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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 750, 15 December 1870, Page 2

Up to the hour of going to press, there was no notification of the arrival of the European mail via San Francisco. Maria Jennings was brought before R. O. Reid and S. Thorpe, Esquires, justices, on Tuesday last, charged with habitual drunkenness. The evidence of Stephenson, the arresting constable, went to show that he had taken the prisoner in custody the previous evening, having found her helplessly intoxicated and lying on the foot-path in Bright-street. The prisoner, in reply to the Bench stated that she remembered nothing of the circumstances, but promised amendment in the future. It was shown that there had been three previous convictions against Jennings during the past three months; and she was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor in the goal at Nelson. An assault case, O'Dea v. Anderson, was called on and struck out, neither complainant nor defendant appearing. At the meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, held on Monday evening at the Empire Hotel, the Sub-committee appointed to select a site for an engine house, reported having obtained permission to erect the same on the Camp Reserve. A plan designed by the District Engineer was approved of, and it was decided to call for tenders for the erection of a building. The muster-roll was revised ami a new list compiled; the members signing undertaking to conform to all rules and regulations. Tenders for erecting the en-gine-house close to-day at 4 p.m. The yearly examination of the pupils of the Westport school will take place on Friday ;the midsummer vacation commencing on Saturday the 17th inat. The examination of candidates for the Nelson Scholarships will take place on Saturday, when three of Mr Eraser's pupils, Maste'rs Field, Munro, and Winstanley wiil compete for the honor. The scholarships are of the annual value of .£4O.

A meeting of watermen and others interested in setting afoot a regatta to take place during the holidays, was held on Monday evening-. It was decided to canvass for subscriptions to be distributed in prizes, and a committee were appointed for that purpose. Already upwards of .£2O been collected.

Tenders for the construction of the river protective work near Kennedy-street closed yesterday, and the result will be made known - t n-obably to-day. Some little difficulty has arisen, we understand, with respect to the price at which the punts, constructed by Mr Pell for the previous contract, are to be taken over, but a settlement is expected to become to immediately.

In our last issue we mentioned the storeman in the employ of Mr Munro, as having been instrumental in saving the ma,n° Dunlop, from drowning. We are since informed that it was a son of Mr Munro who lent valuable assistance on the occasion referred to.

Several parties reached Westport from the Inangahua yesterday evening, having left that locality at noon the same day. Three distinct . lines of reef—Murray's Anderson's and Shields's—have been opened. Eight or nine different parties have all struck the reefs with similar and very payable prospects. Shields's reef is now said to be the richest. A case against Anderson, in which the plaintiff claimed a share in his claim, was decided yesterday in favor of Anderson. The defendant has appealed. The list of the Westport subscribers to the local Hospital, as also some of the lists' from the Northern Terraces, will be found in another column. The remaining lists will be published in Saturday's issue.

A snag, about the same length as that removed the preceding day, was raised from the river-bed near the mouth of the Lagoon on Tuesday, and deposited on the South Spit. Another snag, close to the bar, which threatened to obstruct the channel, will be moved to-day, should the present favorable weather continue.

A handsome nugget, with small particles of quartz adhering, was brought into town on Tuesday, by a miner working in the Excelsior Quartz Mining Co., Lyell. The specimen was obtained in close proximity to the reef's and weighed 2 ozs 16 dwt 18 grs. The "Grey Valley Times" of the Bth instant gives the following account of the visit of the Golddelds' Representative to that locality : —" Mr Donne paid a flying visit to the Ahaura on Thursday last. The object of the visit did not transpire. Several matters of importance were brought under his notice while here, prominently the Inangahua- road and the local Hospital. He promised to have both matters laid before the next meeting of the Executive. Mr Donne subsequently visited No Town, where he was met by the leading residents, and conferred with them as to the requirements of that locality. Speaking on the subject of the track from No Town to the Twelve Mile, Mr Donne said that he could at once recognise the necessity of continuing the road, and promised to urge the matter upon the consideration of the Executive ; as also the establishment of a fortnightly Court if sufficient accommodation could be had. Mr Haisty at once signified his willingness to place his room at the service of the Warden. Mr Donne promised to urge the permanent residence of a policeman, and also the necessity for the formation of a suitable track through to Red Jack's. After suggesting some matters relating to water supply, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Donne, and he proceeded on hia journey. On Thursday last, says the local journal, the question of allowing mining advocates to practise in the Warden's Courts was again argued before Mr Warden Whitefoord by Mr W. W. Wilson and Mr Edward Drury. The Warden heard the arguments on both sides, and ultimately stated that the whole matter would be referred to the Attorney-General, pending which ho, the ]

Warden, interpreted the Order in Council in a way which would reluctantly compel him to withdraw Mr Drury's permission to practise. During the argument, the Warden paid Mr Drury a very high compliment for the very able manner in which he had hitherto acted in Court, and thanked him for tue assistance he had from time to time received in the course of his duties. So the matter remains at prtssnt. Bef erring to the eligibility of the various members to fill the office of County Chairman, the " Independent " says of the member for Boss:—Mr Button is next on the score, and it seems as though he possessed all the elements requisite. All know him to be practical in the highest degree; no one doubts his administrative power, and every oneis convincedof hisgeuuineandsterling integrity. At a meeting tbe'other day, when questioned as to his acceptance of the office of County Chairman, in case of being returned, he openly said that he would accept the position if returned ; would expect the same salary that is at present paid, but would save the expense of a County Solicitor by himself acting in that capacity, as well as being County Chairman. This, to begin with, is a saving of some £3OO a year, and is for the public to say whether they approve of Mr Button for the position or not.

The Grey evening paper says :—Samuel Symms, a journalist, well known in Greymouth and Hokitika, a few days ago attempted to commit suicide in Dunediu by cutting his throat with a penknife.

The natives in the neighborhood of Alexandra, in the Waikato district, complain bitterly of the damage dene to their crops by pheasants. Their fields are studded with scarecrows, and the settlers kill as many pheasants as they can, but the nusiance nevertheless continues unabated.

William Fox, the well-known prospector, has ►started with a party of miners on a prospecting tour to the head of the Shotover liiver. An accident occurred to Mr Redwood's racing mare XXX, while being shipped on board the Phcebe at Lyttelton. While she was being hoisted on board, the flooring of the box gave way, and she was found, on being released, to walk very lame. Mr Redwood is said to fear that she i 3 ruined.

After the Ist Januarynext, the sovereigns and half-sovereigns coined at the Sydney mint will be exactly the same in appearance as those issued at the Royal Mint in England, the home Government having granted the use of the Imperial die for that purpose.

The following particulars regarding Mr Alexander M'Kinnon's insolvency are published by the " Argus "I solvency—Failure to obtain the purchase money for the steamship Albion, of which vessel he was formerly owner, from C. J. Hoyt, who bought the" vessel on bills that were afterwards dishonored, illness in New Zealand, and his having been there declared to be of unsound mind, which incapacitated him from attending to any matter of business. Liabilities, .£250 13s 8d ; assets, £l 10s."

The Auckland Provincial Government have resigned in consequence of an amend" ment having been carried by the Council on the second reading of the Appropriation Aet.

The late election at Eoss was severely contested. The following rough state of the poll was j;iven by the Returning Officer shortly after the close of the poll:—Button, 172 ; Tribe, IG7 ; Moye, 112. The Victorian census is to be taken on the 2nd of April next; that being the day on which it will be taken in Britain. It is said that the New Zealand census is to be taken in February, butitwill probably be deferred and taken on the same day as in other parts of the Empire. It was for this purpose that the Census Acts Amendment Act was passed during the last session of the Assembly.

Horace Baker, who was found guilty of fo/giug Commodore Lambert's endorsement to a bill of exchange, has had sentence postponed, as several points of law were reserved for the decision of the Court of Appeal. The names of the woman and two of th> men belonging to the party who recently shot Mr Todd, surveyor, have been ascertained. The murderers are still in the Pirorigia Ranges, searching for Mr Frissel's survey party, of whose escape to Alexandra they have not yet heard. The Kingites are reported to be shy of coming to Alexandra. The Government are instituting an official enquiry into the matter. The "Lyttelton Times "says:—"The Mr Todd referred to as having been murdered by natives in tbe Waikato is a younger brother of Mr George Todd, of Opawa. He was about thirtyeight years of atre, and has been engiged in the work of his profession for the last thirteen years in the North Island. Mr Todd was well known to and greatly liked by the Natives, and litis fact bears out the supposition that tho murder was deliberately committed either with the view of showing the -Government that the Natives are determined to put a stop to the surveys, or with the intention of provoking a war." A Parliamentary paper containing reports of the mining surveyors and registrars, for the quarter ended Sept. 30th, furnishes the following facts with respect to mining in Victoria-.—The total number of miners employed was 59,742, Of these, 27,002 were employed in alluvial, and 16,690 in quartz mining, and 15,950 were Chinese, who are nearly all employed in alluvial mining. The approximate value of minin"plant was £2,163,920; the number of square miles actually worked upon, 905£ ; and the number of quartz reefs actually proved to be auriferous, 2941. The following birds come nnder the head of native game which are protected by statute excepting during the months of April, May, June, and July in each year:— Bittern, Curlew, black and pied stilt Plover, Quail, Teal, Wood-Pigeon, Wild Geese and Wild Duck of any species. Mr Moore, schoolmaster at Eaurau, having become obnoxious to the Kingites at Kawhia, they have warned him not to return to the mission station, or he will be shot.

To Kooti is in the neighbourhood of Opotiki, and is threatening a raid. Two mounted troopers arrived at Tanranga on the Ist with the information, on receipt of which Colonel Horde sent a force of Armed Constabulary to Opotiki.