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

Another nugget, sixteen ounces in -weight, has been found up the Buller river this week by Hugh O'Brien and party. This party have been working for some time on the banks of the Buller, about five miles below the Lyell, and during the past fortnight, in addition to this nugget, they have got three others, weighing half an ounce, one ounce, and five ounces. A deputation, as appointed by the Progress Committee, consisting of Messrs O'Conor, Humphrey, Alcorn, Powell, Hughes, and Reid, waited upon Mr Dobson, the District Engineer, yesterday afternoon, to inquire what action, if any, the Government intended taking in reference to the Buller Wharf protection. The deputation pointed out the necessity for immediate recommendation being made for the com-

mencement of the works previous to the October and November floods, and requested that some special report upon the subject should be made, with the view of having the vote of J6OOOO of the Provincial Council last session expended before more serious damage bo done to the properties adjoining the river bank. Mr Dobson stated that, from communications already received, ho believed the Government contemplated undertaking, during next month, several of the public works for which votes were passed last session, and, now that the matter had been specially brought under his notice, he would call the attention of the Government to the immediate necessity for the work being undertaken at as eavly a date as possible; and he would, in his first report, embody his views upon the most judicious method of expending the money which had been voted. Charles Saunders, who was injured at Giles Terrace by the fall of a tree, was brought to the Westport Hospil al yesterday by a number of neighborly and friendly diggers. We notice by the Nelson papers that a sharp shock of earthquake was felt in Nelson about 2.20 in the morning of Wednesday. There was at first a slight heave, followed by vibration, which lasted about ten seconds. The movement seemed to be north and south. Several persons in Westport noticed the phenomenon, but were doubtful whether it was not the effect of the wind or the vibration of a thunder-clap upon their wooden houses. At Wellington the same shock was smartly felt. A meeting of the Vestry of the English Church was held on Tuesday evening. There were present the Eev. Mr Harvey, and Messrs Whitefoord, Winstanley, Harris, Pitt, Moore, and Bidlcn. The Eev. Mr Harvey stated that he had tendered to the Bishop his resignation as minister of the parish of Westport, and had received a letter from the Bishop asking if the Vestry were prepared with any proposition with respect to filling the vacancy. It was proposed by Mr Harris, seconded by Mr Pitt, and agreed to, that the subject of selecting a, .successor to Mr Harvey should be deferred until the arrival of the Bishop, who is expected in a week hence. In anticipation of the Bishop's visit, Mr Harvey, Mr Pitt, and Mr Winstanley were appointed as a sub-committee to make the necessary arrangements for a soiree in aid of the' Church funds. The Church-Wardens were empowered to let two-thirds of the sittings in the new church at tho rate of 20s per annum, 10s to be charged for the period ending on the 31st December next. The Galatea, with Prince Alfred on board, arrived at Tahiti on June 19, after a passage of eighteen days from New Zealand. The death of Dr Humphries, of New Plymouta, wiio naa oeen a coiomst ior twenty years, is announced by the Taranaki papers. An open rupture has occurred between the Westland County Council and the Eoad Boards.

The news to hand from the Greenstone, says the Greymouth Star, is of a most dispiriting character. There are \crj few claims now which pay even moderate wnges, whilst the most of them are mere duffers. Business in the township is almost at a standstill, and owners of buildings which cost from two hundred to three hundred pounds to erect cannot find purchasers at thirty and forty pounds.

A suspicious character, named William Simpson, was last week brought before the Magistrate at Nelson charged by Mr Watldns, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, with having been on the premises of the bank at eleven o'clock the previous night, prowling about there without any lawful excuse. The prisoner was unable to give any satisfactory account of himself, and the Magistrate sentenced him to sis months' imprisonment. Boiling-down in the Wanganui district, says the Times, must be discontinued. The demand for fat cattle, sheep, and pigs, for shipment to Auckland and the 'West Coast gold-fields, has been greater during the present month than at any previous period during the current year. This week four steamers have left this port with full cargoes, and the demand still continues. An inquest has been held at the Lunatic Asylum, Nelson, on the bodj of Thomas Darke, a digger from the West Coast, who had been an inmate of the asylum since February last. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of " Died by the visitation of God." Another accident arising from old and unprotected claims, took place near Ilokitika on Friday evening, A miner named Cornelius Harnett, of the Five-mile, Kanicri, says the W. C. Times, was returning from the waterrace. He had a long-handled shovel with him, and while walking along a log, he placed the shovel on what he thought was solid ground, covered with fern growth. It was, instead, the mouth of a shaft, down which the unfortunate man was precipitated. Tie was severely cuiacross the head and face. His mates brought him up as quickly as possible, and he is progressing favorably. The Presbyterians of Wanganui have subscribed .£650 towards building anew church. The old one was destroyed by fire so-ae time ago. Advices from Tauranga are to the 29th. There was a serious riot among the militia garrison at the Gate Pah redoubt; intoxication was the caiise. It was quelled by prompt exertion, without loss of life. Colonel Harrington has discharged a whole detachment, officers and oil, except a few who exerted themselves to restore order. The latest novelty in velocipedes is a lady's side-saddle bicycle, invented, patented, and manufactured by Mr Oakey, of Ballarat, Victoria. Another singular invention is one by Mr Ellis, a compositor in the Government printing office. This, says the Argus, is a unicyle, in which the rider or driver, whichever the enterprising indi-

vidual may be termed, actually sits in the centre of a large wheel, which he propels by means of two Einaller wheels working inside it. This is not merely a wheel within a wheel, but a man and two wheels within a wheel. In Dunedin, on Tuesday last, the case Driver versus Henningham, (proprietor of the Echo), for libel, was beard before the Magistrate. Mr Ilenningham has been committed for trial, but his personal recognisances have been accepted. The ground of action was that the defendant had published a statement to the effect that MiDriver, M.H.R., bad been guilty of political jobbery, equal to that of C. E. Jones, of Victoria.