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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 362, 28 September 1868, Page 2

The steamer Wallabi is announced to leave this day for Manakau. The few Auckland papers to hand contain very little general mining news of interest, being composed chiefly of a list of particular reef claims, with occasional reports of rich crushings. From other sources we learn that the rush to Mercury Bay has not realised the expectations that were formed, and private letters, from two old residents of this town, speak unfavorably enough of Auckland, as regards offering any prospects to a new-comer, the place being entirely overdone. We notice that the Charleston Progress Committee have still hopes of securing daily postal communication with Westport, notwithstanding the unfavourable tenor of the Postmaster General's reply to their application on the subject. We understand the two members of the committee deputed to get information as to probable additional cost, &c. from Mr Bemiss, manager for Cobb & Co., are so far satisfied with the result, as regards the trifling extra expense, that it is probable another application will

bo made, backed by a comparative estimate of tho cost of a daily service, and a tri-weekly service as at present. We are glad to report the arrival on I Saturday, of the Commissioner, Mr Kynnersley, who came by the Charles Edward from Nelson. The same steamer brought Captain and Adjutant Stack, who comes on a visit of inspection of the Volunteers. It is said that some alarm is being felt in Wellington at tho continued delay of the Ruahine, with the Panama Mails.

It being late in the afternoon when Captain Stack arrived, the intended inspection of the Westport Yoluntecrs under Captain Martin's command, did not take place, it being arranged that they should be inspected by Captain Stack, on his return from Hokitika, to which port he proceeded yesterday, by the steamer Charles Edward.

Apropos of the complaints which have become common respecting the bad quality of the gum on stamps, the Postmaster informs us that he has a supply of duty stamps, ranging in value from sixpence, to five shillings, which do not require gum, being already stamped with a die on paper cut to various sizes to suit different purposes. .bate Nelson papers mention the opening up of a quartz reef in the Marlborough province, concerning which we extract the following short notice:— "It has been known to settlers in the Pelorus that a gold-bearing quartz formation existed in the district of the Wakamarina. Since then the locality has been prospected by a pretty numerous party, who have come across leaders of a veritable quartz reef, exhibiting, it is said, considerable richness. The reef runs along the mountain range intersected by the Wakamarina river. Some specimens have been exhibited, which are said to be rich, and the result is that already sections in that part of the country arc looking up. We shall have fuller information soon. Meanwhile, exaggerated accounts will find prominence; but we have little doubt that a " good thing " is in store for Marlborough and the region round about, if this shall prove as profitable as it promises to be, making due allowance for enthusiastic exaggeration.

The " Grey River Argus" of the 24th, records the death by drowning, of Mr David Brosnan, the oldest and most respected storekeeper at Nelson Creek. It appears the unfortunate gentleman was riding down to the foot of the creek from one of his upper stores, when, by some means not yet understood, he fell from his horse, and was found drowned in the creek. Everything of value was found safe upon him, including a large quantity of gold, excluding all thoughts of foul play. The body was taken down to Greymouth next morning. This sad affair has cast quite a gloom over the creek, where the deceased was known, above all others, for his kind-heartedness and liberal cohduct towards the digging community.

An invention for the extinguishing of fires has been recently shown in Melbourne. It is self-acting and is portable. It consists of a tin vessel, about two and a half feet high, and a foot in diameter, with a small hose attached. A large fire was raised on purpose to test its efficiency, and the new invention put the fire out after the lapse of a few minutes. James M'Ewan and Co., of the G-lasgow Eire Brigade testifies to its efficiency. "We learn from the " West Coast Times" that on Sunday afternoon as a child six years old, belonging to Captain Thompson of the harbour department, was proceeding on an errand along the wharf, a large dog, who is said to be very ferocious, and is known by the cognomen of Woolf, started up from its crouching position, and, without any provocation whatever from the child, flew at him, and seizing him by the scalp, tore a wound down from the crown of the head to the ear. The dog then let go its hold and seized the child by the shoulder, biting him through. He then seized him by the knee, and it is difficult to say to what extent the ferocity of the animal might have continued had not a lady, who was passing at the moment, dragged the child away. The poor kittle fellow contrived to stagger home, and falling down as soon as he got in, cried out to his mother, " Oh! mother, I am dying, a dog has killed me." Captain Thompson immediately carried the child to Dr Dermott, who sewed up his wounds and administered such relief as the serious nature of the case admitted. The poor child now lies, we are sorry to say, in a precarious condition.

The Wellington papers publish Col. M'Donnell's official report on the lixte unsuccesful attack. Reviewing the affair from all the accounts to hand the Independent says : —" Our defeat has not been the result of unforeseen

misfortune, but of imprudence combined with want of judgement on the part of the Commander, and inexperience of bush-fighting on that of the men. In truth, from first to last, this , expedition against Te Ruaruru has been a bad and ill-managed affair. Our own proceedings were such as to render defeat certain. With no knowledge of the country, with only a single guide, who, as it turned out, knew little or nothing of the track, and with a map which was only useful to mialead, Colonel M' Donnell led his force into the bush It is a very painful task to utter words of condemnation respecting an officer whose conduct in n*any a sharp fight has been so braveand gallant as that of Col. M'Donnell. Still we feel compelled to say plainly that the recent expedition betrayed a want of forethought anp judgement, both in its plans and their execution."

The editor of the Wagga Wagga Express hashadratherahard time of it. In a recent issue, under the heading " Another threatened assault on the editor of the Express," it reports that " in the early part of last week a bootmaker and temperance apostle, named George Everett, sent us for publication two comunications, advocating his favor te cause of teetotalism one in prose and the other in verse. Other communications of a similar class which he had previously sent we had rewritten and published; but the thing wa sgro wing into a nuisance, and not having the time to lick his compositions into shape, we declined to publish them, and. recommended him to send us no more until he could obtain the assistance of the schoolmaster in writing them. This gave the gentleman great offence, and early on Saturday morning he repaired to the private residence of one of the proprietors and endeavored to force open the door, saying he wanted to see the editor, and threatening to ' smash ' him if he could find him. Finding that the editor was not in, he took his departure, vowing vengeance ; and an hour or two later appeared at the printing office, where the editor then was, and there, with a great deal of abusive and insulting language, repeated his threats until a policeman coming up, he was given into custody, and being brought before the police magistrate was convicted and fined."