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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 586, 27 November 1869, Page 2

A meeting of the Land Sports Committee was held last evening, at Smyrk's Tramway Hotel, when it was determined to hold the athletic sports in town on Friday and Saturday, the 31st December and New Year's Day. A sub-committee was appointed to collect subscriptions, and the expression was unanimous that the races and the town sports should not be held on the same day, but that the encouragement of both would bo beneficial to all parties. Auckland is apparently to be made the regular destination of the "West Coast gold purchased by the Bank of New Zealand. To-day 1630 ounces are shipped for Onehunga by the steamer John Penn. The Charleston Prospecting Association have despatched four men to prospect for gold in the back country. The men are to receive 30s per week while out prospecting. William King, a " colored man," charged in the Supreme Court, Nelson, witli an attempt to commit a criminal assault on a child named Elizabeth Thackeray, has been sentenced to two years' hard labor. The only witnesses were the child's mother, Elizabeth Cameron, and Henry Harris, Giles Terrace, where the offence was committed.

Mr Thatcher and his " company" proceeded yesterday morning to Charleston, where they will, no doubt, afford as much entertainment and amusement as they did in Westport. Probably, on their return, Mr Thatcher will exhibit here his diorama of life on the diggings, which he is so well capable of quaintly illustrating. ■ The programme of the Westport Annual Races is published in cur present number. Carried out with fidelity, it has the ingredients of a large amount of sport. Capt. Beveridge, who was decidedly " the right man in the right place" as Harbor Master at Charleston, has resigned the office which he ao faithfully ulled, and leaves to-day by the steamer John Penn for Auckland. Ke is succeeded by Mr David Cunningham, an experienced Melbourne pilot. Captain Beveridge's abrupt departure has apparently prevented

the inhabitants of Charleston from pub licly recognising his humanity and attention as Harbor Master, and our space prevents us from at present saying more than that his career at Charleston deserves to be referred to again and in complimentary terms.

Tenders for the formation of two cemetries near Westport are called for by Mr Dobson, the District Engineer. The present cemetry will inevitably have to be closed very soon, if not removed, and the decision is to do as can only be done—to have a cemetry on the high ground on the Addison's Plat road, and another on the terrace behind Maloney's, at the Orawaiti. In our report of the evidence at the inquest in Charleston, there was an accidental omission made in William Norris's evidence. After the "words " now shown to me," there should have followed "as the man who was knocked down by the man who had the stones in his hand."

The Warden's Court was occupied for a considerable time yesterday with the hearing of a case in which John O'Brien and others were 'complainants, and Peter O'Neil was defendant. Mr Pitt appeared for the complainants, and Mr Home for the defendant. We are only able to report the result in this number. The demand by the complainants was that then partnership with the defendant in the Shamrock Claim, Addison's Flat, should be dissolved, and that a fair price should be paid for his share. The ground of complaint was that he woidd not work according to the directions of the manager. The Warden considered the case was not one in which the Court should interfere, and dismissed the summons, with costs. Bathers in the Buller should know that, on Wednesday morning, a good-sized shark was caught in the river, in a fisherman's net. For the information of those who have been in the habit of bathing, it was exhibited for some time at Mr John Harris's corner, and, as an index to the number of sharks not caught, it may be stated that sixteen young sharks were taken from this ugly specimen. The three prisoners committed for trial at Nelson for manslaughter at Charleston were brought to WcstjDort yesterday, their arrival causing a crowd and some excitement. They proceed, with the witnesses, to Nelson by the John Penn. Another prisoner was John Hegarty, sentenced to two months' imprisonment for assault. A man named Evans, who was camped on the pakihis, near Giles Terrace, was severely burnt about the hands and arms a few days ago. While asleep, his tent took fire, and he was not only burnt, but Tuearly shot, the charge in a loaded gun having exploded. A difficulty has occinred in connection with the charge of bigamy against Braithwaite, in the Supreme Court, Nelson. The mother of the alleged first wife is unable to appear, and the Judge holds that oral testimony of her illness must be given. The case has been adjourned until after the trial of the Charleston prisoners. Mr Simpson, bootmaker, with the assistance of the architect, and his contractors, Messrs Bull and Bond, has succeeded in providing himself with a very commodious warehouse and workshop, and in improving considerably the architectural aspect of Gladstone street. Mr Simpson's new building is one of the few in Westport in which an attempt has been made to combine the ornamental with the useful, and that object has been very satisfactorily effected. If his example should only excite a spirit o£ imitation, some good may be effected in the direction of diminishing the natural and artificial ugliness of Westport.

It is the intention of Messrs Tonks and Hughes during tlie Christmas week to dispose, on the principle of an Art Union, of the largest nugget ever obtained in New Zealand. The nugget is value for £3OO. Particulars will be given in our next issue. The Otago University, lately initiated, is expected to be in working order in a few months. The Home agents have been instructed to procure professors, and the building intended for the Post Office is to be used as the University. At the Foresters' last fete, Dunedin, there was a velocipede race, for which there were six entries—bi, tri, and quadri-cycles. After a two mile race a tricycle, ridden by a young man named M. G. Thomson, came in an easy winner. A rich quartz reef is reported to have been discovered near Palmerston, Otago, on land occupied by Mr Dillon Bell. The reef is ten feet thick, and gold is visible in every part of it. Some fine specimens have been received in Dunedin. A rush of some importance is reported by the Grey Hirer Argus to have taken place on Saturday last to ground between the second and third right-hand branches of Noble's Creek, on a spur leading down to the main creek. Particulars have yet to be received. A Norwegian named Olof Olsen, who had just bought into a claim at Blake's Terrace, Grey district, for &QQ, has been killed by a fall of earth. The Rev. Father Larkin, who is at present in Wellington, is reported by the Hokitika Evening Star as going back to his own diocese, that of Brisbane. He will, in all probability, be reinstated in his position in the Church. That well-known hotel, the Cafe de Paris, Hokitika, has passed into the hands of Mr Bladier.

A letter has been received by a gentleman in Hokitika from a friend at Wellington, who is in a position to know, and who states " That the Governor will, after a visit to the Waikato, return to Wellington, and that his next journey will be to fulfil a promise made to visit the West Coast. You may look for him early in February, for although Parliament has only been prorogued until that month, it is well known that it will be still further prorogued." From Hokitika we learn that encouraging news continues to be received as to the Taipo reef. All the parties having claims are busily at work, and are confident of success. A quantity of stone has been got ready, and it will be sent to Melbourne, by the next steamer, to be tested.

An important civil case is being heard in the Supreme Court, Nelson. It is an action for £SOOO damages for slander. The plaintiff is Levin, merchant, Wellington; the defendant is Beaumont, sheep-fariner, formerly in partnership with Mr Tetley. The Tararua brought Mr Redwood and his two race-horses Peeress and Misfortune. Manuka, it is said, was sold in Melbourne. Two new mining companies—the Perseverance and the Masonic—have been started in Nelson to work reefs at CoUino--wood.

The members of the Hokitika Cricket Club have challenged a Groymonth eleven to play a match on the 30th inst.

Mr C. E. Button, late Mayor of Hokitika, has written to the Corporation stating that as it is uncertain whether or not he will return, he resigns hi 3 seat in the Borough Council.