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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 338, 31 August 1868, Page 2

It seems almost hopeless to expect anything like animation in Westport, even in matters that most vitallv concern the residents. It may perhaps induce some action, when we state that if the Q-overnment will specify clearly what amount of the Mount Rochfort coal area they will lease, the conditions on which it shall be held, and full particulars, capital can be obtained to work it. The shuffling, to say the least of it, that has taken place on the part of the Nelson Government, in connection with its coalfields, has induced guy thing but confidence, and unless every condition is clearly laid down nothing can be done. If this is ascertained there is every reason to believe that the necessary funds for the proper development of the mine

will be forthcoming without delay. Mr Dreyer is one of those who have, or claim to have, a lease of the coal reserve, and hence possibly his anxiety and public spirit (?) for the discovery of a payable coalfield, but all such claims, of any such description, must be definitely disposed of, somehow or other, before a company would spend a farthing. Were a Progress Committee in existence they could-well take up the question, and, at all events, procure such reliable and definite information on the subject as could be laid before capitalists in Victoria, for, from there the cash will come if it comes at all. As it is, there is no public body to undertake the enquiry, and instead of having a permanent industry to depend on, our prosperity or adversity ebbs or flows with new rushes to every new goldfield. If those most interested refuse to help themselves, so it must be to the end of the chapter. »< "We are glad to say that the Government schooner, Mary, has been employed some days in bringing over rough boulder shingle from the south side of the river, where the bank has been recently formed, and the material is used in filling up the space between the piles and the bank in the protective works on the northern side. The material is excellently adapted for the purpose, and the vessel suits admirably to convey it. She carries about thirty tons on a trip, and is hauled to and fro by lines fixed at either and so can readily drop down to the exact spot required. She can, be believe, make two trips a day at times, and that no time is lost in loading her may be inferred from the fact that this was accomplished on Friday in one hour and a-half. The Mary is likely to prove a most useful vessel in the river both for this aud like purposes, as well as for snagging use. Since she was purchased extensive repairs have been made on her, and she is now a substantial and strong vessel.

A new buoy will be laid down, this week, in the Buller, showing the channel opposite the saw mills. The buoy has been here some weeks, and the anchor recently arrived, and is now all ready for fixing. As will be seen by our correspondent's letter, those who have taken out licenses at Addison's Elat very reasonably complain of the laxity with which illegal grbgselling is treated in that locality. There is scarcely a store that does not openly sell liquor, and there are only a very few not half-a dozen we are told, licensed houses. This is too bad, and we are not surprised at people refusing to pay any longer, when they find that their neighbours who pay nothing, can enjoy just as great privileges as themselves. Whether this is the case at the Caledonian or not we do no : , know but it is very probable, and indeed altogether the manner in which the Licensing Act is set at defiance in the district is anything but creditable to the authorities.

We understand that a division has taken place amongst the Foley troupe, a portion of them having left Mr Foley at G-reymouth. They came up in the Charles Edward and proceed in her to-day. The " Wellington Independent" is informed on good authority, that the Postmaster-General has given notice, both to the Panama and New Zealand Steam Navigation Companies, that all the existing contracts for interprovincial mail steam services will terminate in September next. What effect this somewhat sweeping measure will have upon our system of postal communication in New Zealand, remains to be seen.

Writing for colonial newspapers seems to be a most congenial employment to the followers of Sir John Falstaff (the father of lies). We do not, however, recollect, (with a single exception) any of them having attained such a notoriety in their profession as the correspondent of the ' De Boerenvrienda" (Cape of Good Hope paper), who, writing from Eland's Kiver, states that a spider has just been killed on the farm of Mr Bautenback as large as a turkey-cock. The writer asserts that the insect killed three dogs, and received three charges of a gun before he was despatched. The "Sydney Empire" states that the accounts of mortality from yellow fever at Callao are absolutely appalling. Upwards of 2,000 people had died of it in six weeks, out of a population of 20,000. The mortality from this cause, in the Argentine Republic, had reached 28,000 up to latest date. The Perth (W. A) papers state that thirteen tons of pearl shells have been exported to England within a few weeks from the north-west coast of Western Australia. These shells are worth a large sum of money per ton. The end of the Victorian dead-lock was followed by the passing of probably the largest money vote evens pro-

posed in the Australian colonies. On the 13th ult., say the " Argus,"—"A Ways, and Means Bill for £2,950,000 passed both Houses of Parliament, and received His Excellency's assent. The Treasury was once more uulocked, and public payments resumed on. the next day, £950,000 v»as for the service of the year 1867, and £1,000,000 for 1863."