a mile from the mine, and it is expected, that even with the limited means at disposal, she can be filled up in two days with thirty tons of coal. In connection with the Mokihinui coal, we may say that protection has been granted to the lessees for a coal wharf on the Buller, opposite Bright street, and that it will be built as soon as the river protection works at that part are finished. The Mokihinui bar is reported in excellent condition, deep water and a fine channel. Yesterday Messrs Milne and Gilmer visited the Caledonian as a deputation from the Kynnersley Testimonial Committee of Westport, to invite the people of that place to join them in presenting a testimonial to Mr Kynnersley, on his retirement from the Commissionership of the Nelson South West goldflelds. Messrs Braithwaite, Brennan. M'Coll, and M'Farlane, agreed to act as a temporary committee, prior to a public meeting on the subject, which will be held to-mor-row evening, as will be seen by advertisement in another column. There is no doubt whatever, that this portion of the district will come out well in the matter, and they have set an example, in calling a public meeting, that we should like to see followed in Westport, and elsewhere. A great change in the weather took place yesterday afternoon, to the great delight of many householders, and many more miners, who even after a few days fine weather were beginning to feel the want of water Every water barrel was dry, and at Charleston many of the .machines would have had to knock off" working if the fine weather had continued a day or two longer. A great many people nave suffered from diarrhoea and bowel complaints generally during the last week, and this we are informed on good authority, has in many cases been occasioned through drinking river water, taken at an im-. proper time of tide when it was brackish. Yesterday afternoon a sharp \

north-easter set in, bringing wit it anh abundance of rain, and some very heavy showers fell. There is every probability of this lasting many little time, judging from appearances at the time of writing.

We beg to remind our readers that a concert in aid of the funds of the Westport Hospital takes place this evening, in Mr. Barries iron store on German Terrace. A good programme has been selected and a fair eveuingsenjoyment may be anticipated. The greatest credit is due to Mr. Barrie and all the oarties concerned for getting up the programme, and for the object to which the funds are to be devoted.

We take the following from the " Southland News: —" A cruel hoax was perpetrated on Thursday evening last, at the Caraudiui Concert. While Miss Fannie Carandini was singing, " when the Quiet Moon is Beaming,' a messenger hastily entered the dresscircle, and delivered to the Captain of the InvercargiU Volruteers, (James Harvey, Esq.) what appeared to be a genuine telegraphic desp. -ch, enclosed in the ordinary official e welope. On opening the missive, Captain Harvey found it contained an order to muster the Southland Volunteers in readiness to proceed to the Nor A, to assist in quelling the Native Rebellion. Unmindful of etiquette at such a moment, Captain Harvey at once stepped over to a brother officer who sat near by, and hurriedly communicated the intelligence, which in a few moments circulated amongst several of the leading citizens present, who were so startled that some eight or ten of them at once rose and left the Theatre to join the cousultation outside. This proceeding was, of course, quite unintelligible to the fair artiste, who appeared for a moment quite disconcerted at what must have seemed, to say the least, very extraordinary conduct. We understand that at the " council of war" it was determined to send a messenger to Riverton ; and a constable was hastily sworn in for the purpose, by a J.P, (John Blacklock, Esq, the Provincial Tre- who happened to be present. All this occurred in less time than it takes us to tell it —' the news,' in fact, spreading like wildfire, and losing nothing by the way. Among the Volunteers present, the call 'to arms,' seeired to act very differently, according to the peculiar idiosyncrasy of the individual members. A few (a precious few) appeared delighted with the prospect of a ' brush with the natives ,' others looked pale, and determined to do their duty ; while others, again, looked pallid, and determined ' not to go North for anybody.' It is but just to say that these constituted but a very &nall minority. How much further the joke might have been carried but for tbe opportune discovery that the "dispatch" was a forgery, is more than we can say. Threats both loud and deep of bow they would treat the joker if they could but catch him, were, of course uttered by the indignant Volun- ' teers, who, as they began to recover their presence of mind, reflected thai in tbe present state of the law they could not be ordered to serve out oi the province."