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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 434, 21 December 1868, Page 2

The fears entertained for the safety of the ketch Constant were set at rest by her arrival in the port on Saturday evening. She was within -aiK miles of the Steeples on Tuesday last, when she encountered very heavy weather, and was driven as far down as Ilokitika. Fortunately the impression that she was short of provisions proved to bo incorrect, the fact being that Mr Suisted had sufficient stores on board for threo weeks' consumption. The weather during the week was unusually severe off the coast, and so thick as to make navigation a matter of some difficulty. Mr Blackett, in his report on the river protection works, says:—As a temporary protection of the river bank against the surf I authorised the erection of. a low breastwork, not exceeding 15 chains in length, and guaranteed the payment of £3 per chain towards its cost, on conditions of the work being executed to a given specification, and to the satisfaction of the District Engineer. This will preveni further destruction of the banks, unless against very high floods, and may last until something more permanent shall be decided on. Mr Prosser has been unanimously elected Mayor of Hokitika. A scheme is on foot for bridging the Grey Biver from Greymouth to Cobden.. Estimated cost, £2OOO. The yield of gold at Sandhurst, during the month of October, was at the rate of . suooozs a week. j