The Westport Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 541, 12 August 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1869.

By those best acquainted with the progress of mining in this Hwirir-t-. and with the increasing productiveness of its diggings, it has been asserted that the returns of gold exported would show a steadily growing improvement during the present year. Whether this may prove to bo the case or not, it is satisfactory to find that, so far as the year has gone, Westport and Charleston continue to maintain their position as gold-produciug districts. By the returus for the second quarter of the year which have just been gazetted, we notice that, among the ten gold-exporting ports in the Colony, Westport occupies the highest with the exception of two —Duncdiu and Hokitika —and it is, therefore, in the amount of its exports, the second highest on the West Coast. The figures relative to the fivo principal ports stand thus . Dunedin ... ... 86,011 ozs. Hokitika ... ... 34,273 „ Westport 21,100 „ Greymouth ... 20,500 „ Auckland 13,407 „ These are the relative positions which the ports mentioucd have occupied now for some time past, and, knowing as all in this neighborhood must know how lightly Westport's importance is estimated in other paris of the Colony, wc think the fact cannot too often or too prominently be kept uuder the notice of a wilfully or blamelessly ignorant public. Of Grcymouth's export it has also to be remembered that the larger proportion is obtained within the area of the Nelson SouthWest Goldficlds. Of its total, Nelson Province is credited with 11,4720z5, while Westland is credited with OOGlozs. There is good reason to anticipate that, for the third quarter of the year, the returns will be even more favorable to the character of this and the neighbouring district of Charleston as eligible areas for mining enter" prise and capital.