The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 355, 19 September 1868, Page 4

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1868.

We have from time to time repeatedly urged on the mercantile community, the necessity there was for taking some steps towards securing the services of a steamer to act as harbour boat, or rather tender, and at the same time trade regularly between here, Charleston and Brighton, filling up any spare time that she might have on hand by occasional trips to the northward, where profitable occupation could befound, or towing vessels in and out of Westport and Charleston. A large number of the residents warmly approve of the project, but unfortunately none of them haue had up to the present time sufficient public spirit-to carry it into effect, though nothing would be much easier to do. The advantages that would be derived from the services of such a boat, have been frequently told, but in such a case it may not be out of place to briefly recapitulate the chief points. In the first place we may fairly assume indeed we have more than mere supposition to go on, that if the large steamers were only certain of being tendered without delay, they would gladly call off the port, and as our bar is never closed, excepting in bad weather, when no vessel can faca it, companies might depend on this, if a steamer were provided. The delay too need be of a most tri fling description, for the Buller is right in the track of vessels passing up and down, whether to the northward, or the southward, and a tender could always be out side waiting, as information of the expefited arrivals, could bo procured by telegraph, and the time when they might be expected ascertained, to a nicety. Even if it was dead low water when the transhipment took place, the local boat could remain at anchor till the tide served, and the larger one proceed on her voyage without delay or detention. By this means we should ensure direct mail communication to all principal ports whether of NewZealand, Australia, or other places, and the convenience to passengers would be enormous. Light cargo or goods wanted quickly would thus also be procured with despatch and we venture

to think that a largo amount of freight would find its way here from the Australian ports by this channel, In return for their calling, we can offer a wood passenger trade, a fair amount ot inward freight, and a large sold export. At present the average of the goldfields on the const of Nelson, return at least 1.G.000 oz per month, and this would yield a handsome income, for nearly all, if not all of it, would be shipped dire :t if opportunity offered. Tn short, let us first be able to show that we can tender all boats that call, and the companies for their own sakes, will very easily be induced to comply with anv request to that effect. Trie gain that this would be to W"e3tport would be immense, and on that account alone the outlay involved in the purchase of a boat would be abundantly and amply repaid in a very short tfm-. But irrespective of this, there are many other useful purposes to which such a vessel could be turned. In the first place by placing her regularly on the berth between here, Charleston and Brighton, a large amount of freight could be secured, as shippers would evidently prefer the certainty of having their goo Is forwarded in a tide by thao means rather than have to wait the uncertainty that mu-t attend on the smartest sailing craft. A regular trade would soon be created, and such a vessel would prove an incalculable boon to business m-n in either place. This Js so self-evident that argument is quite uncalled for. If the Mokihiriui Coal Mine is fairly opened up, she could either tow vessels up and down, or carry coals herself, when not otherwise engaged, and another source of profit would be openel up. Looked at in every respect, the speculation could not be other than a most lucrative one to shareholders, whilst at the same time a harbor boat of the kind would be a vast benefit to the whole community, both of Westport and other places. A vessel m every way suitable could be procured, for from £2OOO to 3000, for neither would large power be required, nor need the boat be of an expensive character. This sum would not be difficult to raise, we feel confident, if some substantial commercial men would only initiate the company, and as it is directly to their own interest to do so, there is no reasonable ground to anticipate a refusal on their part, to join in such an undertaking. It only wants one man to start it, a meeting of half-a-dozen interested, to issue the prospectus, and the difficulty would be at once surmounted. But presuming that there was a doubt as to the profitable nature of the scheme, or the beneficial results that would flow from it, the experiment might be tried by at first chaptering a boat. Supposing in that case the whole capital raised was sunk, the loss would be but trifling, whilst on the other hand, if the result was favorable the compa'iy would have positive data to go upon, reliable information to guide their future operations, and could purchase such a vessel as experience proved best adapted to the purpose. We earnestly trust that the mercantile community, will well weigh and investigate the proposition, with a view to immediate action in reference to it. It is at least worth trying.

Griles' Terrace appears to be turning out all tliat was expected by tbe miners. We are bappy to say there are now seven claims on gold, some of which are yielding a splendid return to the proprietors. Two or three which hare come on gold within the past few days, are not in a position to tast their ground as yet, the washdirt on tins, as well as the adjoining terrac )s, being very thin at first. The decision of the Resident Magistrate yesterday, in reference to the riding on footpaths, must be satisfactory to those who indulge in that pastime, but by no means equally pleasing to tbe peJistrians, who object to sharing the footpath with four footed travelers, with a chance of being ridden over into the bargain. No person according to that ruleing, commits an offence by trotting, or cantering up the footpaths and they are only liable to penalties if they repeat the process, after being warned by a constable not to do so. If such is the law it decidedly requires great amendment, for it was distinctly sworn in the case referred to, that the lives of children were endangered, and corroborative evidence could have been given if necessary to the same effect. A short time ago, Mr Brown, storekeeper, sued a miner at Addison's, who enjoys the soubriquet of Belfast Jack, for goods supplied, and obtained a verdict. The bailiff subsequently took the defendants share in a claim in execution, and it was sold under distress. No one would bid for it hardly, and Mr Brown himself became the purchaser, for the sum of £lO. He sent up as wages man, a relative of his

n.imod Christenson, and the latter, on leaving work on Thursday night, wis brutally assaulted and beaten, for no other offence than being there. A w irranf was issued for the apprehension of the two men who committed the assault, aud though they made tracks directly after their cowardly exploit, there is little doubt of their ultimate capture, [t is to be hoped that these samples of the law and order abiding community at Addison's will be made an example of, in order i to secure safety to unoffending men in future. A correspondant, writing from Poverty Bay to the HawJces B-iy Herald, complains bitterly of Lieut. Col. Whitmore's conduct in the last expedition this gentleman commauded on the East Coast, in the description of which the people of this district may be impelled to dra v comparisons of how similarly operations are conducted on both sides of the island. Mr. Hawthorne of Whata Whata, writing on the 21ih ult., goes so far as to say : —" What Lieut.-Col. Whitmore ha j accomplished may be briefly told. After asserting that he would capture the escaped prisoners in two days, he contrived to march as far in a fortnight as the Poverty Bay Volunteers did in one day ; he occupied a month in overtaking an enemy inferior in numbers, encumbered with aged men, women, aud with children, and laden with plunder ; he ordered the graves of three boys to be dug, after first swearing he would shoot them—he commuted their punishment to -16 days' imprisonment—he then let them off, thereby affording another proof that ' thei'e is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.' Of the abominable nature of the cowardly threat I say nothing, as this grave-digging was probably intended as a scare. Further, he has at length met the enemv, by whom he was ignominiously defeated ; he likewise left the bodies of those two gallant officers, Capts. Carr aud Canning, with those of four other men, in possession of the infuriated savages, to be mutilated by them if dead, and tomahawked if living—for, alas! it is even as yet uncertain who were really killed and who not, when Col. Whitmore left the field."