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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 469, 23 February 1869, Page 2

Some extraordinary statements are current as to the conduct of the Provincial Government in the appointment of a successor to Mr Dutton, Resident Magistrate and Warden at Cobden. On Mr Dutton's resignation becoming known there were, we believe, several candidatea for the vacant Wardenship, and among the gentlemen mentioned as likely to receive the appointment was Mr F. Harris, Provincial Sub-Treasurer at Westport. Certainly if anyone in the goldfields service of the Province was entitled to the advancement, Mr Harris was and is. At least such is the popular, and, we thoroughly believe, justifiable, impression. It is now stated, however, that the appointment has been conferred—it may be said, thrust—upon Mr Lowe, the District Surveyor, and it is further stated that the reason for this is to make room for a Mr Dobson, who is connected with the engineering or survey department at Nelson. There are other reports as to " wheels within wheels," but they are not so reliable, or creditable to the Executive, as to justify reference being made to them. Of Mr Lowe's appointment there can be but one opinion, and probably he himself shares in the surprise which it has caused. However estimable a young man he may be, and however well-qualified he may be as an engineer, it is very much to be doubted if the inhabitants of the Cobden district will find him to be a competent successor to Mr Dutton, who, though perhaps somewhat overrated, was undoubtedly efficient as a Warden. The anomaly of the appointment is increased by the fact that Mr Lowe is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, officer in the Provincial service, and both his colonial and gold-mining experience may be said to be next to nothing. Even with our present Wardens, able and experienced as they are, there is, however unjustifiably, some dissatisfaction expressed. By their new appointment, the Nelson Government are certainly doing nothing to improve the feeling or to consult the peculiar interests of a mining population. Towards Mr Lowe personally none can have but a friendly feeling, but of his appointment as Warden few are likely, at the first blush, to approve. It would, however, be ungenerous to do otherwise than to believe that he only required the opportunity to demonstrate his fitness for the office.

The workings at Hatter's Terrace appear to be extending further north. Yesterday M'Dowell and party struck good payable gold, and many others are engaged with fanprospects before them. Those who are on gold continue washing with good returns, and further north, on Christmas Terrace, parties are bringing in water, and building paddocks, &c, to begin washing.

Tapley and party and Sutherland and party have completed their water-race ai Giles Terrace. It took about five weeks to construct, is half-a-mile long, and the fuming is seventy feet high, across the river Orawaiti. By this race a good supply of water will be ensured during any period of dry weather that is likely to occur.

An accident occurred on Friday, resulting in the death of a fine horse belonging to Mr Brown, of Westport. The horse was employed in packing a load of provisions to Deadman's Creek, and when ascending to Giles Terrace by a spur, it got between some stones and fell back, breaking its leg. The place being very steep, it was impossible to extricate the animal, and it was put out of pain by being shot.

The Rakaia, with the last mail by way of Panama, is now due at Wellington, and telegraphic intelligence of her arrival may be looked for hourly. The mail via Suez was due at Melbourne on Saturday, and will probably arrive by the Bangitoto at the end of the week.

Application forms for registration of v - i ers on the Electoral 801 l for this district may now be had at the office of this paper. It will be observed that all claims must be sent in to the office of the Resident Magistrates in "Westland North, on or before the 31st of next month.

A ball took place last night at the Australasian Hotel, Addison's Flat, the proceeds of which are intended to be applied towards the support of the Addison's Flat school. An advertisement announcing the same was forwarded to this paper on Friday last, but did not reach this office untd Saturday, consequently we were unable to call attention to it. The object for which the ball was given, if fully known, would, no doubt, have commanded a very large attendance. It is notified in the General Government Gazette that the name of " the building situated in Herbert Street, Westport," and known as " Millen's Bond," has been changed to that of " the Commercial Bond." The Nelson Mail states that Mr James Bentley, one of the members for Westport in the Nelson Provincial Council, has resigned his seat, and that a writ has been issued for the election of a member in his stead.

In the Supreme Court, Nelson, on Friday, in the matter of the insolvency of James Bentley, Mr Kingdon obtained 'an order vesting the idsolvent's estate in Robert Pollock, Provisional Trustee in Bankruptcy. The Bank of New Zealand exported yesterday 12870z. 85dwts. 3grs. of gold per Murray to Hokitika. Despite the dulness of times and the general complaint of little gold and less water, there are symptoms of confidence in the future of the district shown each week, by some one or other erecting new buildings, or adding to or improving the present ones. Dr Thorpe has just completed the erection of his new and substantial house contiguous to town, and Mr Pitt's new cottage in the suburbs, and adjoining the other private residences midway between town and the Orawaiti, is also approaching completion. This week Mr Trimble is altering and remodelling the Theatre Royal, having taken in the shop lately occupied by Mr Houston, which he purchased a few weeks ago. The Greymouth Races on the 17th March are, from all accounts, likely to be attended by large numbers from the other towns on the coast and elsewhere. Several owners of horses in this district have commenced giving their nags daily exercise on the beach, with the object of obtaining some of our southern neighbours' handsome prizes. Most likely pleasure trips at reduced fares will be announced for the occasion, by one or two of the steamers.

We extract from Dilke's ' Greater Britain,' the following reference to New Zealand : " The climate of the North Island is winterless, moist, and warm, and its effects are already seen in a certain wont of enterprise shown by the Government and settlers. I remarked that the mail-steamers, which leave Wellington almost every day, are almost invariably ' detained for despatches.' It looks as though the officers of the Colonial or Imperial Governments commence to write their letters only when the hour for the sailing of the ship has come. An Englishman visiting New Zealand was asked, in my presence, how long his business in Wanganui would keep him in the town. His answer was , 'ln London it would take me half an hour ; so I suppose about a week—about a week.'"

The Nelson papers published the following as Mr Warden Dutton's report on the Brunner Mine for the past month:—This has been a busy month at the mine, as the entire stoppage of the Westland Mine just at the time when there was an increased demand for coal fcr shipment has kept all hands fully employed. I have received £477 Is. for coals, &c, during the month, the expenses amounting to only 234 18s 10., which gives an apparent profit for the month of £242 2s 2d., but a full week's wages have yet to be deducted, as pay day is only once a fortnight. There will still, however, be a considerable profit. This exceptional demand is consequent on the arrival of a number of vessels from Melbourne. The works at the mine are going on well, and if anything like the present demand for coal continues, the next two months will show a large profit.