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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 767, 24 January 1871, Page 2

Up to the hour of the telegraph closing, last night, there was no notification of the arrival of the Suez Mail. Mr E. J. O'Couor addressed the electors at Charleston on Saturday evening. The meeting was held at tho Casino de Venise, and there were from four to five hundred persons present. Mr Dempsey occupied the chair. Mr O'Conor condemned the railway schema in connection with the Ministerial policy, on the grounds that it had no prospect of paying, and would benefit alone a tew rich land owns, through whose properties the lines nig it be earned. The mining communities would have to pay the chief portion of their cost. One or two short lines might possibly pay. He regarded the proposed Nelson and Hokitika railway as a farce. He strongly objected to class legislation, in which direction the present Government tended. He condemned protection; deprecated the lew of a duty upon flour, or other taxes specially bearing upon the miner. He approved of the proposaJ to supply water to the goldflelds, which was the only item of the ministerial programme that he could cordially agree with; but he feared the money would not be properly distributed. He'was entirely opposed to any loan, and thought it simply preposterous, as it would only add to their present heavy burdens. The policy pursued towards the natives was wrong. He quite concurred with treating them kindly, but the sword should be held in one hand and no expense spared to quickly suppress outbreaks. The miner's right should be reduced to half the present fee, and the gold duty should be abolished. The system of vote by ballot was a step in the right direction, but he was altogether opposed to the miner's right qualification,' and was in favor of manhood suffrage. The laws were only made to oppress, and, although they did not expressly insist " upon your money or your life," the same result was attained in a manner more polite and stealthy, after the fashion of the light-fingered gentry. He should bo in favor of a readjustment of the representation according to population. He was opposed to the maintenance of Provincial institutions, having seen enough of Provincial Councils. They were expensive and ustio.;s. After the speaker had roundly abused Mr Donne, the opposing candidate, ho was asked by Mr Moore what he would substitute for Provincial Councils; also what his views were with respect to education. _ Mr O'Conor repiied to the latter question, that he was m favor of a compulsory system of education. He concluded his address by stating that he would fearlessly advocate their cause ; that he was independent, and not like others. The usual vote of confidence was put, and declared to be carried.

Mr Donne, Goldfields' Representative, arrived at VVostport on Sunday evening. We understand that the object of his visit was to confer with Mr Pollock, the census enumerator for this Province, upon the best means to secure the efficient taking of the census on these goldfields. Mr Pollock arrived from Nelson per steamer Murray on Sunday evening. He visits the coast in his capacity of census enumerator, and proceeded to Greymouth by steamer lust night. It was reported in town on Saturday that an up-river boat, proceeding from Westport to the Lyell, upset in the river s me little distance on this side the Inangahua Junction, while crossing a fall. All the cargo was lost executing a small quantity of flour. The boat belonged to Peter the Greek. No lives were lost.

Mr O'Conor was to address the Brighton el ectors yc.it erday evening. We have to call attention to an objectionable practice which, prevails in Westport of depositing all manner of refuse, including kitchen waste and other filthygarbage in the river. Apart from the act being offensive to the numbers who reside in the vicinity of the river, as also to the many who frequent so busy a thoroughfare as Wharf Street, it cannot but Injuriously affect the public health, more especially when, as at present, a lengthened drought necessil ates the use of the riverwater for domestic and culinary puposes. A return match, between the Charleston and Four-Mile cricket teams, takes place at the Four-Mile to-aa.y. Messrs E. Barff and John White are the candidates in the Hokitika district. The nomination took place on Friday last, when the numbers, upon a show of hands, were White, 39; Barff, 15. A poll was demanded and will be taken on the 25th.

A new weekly paper, started in the interests of Mr Buckley, the candidate opposing Mr Harrison for the representation of the Grey district in the General Assembly, is to be published in Greymouth, and entitled " The Freeman." Mr J. Hurst is the proprietor of the new publication.

Mr J. C. Richmond addressed a laro-e meeting in Wellington on Tuesday last, he was well received, and a vote "in his favor, as a candidate for the city was carried unanimously. Mr Brandon defeated Mr Gillon, on the 17th inst., for the district of Porirua, Wellington, by 154 to 87 votes.

The Timaru nomination took place on Friday last; Mr Stafford was proposed by Mr Hortman, and seconded by Mr TurnbuH. There being no other candidate Mr Stafford was declared elected.

The skeleton of a man was found at an old camping ground, at Larry's Creek, a tributary of the luangahua, about three weeks ago. The remains are thought to be those of a man, starved to death during one of the largo Hoods. A number of snares set to catch Maori hens were observed in tho locality of the camp. A uugijet of over 143 lbs weight has been brought from Tyler's rush, Inglewood. It was discovered by Chinamen, and is said to be worth nearly .£7OOO.

One thousand tins of Australian preserved meat have been sent for the suffering peasantry of South-eastern France.

The first annual sale of six yearlings of the Maribyrnong stud realised °3390 guineas.

Major Blackall, Governor of Queensland, died on the 2nd of Jn.nuary. His Excellency had been in bad health for sonic time. Major Blacknil formferly served in the 85tli Light Infantry, and was commandant of the Lontjford militia. From 1847 to 1851

ho represented the County of Longford in Parliament, and at the end of that time he was appointed to the Lieutenant-Govenor-ship of Dominica, which he held till 1857. In 18C2 he was appointed Governor of Sierra Leone, whence in 1867 ho was transmitted to tho Governorship of Queensland.

The Duke of Edinburgh left Auckland on Tuesday last in the Galatea; tho Clio accompanied her outside, also three steamers loaded with passengers. The seamen manned yards and waved flags. There was great cheering and singing by the Choral society. The Galatea goes home, calling probably at Monte Video and Falkland Islands. The Clio proceeds to Wellington. His Royal Highness presented £oo to the Superintendent for distribution among the charitable institutions of Auckland. He regretted the large amount of distress among the poorer classes. A splendid sample of spirits of wine, it is said, has been manufactured at the distillery, Official Bay, Auckland. Yesterday being the anniversary of tho Province of Wellington, Sunday hours were observed at the following telegraph stations:— Wanganui, Wellington, Featherston, Greytown, Maste.rton, Jlutt, Castle Point, Otaki, Marton, Government buildings (Wellington). The following is the last version that comes to us from Australia of some newly found Buckley. TheWarogo correspondent of the " Pastoral Times" says : —A report which caused a sensation > reached the Bullaroo a short time ago. Some blacks from the westward, who visit this river occasionally, reported to Mr Sub-Inspector Gilmourthatawhitem.au had recently b.-en seen with some blacks about 150 miles west of Cooper's Creek. They described him as an old man, quite decrepit, and that when the blacks he was with removed their camp he had to be carried, being doubled, and quite unable to walk. He is also said to have been a long time With the tribe. Mr Gihnour, with a party of the native police under his command, went out to the locality described on hearing the report. Hj is now expected back. There is nothing known of any person being missing from this side, and the place spoken of being so far from the coast, the natural hope is that it may be a, surrivor from Leichardt's party. Notwithstanding the many false reports, and the disappointments we have already experienced, the mystery which involves the late of that gallant explorer may yet be cleared up. The telegraph clerks in Canada, says tho " San Francisco News Letter," have found out how fast an earthquake travels, and they put the pace at about two hundred miles a minute. At Mimouski, when the late earthquake came upon them, they sent at once to Quebec, a distance of two hundred miles, to ask " How do you feel ?" While the operator there was at his work the shuck arrived. He at once sent to Montreal, about two hundred miles further on, to ask if they had felt it. They had just time to say "No" before the earthquake came up. We suppose this is tho first instance on record of men talking across the edg-e of an advancing earthquake.

It is reported in Wellington, that twelve bodies have been discovered washed up by the sea, on the beach between Turakina and Bangitikei. Portions of "wreck have been found on the beach in the same neighborhood, which appears to indicate that a wreck had taken place on that part of the coast.

Late advices from the Fiji and Navigators Islands, state: —"War is imminent between Cakobau and the lower Rewa tribes supported by Kaafe. The settlers are not involved. The Solomon lolands are proving a successful source for new labor, but the natives are savage. Twenty at Strang's plantation, Tavisni, ran away with a boat, killing four Fiji men to eat on the way. They were captured some days afterwards by the settlers near the north"coast of Vita Levu.

A young salmon, measuring seven inches, was caught on the 11th instant, at the junction of the Manuherikia and Ciutha Rivers, Otago.

The Nelson Amateur Christy's intend giving a couple of entertainments in Wellington. The Bay of Islands coal is increasing in favor with captains and owners of steamers. Eighteen steamers trading out of Auckland now use this coal alone. The price is 12s per ton, free on board, at Eussell.

Mr H. E. Curtis has resigned the managership of the PerseveraueejGoid Mining Company, Wangapcka. A fatal accident occurred at the Greenstone on Thursday afternoon last to a man named Cornelius CJunen. It appears that he was engaged with a number of other men in raising the uprights and cappieces which Yicve intended to form the ilood-gates for a bye-wash at the Hohonu water race, when by some means the left upright being raised too rapidly, shot the butt-piece out of its socket, and falling, struck the unfortunate man on the heaiC killing him on the spot. An inquest was held, and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

It is proposed to place a road steamer on the road between Wakatip and Kingston in Otago. An inquest was held on the 3rd instant at North Mokara, Wellington, on the body of W. Barnes, when the following verdict wus returned:—"Death was caused by an over dose of opium, administered to him by his wife, for the sole purpose of relieving him of excessive pain, she being ignorant of the probable eifect of such a dose upon him. It is the opinion of this jury that some stringent measures should be taken by the Government to restrict the indiscriminate sale of drugs, the action of which is of a dangerously active or violent character."