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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 662, 24 May 1870, Page 2

Need we remind any of those favorable to the furtherance of the objects of the Miners' League, that their presence this evening at the Miners' Ball, will not only testify their zeal in the cause set forth by its promoters, but will materially enhance the funds of the League. The day being a general holiday, and one on which all claims are protected, it is to be hoped there will be a large attendance.

Mr Bavan, who is announced as the " Somatic Conjurer from Melbourne," gave entertainments on Saturday and Monday evenings at the Masonic Hall to fair audiences. Mr Bavan kept his spectators in a constant state of wonder, during the execution of his numerous conjuring tricks, all of which were cleverly executed. He was formerly a pupil of/Professor Jacobs, and in many of his sleight of hand deceptions exhibited a proficiency such as we have been only accustomed to witness at the hands of the Wizard Jacobs and Pro-

feasor Anderson. Mr Bavan gives one more entertaiuinent on Wednesday evening, after which ha will pay a visit to Charleston.

To-day (Queen's Birth-day) will bo observed as a holiday at the Banks and Public Offices iu town.

An inmate of the hospital expired suddenly on Saturday evening, the cause of death being rupture of the bladder. Deceased was named George Dell, aged about 45 years, and a native of Manchester. He is believed to have relatives in Queensland. The only civil business in the E.M. Court yesterday, was the hearing of two cases Byrne v. Linahan, claim for £6l9s Bd, and Wilson v. Rea, claim for £3B 4s 6d, in which judgment was entered for the plaintiff in each instance by default. The application of Henry Overhagen and others for the abandoned water right, formerly the property of the Waimangaroa Quartz Mining Company was granted yesterday. The intended race is half-a-mile in length and is to carry four haads of water. The right to construct a dam at Waite's Pakihi, 300 yards north of JRobinson's claim was applied for by Thomas M'Grath and granted. The area of the proposed dam is 100 yds by 60 yards.

The Charleston Herald mentions Mr Lowther Broad as a probable candidate for Westland North in the House of Representatives.

Before his Honor Mr Justice Richmond (in Banco) at Hokitika, on the 19th inst., in the matter of the Bank of New Zealand versus the Southern Cross Gold Mining Company and others, Charleston. On the motion of Mr Button, counsel for the Bank of New Zealand, an order was made granting a rule absolute in the first instance for an injunction to restrain the judgment creditors from proceeding further on their judgment; the Southern Cross Gold Mining Company from mining or seeking gold in their claim ; and also restraining the bailiff of the Warden's Court from selling by virtue of the writ of execution issued in pursuance of the said judgment, until such time as the decision of the Supreme Court in the suit now pending be made known.

The Albion Hotel, Greymouth, is once more re-occupied by the owners Messrs Tonks and Hughes, the lease to Mr Lichtscheindl having expired. The post mortem examination of an infant child of Mr Roach, hatter, Christchurch, showed that death had been caused by suffocation, the child having detached and swallowed a small sleeve ribbon. The New South Wales Executive have had to censure Judge Josephson (one of the District Court Judges) for paying his predecessor a sum of money for retiring, and thus creating a vacancy. We learn that Captain Beveridge, during his short residence in Auckland, has on two occasions, saved children from drowning.

A miner, named Duncan Ferguson was brought down from Moonlight on the 13th inst., charged with being of unsound mind, making the fourth case of lunacy that has passed through the hands of the police at the Ahaura since the 29th of March last.

A meeting has been held at Ross for the expression of public opinion with re gard to the conduct of Mr Hoos, in withholding his assent to certain bye-laws passed by the Ross Drainage Board. A resolution censuring the County Chairman was put to the meeting, but was not carried. A correspondent of the Greymouth Star suggests the placing of a box near the stamp department of the Post Office, with the words " Please drop your spare stamps into the box for the benefit of the Hospital." Such a plan, it is thought, would be the means of raising a small revenue, as many purchase stamps, and it frequently occurs that they do not require one half of them.

The Ore>/ Argus of Thursday writes:— " We are requested to state that Mr Franklyn will again offer himself for re-election for the Grey District in the Nelson Provincial Council.

Some changes are being made in the Nelson Police Force. Constable Paul has been removed, and Mr M'Guire, who was recently discharged from the Westland Force appointed in-his stead. By the arrival of the cutter Woodstock in Auckland harbor on Friday night, sth inst., from Opotiki, we {Southern Cross) have received the information that the followers of Te Kooti are much disheartened, and are willing, should the Governmeut offer them protection, to come in and surrender. Three of the rebels came in to Te Kaha just before the Woodstock left, and gave themselves up. Colonel St. John intended to take them with him on his expedition to act as guides. From another source we learn that Ropata with about 490 followers, left Poverty Bay on Saturday last on his expedition in pursuit of Te Kooti. He was expected to return again about Thursday. There is no doubt, from present appearances, that the disturbances which have so long retarded the prosperity of the colony are drawing to a close, and that ere long we shall experience all the benefits of general tranquility. The Auckland correspondent of the Lyttelton Times —a staunch supporter of the present Ministry—states that several of the native chiefs assert that the nature of the Uriwera is such that Te Kooti may escape capture for years to come. Where he now is, the country is a wild chaos of broken forest ranges. The Queenstown paper states that A miner who has returned from the Bart Valley, Martin's Bay, for his mate, reports that he has found a payable quartz reef.

Cronin, the victim of a brutal assault from a man named O'Brien, on the Greenstone, has been discharged cured from the Hokitika hospital, An operation was necessary, half the entire lower lip having been torn away, to form a new lip which has been most successfully accomplished, and there is now little or no deformity apparent.

The confirmed unfavorable advices from Home have had a depressing effect on the flax trade throughout the. Colony. In Auckland, where the largest number of flax mills exist, £2O per ton is the price quoted for the best, and £l6 to £lB for medium qualities, scutched. The commercial aspect of Auckland does not seem to improve. Messrs Gruickshank, Smart and Co's market report for this month says : —We are sorry to be again compelled to write unfavorably of the state of business in thi3 market. During the past month, the arrivals from London have been very heavy, and as the consumption for the same period has considerably fallen off, stocks have accumulated and prices have receded.. We do not look for much improvement in business matters for two or three months to come.

Anarrow escape from fire was experienced on the 13th in Hokitika. The stovepipe in the billiard-room of the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle Hotel had become over heated and ignited the ceiling but the flame was fortunately extinguished in time.

From a private source, we (Morning Advertiser) learn that Sir George Grey maybe expected to arrive by the next English mail steamer at Melbourne. He will at once proceed to Auckland. Leading articles have appeared in the Thames Advertiser, which, as they are certain to be translated into Maori, and likely to have a bad effect on the Maori mind, considerable indignation has been expressed at the tone of these articles, which are considered by some people as be ing highly inflammatory. The articles in question are said to be the composition of a gentleman formerly holding a Government office.

Cape papers to hand show that the Colonial question is quite as stoutly contested in Africa as in New Zealand. The same arguments are used, for there is a sympathetic feeling. The British Government has threatened to withdraw the troops from the Cape, and visions oi being over-run with sooty-headed Africans are haunting the minds of the colonists. They think, however, that their claim to British protection is superior to ours, as being more immediately under Home influence and government.

A correspondent at the Thames writes as follows:—"You will have heard of the total failure of Shaw (formerly proprietor ef the Marlborough Times), and the cessation of his four papers. Everything that he possessed was brought to the hammer on the 3()th ult. and realised most unsatisfa story prices, of which the following is a specimen ; G pairs new chases, 2s 6d each (cost price in London 265) ; imposing stone, 3s ; galley press, 21s ; brevier, in good condition, Id per lb (cost 2s) ; solid brass galleys, 5 s (worth 30s). The machine realised £SO— was the old Wellington Advertiser machine. The large twofeeder Wharfedale machine, with engine and boiler complete, was sold for £280; it cost Shaw £1,200 and is one of the finest ever seen iu New Zealand. It was bought by Wilson for the 2V. Z. Herald, but no paper could keep it going for any length of time, the circulation being too small for it."

Velocipedists are inveighed against as a nuisance in Hokitika, and the authorities are called upon to protect pedestrians from the furious riding of bicycles.

An individual appropriately named Pickup appeared, together with one Pitts, before Mr Whitefoord, at Cobden on Tuesday last, charged v/ith stealing gold, valued at £2O, from Samuel Holdsvvorfeh, at Nelson Creek. The prisoners were remanded to the 23rd inst.

According to a Victorian paper, a young lady is acting as engine driver in a steam saw-mill in the Blackwood district.

Volunteering doesnotappearto be popular in the Metropolitan city of Wellington, if the statement in the Advertiser is correct, that " the Wellington No 1 Company consists of some three rank and file, and an ensign." Some of the militiamen in the Wairapa are forced to travel 27 miles to attend drill. The local paper says:—" Were it not for the present price of horses which enables every man to ride to the place of drill, it would be nearly impossible for many te attend. The picture of a man walking 27 miles to parade (with the Enfield rifle on his shoulder, and the other accoutrements including 100 rounds of ball cartridge) undertaking two hours' drill, and the pleasant prospect of walking back again, is certainly unique.

Two daughters of Mr Tarlington, magistrate of Bega, New South Wales, have been committed for trial on a charge of infanticide committed six years ago. The accuser was a young woman brought up in the house with them from childhood.

An accident, accompanied with the loss of two lives, occurred recently at the ford of the river Taieri between Naseby and Hamilton, Otago. The unfortunate sufferers were Thomas Lawson and his son, and it is supposed they were washed out of a spring cart while proceeding to Hamilton's to deliver bread. The body of the boy had not been recovered.

The Herald understands that Captain Page has recently imported from Melbourne one of Hunt's gold washing machines, which is said to be the best that has ever yet been invented. Captain Page had brought with him a few very small precious stones which he had found near Melbourne; these he mixed up with some sand and gravel, and then put into the machine, and found them again almost immediately. Gold in small quantities has been found on several occasions at the mouths of the Patea and Whenuakura rivers, which leaves little doubt that it must exist inland. It is, we believe, Captain Page's intention to test the sand at the mouths of the rivers to see whether gold does really exist, and in what quantities.