The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 426, 11 December 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1868.

There has been some new grouud opened at Hatter's Terrace, on the Great North Lead, and a small rush from Giles Terrace and the Caledonian has been the consequence. It is believed that another lead of gold has been struck, situated about 300 feet more to the westward than the lead which was formerly opened, and on a lower level. The prospect obtained is about three grains to the dish, and the seam, as far as it has been tested, is about four feet in thickness, the wash dipping inwards. The lead was struck at a distance of sixty feet in from the terrace. Yesterday there was a number of miners from Giles Terrace on the ground; and the impression seemed to be that it would turn out well.

The Lioness, which arrived in port yesterday, left Hokitika at an early hour, and brought no papers.

Mr and Mrs Gourlay, with the younger representatives of their name and talent*, arrived from Greymouth yesterday by the Charles Edward, and this evening, we observe, they give their first entertainment in the new Masonic Hall. It is allowable, in connection with Mr Gourlay's entertainment, to employ a word more of Scottish than of English use ; and it may be said that the new hall could not be " han'selled" by any better entertainment being held within its walls. The name of Mr Gourlay, and that of Mrs Gourlay (Miss Susan Goddard) are names known not only in the colonies, or in such an Ultima Thule as the West Coast of New Zealand, but are names which have long been recognised as the names of two excellent delineators of character, as well as accomplished vocalists. As delineators of Scottish character especially Mr and Mrs Gourlay excel to a degree much beyond the excellence of the majority of dramatic performers or others who have made such characteristic representations their particular study. We speak withlessknowledge of the facts withregard to ''Little Johnny," but we believe that he also is a very eccentric little comedian and vocalist. The rarity iu Westport of such an entertainment as the Gourlays are capable of giving should alone ensure, on each of the three evenings upon which they are to appear, a crowded and a delighted audience. A party of amateurs in Westport are preparing for another dramatic performance, which will include a first-rale burlesque and a farce. We notice that the Dunedin Garrick Club are about to give a performance for the benefit of sufferers by the Poverty Bay massacre. A. Masonic banquet is to be held at the European Hotel, Charleston, on the 28th inst., after the installation of officersfortheensuing year. Thefollowing are the officers elected : —Bros. Treadwell, E.W.M.; Isaacs, S.M.; Van,S.W.; JN'eale, J.W., and Treasurer ; Jackson, Secretary. The date of the banquet happens rather unfortunately for the attendance of brethren from Westport, where the sports and races are likely to require the attention of many. The Wanganui races have been rather a failure, both on acoount of the weather, and the state of the country. The principal race of the day was won by Mr Croker's chesnut gelding, Corsair. The winner of another race was a horse named Tito Kowaru, who seemed to enjoy the luck of his name-sake.

Oil Wednesday, there occurred another landslip at Giles Terrace, or rather on the Orawaite face from which the tunnels enter. It occurred in front of Perry and party's tunnel, which it blocked up, and it will take some days' work to clear away the debris. The men at work in front saw the mass of earth and stones beginning to move, and had time to get out of the way. At Giles Terrace, two other parties are commencing tunnels —higher up the Orawaite than the present workings. They expect to come on the gold at a distance of 300 or 400 feet from the face of the hill.

The Albatross, which has just arrived at Auckland from New Caledonia, repoi'ts that on the 7th ult. six soldiers were murdered by the Kanakas, and that a party bad gone in pursuit of them. It is stated that Mr Sale has been appointed the Arbitrator on behalf of "Westland, under " The Canterbury and Westland Public Debt Apportionment Act, 1868." Strong objections are made to this appointment by the Greymouth journal.

A track is being cut at Deadman's Creek by Mr M'Kenna, storekeeper. It will be of considerable service by saving the necessity of miners and others ascending the terraces. In the same neighborhood, there is a race being cut by G-allagher and party, who expect to commence washing up very soon.

Mr Charles "Wilmot, the comedian, has sailed for England, via Panama. Some specimens of quarts have been found up the Orawaiti river, and there is some talk of a reef having been discovered. The situation is certainly a likely one, but we shall probably hare particulars, in a day or two, as to the cause of the rumour.

A new seam of coal, fifteen feet thick, and of superior quality, has been opened at Green Island, near Dunedin.

The Provincial Secretary, Mr Greenfield, has been waited upon by a deputation at Brighton. The deputation was introduced by Mr Donne, M.P.C., and several matters of local and district interest were represented. The escort from Charleston arrived in town yesterday, bringing, it is said by the Herald, 4155 ozs. of gold.

About three chains of Hunter and party's fluming, at Darkie's Terrace, in the Charleston district, have been carried away by the late gales. In the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, last week, Mr Henry Smythies was charged with having illegally practised as a barrister. The charge was brought under a special Act which was introduced last year, to meet Mr Smythies' case, and which states that "no person who has or shall have been convicted, in any part cf the British dominions, for forgery or perjury or subornation of perjury shall be enrolled or admitted to practise or shall practise as a barrister or solicitor in New Zealand." Mr John Jones was the informant. Mr Smythies was fined £SOO and costs.

It appears that, besides Mr Joseph ' Kempthorne, of the Bank of New South Wales, another young man, Mr Pidwell, was drowned by the late boat accident in Dunedin Bay. The others in the boat, who were saved, were Mr Corrigan, of the Bank of Otago, Messrs Cotterell and Buisson, of the Bank of New Zealand, and Mr R. J. Macdonnell, of the Customs. On the same day—St. Andrew's Day—another boat capsized in Pelichet Bay, and a young man named John Taylor was drowned. A serious accident has occurred at Okarita, fortunately, however, without causing anv loss of life. Upwards of eighty chains in length of the flume belonging to the Alpine Company fell suddenly to the ground. Some almost miraculous escapes occurred. It is said that, at the request of the Superintendent of Nelson, the General Government have consented to i appoint a Commission to inquire into the distribution of the Customs duties collected at the port of Greymouth. The electors of Timaru have again refused to return a member to the Provincial Council, declaring the representation to be valueless. The nomination closed without a candidate being proposed. Mr Calvert, of the firm of Calvert and Campbell of Dunedin, has died suddenly in England. A report issued by Sergeant Morton, stationed at Port William, Stewart's Island, states that a party at work at liuggedy beach are making about £4 each per week, and that they have found a quartz reef, in which specks of gold could be obtained by crushing. In reference to this last discovery, the Southland JVews inclines, on inspection of a specimen, to consider it felspar rather than quartz. On the 14th of September, at Conception, on the coast of Chili, the waters of the sea became hot, and fish were cabt ashore in a cooked state. The sea at the time was perfectly calm, but next day much agitation was noticeable.

The extension of the County of Westland is advocated by " A Cobdenite" in the Grey River Argus. He writes : —" Some time ago Mr Harrison visited Cobden for the purpose of inducing the inhabitants of that village and district to petition for separation from Nelson, and could hardly obtain a hearing. If that gentleman could be induced to give us another call he would meet with a very different reception. The conviction has been forced upon us, that it is better to act for ourselves than to starve under the chilling patronage, and the incessant and exhaustive bleeding manipulation of the Nelson Provincial Government."