Untitled

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 720, 6 October 1870, Page 2

A man named John Scott had a narrow escape from being swept out to sea while crossing the Totara river on Tuesday night. Scott, it appears, was on his way from Charleston to Westport riding a mule, and attempted to cross the Totara. The river proved too high, and he was washed from his seat, and with difficulty succeeded in re-

taining his hold of the saddle until the animal reached the bank. Mule and rider returned to Hall's accommodation house for the night and started for Weetport yesterday morning. In the second attempt to cross the river Scott wisely elected to make use of the ferry-boat. We are informed that Mr Blackett, Provincial Engineer, has accepted the appointment of Chief Engineer of the Colony. The salary is spoken of as £IOOO per annum. The sea during the past few days has encroached considerably on the beach in the direction of the Hospital, necessitating the removal of a private residence in the occupation of Mr Fleming. A Eoyal proclamation appears in a recent New Zealand Gazette enjoining the duties of neutrality upon all British subjects. The following letter from a settler in Martin's Bay appears in the Otago Daily Times: —Lake M'Kerrow Township, Sept. 6, 1870.—Dear Sir, —I write these few lines to let you know how we are situated here. It is a shame of the Government to induce people to come to settle down here, where there is no communication with other places, either by sea or land, although there is a population of at least from 70 to 100 persons—men women and children. If no vessel arrives here within 10 days from this date, it will be a case of starvation with us all, or we shall have to try the overland route by Lake Wakatip. The following two pictures of a New York ball vary considerably : —From the World : —The demimonde had a sylvan soiree dansante yesterday afternoon and evening at Elm Park. Over 10,000 men and women were present—among them several prominent politicians, a few leading lawyers and one or two judges. From the Standard :— The demi-monde of New York had a ball yesterday afternoon at Elm Park. All the thieves, gamblers, prostitutes, and low politicians, of the city were present. The crowd numbered 10,000, and the scenes were the most disgusting and disgraceful ever witnessed in this vicinity. A recent crushing of 140 tons stone from the All Nations Quartz Claim, Thames, has given 3920zs of retorted gold. Mining matters says the Nelson ilfat7,have been exceedingly slack during the week; the Doran Company have showed signs of vitality, and the Cullif or machinery has arrived, but beyond this there is but little to relate. I fear it will bo some time before we are in receipt of any large returns of gold from Wangapeka. A meeting of Germans has been held at Auckland to raise subscriptions in aid of the wounded German soldiers, and widows and orphans. About £SO is already collected. The New Zealand friends of Colonel Sir Thomas Gore Brown, will be pleased to learn that he has been appointed to administer the Government of Bermuda.

From the Otago Times we learn that pleuro-pneumcnia in a malignant form is reappearing in the district of Moeraki. A beast lately died and, on being opened, showed unmistakable evidence of the disease, and a number of other animals are also infected.

A series of burglaries have been committed at Otahuhu, Epsom, and Panmure by a prisoner named Martin Michael Weldon, who has been committed for trial on the charges. The premises broken into were those of Isaac Gwynne, hotelkeper, Epsom j James Hogan, storekeeper, Panmure ; and premises at Otahuhu.

Mr Lowther Broad, M.P.C. for the' Thames district, has resigned his seat in consequence of his recent appointment as Warden at Wangapeka. All the single women who arrived at Canterbury by the Monarch were engaged. Double the number would have readily found good situations. Only 9 out of 30 single men remained in the barracks at last report, and only 16 out of 26 families. It is believed that these will meet with engagements in a day or two. The following rates of wages were accepted:—Married couples (agricultural laborers), £oo to .£6O; single men (agricultural laborers), ,£2O to £3O. Single women—good cooks, £25 to £3O; general servants, £2O to £25 j housemaids, .£ls to .£2O ; nurse girls, £8 to J312. In a General Government Gazette of Sept. 12th, Uiere is a notification requesting any one who can give information respecting the following person to communicate with the Colonial Secretary's office: —Name, Noble J. Donaldson; age, 22 or 23. Personal appearance, stout built; about 5 feet 8 inches in height. When last heard of, left Melbourne per steamer Alhambra, for Hokitika, about November, 1866, for the purpose of joining his mates. A strike of a threatening nature has taken place at Coromandel. The men engaged by the contractor in constructing the road concluded to leave off work unless the contractor would agree to give them seven shillings a day, and passed a resolution to resist any man or men that may choose to work for six shillings.