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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 496, 27 April 1869, Page 2

One of the heaviest floods which hare occurred in the Buller since the great flood of October -was caused on Sunday by an unusual fall of rain on that day and during Saturday night. Fortunately the fall of rain was not so heavy among the more inland ranges as it was along the coast, and the flood did not attain dangerous dimensions. The flood commenced to show itself in strength at nine o'clock on Sunday morning, and about that time the steamers Kennedy and Wallabi sought the shelter of the lagoon. By noon there was a strong fresh, and the red buoy, the position of which is a good indication of the height of a flood, was considerably under water. At the same time a fierce south-easterly wind continued to blow, and the tide and the surf were unusually high, the sea swamping some of the level ground at the extremity of Molesworth street. In the river, however, their influence was the less felt on account of the strength of the stream. In anticipation of the very probable destruction of the remaining ruins of the Gladstone street wharf, Captain Leech, the Harbor Master, had the planks forming the gangway thereto removed to the riverbank ; but the old jetty, dilapidated as it is, withstood the pressure, and remains the same unsightly object that it has been since the flood of October last. Towards evening, however, the storm abated, and the barometer remained stationary; and the inconveniences of high wind and tide, heavy rain, flood, and surf, have since ceased to disturb the comforb and equanimity of the inhabitants of Westport. Official notice was lately made of a large snag on the Buller bar. A beacon was at the same time erected on the spot, and it withstood the storm and flood of Sunday, but yesterday it was carried away, probably by one of the many pieces of timber carried out to sea. The channel is, however, opening more to the north-east, and if it continue to do so at the same rate as lately, the snag will soon form part of the bank. The monthly parade of the Volunteers takes place this evening, at the Drill Shed, at eight o'clock. At the same time the Separation Committee meets at the Post Office Hotel. And, to-morrow evening, at the same hour and place, there is to be a public meeting, to receive the report of the Provisional Committee appointed to take steps towards the formation of a local steamer company. Mr E. C. Reid proceeded to Nelson yesterday, to attend to his duties as Provincial Councillor. Mr M'Dowell and Mr Hennelly are already in Nelson, and Mr Donne will, no doubt, shortly follow. We are obliged to omit our Charleston correspondent's letter.—Much damage has been done by the flood, and fears were for some time entertained for the safety of the Nile bridge.—Several publicans have re-

duced the price of " nobblers " to sixpence, and " one enthusiastic landlady" announced drinks at three-pence.

The death of Te Kooti is said to be confirmed.

Mr Sheahan, of the Nelson Hotel, advertises for Monday next a " German ball," with dances, the figures of which, it is sincerely to be hoped, are more comprehensible than their names.

A meeting of the Westport School Committee, at which all the members were present, was held on Saturday, when Mr Fraser was unanimously appointed as the master of the school, in the place of Mr Philips, who lately resigned j the duties of the appointment to commence on the Ist of May. Mr Eraser is already well-known in "Westport as a teacher of youth, and his appointment will, no doubt, give general satisfaction. It had previously received the commendation of the Inspector of Schools.

"We understand that the tender of Messrs Bull and Bond, for the erection of the new court-house at Charleston, has been accepted, the amount of the tender being £325.

Tenders are now called for, for seven separate contracts to improve the greatly neglected and now almost impassable Lower BullerValley Road; the tenders to be sent to the office of the Provincial Secretary, Nelson, or of the Chief Engineer, Westport. The time for receiving the tenders is limited to the 15th of May. To the same date tenders will be received for additions to the Westport gaol. It may be information to those interested in tenders for any public works to know that Mr Dobson, the District Engineer, returned to Westport from Nelson on Saturday.

It is understood that all the tenders for the work of forming a track along the cliff known as Hawk's Crag, on the Buller Biver, are considered too high, and that the matter has been referred to the Government at Nelson. Various comments are made upon this proceeding, as well as upon the propriety of the work itself. To these we must refer at another time.

A new journal, the Bruce Standard, is published at Tokomairiro. A warning to Masons is given by the BaUarat Star. That journal states that at Clunes recently, during the hearing of a charge against a prisoner named William E. Goudy, for obtaining money and goods on a valueless cheque, the prisoner had the bad taste to make Mr Dowling, P.M., a masonic sign. Mr Dowling, who was about to allow the prisoner bail, immediately remarked that the prisoner having attempted to influence him in the discharge of his duty, he would decline to accept bail. A very extraordinary accident which happened on a Friday afternoon to a miner named 'Richard Callighan, is thus related by the West Coast Times. On his way from Old Wairnea to Fox's, while walking along the sideling of a terrace, above the Levia. than Water-race, he slipped and fell into the creek beneath, a height of 150 ft. The first 10ft of the fall was broken by his catching hold of supplejacks. He was rendered insensible, and on recovermg found himself sitting in the water of the creek, disabled and suffering from dislocation of the left hip-joint. He remained there for twelve hours, cooeying for help except for a short time, during which he slept, being overcome by exhaustion. He then crawled about fifty yards along the creek, and, by means of supplejacks, got along half way up the terrace, sleeping on the way when exhausted by pain and exertion. There he remained until about four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when he was found by his mates and conveyed to the Hospital.

A letter from the Greenstone correspondent of the Grey River Argus gives an interesting description of the route from the Greenstone to the workings which were recently mentioned as having been opened up in the vicinity of Lake Brunner. The workings are on a terrace, but as yet only two claims are on gold, the tunnels having to be re-commenced lower down. It is stated that new-comers who peg out claims on this lead will have to drive something like 700 feet before coming on the wash. Only 30 men were on the ground when visited, principally Swedes and Germans. They obtain their provisions from Hokitika by the Christchurch road, and then across the lake by boat. The correspondent dissuades men from proceeding to the lake, unless they have long purses. Some weeks ago, a ship from China arrived at Melbourne with 250 Chinamen for Otago. Of these, 28 came on by the Omeo. The remainder are understood to have come on by the Tararua, which made a special trip with them. The Tararua went no farther than Otago on this occasion, returning with the mail to Melbourne. " An Old Miner's " letter on the Hawk's Crag contract was received too late for insertion.

At the Diocesan Synod, Dunedin, Mr Smith introduced a motion that Dr Jenner's claim is morally binding on the Church of New Zealand, and that the Primate be asked to convene a meeting of the General Synod to pass a statute to remove legal impediments standing in the way of Dr Jenner's possession of the See of Dunedin. The motion was negatived. Dr Jenner is to be allowed to preach as a minister only ; such preaching not to interfere with his claim.

Another attempt is to be made to introduce the legitimate drama in Hokitika. Mr Beaver, theatrical agent, has engaged the services of Madame Marie Durie, an actress well known in the colonies, Mr J. H. Le Roi Miss Florence Colville, a burlesque actress of some note, and Mr William Andrews, low comedian. The company will open at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre about the Bth or 10th of May. A new Province is in contemplation. The Southern Cross states that a number of gentle-

men having property in the northern portion of Auckland contemplate the formation of a Northland Association, for the purpose of securing the separation of Hokiauga, Bay of Islands, and Mongonui, and its erection into a new province, to be called Northland. The Court Minstrels—a company of Ethiopian serenaders—are now in Nelson. The Southland papers state that no intelligence has been received for some time from the parties engaged in prospecting in Stewart's Island, the late boisterous weather having rendered communication dangerous.

Mr Fitzherbert, Colonial Treasurer, retamed to the colony by the ss. Tararua. Lady Bowen has given birtli to a daughter. The tender of Messrs Nichol and Shearer, for £1212 12s per annum, or £lBlB 18s for eighteen months, for the lease of the Bluif and Invercargill Railway, has been accepted. Seven tenders were received.

It was reported a short time ago that a large sum of money—£337o—was lost by or stolen from a cattle dealer named Caton while travelling from Dunedin to Tiniaru. It now appears that the story of the loss was a fiction, and that the cattle dealer endeavored to get away with the money himself. On being taken into custody and searched, the whole of the money was found concealed in his boots. A large portion of it was the property of W. Wilson, Christchurch, late mayor.

The first number of a new serial entitled The Sixpenny Magazine has been received in the Colonies. It is exclusively occupied by a story entitled " Snowed Up," from the pen of Mr B. L. Farjeon, a gentleman who was for some time connected with the press in Dunedin, and is now settled in England. The Wanganui papers state that scab has broken out in one or two flocks of sheep in that district. It is not yet largely developed, and by active measures, which are being adopted, may perhaps be checked before it spreads to any large extent.