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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 502, 11 May 1869, Page 2

The writer of a letter in the Nelson Examiner, who signs himself "Minority," is untruthful enough to mate the following statement:—" There is no expression of opinion allowed in the newspapers either in Westport or Charleston, unless you are rabid and go in for separation from Nelson." Now we happen to know " Minority," and can say that, so far as this journal is concerned, every letter against Separation which wo have received we have inserted—even the letters of "Minority," such as they were, and they were usually so carelessly conceived and penned as to be unfit to place in the printers' hands. Another correspondent, who signs himself "J. W.," Addison's Flat, writes to the Colonist: —" I sent a letter to the Westport Times a few days sincej my subject was Separation; but for some reason that I cannot account for, the Editor has not even condescended to acknowledge the receipt of it. As lam no adherent of Separation I suspect it is upon that ground alone my letter has been deemed unfit for publication." We may state that "J. W.'s" letter, signed "Old Bird," was inserted in the Westport Times, and was inserted as soon as it came under the notice of the editor. It is due, however, to " J.W." or "Old Bird," that when his letter appeared, he intimated to us that he had forwarded a copy to the Colonist under a wrong impression. We may add that it is not always convenient to insert letters lunuecHnxely on receipt, nav is it at all usual to acknowledge receipt of rejected communications; but in no case do we reject letters merely because they may not coincide with the opinions of the paper. At a meeting at the Theatre Eoyal, last evening, it was definitely resolved to have races on the 21th inst., the Queen's Birthday, and to have a regatta on the 25th. The Race Committee have already obtained subscriptions to the amount of ,£SO, while the ilegatta Committee have £oO in hand, so that there is every probability of two good days' sport. The steamer Charles Edward, which returned last evening to Nelson, only makes one other trip to the Coast, when she will sail, via Greymouth, for Sydney, to be there overhauled.

The amateurs who are to give a concert ou Thursday, in aid of the Hospital funds, have prepared and published au attractive programme.

The Nile bridge lias been purchased by the Provincial Government, and it is now open for traffic. The Beautiful Star and Wallabi have opportunely arrived at Westport with meat supplies. There was not a single head of cattle and only a few sheep in the market. The Provincial Auditor, in his report to the Council, says :—" The West Coast accounts are now in a satisfactory condition, and are transmitted with regularity and despatch." .£457 175., for Westport jetties, and ,£ll9 Bs. for West Coast buildings, appear as items among the unauthorised expenditure.

On April 27th, while the s.s. Gothenburg was making the passage between Melbourne and this colony, Joseph M'Donald, a steerago passenger, jumped overboard. He sunk before a boat could reach him. M-Donald, who was a gunner of the Royal Artillery, was on his way to Wellington. He was suffering from delirium tremens. The new Masonic Hall, Dunedin, was consecrated on April 23rd. About 250 Freemasons attended, in full Masonic costume. A Masonic banquet followed. Since Mr Fitzherbert's return he has been suffering from an attack of gout. D'Arcy Leigh and another have been fined £1 each, at Nelson, for the " lark " of removing a brass plate from the shop door of Ernest Nehse, tobacconist.

£40,000 was expended during the past year by Road Boards in Otago, under the system of subsidies of £2 to £l. Mr Vogel and Mr Burns tendered their resignations as members of the Otago Government, but their resignations were not accepted. Mr Vogel, says the Evening Star, is shortly to leave for Auckland, where he will remain in connection with the Southern Cross.

The 200 Chinamen who have arrived in Otago, by the Tararua, are described as of a superior class. They have gone chiefly to the Tuapeka district. A new terrace has been opened further back in the country than the Napoleon diggings. About 50 men are on the ground, opening claims by tunnelling.

It is proposed to celebrate the Queen's \ Birthday in Greyniouth by a Friendly j Societies' festival in aid of the Hospital. j The duties received at the Custom-House, 1 Greyinouth, during the month of April, 1 was £3889 6s. .. j There has been a serious case of incendiarism near Tokomairiro, Otago, where a large quantity of grainjwas destroyed. As many as 8000 persons visited the Galatea during the two days on which she was thrown open to the public at Lyttelton. The Presbyterians of Greymouth are taking steps for the erection of a church. Part of a human body, apparently about four weeks in the water, has been found between the Ten and Twelve Mile beaches, north of Cobden. There have been very heavy floods at Blenheim, and at the Pelorus thirty cattle have been drowned. Since the Hokitika Hospital has been taken under local management, .£447 has been subscribed, and .£6OO is expected to be raised in the town. Mr Button is spoken of as the probable successor to Mr Prosser, as Mayor of Hokitika. Buxaors are cmTsnt at Kyeburn, Otago, of a quartz reef having been discovered there by a Mr Young, an experienced miner. A lucky purchase of a share in a claim on the Stoney Lead, South Beach, is mentioned by the Grey River Argus. The share was bought for £IOO, and the dividend on the first washing up returned the purchaser £9O on his share. Thomas Robertson was found drowned at Grant's Braes, Otago, on April 28, and on the same day a woman named Baker was found dead in a hut at Anderson's Bay, in the same Province. Intelligence has been received in Auckland Province of a murder having been committed at Waiheke. The report, as brought up by a native, is that a Mr Harris, an old settler, has been murdered; but it is not known whether by a European or Maori. The police of Wanganui have discovered an illicit still in a building at Turakina. , Distilling had apparently been carried on ; to a great extent. The owners of the still [ are said to be known, and will be brought , to justice. j Mr F. D. Rich has been elected, without i opposition, as member of the House of r Representatives for Waikouaiti, Otago, in [ the room of Mr Mitchell, resigned. AMr Kelly has been elected for New Plymouth. A case occurred the other day in the . Resident Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, in i which the manager of a drapery establish- ; ment was sued for the cost of an advertise- . ment which appeared for two days in the ; W. C. Times, It had been ordered without ; any mention being made of the number of I insertions required, and, as the usual cusl torn is, was continued until countermanded. - After it had appeared two days it was : withdrawn, and the charge made was £lB 18s., and it was stated that had it been continued for a month the cost would have ! been only ,£35. Judgment was given for . the amount claimed and costs.

It appears from a statement in the Grey Hirer Argus to be very probable that a large proportion of the public works authorised and sanctioned by the County Council at its last session will have to be indefinitely postponed. It has transpired that the arrangements entered into provisionally by the Council with the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Hokitika has fallen through, and that the expected overdraft of .£20,000 is not likely to be forthcoming.