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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 451, 12 January 1869, Page 2

We have received a letter from Mr Crate acknowledging receipt of a telegram received by him on Saturday as to the nomination of candidates for the Provincial Council, which took place on that day. Mr Crate does not send any address to the electors, though he embodies some of his views on political ques tions in his letter. He expresses his regret at not being able to' visit Westport at present, but leaves the matter in the hands of his friends. We quote the following from the letter: —" Upon my word, I scarcely know what to say. You would gain a good supporter to tho County Bill by letting Mr M'Dowcll go in, and he would see that there is nothing to be gained out of the Provincial Council for the West Coast." Another letter received in town yesterday from Mr Crate says—" If you are of opinion that the distrk-t will be better represented by me, I shall only have much pleasure in doing my best. My interest in the place will of necessity prompt me to do the best. If elected, I shall set to work immediately and try to got the Buller Road made, and above all the coal will engage my best attention. Coal is the Buller" s salvation when the gold fails." Mr Crate's chance of election will no doubt be affected by his not being on the spot. A correspondent sends us what he terms " Tattersall's latest odds on the fourth coming event," as follows :—" The Provincial Plate.— Gladstone Street against a China orange on 'Do well' against the field. A hogshead of beer against a shandygaff on the same result offered—not taken. Two superfine Miore-antiques against one crate of crockery, for first place—play or pay. A shilling nobbier against a sixpenny one, that the second horse will be distanced.—Chance protests and disqualifications." We believe Dr Giles proceeds this week to the Upper Buller and Lyell, and that on his visit of inspection to these districts he will be accompaied by Mr Lowe, the District Surveyor. Dr Giles is apparently disposed to give facilities for traffic by granting free licenses and otherwise, when such grants may be made, and his visit to the Lyell district will, no doubt, be the means of suggesting to him many improvements which may be effected by the Government, or with its assistance. Those who take an interest in the welfare of Mr Kynnersley, our late Commissioner, will be glad to know that, since his relief from business, his health has greatly improved. We understand that very soon Mr Kynnersley lea/res the Colony for Australia on his way to England, but he expects to be again in New Zealand within twelve months.

The Bank of New Zealand shipped 2,281 ozs, 21dwt. 17grs. of gold yesterday, by the steamer Kennedy to Hokitika. The other banks have considerable quantities on hand, but are not prepared to ship at present.

An alteration has been made in the hours during -which the Q-overnment school will be open. In future the hours will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. andfrom 2 to 4 p.m. "We regret to observe that Miss Rosa Cooper, the well-known actress, has sustained a severe accident in Sydney. It appears that she was descending some stone steps at the rear of the house in which she resides in Jamison street, when her foot slipped and she fell downwards upon her back. She was severely shaken and much bruised, fears being entertained that the spine is injured. She suffers great pain.

A man named John Yates has been committed at Cbristchurch for manslaughter, being charged with the death of a young woman named Maria Hackett, to whom he had administered drugs for the purpose of procuring abortion. Mr Motley, a surgeon, had supplied the drugs, but there was no evidence to show that he knew their exact purpose. At the inquest, John Aulsebrook deposed that ho w*nt to Yates's -house at eleven o'clock on Saturday night, and in about an hour afterwards Yates came in in a very excited state, threw himself on the sofa, struck his fists together, and said in an incoherent way that he was the cause of it — he had only himself to blame —he had killed Maria Hackett —that he should never forgive himself. From the answer given by prisoner to a question as to what the young woman had suffered from, witness's suspicions were aroused. The prisoner in a very excited manner, denied the truth of all this witness's statements. Premiums of £SO, £3O, and[£2o are offered by the Government under a resolution of the General Assembly, for essays on the means of securing the permanent settlement of the mining population of New Zealand, and fixing within the Colony the capital which is being drained away from its goldfields, as shown in the great excess of exports over imports at the ports of exclusively mining districts. Essays must be sent in to the Colonial Secretary before the 28th of February next. Mr \V. Whitehorn has been appointed a Goldfields Warden and Resident Magistrate in Marlborough. It is notified in the Gazette that Mr Thomas Watson, Westport, is duly qualified to act as a Custo:i-house agent.