The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 732, 3 November 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1870.

The news to hand by the Suez Mail, a summary of which was published as a second edition of the Westport Times oh Tuesday evening and appears in our present issue, is not of the important character that the rapid course of eveuts previously had led us to anticipate. The intelligence, although three weeks later than was received by way of California, furnishes few items of importance beyond the surrender of Strasbourg, the alleged defeat of a Prussian Army Corps "before Paris, aud tho decided refusal of Prussia to make peace unless based on the cession of acquired territory. The investment of Paris, and the cutting off of postal and telegraphic communication between that city and the remainder of Europe, may partially account for the somewhat meagre information supplied. On the other hand, the siege of a city of such dimensions as Paris, aud its investment were not likely to bo rapidly completed.; aud, large as are the Prussian forces, tbe general impression is that they will not prove sufficient to cut off effectually communication between the capital and tho couutry. Past eveuts go to show that the investment and siege of Paris were fully anticipated after the crushing defeats and reverses experienced by the French Arms. The evacuation of Chalons denote the conclusion of the French military authorities that under the guns of Paris was the most suitable spot to risk a last decisive battle; and every movement—in the destruction of crops, the levelling of forests, and the collecting of provisions and munitions of war—goes to prove that the Parisians regarded the siege of their capital as certain rather than probable. The absence of any attempt to intercept the advance of the Crown Prince betokened either a terrible weakness, or an orgauised plan to rely upon the strength of Paris, and the interval that its siege would allow for recruiting the forces of the Empire, in order to offer an effective opposition. That this inactivity was duo as much, probably, to design as to a sense of utter inferiority, would appear from the fact, that for week 3 the efforts to place Paris in a state of preparedness were more persistently sustained thau the probable turn of affairs at that date required. The Parisians, no doubt, reckon that so far advancad into the heart of the country, and with the probability of cutting off the Germans from their base of operations, the op. portunity may yet present itself for reversing the series of humiliating defeats encountered by the French Armies.

The public meeting, convened by his Honor the Superintendent, was held at the Masonic Hall yesterday .'evening* and was numerously attended. .. The lacj hour, at which tho terminated, ne-" cessitutaa our holding /Over the reiO»*t Of the proceedings.

Mr Lewis of the Survoy Department returned from Anderson's and Murray Crooks on Tuesday evening. At Andoraon'a he surveyod a prospecting claim for Andornon and party, and three claims, of ein men's ground each, north of tho prospectors, and to tho south, five olaims, each of six men's ground. The miners are disputing about tho boundaries of tho claims, thenew'arrivals contending that the necessary number of men have not been maintained on the ground, in order to logally occupy the claims. Anderson and party, whose claim has a frontage of six hundred feet, have struck very rich stone in their tunnel, situate about two hundred feet from thensouthern boundary. Hunter and psvrty, who hold No. % south, on the same lino f reef, have* also etraek a rich leader, and there is every indication that it is the same reef as obtained by the prospectors. At Murray Creek, Mr Lewis surveyed a claim for the prospectors; also a lease of sixteen and a half acres for Davies, on the supposed line, of reef. Tho lease includes No. 2, 3, and 4 south, and the application will be objected to by the holders of these claims. >lo 3, south, Shields and party, have put in a tunnel, and have struck a "rich leader. No. 1, north, Cooney, Kelly, and party have also got rich stone; No. 2, north, consists of a hatter, who is puttin" in a tunnel; No. 3, north, consists of nine men, who have a tunnel in 140 feet; No. 4, north, cons : sts of six men's ground, and the holders are also preparing to tunnel for the reef.

Mr M'Leod, who recently returned from the Lyell reef, has brought down with him a small quantity of stone, which he has crushed, and will have tested probably to-day. A meeting of the District Hospital Committee was held at the Court House on Tuesday evening, when the following members attended:—Rev. W. D. E. Lewis, Messrs Munro, Whyte, Sheahan, and Powell (chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and continued. The medical officer's report for tho months of September and October was received. The 'Visiting Committee for the past month reported eight patients in the institution. For the current month Messrs Eeid, Powell, and Humphrey, were appointed a Visiting Committee. The Treasurer reported that tho funds at the disposal of tho committee were exhausted. It was stated that the canvass of the town had not been completed, and that a fair sum might yet bo received. The Treasurer was requested to apply for the customary subsidy due to the Committee, by the Government, and the meeting terminated.

The following is the return of patients admitted to. and discharged from, the Hospital during the past two months:—On September 1 there were six patients in the hospital; eight were admitted during the month; five were discharged cured; and one died, leaving .eight inmates on October 1. During the mouth just ended, there were seven patients admitted ; sis were discharged ; aud one died, leaving eight inmates of the institution on November 1. There were five out-door patients received medical treatment in September, and three during the month of October.

The following contracts for the conveyance of mails between Westport and the surrounding districts have been entered into by the Postal Department, dating from January 1, 1871, and continuing to the end nf.-tha veav:—Westport and Charleston daily, each way, William ti. Fowler Charleston and Brighton, twice weekly, J. Moles; Westport and Addison's, twice weekly, H. Bush; Westport aud Eochfort Terrace, twice weekly, W. Lyons; Westport and Lyell, twice weekly, P. Mangoe. An accident, which singular to say did not result fatally, occurred at the Orawaiti yesterday afternoon, in the person of an infant son of Mr .Tones, of the Bridge Hotel. The little fellow was playing near the hind legs of a horse, when the animal suddenly kicked him on the forehead, inflicting a severe wound. Dr Thorpe was quickly m attendance, and dressed the injuries. Those, who witnessed the occurence, fully anticipated that the poor little fellow's brains were dashed out.

The yield of the Thames goldfields was, in September, a little over ten thousand ounces from seven thousand three hunched tins of stone.

The United States war vessel Reseca took a quantity of New Zealand flax for experiment.

The "Southern Cross" advocates a special steam line from Auckland to Fiji.

The schooner Sea Breeze has arrived at Auckland from Fiji, and reports four hundred and forty natives killed at the recent massacre.

A meeting was recently held at tho Otago Hotel, Dunedin, for tiho purpose of raising subscriptions towards the relief of the widows and orphans of Frenchmen, killed during the present disastrous war. Several juvenile culprits have been sentenced to be whipped, as well as to undergo short terms of imprisonment, by the Resident Magistrate at Wellington. The trial in the case of Anderson v. Burke, commenced on the lith ult., was to have been resumed on the 24th.

The " Marlborough Erpress" of October 22 reports, that an old resident of the West Coast, named Welsh, better knov.n as the " Flower of Wheat," had discovered a nugget of unusual size at Bartlett's Creek, on the Wairau goldfields. Its weight was IGoks Sdwts. A quantity of shotty gold has also been obtained at Mount Patriarch.

The great summer handicap, the Melbourne Cup, is run to-day. A sweepstakes of three prises on the event is announced to take place, at the Empire Hotel, on Saturday evening, when the.various competing horses will be allotted to the subscribers.

At Tahiti preparations are being made to strengthen the fortifications. The "Cross" says the .French residents of Papeete are much excited, and that the Government are actively engaged in having the place more strongly fortified. There are four forts, each mounting some 12 or 14 guns. Besides these, 1000 natives have been set to -work at 2f. a day wages, to ereet several new forts near the Flagstaff, and other parts of the town, where deemed most necesspry. The only Imperial troops at Papaete at present are one company of artillery. Steps are, however, being taken to establish a Garde Mobile. The French Admiral's ship Astee left Papeete on the 17th, i i search of a Prussian frigate reported ta bo cruising about near Tahiti. The body of the man named Porteous who was suppwed to have fallen from tho wharf at Wellington some four weoks a«-o was found, on the night of the 25th nit! tearfully disfigured.

Another death by drowning -is reported from Wellington. A boy named Fandey ten years of age, was found dead by his father, it being supposed that he had fallen off the jetty and been drowned.

Jones wants to know whother tho liberty df the Press is proved by having your pockets picked in a crowd.