The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 736, 12 November 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1870.

Whether or not France was solely to blame in connection with the present European war, or whether Prussia, in her knowledge of the French people, offered a willing pretext in the candidature of the Prince of Hohenzollern, leaving to France the onus of the first declaration of war, cannot yet be satisfactorily decided. Without doubt, however, Germany was fully prepared for the contest; and it appears difficult of belief that preparations of gigantic magnitude should have been brought to such unparalleled completeness, unless the probability rather than the possibility of a conflict with France had been reckoned upon. It also admits, of doubt whether Bisrnarck was not cognizant of what would be the probable eifect on the French people of any attempt to place a G-erman Prince on the throne of Spain. After the consolidation of Germany into a power of the first magnitude, it was unlikely that France should have viewed the proposal with unconcern, and it required no statesman to foretell that, an enthusiasm for war having once been awakened, ouly at the cost of a revolution and the loss of his throne could Napoleon have resisted the combined wishes of the French army and people. Time only, however, will disclose the relative worth of the c.nntrariir-i-nry statements, and enable us to form a correct estimate as to with whom rests chiefly the crime of having disturbed the peace of Europe. That time only can enable us to take an accurate measure, is an inevitable condition of things, for it is only in the distance of years that we can either be sufficiently free from passior, or sufficiently in possession of all the circumstances and their bearings, to be able to form sound judgments, to assign the true measure of blame to either party, or to decide to what extent both have been culpable.

Whatever doubt may be entertained in respect to the foregoing, unprejudiced spectators must blame Germany in refusing what, to most minds, must appear very favorable conditions of peace. It is difficult to understand on what grounds, other than of territorial aggrandisement, Prussia seeks for the cession of Alsace and Lorraine. A mere extension of frontier can surely not be regarded as a material guarantee against attack, and, indeed, the wresting of two such provinces, if even made the terras of a present peace, would be far more likely to give rise to future wars for their recovery. It is, however, in the continuation of the war that England ha 3 much cause for appresion. A great question yet remains—the attitude of .Russia—and so long as Turkey lies before her as a prey, which has never ceased to tempt Muscovite ambition, and the opportunity presents itself for disintegrating the Ottoman Empire, it is much feared that she will step in, and attempt the project in which she was foiled by the result of the Crimean war. If the war in Erance is prolonged, the temptation to Eussia to seize on the Danube and Black Sea must become strong, and perhaps irresistible. The question remains, whether England and Turkey would be sufficiently powerful to prevent that consummation and to save Constantinople. It is impossible to over-estimate the services that a powerful and independent kingdom of Poland would have rendered in staying Russian aggression in Europe, and we may yet have cause to regret tho culpable folly of having acquiesced in her dismemberment, and the enslavement of her people by Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

Messrs Pitt, Fisher, Milno, and others returned on Thursday afternoon from the Inangahua Junction. We have received a full account of the most important cases heard and decided by Dr Giles, but wo are compelled to hold the report over. The sittings commenced on Tuesday, when the prospectors received registration for their claims. Williams and party and Tapley and party and. Logan, for all of whom Mr Pitt appeared, succeeded against the original claimants of No. 1, North. Logan and Braithwaito, and Seymour and party gained claims out of No. 2, South. There waa a large attendance of miners, and the proceedings seem to have caused considerable excitement. The Court sat late each night j the Warden not finishing the office work until nearly midnight. Dr Giles proceeded, on Thursday morning, to the reefs, intending to settle on the ground any questions which might be then pending.

We understand that Mr Lewis, Govornment Surveyor, has been directed to lay out a township, and, from all we can gather, there seems every indication that the field, now in course of development, will prove extensive and most valuable.

By the steamer Kennedy, on Thursday, 35310z. 3d\vt. 2gr. of gold woro shipped to Hokitika, being two boxes exported by the Union Bank of Australia, containing 250C0z. 2dwt. Bgi\, and one box of 10250z. 18gr., by the Bank of New Zealand. The export duty, paid in WestporfTon the above parcels, amounted to JE44I 7s lid.

A deputation, consisting of the following members of the Westport Volunteer Fire Brigade, Captain Hughes, Messrs Bailie and Lloyd, waited upon his Honor and Executive on Thursday, relative to a site for the erection of an engine-house, and to request a subsidy towards the cost of the building. His Honor stated that the sum of JESO voted for the general purposes of the brigade had been sent down from Nelson, and was in the hands of the Warden, who was authorised to pay it over to the brigade. With resjjeet to a subsidy, the funds available were very limited, but he should feel inclined to place Westport on the same footing as Charleston, where they had received a special grant of .£25. The site would be givon them on the Camp Reserve. His Honor further promised to instruct Mr Dobson to prepare a plan of a suitable building, and the deputation thereupon expressed their thanks and withdrew. His Honor the Superintendent and Messrs Shephard and Donne, members of the Executive, proceedod to Hokitika by the steamer Kennedy for the purpose of visiting the Grey Valley. We believe that is the intention of Mr Donne to return to Westport, as soon as the additional works have been decided upon, in connection with the riverbank protection. In consequence of the serious inroad made by the last flood upon the river-bank, in the direction of Kennedy-street, a deputation, consisting of Messrs Humphrey, Corr, llughston, Sheahan and Roach, waited upon his Honor and Executive on Thursday for the purpose of directing attention to the imminent jeopardy of that portion of ; the town, and of urging the necessity of some further steps being taken to protect the thoroughfare and property. It was stated that the present works had been subjected to a severo test, and had been found to answer, having succeeded in defleeting the current for some distance, but that its effect was also to expose the lower end of Kennedy-street to the full force of the returning current. It was also urged that any work that was done should be of a permanent character; in that case it would be much more satisfactory and eventually cheaper than to place crates which have the effect of protecting the bank for six or twelve months only. His Honor replied that the Executive and himself were strongly impressed with the urgency of affording some protection, and it had been decided to expend the full vote in that direction. The sum of L 2500 had been voted for that purpose by the Council, and ho found that about L2OOO had been already expended, which would not leave a very large amount for an extensive work. They were proceeding to Greymouth and would communicate with Mr Dobson, who, on his return, would take ' immediate steps in carrying out his instructions. The deputation then withdrew. In the evening his Honor and Executive inspected the groin, and expressed satisfaction with, the manner in which the contract had been so far performed and with the result already attained. Mr and Mrs M'Gowan gave their first entertainment at the Masonic Hall yesterday evening. The performance, was an attractive one and, though well supported, the audience was not so large as the reputation of the actors had led us to expect. But this was probably owing to the unfavorable state of the weather. To-night there will be a second entertainment prior to Mr and Mrs M'Gowan proceeding to Charleston, where they will play on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. An entirely new programme is announced for Monday evening. The opportunity should not be lost of witnessing these actors, as it is indeed seldom that an entertainment of such merit is offered to

a Westport public. At the Inangahua, the flood on Tuesday last overflowed the banks of the river, inundating the,low-lying paddocks near Christy's Hotel. From Sunday night until Thursday there was an average of sixty travellers stopping at the accomodation house, which enables some estimate to be formed of the large traffic between Westport and the reefs.

We understand it is the intention of the owners of the steamer Kennedy to make a special trip from Westport to Nelson about the 18th instant, for the purpose of conveying witnesses and others to J.e sitting of the Supreme Court, which commences on the 21st inst. The Provincial Council of Auckland was opened on October 26. The Auckland merchants are about forming a Protective League, with branches throughout New Zealand. A strong feeling, it is said, is growing up a»nong them in favor of a mild system of protection ; and they think that in a new country local industries ought of right, not only to be afforded just protection, but such direct assistance in the way of bonuses as circumstances will allow. Of course everything ought to have "just protection," but the question turns upon what this "justice" means.

A Dunedin attorney, named Maddock, has been arrested in Auckland on a charge of converting to his own use £395 of public money. The charge, we understand, is that he has appropriated trust moneys, held by him as co-trustee with the father for the behoof of two children of the latter. Such cases—no matter how the present may terminate—painfully illustrate the necessity of a measure that was thrown out in the Upper House last session, viz., the Public Trustee Bill. Mr Maddock at one time held the appointment of Provincial Solicitor of Otago. The Auckland banks refused to accept a proposal by the Superintendent, with respect to the duty payable on the shipment of gold, and, in consequence the Government issued a proclamation prohibiting the export of gold, unless the old duty of 2s 6d per ounce was first paid. At the recent fire in Dunedin of Jago's store, a man named Honan deliberately walked into the flames, and resisted alt attempts to take him out. He was suffering from delirium tremens. When he was removed he was frightfully burnt, and has since died.

Mr John Griffen, merchant, Dunedin, has suspended payment. The liabilities are not stated.

The body of Mr John Bower was found on tho shingle beach of Otomatata, Otago, on the 11th of October, by some swagsmen who were crossing the ford of the river. About an hour previously, Mr Bower had been seen approaching the river on foot, on his way to Dunedin.

The last month's yield of gold, brought down by escort from the Otago Goldfields, amounted to 14,5280zs 18dwts.

Patrick Henessay Downes, charged at tho Thames with a criminal assault upon a little girl two years and a-half old, has been acquitted.

Considerable excitement has been caused at Wintakereri by the elopement of a chief's wife with a.young countryman. She bolted a first time, was brought back, and reconciliation took place. She, however, eloped again in a few days. A John Coffey, storeman in the employ of Messrs Cochrane and Son, Auckland, has been committed for trial on a charge of having broken into the store of his employers, and stealing therefrom 177 lbs of tobacco.

An old pensioner, named John Elwood, has been found dead under a cliff at Auckland. The deceased had been drinking heavily since the receipt of his last pension, and is supposed to have fallen over the cliff, when intoxicated. The Auckland naval volunteers held a very satisfactory shell practice the other day. A target placed in the centre of the harbor was the object, and shells were made to burst very close to it. A rifle match between Wellington and Napier was to have come off on the 9th Nov. The ranges are to be 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each, twelve men on each side.

A resolution has been passed in the Provincial Council of Taranaki, abolishing the office of Provincial Secretary. The Superintendent is to do the Government work himself.

An excursion train on the Bluff Railway, on the recent visit of the Superintendent of Otago to his new territory, conveyed passengers a distance of eighty miles for 3s.

The Provincial Council of Taranaki has, by a majority of nine to five, adopted the memorial asking the General Government to make terms with Tito Kowaru, which was prepared by the committee appointed on Mr Henry Richmond's motion. Revelations of a startling character, made in connection with the insolvency of Thorne and Walker, of Auckland, have shaken confidence in commercial circles. The liabilities are L 105.264, assets L 30,732. A yfellington telegram of Nov. Ist says : —The " Evening Post" last night publishes an explanation from the Melbourne agent, of tho Press Telegram Association, which states that their message was sent to the " Independent" by the operator at the Bluff, and the Government message compiled therefrom, thus giving the lie to the Colonial Secretary and the " Independent." The " Independent" this morning, says nothing about it. The governments in the neighboring Colonies are very far from having effective majorities in their respective Parliaments. The Tasmaniau Ministerial measure in

favor of a main line of railway was stopped in committee by one vote, and the Colonial Secretary had just succeeded in get-

ting the measure through by a casting vote, onaccount of the absence of one member through illness, which has terminated in his death. The Queensland Ministry have had an apjpoal to the country, after sustaining defeat in the last Parliament, and will meet a now one in a few days, with a possible majority of two or three votes. In New South Wales the Government only escaped defeat on a direct vote of no confidence, by a majority of two; whilst the South Australian Ministry have maintained their position by a majority of only one.