The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 683, 12 July 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1870.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, the chargo against W. Lloyd, for breach of the Customs Regulations, was withdrawn by the Collector, who stated that the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs had been communicated with and had consented to the course proposed. His Worship stated that he was glad to be relieved from putting the Act in force, which was very stringent, and left -no option but the infliction of a heavy fine or imprisonment, although the offence had been committed through inadvertence. He trusted the present case would act as a warning to the public, and show the necessity of exercising all possible cars in passing entries or making declarations with respect to dutiable articles. The only civil case disposed of was an action, Brown v. Gibbs, in which the plaintiff sought to recover £2 2s, for services rendered the defendant as scrutineer, on the occasion of his contesting the recent election of Superintendent of the Province. Judgment was given by default in the amount claimed and costs. . The Rev. Mr Lewis will officiate at Harrison's store, Giles Terrace, to morrow evening, at half-past seven o'clock. A prospecting area, 800 ft. x 300 ft., was granted on Saturday last to James Graham and party, for quartz workings, situate at the first creek north of Christmas Terrace. The petitions framed by the Miners' League are now ready for transmission through Mr Kynnersley, M.H.R. The signatures from Charleston are not yet to hand, but are expected early, on receipt of which the petition will be forwarded to that gentleman for presentation. In the Warden's Court the case of Rassmussell and Gardiner v. Trucks, in which the plaint stated that the defendant's dam interfered with the complainants' registered rights, was adjourned till Friday next, the defendant having applied for the case to be tried by assessors. A miner, named George Buteman, had his leg broken by a fall of cement while working in the Engine Claim at the Four Mile on Saturday. A few minutes afterwards another miner, named Thomas Hildreth, was brought in with his leg fractured, also caused by a fall of cement in a claim at Candlelight. Both sufferers were conveyed to the Charleston Hospital. An accident, likely to result fatally, occurred at Charleston on Friday last. A Mrs Cantwell, residing in a tenement adjoinining the premises of Messrs Harrold and Scanlon, fell down while carrying a lighted candle which set fire to her clothes. The children were in bed and their screams brought Mr Harrold to the spot. He burst open the door and found Mrs Cantwell whose clothes were in flames under the bed. He and others succeeded in extinguishing the flames, and, but for their timely assistance, the mother and children would have been burnt to death; the former is severely injured and very faint hopes are entertained of her recovery. An account of some of the workings on the [Northern Terraces from a correspondent, also a trip to the Waimangaroa reef, and the report of the Hospital Committee meeting, which took place last evening, are held over till our next issue. The men committed for trial at Nelson, charged with wilful destruction of the Southern Cross plant, will be forwarded to Nelson by Kennedy on her return trip to that port. Dr Giles and other witnesses proceed by the same boat. Mr Hodgbon, a member of the Commission appointed to consider the Groyrnonth annexation question, went south by the Kennedy on Sunday. We believe that Dr Giles will not be able to act in conjunction with the above-named gentleman, his attendance being necessaiy in Nelson as a witness in the case of John White, charged with perjury. We are unaware whether anyone has been appointed in his stead to visit the Grey and form an opinion as to the desirability of meeting the alleged wish of the people of the northern portion of the County of Westland. The question is open to grave objection on the grounds that the

province would be saddled with a large portion of the debts of the County of Westland, and it would also appear from a comparative statement of the receipts and expenditure of the district, now seeking separation from Westland, that during the past twelve months a considerable sum had been expended within its limits in excess of the revenue derived from it. It is difficult to understand, therefore, on what grounds the people are agitating for separation, since it has been shown that South Westland has a better case of complaint for unfair distribution of revenue than Greymouth and its vicinity. Mr Stafford gave notice of motion for June 30, *' For a return of the names of all persons who have been drowned in each year from the Ist January, 1840, to the present date, in any river or stream in New Zealand, giving the name of any such river or stream and of the Province in which it is situated." Vei-y rough weather has been experienced at Napier. The local paper states that the sea washed over the beach between Kinross's store and the flagstaff, casting tons of shingle against the houses. During the high tide 3 the water entered some of the tenements. Among the list of Melbourne subscribers to the Smith O'Brien Monument Fund are the Hon. Chas. Gavan Duffy, who headed the list with ten guineas, and the Hon. Judge Bindon five guineas. A distilling apparatus was recently seized by the Customs authorities, Auckland, on board the steamer Enterprise. The concern was enclosed in a wooden case and was unaddressed, and suspicion was first created by its apparent weight. The total amount of gold sent down by escort from the Otago Goldfields during the six months ended June 30, was 66,9580zs I9dwts, showing an increase of nearly two per cent, over the corresponding period of 18G9. A rich reef is stated to have been discovered near the Black Boy diggings, Tasmania. As a proof of the improved mining prospects of Addison's Flat and its vicinity, we learn that a share in the claim, known as Cole and party, changed hands on Saturday last for the sum of £350. Mr James Cunningham, an old Charleston resident, has commenced business as an accountant and general agent in Greymouth. We notice that Mr Turner has removed the Niagara Hotel, in consequence of the inroad on the beach, to a site in Palmerston street. In the Court of Queen's Bench application has been made by the Earl of Sefton for a criminal information, and rule nisi granted, against Mr Long, proprietor of the Sheffield Daily Telegraph.