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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 551, 7 September 1869, Page 2

Thunder, lightning, snow-showers, rainshowers, and surf, coining as they did on the sth. of the month, and on the top of spring tides, have nearly given the inhabitants of Westport the impression that Saxb/s Fifth had anticipated his predictions, or that the moon had got " on the earth's equator in perigee" a month sooner than, according to astronomical reckoning, it should, have done. The surf especially has given just a hint of what, under extraordinary tidal influences, it might, and may next month, accomplish. Since the site on which Westport stands was sold to a number of simple people by an extremely wise Government, sections, and sections of sections, have been gradually disappearing into or under the sea. The surf has particularly shown a preference for the ground on which the Government school and the school-master's house were erected. Some months ago it rendered necessary the removal of the latter building to what was then deemed a perfectly safe position. Since Sunday the same building has again been assailed by the surf, and the school, which at the time of its erection, stood some distance from the beach, has also boon completely surrounded by the sea, shaken on its foundations, and left as a tottering fabric, illustrating to its youthful occupants au excellent ancient parable. Probably, during the next few tides, it will have settled down into the sands, on a fresh and equally fickle foundation. But it is to be hoped that the extreme probabilities of the future, with regard to its fate, will be anticipated by the Government or the Education Committee. At present its position is exceedingly perilous, and an altogether new and more suitable site must be found. Between it and the group of rather good houses which occupy the sea-ward end of Molesworth-street, a very extensive encroachment on the beach has been made, and houses which were once at a sufficiently respectful distauce from the sea have now the surf in dangerous proximity to tlnar back-doors. In fact, a breach has been made in the beach as threatening to the town as could well be made. Already the rush of water reaches nearly to the back of Gladstone street, and a considerable area of the township seems to lie just at the level calculated to encourage its permanent inundation. Some protective works—evidently efficient, though slight—have been erected by inhabitants of Molesworth street who were most threatened, but it remains a question who is to undertake the protection of the remainder of the beach. That every foolish or foolhardy person who chooses t-> build a house on the Westport beach, while he has the whole Middle Island at his back, should be compensated or protected by the Provincial Government would be preposterous. Still the Gov rnraent have some dutv to do. They sold certain sections as freehold, and were literally earlier aggressors upon the -public than the sea. As they are not supposed to be so merciless as the sea, they should at least protect the purchasers from loss of property, or give what might be quite as acceptable, other sections in exchange, if any sections in Westport can be said to be eminently acceptable until after that little-considered circumstance in connection with the rights of property—the presence of the moon " on the earth's equator in perigeo." Thomas Braithwaite, who was charged with bigamy at Westport, and who wasremanded to Christchurch, is now to be trana-

ferred to Nelson. "When Braithwaite was conveyed to Ckristchurch, it was understood that he would require to return to Nelson for trial in the Supreme Court, but the Canterbury authorities wero under the impression that he could be tried there, and there, accordingly, for good reason?, he was left, but when he came before the Judge, as we are informed, his Honor held that he had no jurisdiction; and Braithwaite has, therefore, been remanded to Nelson, where the witnesses will have to appear, and where the necessary expenses connected with the charge against him will have to be paid. It will be observed that the school-child-ren in Westport will, until other arrangements are made, meet at the usual hours at Mr Eraser's school, Molesworth-street. Gentlemen favorable to the formation of a local Jockey Club are requested to meet this evening at the Post-office Hotel. The new fire bell recently ordered from Melbourne by the Borough Council of Greymouth arrived by the Ocean Wave. The bell, says the Aiijus, weighs over 2J cwt., and judging from a slight trial of its tone it will certainly "startle the natives" when it is swung into position. The Superintendent of Southland has recently dismissed his Executive, and a lengthy debate on the subject has occupied the attention of the Council. In describing an altercation between himself and the Superintendent with reference to some reductions in the departments, a member of the Executive made the following statement :—I insisted on the point that the reductions were in obedience to the order of the Council. His Honor, convulsively clutching the back of a chair, exclaimed, " I shall not permit it if God Almighty ordered it."—(Sensation). In consequence of the action taken by Mr Macandrew, Superintendent of Otago, relative to the Hundreds question, he has been called upon to resign by the Balclutha settlers.

Telegrams from Napier report that Te Kooti is at Lake Eotoaira, in the Taupo district. He is being watched by a party of friendly natives. Reinforcements of native allies were to start under orders of Government. Later advices state that according to information received through t'aora Hapi, Te Kooti is at present between Eunanga and Tupa hararu, with 300 men ; but it is difficult to arrive at the exact truth.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to disband the Westport Eifle Volunteers. Such, at least, is a statement in the Greymouth papers. If it is in the Gazette, we failed to notice it.

The foundation stone of a new "Wesleyan church has been laid in Stuart-street, Dunedin.

A Eoyal Commission has been appointed to inquire into the state of the law affecting building and laud societies.

A quartz reef containing gold is reported to have been discovered at Kaiamania, about fifty-live miles from Napier. Colonel M'Donnell claims the reward.

In the alleged libel case of Driver v. Henningham, the prosecution is not to be proceeded with. The witnesses and Henningham's recognizances were discharged. A committee has been formed to give a testimonial to the defendant.

Writing of the fate of the Gladstone County Bill, introduced by Mr Stafford, the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Tunes says:—" I have already told you that the temper of the House in reference to <l,,\, -0:11 1 '- - „. iv - V B 1 patience. Scarcely a speaker rose in its favor. Only the West-land members, Mr Jollio, and Mr Hall, supported Mr Stafford in the advocacy of a measure which two years ago could and would have been forced through the House in spite of the strongest opposition. The House was so evidently dead against the measure, that Mr Eolleston's motion to read it that day six months was considered conclusive the moment it was made, and when the House divided the bill was lost by the large majority of 13; the numbers being 37 to 24, including pairs."

From the barque Salacia, which arrived at Melbourne from Hong Kong on the 16th August, upwards of 90 Chinese passengers were transhipped to the steamer Gothenburg for Otago. The Daily Times says : "They arc all men of better physique than usually come from the Flowery Land ; indeed some of them are stalwart enough to satisfy even Mr Commissioner Branigan's exacting taste. These 90 started yesterday morning for Waipori, packed in several drays. Wo understand that another 100 passengers of the same race by the Salacia may be expected here by the next steamer. We understand also that a shin due in Melbourne from China at an early date lias 390 more Chinamen for the Otago divings. It will be observed that by every steamer which leaves this place for Melbourne ten or twenty Chinese take their departure. Every one of them carries next his heart a canvas bag containing about two hundred sovereigns, the produce of a year's work. Hence this tide of immigration." His Honor Judge Clarke and Mr South had a passage at arms, during a recent sitting of the Bankruptcy Court,"Hokitika. Mr Ecid, who opposed Mr South in a case, put a question to a witness in a form Mr South disputed, and the counsel had, for a few moments, a little dispute. The judge interposed, and commented severely upon the practice of counsel arguing with one another instead of addressing the Court, and he characterised Mr South's conduct as disgraceful. Mr South was very indignant at this, and said that during a lonir professional career that word had never been applied to his actions before. His Honor said he did not mean to refer to Mr South individually, but Mr South was not appeased, and, declining to proceed any further with the case, he left the Court. ■