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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 760, 7 January 1871, Page 2

A Warden's Court sitting will be held, by Dr Giles at Christy's, Inangahua Junction, on Tuesday, the 10th inst. It is intended to hold:a further sitting on Saturday, the 14th. inst. ; when ■ one case, in which Mr Warden Whitefoord is a witness, will come before the Court.

Oa 'Thursday last Angus ■ M'Bae was brought'before the' Resident Magistrate, Dr Giles, charged with the wilful destruction of property; belonging to Mr E. J. O'Conor, of the value of "30s. It appeared that "M'Rae's wife held the Robert Burns Hotel under a license, and in consequence of previous ill usage by M'Rae, had obtained an'order-of protection. M'Rae,"however held a lease of the premises, and by virtue of that entered the house and created a disturbance. Mrs M'Rae moved into a cottage belonging to Mr O'Conor, situated in Molesworth-street, and was followed by M'Rae who kicked in the doors of the house. The circumstances having been proved His Worship indicted a fine of £3 in addition to £ 1 10s, the value of the property damaged, and lis 6d costs, or, in default, one month's imprisonment.

The Athena3um Committee met on Wednesday afternoon, when the Secretary presented a balance sheet showing only thirty pounds in hands over the amount of present liabilities. The desirability of taking some steps to keep up the supply of periodicals and papers was discussed, but the matter was allowed to stand over until the annual meeting of the subscribers, which is to take place on Monday, the lGth instant, when a committee for the ensuing twelve months will bo elected.

The usual monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held at the Courthouse, on Friday evening. There was little or no business to be gone through. The Visiting Committee for the past month reported that there were ten patients in the Hospital, with no very serious case. A letter from Mr J. Rafferty to the Chairman of the Committee was read. The Treasurer reported that the amateur entertainment recently given in aid of the institution k-ealised; in net proceeds, within a few shillings of thirty pounds; that he had hardly sufficient funds to pay the month's expenses, and would have to apply to the Government for another subsidy payment. The Visiting Committee appointed for the month of" January are Messrs Bailie, Munson, and Sheahan.

The Stewards of the races met at the Post Office Hotel, on Wednesday evening, and previous to giving up their charge they went through and passed the accounts, striking a balance sheet, which showed the sum of thirty pounds in hand at the credit of the Jockey Club.' They did not authorise the publication of the balance sheet. Under the provisions of " The Dog Nuisance Act, 1863" owners of dogs must now renew then - -certificates in Westport. Dog tickets for the current year can be obtained, on application at the Police Station, Westport. Patrick and Co., a party of six miners, to whom we referred some time back as working the beach between Westport aud the Orawaiti with very p>ayablc results, 'are erecting a fi.um.ed race of about 20 chains in length, from the Lagoon to the seat of operations. The water will be raised by a cvbitn worked by horse power, and a constant sup2.flyof the fluid being thus secured, the returns from the claim are expected to turn out still more satisfactory.

The installation of officers, in connection with the Loyal "VVestport Lodge, Manchester Unity, place at the lodgo-room on Thursday evening. The following were elected for the current term of office:—Bro. J. Hughes, N.G., 8r0.:.A. King, V,G, arid elective secretary, Bro. G. Horn. After the lodged had been closed, the brothers sat down to a banquet at the Empire Hotel in honor of the occasion.

The past fprtnight has beezi distinguished by exceptionally hot, sultry weather. Yesterday.was exceedingly hot, .the thermometer in the sun, about noon, showing 110° Fahrenheit.

There was • neither civil nqr criminal business, before, the K.M. Court yesterday, and the proceedings in the Warden's Court were limited to the hearing of a few applications, none of which were of importance. ■' The'Westport Fire Brigade have ordered 300 feet of hose in addition to the quantity already received. In our report of the Buller. Eegatta, on the 29th ult. Messrs West and Eoaeh, slated to'have been,last in the "Pair Oar Baco," should have read Messrs Welsh and lioach. Mr James Simpson, we understand, has purchased the livery stables at Cobden, Brighton, Charleston and South Buller, from Mr W. H. Forder. A named Mrs Eice who was sentenced, at Cobden, to three months' Imprisonment on a charge of vagrancy, arrived in Westport by the last trip of the Murray. She will fulfil her term at the gaol in Westport. Mr Sellon'schesnutmare, Quicksilver, was forwarded to Nelson by the Murray on Thursday. .; ■ .'

The horticultural exhibition, held this season, for the first time in Hokitika, has proved a very great success, both in respect to the number and quality of the .exhibits, the large number, of visitors, and ' tn'e promise of splendid shows in the future, With a climate and soil so forward as that of Westport, and a number of horticulturists in our midst, there exists no reason that next season the Buller District should not also have its horticultural fete. Flowers in great variety and showing ,mo3t luxuriant growth, • as also Vegetables, jhay'be' seen in the surroundings of Westport, and in Mr Simpson's garden, which was but very recently laid out and placed under culture, we wore agreeably surpr sod at the beauty and perfection attained by the various plants. Single and double petunias, fuschias with various colored corollas, dahlias, the calceolaria and pelargonium were especially noticeable. Other gardens in this district of

bUlw formation: also exhibit 'groat b*u\ty: and 'perfection alike in flowers aild vegetable.?. At the Hospital, we aro givenVtp' understand, the supply of vegetable.} grown. in the surroondui v gardens is more- than ample for the requirements of the institution, so that this year a very important saving, due, in a great measure, to the care of Mr Poole, will be, made. • The- "Ttyttelton Times," of; Tuesday, Dec. 27, thus records' a harrow escape from fire in phristchurch:—On Saturday after- , noon, Mr Nashelski, ironmonger, High street, observed a quantity of: straw, and loose rubbish on fire immediately in rear of his shop. A line of buckets was quickly formed to the tank in front of. Matheson's Agency, and the flames, were fortunately extinguished. Had the discovery been two or three minutes later, or had the shop not been well stored with buckets, a serious fire must hava ensued.. The, fire bells were rung and No. 2 (White Hart) engine and the Hook and Ladder Brigade were out with their usual smartness. The steamer was also ready when she was countermanded. Mr Nashelski says he observed some men smoking near the rubbish just before the fire.

Mr Buckley, who is to contest the seat for the Grey Valley, with Mr Harrison, in the House of Representatives, landed from the Gothenburg on Sunday, and is now busily engaged preparing for the coming struggle. The members, of the Wellington Fire Brigade laid, a few days .ago, an information at the Police Court against their treasurer, Morton Quin, for appropriating a cheque for .£9l 10.3 that he had* received from the insurance companies.

Mr H. Hall, the present contractor with the New Zealand Government for the San Francisco Mail Service, has written to the " Sydney Herald," saying his contract with the New Zealand Government is for four years, and will not terminate in April next, as the Postmaster-General assumed when he made the new contract. The " Southern Cross" denies the existence ef any coniract as stated by Mr Hall. We hope sincerely the " Cross " is right, as it wilt be a very serious business for the colony to be saddled with two expensive mail contracts at one and the same time.

An accident happened to Captain Robert Dyason, at the Kaiapoi regatta, in firing the signal cannon for the Challenge Race. The powder in the vent had not exploded, when, in placing some fresh powder, the piece discharged some of the powder which had not ignited through being damaged, forcing it into Captain Dyason's face, which, besides, was severely scorched. A piece of powder, the size of a wheat grain, penetrated into his under lip. The wounds are very serious, and his "face will bear the marks for some time.

The New Zealand DistiUery, in Dunedin, continues to send out large quantities of malt whiskoy,;and, as the spirit attains age, it is highly spoken of; and, from the difference in duty—only half of the duty on the imported spirit—it is likely to become generally patronised throughout the colony. Recently we had a sampling order from Mr John Corr, who has lately imported, from Messrs Howden's Distillery, a few quarter casks:of this New Zealand manufacture, and from the superior quality, the strength of proof, combined with the mildness of flavor and the great advantage of six shillings per- gallon saved, .there is every likelihood, in' the course'of time, of the foreign imported article of "malt whiskey being-total!j eclipsed. On New Year's Day a considerable hum - ber of townspeople crossed the river to Mr White's gardens on the south bank, where all sorts of sports and picnic pleasures were indulged in, terminating with dancing at an advanced hour. K The gardens are much improved this year, and now form a most pleasant resort for summer parties.

la consequence of the increasing difficulties which attend the transmission, through Fiance, of. overland mails,• addressed via Marseilles, the Imperial Posl-master-Goneral has determined on Bending mails, so addressed, until further notice, via Brindisi, Brenner, Prussia and Belgium. The rates of postage to be charged in Now Zealand, on correspondence for the United? Kingdom via Marseilles or Brindisi, will, therefore, be as follows :—Letters, not exceeding Joz, Is 3d; exceeding \oz and not exceeding loz, 2s (id ; exceeding loz and not exceeding lioz, 3s 9d ; and so on, Is 3d for evory hoz or fraction of |oz. Newspapers, under 4oz, id. Book and pattern parcels, not exceeding loz, 2d; exceeding loz and not exceeding 2oz, Id; exceeding 2oz and not exceeding 4oz, 7d; exceeding 4oz and not exceeding Boz, <ls 2d ; and so on, at the rate of Is 2d per half pound. Mr E. Waite desires us to correct the statemont of eighty men being at present in the Karamea district. The approximate number engaged in mining in that locality does not, in his opinion, exceed thirty.

Mr William Finnimo.'O has been appointed manager of the Wanganui Steam Navigation Comyany. A child, named George Frost, about three years' old, whose parents live in Suburban, North, Nelson, fell into a well on the 22nd ult. and was drowned.

The "Thames Advertiser," of Dec. 12th, announces that the bazaar, triven to benefit the funds of the Ladies Benevolent Society, realised in three days, between .£l5O and .£2OO.

An Otago paper says : —The country lying between Waitahuna and Waipori has for | several years been known to produce copper and cinnabar. Now an extensive reef of antimony has-been discovered, a sample of which, as well as one of marble, is about to be forwarded to the Otago Museum. We have examined both samples, and although the latter may not just yet be in iraich request for building purposes in Otago, the antimony may prove a "remunerative article of export. It is largely used in tho manufacture of printing type.

•Wo observe that the Auckland medical men are differing in opinion as to whether or no Asiatic cholera is now present in Auckland. The disease, whatever it may be, is univerally attributed to defective drainage. The New Government House, at "Wellington, is to be completed in a fortnight. We learn from the Dunedin ' Star' that last week a deputation of merchants waited upon the Superintendent to confer with him upon subsidising a steamer for the West Coast. Mr M'Noill explained, the object of the meeting, and pointed out tfie desirability of regular communication between Dmiedin, Martin's Bay, ilokitika, and Westport. ' His Honor expressed. himself favorable to the plan, and said that two years ago he placed himself iu communication with the County Council of Westland, who declined to take action, or the plan might then have been carried out.! Ho would use his best endeavors to have the service established. ,

Some Western towns aro employing female clergy in self defence as they never i*un away with the girls of the congregation.