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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 706, 3 September 1870, Page 2

During the year pnded June 30th, 8100 telegraphic messages of different descriptions were despatched from the ofiioe at Westport, Tiie total value of these were £1136 13s lid. The Provincial Government, the Press, and private persons paid i-600 of this amount. The remainder was dehifced to the General Government. The cost of maintaining the station was .£227. Prom Charleston 31(37 messages wore despatched. The total value was .£471, including £73 for General Government messages. The cost of maintaining the office was £194. The line from Greyinouth to Westport is G7 miles in length. The cost oi maintaining it for the year was .£4lB, or at the rate of £U 5s per mile. During the year ISGO, there were 732 money orders, of the value of .£3,659 issued at the Westport Post-office, and 222 orders, of the value of £855, paid at the same office. At Charleston 501 orders, for a total of £2,320, wore issued, and 90, for a total of £'4o3, were paid. The total deposits made in the Westport Savings' Bank during the year, wa3 £9,171. At Charleston £5122 wore deposited.

Some minors, known as Eccles and party, are prospecting a likely looking terrace in the vicinity of M'Laren's accommodation house, Caledonia Track. The party have just commenced operations hy sinking a shaft, and will shortly he in a position to furnish particulars as to the result of their labor.

The Westport Flax Company made their first shipment of flax yesterday, consisting of 14 bales, by the schooner 10, to Melbourne. For tho scutchings or loose ends of the flax a ready local market was obtained at 3d per lb. The second barge being constructed for the purpose of convoying stone for tho groin, will be completed about Thursday next. It, in all respects, assimilates the one already finished with the exception of having an increased depth of about five inches, which will slightly increase the carrying capacity. It is estimated to bring down twenty-eight tons of stone. Mr Cottorcll, after a short hut highly successful visit to Westport, proceeded to Greymouth yesterday by the steamer Charles Edward, from whence he will at once go forward to Hokitika and give a series of entertainments. Sergeant Lambert, who lias been connected with the Nelson police since the earliest settlement of this portion of the Province, has tendered his resignation and purposes sailing the schooner Woodcpiest, recently purchased ly him in Nelson. Mr Lambcit was a deserving and zealous officer, and he revives the good wishes of all who know him 'n the new enterprise in which he has embaked. Michael Moran was charged, on Thursday, btforo C. Broad, Es£, at Charleston, with having deserted his wife and three chdd,:en. On the occasion of a previous charge, of a similar nature, he denied that he was married, since -which evidence revealing the contrary was produced, and the Bench made an oider for the payment of £1 weekly. The application of Messrs M'Carthy and Co, Town Lead, to mine under street, Charleston, has betn granted by the Warden, aad a petition is, we understand, being numerously signed, asking that the permission should be cancelled as it would mterfore with the traffic and seriously 1

injure n atret;t at present in excellent repair and which originally coat a very considerable sum to construct. The above party have already laid a tramway previous to working tho ground. It would appear somewhat singularthat a mat ter so seriously affecting a large number of people, as an application to mine under a public street, should not have been opposed when it same into tho Warden's Court. This, however, may be accounted for by the unsatisfactory mode in which tho Regulations provide that notice of intention to apply to the Warden for any right shall be given. A large proportion of such applications are undoubtedly of a merely formal character, and no benefit could be gained by publicity being given of the intention of tho applicants ; but, on tho other hand, many are of a most important character and require the fullest publicity. Under the latter head we should certainly class applications to mine or place a tramway upon a public thoroughfare, to take up an abandoned right of any kind, the first right to take water from a creek, the extension of claims, or agricultural, or mining leases, &c. Dr Giles proceeded to Charleston yesterday morning where ho would acconqjany Mr Warden liroad to Cobden for the purpose of holding a conference in respect to an amended code of Goldfields' Regulations. An anniversary ball and supper are appointed to be held at tho Masonic Hall, Empire Hotel, on Tuesday evening, the 20th instant, for the purpose of celebrating the third anniversary of the Loyal Westport Lodge, of the Manchester Unity, of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. Every effort will be made by the committee to ensure a success equal to those recorded in previous years ; and the liberal arrangements entered into, together with the high popularity enjoyed by this deserving society can leave no doubt that the entertainment will prove all that can be desired.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Thursday, John Stuart alias Sweeny, was fined 10s for drunkenness, or, in default, 24 hours' imprisonment. One civil case only was disposed of—Sedgwick and Garland v. Charles Martin Fox, ia which the plaintiffs claimed the sum of .£43 5s 6d. The defendant pleaded bankruptcy and produced Gazette notice of declaration of insolvency. The Bench, however, decided to proceed with the case and the defendant having produced a receipt for a payment ou account of £lO, gave judgment for the plaintiffs for £33 5s 6d and costs. Telegrams presented for transmission on Sunday, at any of the telegraph offices in the Colony, are now charged double the ordinary rates.

Two sons of the late Mr Charles Dickens are at present in Australia, engaged iu pastoral pursuits. The Rev. R. Taylor, Auckland, -who has written several books relating to tho history of New Zealand, has just published a valuable " Maori and English Dictionary."

Chinese immigration to America is said to have been stopped by legislation. In San Francisco, white labor has been almost superseded by the Chinese. Nearly all the compositors in somo of tho printing offices are Chinese, their labor costing about onethird of that of whites.