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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 477, 13 March 1869, Page 2

The Westport Volunteer Rifles mustered last evening at the Drill Shed. There were but twelve or fifteen members present, and by them it was resolved to adjourn the meeting till next Thursday, at 8 p.m., and in the interval to make efforts to resuscitate and reorganise the company. From the spirit of the meeting, there seemed to be every probability of this being accomplished, and of the muster roll being extensively increased. The formation of a fife and drum band is also contemplated. Dr Carr, who has met with considerable success in Charleston, in his private practice, as well as in his public entertainments, announces this evening as his last in that place. He will give an entertainment at the Masonic Hall here on Monday evening next, and we understand he has kindly acceded to the request of the Hospital Committee, and will hold a sceance in aid of that institution on Wednesday evening next, at the same place. A correspondent at Caledonian Terrace who signs himself " Mining Rules," writes, in reply to the letter of " Sluice Box" on the subject of Warden's Court decisions. " Mining Rules" contends jthat as regards the " dam case," the Warden had no alternative but to give a verdict for the plaintiffs, without ignoring the mining rules and the evidence. In the " Deadman's Creek case," the Warden waß also compelled to take the measure he did. He considers there must have been a mistake in the first right guaranteed, bat that the Warden was perfectly cor-

rect in cancelling such registration. He asks, of what use are mining rules unless they are strictly adhered to, and he considers the verdict perfectly equitable and consistent. He fears that, to satisfy the ideas of "Mr Sluice Box," they should require to alter the rules for every particular claim. He concludes that he is "writing the truth, and removing an impression which may be caused by a letter opposed to the truth." We do not give the letter in detail because we excluded others written equally fully on the other side. The West Coast Times is pleased to remark: —" The people of Westport are becoming quite lively, judging from the local journal of the 2nd inst. The Titnes contains two long reports—one of the proceedings of the Progress Committee, in which it was resolved to call a public meeting to consider the desirability of separation from Nelson, and the erection of Westland North into a County. At another meeting several resolutions were carried as to the purchase of a local steamer. We are glad at last to find that there is some latent spark of public feeling in the Buller district and trust that it may not be of a transient description." Mr George Ellis, comedian and comic singer, who was landlord of the Shakespeare Hotel, in Hokitika, some time, and subsequently went home to England, has committed suicide in Croydon. One evening he went early to bed, and divided his arm across to the bone, cutting through flesh and arteries. Before he had bled to death, however, the act was discovered, and he was at once taken to the hospital, where it was found that he had so injured himself that amputation was necessary. This was attempted, but he died under the operation. The following item appears in the West Coast Times: —" Dr Carr has been practising at Westport with apparently profitable results, as far as drawing good houses goes. At the same time, there must be a screw loose somewhere, inasmuch as he has filed a declaration of his insolvency in this Bankruptcy Court."

Many of the New Zealand papers, we notice, entertain the same opinion as that which we ventured to express as to the premiums offered by the Government for mining essays. The Australasian is equally disposed to sneer at the idea. "We suppose," it says, " that we shall next hear that tenders have been invited for the supply of a policy. Nothing can be more absurd than such a method of obtaining political assistance, except it be the subject. There is only one way of keeping gold-miners in New Zealand, or any other country, and that is, to offer them all possible facilities for settling with their gains iu that country." Mr Justice Johnston, in his charge to the grand jury at Wellington, decribed the crime of uttering false cheques as " the crime of the colony." A man named Whelan has been apprehended for being concerned in the late Greenstone riot, and has been committed for trial at the Supreme Court. Another large shipment of red pine logs has been made to Melbourne from Hokitika, by Messrs Cohen Brothers. The demand appears to be increasing. Could not timber be as profitably shipped by the returning vessels from Westport ? The Bank of New Zealand shipped on Thursday per Murray ;to Hokitika 3,2500z. of gold. Mr T. Birch has been elected member of the House of Eepresentatives for the city of Dunedin by 577 votes. His election, like that of Mr Driver, strengthens the Provincial party. 177 fellows were silly or wicked enough to vote for J. G. S. Grant. At the Greymouth races, .£690 will be run for, and the Hokitika people have raised £6OO for their meeting. The Thames people are going to have races on the occasion of the Duke of Edinburgh's visit, at which one prize of £SOO is offered, in addition to othermoney, making in all 1230 sovs. Many of the Chinese who came to Hokitika have got dissatisfied, and are fast leaving the district. Two of their countrymen visited Westport yesterday—the first we have seen except one solitary visitor some months ago. Since the attack on Turo Mokai, 240 Europeans have been killed and wounded, including those at the Poverty Bay massacre. The Provincial Government of Otago are offering a subsidy of is2ooo for a regular steam service to Hokitika. The reward of .£IOOO for Tito Kowaru dead or alive, is extended to the whole of the colonial forces, provided that the reward will not be paid, if killed, except by the ordinary accident of war.

Conrodi, stevedore, his two eons, and two men, have been drowned in Hobson's Bay, by the Clutha, schooner, capsizing during a squall. A new flat has been opened up at Inglewood, which has been called Berlin flat, and from which a 40oz nugget was taken on the 25th. A great rush is setting in to the place. Asecond small-pox casehas occurred at Eangitikei. The patient caught it by sleeping in a bed occupied by the late Francisco, before his removal to Wanganui. He is being treated on the spot under Mr Fox's superintendence. The Himalaya has left "Wellington for Brisbane, and the 18th Begiment remains in the colony. Letters received by the Bangitoto steamer explain that General Chute received a telegram which, though liable to be misunderstood by itself, yet taken in conjunction with that to the captain of the Himalaya, clearly expressed the intention of the Home Government not to remove the troops from New Zealand should circumstances require them to stay. From Tasmania we hear that gold has been found on the Cam. The Launceston Times of the 24th tut. also says that information of a thoroughly reliable nature has reached town to the effect that those who are now engaged at the Den in search of gold are succeeding beyond their most sanguine expectations. On Friday last Mr

Hannibal Fencker was fortunate enough to come upon a nugget weighing If ozs., and which is expected will yield fully ljoz. of the precious metal. It is said that the deeper they go from the surface, the evidences of gold become more certain and numerous. Experienced miners who have visited the Den declare it will turn ont a fine field. The Duke of Edinburgh reached Melbourne on the 22nd ult. He has been warmly received, but without formal demonstration, walking or driving through the streets as a private gentleman. He had attended a Club dinner, a Governor's dinner, a Mayor's ball, the theatres, shooting matches, and cricket matches, and was to leave on the 6th for Sydney, so as to land on the anniversary of the occurrence at Clontarf. In the Supreme Court, Christchurch, Thos. Yates, who had been committed by the Coroner to take his trial for causing the death of a woman named Maria Hackett, was found guilty of the lesser offence of endeavoring to procure abortion, and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labor.