The Westport Times. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 509, 27 May 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1869.

Tuesday was observed a? a public holiday in Westport, quite as much as Monday, the Queen's Birthday. Nearly every place of business was closed, and the number of people thus liberated from work was considerably supplemented by visitors from the different diggings. The universal resort for the day was the river-bank, at and near the end of Gladstone street, which was the most advantageous situation for viewing the regatta which had been arranged to follow Monday's races a3 a part, and the best part, of the season's sports. A very large crowd there assembled at an early hour in the forenoon, and the regatta seemed to possess sufficient interest to retain the people in the neighbourhood until the last race was run and until the sun hal set. Fortunately the weather was favourable, aud there was no obstacle to the full enjoyment of the programme of sports. The fulness of enjoyment was also eminently promoted by the management of the regatta being in good hands. The Commodore and Vice-Commodore, Mr Tyler and Mr Pitt, were not able to be present during the whole day, but they had efficient and willing representatives in Captain Leech as umpire, in Mr Labatt as starter, and in Mr James Milne as—factotum. The watermen were not les3 willing to afford amusement to the assembled crowd. They entered freely for the different races, and went through a great deal of hard work as much for the purpose of maintaining the character of the regatta as for the sake of the prizes. The only drawbacks were the state of the tide and a considerable fresh in the river towards the afternoon. These involved some difficulty in starting, and much additional labor to the competitors, but all the conditions thus imposed upon the managers and the men engaged were borne with great good humour, and that feature alone tended to make the

regatta a success. The interest of most of the events was diminished by the •winning boats coming in considerably ahead of the others, but the time taken and the skill shown were creditable to the competitors and satisfactory to those who took more than a mere casual or betting interest in the races. For the very best of reasons —the prevalence of a dead calm—the only sailing race in the programme was postponed until yesterday, and it was as interesting as any of the races, though it was witnessed by comparatively few. In deference to the pre-eminent interest of politics, and to the length of our Provincial Council report.?, we must postpone any further description of the sport as a whole, as well as details of the individual events, and give only in this issue the names of the winning boats. These were—in the first race, Welsh's " Four-leaved Shamrock" and Phillips's "Josephine;" in the second race —rowed by amateurs the "Colleen Bawn" and the " Shamrock" again ; and in the champion scullers' race the "Shamrock" rowed by "Welsh, and the " Josephine," rowed by Reid. In an extra skiff race, the " Mosquito " and the " Blue-tailed Fly " were first and second; and in the sailing match the order was— " Telegraph" 1 ; " Pride of Erin "2; and " Eclipse "3. The necessity for being brief compels us to reduce our very justifiable laudation of the promoters of the regatta to the few words that all they did was eminently satisfactory.

Mr Gallagher, M.H.8., addressed a meeting at Addison's Flat on Tuesday evening, and, we believe, was very well received. We were disappointed in the intention and desire to have a reporter present, hut we liave from our local correspondent a brief notice of the meeting. Our report of the proceedings in the Nelson Provincial Council is partly a repetition of what has formerly appeared, but is more detailed. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Tuesday, a man named George Fawcett, alias Robinson, was charged with assaulting Edward Penwick, storekeeper at the Lyell. The complainant called a witness named • John D. Freeman, who corroborated his evidence, and tho defendant called as a witness Alfred Smith, but an unprovol ed assault was proved, and the Magistrate fined the defendant £\ and costs. He said he did not impose a heavy fine because the costs in such cases were considerable, and he thought it would be well if it were remembered bypersons committing breaches of the peace at a distance from Westport that they would have to pay heavy costs. They were not to presume that they would go unpunished because of their distance from Westport. He allowed £2 for the expenses of the complainant's witness. The complainant asked if he would also be allowed expenses, but the Magistrate made no order in his case. James Whelan was charged with using indecent language in Bright Street. The complainant was Mrs Jane Robertson, and her evidence was supported by Mr Labatt and Mrs Schwerer. Mr Pitt, for the defendant, took the objection that the alleged offence, if committed, was committed in the back-yard of the complainant's premises, and not in a public place in the sense implied in the Constabulary Ordinance. He also contended that the mere statement that the language used was indecent was not evidence. The Magistrate, on these grounds, dismissed the case. Yesterday Mary Ann Moore, who had been remanded on Tuesday, was charged with stealing two £,lO notes and a cheque for "Os, the property of Julia llennigan. The comidainant had slept with the defendant, going to bed with the money enclosed in a pocket-handkerchief, and placed in her bosom. In the morning the large notes and the cheque were missing, only a £1 note being found in the bed. She charged the defendant with taking the money, and sent for a constable. Constable Neville visited the house, and by him and the complainant it was searched, when the money and cheque were found i concealed behind some boxes. Tho defendant was committed for trial in the District Court, but was admitted to bail.

A meeting was held on Monday evening at the Charleston Quadrille Asscmbly Eooms, lately the Munster Hotel, by a number of business men in Charleston, for the purpose of forming a select Quadrille Assembly during the winter evenings, a want long felt, as hitherto nothing of the kind has been in existence there. The success met with in obtaining members sjjeaks well for the future of the Assembly, about thirty persons having given in their names aud paid their siibscviption money during the evening, and about thirty more having promised their support. The Charleston Quadrille Assembly, being now fairly started, only requires the patronage of the fair sex, who may rest assured that every exertion will be made to give them every facility to thoroughly enjoy an evening's amusement onco a week. A committee of five has been appointed to manage the affairs of the assembly, this committee being composed of Messrs Collings, Colreavey, Forder, Russell, and Hanna.

A fatal accident at Fox's river is reported by the Charleston Herald. Eobert Kyme, batter kiown as " Yorkey," who had been clearing laud up the river, was accidentally drowned on Monday afternoon, while crossing on horseback at the first ford. Mr Williams, chemist, who was proceeding on his way to Greymouth, witnessed the accident, but before any assistance could be rendered the poor fellow was drowned. The police were immediately informed by Mr "Williams, and after some little time the body was recovered about a quarter of a mile below where the accident occurred.

Late Napier telegrams state that St. John's column have attacked Ruatahira, with a loss of seven men, including officers White and Travers, and eight wounded. The loss of the enemy is estimated to be

twenty. "Whitmore blames the Arawas and friendly natives for having to retreat to Ahikiru. There was very great trouble in moving the Arawas forward. All except sixty refused to go Waikato, and returned to Horomoriga. Ultimately the remaining sixty would not go on, and Whitmore was obliged to retire unpursued to Ahikiru. The Arawas and "Whakatanes were pursued by a small force of Uriweras. Our forces fought Te Kooti and drove him back, with loss, towards Raiku lake. Seven separate tenders have been accepted for the repair of the track along the Buller river. Number 1 tender is that of Mr D. M'Leod; number 2is that of Mr G. S. Atkinson; the other five are the tenders of Mr Garvin. The work has, in each case, to be finished within two months. The tender of Messrs Bull and Bond, for additions to Westport gaol, has been accept; d. The amount of the tender is J8356 15s.

The latest accounts from Patea state that Tito Kowaru and about 300 followers are occupying his old place of Ngutu-o-te-Manu. He has beon deserted by some of his late allies, who are said to wish to make their peace with the Government. The Cantet-bury Council is debating a proposal to divide the proviuce into three counties, to be governed respectively by members elected by Road Boards and Municipalities and a General Board, of which the Superintendent should be chairman, to have the powers now exercised by Provincial Councils.