The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 421, 5 December 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1868.

It should be remembered that the sale of the booths for the Christmas sports takes place to-day at Messrs Robertion and Co.'s offices, at two o'clock. The conditions of sale, we understand, give the sole privilege to the purchaser of the Grand Stand to erect an upper stand, and the other booth-holders will be prohibited from erecting any upper stand, under a penally. From what we can learn, the prices of the booths are likely to fetch at auction the full amount, if not considerably more than the Committee have reckoned upon. There are likely to be a good many competitors in the field, both for the Grand Stand and the others, and the Committee will, no doubt, be pleased to see a favorable amount realised, as they have offered a programme fully equal to the subscriptions collected, and a programme which will, no doubt, attract a attendance.

Some payable ground at the north end of Deadraau's Terrace, is said to have been found at a depth of only four feet. The Great Korth Lead seems to have run out to the surface at that particular point, but what extent of payable ground there may

be at such an easy depth is not yet ] ascertained. The prospects are said to be very good. Yesterday was the day for the regular weekly meeting of the Progress Committee, and four o'clock the hour, but no members attended, except Messrs Alcorn and Powell. The newly-appointed Chairman, Mr Tyler, happened to be at Charleston. There was, however, no business of any , interest if of any description, to be transacted.

Dr Thorpe, who has lately been gazetted a Justice of the Peace, took his seat upon the bench for the first time yesterday, along with Dr Giles, in the Eesident Magistrate's Court. The ketch Standard left yesterday for Little Wanganui, with a cargo of provisions for the use of the miners working in that neighborhood. Some days ago we mentioned the great inconvenience felt by miners occupied in this district, and their inability to procure food at the store there. They have now taken up as much as will last them for some months, aided by the produce of their own gardens. We trust that their expenditure in provisions, and loss of time, will be repaid by remunerative labor. We hear that some of the prospecting party who were lately sent out by the inhabitants of Addison's Flat are tunnelling into one of the terraces a short distance from the south bank of the Buller. These terraces seem to form part of the same formation as the Caledonian and other terraces on the north side of the river, and are, in situation and appearance, very promising places for prospectors. The following notices of claims in the Charleston district had to be omitted from our Charleston correspondent's letter, as printed yesterday : —A. Thompson and party's claim is producing handsome returns, 100 ounces of gold being the produce of the last seventeen days' crushing. Kelly's party have started their new wheel, and have struck a rich lead of cement and black sand, and from prospects obtained, expect a heavy yield of gold. On the Deep Lead,' Candlelight, (which iu its yield of gold, has exceeded the most sanguine expectations) are some of the richest claims in the neighborhood of Charleston. Jones and party, who are groundsluicing, have about ten feet of black sand running through their claim, and are realising from £ls to £2O per man weekly. Lindsay and party are earning good wages. The Pak'ihi Crushing Co., on the old lead, have refitted their machine and commenced work, and it is to be hoped that their new arrangement will prove of a payable character.