The Westport Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 470, 25 February 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1869.

It will be seen by advertisement in another column that the Superintendent has issued a ■writ for the election of a member of the Provincial Council, in place of Mr Bentley, resigned. The day of nomination is fixed for Saturday, the 20th of March, and the polling day for the Thursday following. The pollingplaces will be the same as those on the last occasion, namely, the Court House, Westport; the Camp, at Addison's Flat; and Mr J. Braithwaite's store, at the Caledonian. From what we can learn, this vacancy is more likely to be contested than the last. It is rumored that Mr Dreyer, late member for Cobden, is likely to contest the seat, and the name of a member of the fourth estate in Nelson has been mentioned, but, more probably than either, a gentleman with local interest and knowledge, whose name has been mooted, and whose political views are more likely to harmonise with those of the inhabitants here, will be requested to contest the election. It is to be hoped that, at the nest sitting of the Council, whoever may be elected, our representatives will endeavor to place the necessities of the goldfields in their proper light, and that the West Coast members will, though Only a small minority, act in unison to serve the interests of their constituents. A meeting is convened for to-morrow evening, at the Post Office Hotel, for the purpose of taking into consideration the formation of a company to provide a suitable steamer for the service of the port and district. We have on former occasions so often referred to this subject that it is needless to repeat a statement of the benefits which would accrue to the district, if such an undertaking were once properly initiated. We are given to understand that several of the merchants and others are now prepared to invest in such a speculation, and we do not doubt that there will be a numerous attendance at the meeting, when the matter will be fully ventilated. Iu another column will be found a telegram from our Wellington correspondent, reporting the discorery of some new auriferous ground in Marlborough. We imagine that the news is not of such importance as is implied by toe

bare -words of the telegram. Though described as near Blenheim, we understand that Mountain Camp creek, where the gold is alleged to have been discovered, is contiguous to the old Wakamarina diggings, or about three miles from the -well-known Wilson's accommodation house. From the character of these diggings, it is quite possible that such a washing as is reported might be obtained, but its occurrence does not prove the existence of a field of dimensions sufficient to warrant a rush. The report that "Havelock was deserted" is more of a joke than anything else. We fear that that once promising location has been ia a chronic state of desertion for the last three years. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday, Mrs Cregan, Addison's Flat, was, on the information of the police, charged with selling spirituous liquors without a license, and was fined .£SO. Mrs Walsh was informed against by a fisherman named Pascoe, for using abusive and obscene language, and she was cautioned and discharged. The Bishop of Nelson is expected to visit Westport this week, and to hold services in the Court-house on Sunday next. We understand that, according to instructions from the Provincial Government, the police-officers at present stationed at Addison's Flat are to be withdrawn from that place. Fish of all kinds have been very plentiful in the river during the past week. Flounders and mullet are being extensively sold, and the Maoris have been making a small harvest from the supply of eels of all sizes obtained within the past few days. Lately a number of the half-sovereigns which were lost by the agent for the Bank of New South Wales, between Brighton and Charleston, have been voluntarily delivered up to the police by persons by whom they were found. Information has been obtained as to others who picked up and retained a considerable number of the coins, and proceedings are likely to be taken against them in the court at Charleston.

On Wednesday afternoon, February 10th, a man named Denis Fitzgerald left Picton for Blenheim, and nothing further was heard of him until Friday, when his horse was found dead in the Wairau river near the Ferry. A search was immediately made for Mr Fitzgerald, who was supposed to be drowned, and on Saturday last the body was found in a line with the Ferry. Deceased was taken to Blenheim, where an inquest was held, and a verdict of " Accidental Death'' returned. The Taranaki Herald chronicles the names of several families who have considerably assisted in populating that Province. One family (the late Mr Veale's) consists of 106 souls (9 children, 57 grand-children, and 38 great-grand children) ; who are all in a good state of health. Mr S. Julian's family consists of 109, including children, grand-child-ren, and great-grand-children. Mr Foreman's 96; and Mr Old's, 87. These four families n « ~U—.it... ni>i 1 The now famous Southland " conspiracy caso " promises to occupy public attention for some considerable time longer. Immediately on the dismissal of the prisoners from the bar of the Court steps were taken by the Crown Prosecutor for their arrest. Aylmer and Sayers wero got at once, taken before the Magistrate, and liberated on bail as formerly, but M Kenzie had left town with his legal adviser on their way home to Dunedin. Constable Connor was accordingly sent after him, and brought him back to Invercargill on Tuesday last.

There seems a probability of a good quartz reef being struck in the Longwood Ranges in the province of Southland. The Southland Times states that two prospectors named Rachael and Armstrong have recently come across several strong indications. On a recent visit to Riverton they brought down with them such specimens as excited the utmost interest. A strong party was to start from Riverton for the scene of the find on last Tuesday, amongst whom was Messrs Instone, Surman, Lyon, and other merchants of Riverton. An active trade in prepared flax appears to bo at length beginning between this colony and England. The Lyttelton Times says : A large demand for prepared flax for export to England has already sprung up in Auckland. The flax is prepared by simple machinery, which only costs from £2O to £25 each machine. Captain Ashby, of the ship Siam, recently gave a cheque for £SOO for flax prepared by eight men and two boys during part of the time his ship was in port, and he expressed himself to the effect that he fully expected to be ablo to forward an order for 500 tons soon after his arrival in England. Even the wool lashings from New Zealand are eagerly bought up in England, and there can be but little doubt about flax becoming of the utmost importance to the colonists of this country. The same journal says :—A gentleman is now in Auckland as agent for a paper mill in Sydney, obtaining and shipping 40 tons of green flax per month. A species of yellow limestone which, like the Oamaru stone, may be easily cut, and which hardens with exposure to the atmosphere, has been discovered near Geelong. The Advertiser asserts that it is quite equal to that obtained at Oamaru, to which, if this be the case, it will prove a formidable rival in the Australian markets.