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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 500, 6 May 1869, Page 2

A meeting called for the purpose of promoting a regatta on the Queen's Birthdaywas held, on Tuesday evening, at the Empire Hotel. There were about twenty gentlemen present. Mr James Milne was in the chair. The desirability of a regatta being held was generally admitted, but there was some discussion as to whether it should be held on the 24th or 25th instant. Mr Trimble, Mr Seaton, Mr Campbell, and others represented that the preparations for a race-meeting on the 24th had been so far advanced that it was certain to take place, and that it would be fatal to the success of both sports if they were to be held on the same day. They urged also that the ra^e-meeting was entitled to prior consideration, as it had already been resolved upon. Mr O'Conor, Mr Phillips, and others considered that the boating interest was entitled to some consideration, in consequence of the regatta previously promised having been postponed. Mr Seaton, seconded by Mr Neill, proposed that the regatta should be held on the 25th. Mr Phillips, seconded by Mr Cato> proposed

that it should be held on the 24th. On a division the amendment was carried, whereupon Mr O'Conor moved that a committee should be appointed to wait on those having the management of the horse-racing, requesting them to adjourn their meeting to the 25th, in consideration of the priority to which the boatmen were entitled. He desired to see both sports carried out; but thought it undesirable that they should clash in any way. The motion was seconded by Mr Suisted, and, for the purpose stated, as well as for the purpose of collecting subscriptions, the following committee was appointed: Messrs Walter Abernethy, John Reid, Edmond Roche, Monahan, Arnold, Tonks and Hughes ; Mr Hughes to be treasurer.

In the Warden's Court, yesterday, the Warden disposed of eight applications for head-races and dams, one application for a tunnel, and four applications for washing stands and special sites. The tunnelling application by Mullins was for protection for a claim to which his party had been driving for eight months, near Deadman's creek. After driving 1050 feet through very hard and rocky ground, tliey found that they were too high for the lead. They intended to drive another tunnel for a distance of 1400 or 1500 feet. Protection for thirty days was granted. An adjourned meeting of the members of the Church of England was held on Tuesday evening, at the Court House, for the election of churchwardens and vestrymen for the next twelve months. The Rev. Mr Harvey, who presided, having read the report for the past year, nominated Mr C. Whitefoord as his churchwarden. Mr Tyler proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing officers, and the re-election of Mr Winstanley as parish churchwarden. Both motions were carried. The following gentlemen were then duly proposed and elected vestrymen:—Messrs A. E. Moore, E. H. Bullen, E. K. Tyler, W. Pitt, A. D. Dobson, F. Harris. A vote of thank s to the chairman, unanimously carried, closed the proceedings.

The late rains have enabled the miners in the Upper Buller and Lyell districts to " wash up," and within the past few days some very fine parcels of gold have been brought in from these districts. Above the Lyell, the gold got in the Buller terraces is fine, but heavy. Below, the gold is coarse and sealey, and in the Lyell itself it is rough and nuggetty. A very considerable proportion of the gold from these districts seems to find its way to Nelson, though a smaller price is there given for it than at Westport. A professional sportsman, Mr Jenkins, brought to town yesterday a bird of a rare description which his dog had caught for him on the Fairdown swamp, to the north of Westport. It is a handsome bird of brown and white plumage, standing about two feet high, and measuring upwards of three feet from tip to tip of its wings. All the information that we can get as to its name is that it is a " mio" or something similar to that in sound. By the same dog, which is a descendant of the celebrated breed belonging to Mr " Mickey French," quail and other birds have been lately caught, in considerable numbers, in the swamp.