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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 398, 9 November 1868, Page 2

It is necessary, in deference to the demands of " space," to condense into a few lines, the narration of the local incidents of the past forty-eight hours. Most noticeable has been an incomprehensible, and, so far as we know, altogether causeless apprehensiou which seems to have affected the public mind as to the occurrence of an earthquake or a huge tidal wave, which was to sweep away Westport, and many other worse places. For some days there had beeu a story industriously, and, we imagine, jocuhudy circulated, to the effect that Dr Hector had, forsooth, " predicted" that there was to be a monster tidal wave on Saturday night or Sunday morning; that he had telegraphed intimation of the same to the operator here, as well as to Captain Leech, the Harbor Master; and so on. Speculation on the subject was followed by anxiety, and ' towards midnight on Saturday there may be said to have been even excitement —different in its scource from, although perhaps enhanced by, the ordinary excitement of a Saturday night. The Maoris betook themselves, with their pigs and their poultry, several miles up the Puller, and even some wdio are not Maoris are said to have found occasion to proceed to the Caledonian and other terraces. Women were particularly alarmed; aud there is no doubt that, had the slightest shock of earthquake happened, there would have been a scene such as practical jokers would regret having encouraged. As we have said, the whole story appears to have been utterly groundless, and it is to be hoped that, With the sources of information which the people of Westport, possess theywillnotbeso ere Juloustagaiu in mere matters of hearsay. The other incidents have been the arrival of the Waipara, with the Suez English news on board, and the schooner Ottawa in tow —again disabled ; the arrival of the Lyttelton with sheep and stories of shipwreck ; and the arrival, for the first time, of Mr Jones's " Sunday coach" from the Orawaite. Among other incidents, there is the laying down of material for the erection of the Athenamin; the draining of some of the back streets —at last ! —by the prisoners ; news of alluvial gold at the Waimaugoroa—as yet unconfirmed ; news of the safe arrival, this time, of the prospecting party at the Lyell; and news of the rush to Hatter's Terrace turning out excellently—all of which items of news will bear being referred to again. The present Westland County Council is to meet on Wednesday, for one short session before it closes altogether. On Thursday last, Mr Bright was elected as a member of the Council, in place of Mr Carey, who had resigned. The term of office for all the members will end in a month hence.

At the Westport telegraph office, and all the other telegraph offices in the colony, New Zealand mean time is now kept, instead of Wellington time. Tins time will bo kept also by the post ollice,aud by other departments of the public service. It would be a considerable advantage to the inhabi *ants if either at the telegraph office or at the post office a time-piece were publicly exhibited. The hotel clocks of this town, which are the only other authorities, are so irregular and eccentric in their habits as to be altogether valueless to any one except those whose leisure or whose tastes induce them to watch the movements of the dial every hour of the day. We understand that the parties of miners having claims on the Shamrock Lead have amalgamated for the purpose of carrying out a work which is calculated to promote their interests generally. By each party, one man will bo told off, or employed, for the purpose of cutting a storm channel similar to that which was formed at Addison's Flat. By this work, the storm waters of a crsek will be diverted, and it is expected that the working of the claims, by the withdrawal of the water, will be considerably facilitated. Out of thirty applicants for the appointment of Manager to the Hokitika and Greymoutk Tramway Company, Mr.Ward, late clerk to Mr G. W. Binney, has been selected. We observe by the Hokitika papers that the Totara district is in a pitiable plight. The whole of Jones's Mat is swamped out, and there seems no prospect of an arrangement to drain it. Lately, the water has steadily risen about six inches a day, and ■ gradually is driving all the men out of the third bottom. At present two steam engines and ten whims are all idle.

In the Marlborough papers received by the steamer Lyttelton, we find a few items of news. The Blenheim people are petitioning to be formed into a municipality, aud the district of Kaikoura is demanding to be made a county. "In that event," says the local paper, " a grand fete will take place. It is thought a roasted ox; and barrels of beer will be provided." What is perhaps of more consequence than either the county or the exact form of the feast, is the fact that a party of " well known persons " had started out to prospect for gold in the western ranges of the Wairau plains. Mr Pilliett, who was Resident Magistrate in Marlborough after the Wakaramina rush, and who was " latterly editor of a cheap luminary in Wellington," has received an appointment under the G-overnment at the Kaikouras. Mr Gr. James of the Royal hotel, Blenheim, has been lamed lor life by coming into collision with a wagon when riding, and by breaking his kneecap. Mr Balfour, 0.E., is to be sent by the Government to the Wairau to report upon the ovei\flow and encroachments of the river, and Mr A. Dobson is at present taking levels for his guidance.

As latest information from the Okarita district, the West Coast Times states that the population has steadily increased during the past month. A further increase is also probable, as a party of four men, working fourteen miles up Cook'sßiver, had,in four days, washed out fifteen and a half ounces, their only means of sluicing being a piece of calico stretched on two sticks. One of the party had arrived in Hokitika to procure tools and blasting powder, to remove the large boulders which impede the working of the ground.

Mr Potts, during the recent session of the Assembly, tabled a resolution proposing that a sum of £IOO should be placed on the estimates for the best essay on the following subject:—" The means for securing the permanent settlement of the mining population of New Zealand, and for fixing within the colony the capital which is being constantly drained away from the Groldfields, as shown in the great excess of exports over imports, at the ports of the exclusively gold-mining districts." What became of the resolution we have not heard.

Eighty-nine Chinese were landed at Hokitika on Friday, from the steamer Eangitoto. One party proceeded to the Hau-hau, aud the others to the Waimea district.

Prom a return, recently published, it appears that the area of the Auckland goldfields is about 4250 acres ; the population 6,000 ; and the monthly yield 7000 ounces—worth about 50s an ounce, or about os per week for the population. The police of Hokitika have commenced a raid against the houses of illfame in some of the principal streets. The consequence has been that the occupants of several have removed to localities where, at least, public decency will be less offended.

The AVest Coast portion of the English mail received by way of Suez was not brought to Hokitika by the Bangitoto, which arrived there on Friday, but it was expected to arrive by coach from Christchurch on Saturday afternoon. Probably the Westport letters will be received by the Charles Edward. The exchange of newspapers between newspaper offices becomes exempt from postage after the Ist of January.