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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 772, 4 February 1871, Page 2

In order that there shall be no misapprehension on the part of any elector as to how ho should fill up his ballot paper, we publish the following directions: —The voter is to strike out the name of every candidate for whom ho does not intend to vote by drawing a line through the name with a pen or pencil. He must be careful not to leave uncancelled the names of more than one member,-or the vote will be invalid. The ballot paper must then be folded so as to conceal the names of the candidates and the number written on the lower edge of the back, and so as to show the stamp on the back. The ballot paper must then be put in the ballot box by the voter. The ballot paper must not be taken out of the booth.

The following gentlemen will act as deputy returning officers: —Mr Winstanley at Gile3 Terrace; Mr W. S. Munday, Addison's ; Mr T. G. Macarthy, Charleston; Mr Graham Greenwood, Brighton. The various polling-booths will open at 9 a.m. and clojc punctually at 4 p.m. Mr O'Conor again addressed the electors of Westporfc on Thursday afternoon at the Masonic Hall. Mr Munro acted as chairman. There was not a very numerous audience. Mr ()'l!onor confined his remarks chiefly to his action in the Council during the last session, and indicated the course pursued by him. He censured the conduct of Mr Donne as also hi 3 colleague Mr A. Ueid ia respect to the Executive Act; and mentioned that Mr Donne acted counter to himself in the matter of increased representation for the goldtields and obtaining a vote in aid of gold-prospecting. Copious references were made to the Blue .book, and, sit the close of his remarks, Mr Morris Counell moved, that the charge made by Mr Donne against Mr O'Uonor had been satisfactorily refuted by the latter. Mr .Rogers seconded the motion, neither proposer nor seconder offering any comment. There wa3 no amendment or counter motion, and the chairman declared the proposition carried.

So much reference has been made by Mr O'Conor as to the course pursued by Mr Donne in respect to additional representation in the Provincial Council last session that, in order to remove any possible misapprehension ou the subject, we take the following abstract from the Blue Bool;, page 101:—'• The resolution is that another member should bo added to the district of Golden Bay, and another member given to the South-west goldflelds. The following is the division list: Ayes 6, Dunne, O'Conor, Rcid, Wilkie, Shephard, Luckie." The noes were .8, so that the motion was lost. It will thus be seen that, in spite of Mr O'Conor's reiterated fabrications, Mr Donne supported the measure, voting with the other goldflelds' members. A case, to which some interest attached, came before the Warden's Court yesterday. It was an action, brought by Darns and party against William Rogers, in which the complainants set forth that the defendant refused to give into their possession, in order that they might have their names endorsed thereon, a certain deed of memorandum of a lease of giound for mining purposes, in which lea-.e the complainants and the defendants are equal shareholders. Mr Home appeared for the complainants, and Mr Pitt for the defendant. After Mr Home had shortly stated the case for the complainants. Mr Pitt raised the objection that the matter iu dispute, having reference to a goldmining; lease, the Court had no jurisdiction Mr Home contended that the statute gave the Warden full power to deal with any partnership dispute, so long a3 ho did not act in contravention of anything expressed in the rules or statute. The Warden decided to postpone his ruling of the objection until Tuesday next. Several .applications for races and dams were granted, and the Court adjourned.

Mr Donne addressed the electors at Eoehford Terrace, Thursday evening. There was a larjge attendance, and ab tha close of his remarks a vote of conddence was unanimously accorded him. The candidate- held meetings the previous day at Caledonia and German Terraces with similar results. A correspondent furnishes an account of Mr Yardiey'a meeting at Addison's oa Thursday evening. The writer says:— After explaining his ..(Mr Yardley's) views on the principal political topics of general interest tac candidate answered questions respecting the granting of licenses to dancing houses which, he said, should be regulated by special licenses. la answer to the question "how would you legislate for Chinese, if there was an iudux of that racer" he said he would give every advantage to Chinamen, or any other civilized race. After oiner questions wjre put and answered Mr John O'Kourke moved " That Mr Yardiey is a fit and proper p?rson to represent this district iu the House of Representatives." Mr Michael Carniody seconded the resolution, saying it gave him much pleasure to do so, and spoke in high terms of the qualifications of the candidate. Mr Yardiey thanked the meeting for their vote aud stated his beiiol that it would yet be demonstrated that his candidature was no "practical joke." A vote of thanks to the chairman (Mr Gallagher) terminated the proceedings.

The Bank of "New Zealand, Westport, shipped yesterday, by the s.s Murray for Hokitika 7L>-t ozs y dwts lei grs of gold, the export duty upon which amounted to «S9l 16s 3d.

The Westport and Orawaiti Tramway is tb be extended irom the present terminus in Bright-street to Gladstone-street. The rails and sleepers, for the additional section of the line, are already on the ground aau will be laid forthwith.

In the K.M, Court, yesterday, publican's licenses were granted to Grace M'Kac, Robert Bayne, Arthur Luff, 'i ho application of Joseph Parer, to tran i'er the license for the Alpine Hotel, to Eugene Joseph O'Conor, was granted. The territory lying between the bank: o l ' the river Motueka, from ils junction with the river Graham to its junction with the riverWatupiko,,has been proclaimed a goidfieid, aiid is to form part of the .Nelson South-West Goldfields.

Mr Warden Whitefoord has forwarded the following telegram to ill' Warden Giles cautioning miners against proceeding to the new rush reported at the Saddle, until the news has received confirmation : —" A prospecting claim has been applied for by W. S. Baker and mate. '1 he ground is in the vicinity of the Saddle, and tne prospects are described as being very good, and plenty oi untried ground in the neighborhood. There are no provisions to bo had on the ground, and there is no track to the spot. Tne prospector returns <->u Monday, and will bo accompanied by a mining surveyor. A full report on his return will be sent you. Until the report is confirmed by Mr Woolley it is to be hoped no rush will take place. Inspector Shailcrass, head of the police force in this Province, has just returned from an official visit to the Grey Valley district. He reports favorably as to the general stale of the force, and found the district comparatively free from crime. Mr White was returned by a majority of 140 over Mr BarfT as representative in the General Assembly for the Hokitika district. There were 1074 rotes polled, and the numbers were—White, 6u7; Barff, 467. Mr V\ bite obtained a majority of 05 in Hokitika, and at the Waimea Mr Barff had a majority of 70 votes, as also small majorities at Arahura and Teremakau. Mr White gained considerably at nearly all the remaining polling places. The agitation which has for a considerable time past been going on it) Auckland in favor ot a Permissive Bill, has at length resulted in the passing of the Bill without a division. Two-thirds of the adult population, including women, in any place in the province, will thus have it in their power to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors therein.

It has been long known that spirits are vended in Melbourne of the most poisonous kind by some of the low houses. The authorities havo recently made a raid on these establishments, and seized a quantity of liquid destruction. The " Ape" of Jan. 16th, in connection with this matter, says : —" The spirits seized yesterday by revenue officer, Mr Evaus, woru tested on Saturday by an expert, at the Town Hall. The following was the result as given by him: Geneva in case: Character of the spirit unknown, although labelled geneva. It was 30.04 underproof, aud a most villanous compound. Whisky in cask: Pronounced a rank poison. It was 16.03 over proof, the average strength of imported whisky being from 7to 13 over proof. Some of this compound is corked in bottles, labelled, * Fine Old Irish Malt Whisky.' Holland's in case : The bottles having the V.H. brand. A colonial article and a disgraceful imitation. The strength was 22.01 under proof, the genuine article being proof alone, or slightly over. Brandy in cask and other spirits tested were very fair samples." The War Department in Britain, after years of dawdling and procrastination, has finally adopted the Martini-Henry ritle for use in the army. Snider rifles are being served out in large numbers to the Volunteers.

A native chief named Solomon Patu Pokoheki, of Kiverton, has consented to becom a candidate for the representation of the Southern Maori Electoral District.

Mr Maea:3ey, of Dunedin, has consented < o stand for Waitaki; and is opposed by Mr Steward, tho t ditor of the " Oamaru Times." Correct returns have not been made of the polling at Kiverton yet, but the following will bo found to be approximately correct:—M'Gillivray, 171; Wilson, 3(3 j and Lowe, 20. The formation of a mixed settlement of Maoris and Europeans, at Lake Waikaremoana, has been mooted at Wairoa.

Mr Win. Fraaor, of Earnscleugh Station, Otago, intends to oiler himself as a candidate for the representation of the Dunstan in the Assembly.

Preparations for the work of forming the railway to tho Clutha are now being made. Work will be begun upon section!, between Dunedin and Cayershftin, and tenders for it are now being called for. Instructions have been given to the engineer, Mr W. Ni Blair, to proceed with the formation of about 15 miles of the lino, and we understand that it is hi 3 intention to let the works in contracts of from .BSOUO to £20,000. A serious accident occurred to a fine little boy, a son of Mr Peter Mulvey, Dairy Farm Hotel, near the Ahaura, on Saturday last. The child was playing with a shingling knife, and when trying to imitate the operati n of shingle-splitting, he struck his left hand with the knife, and almost cut off the first joint of the thumb. Surgical assistance was at once procured, and tha little sufferer is progressing favorably. Referring to the overland mail between Auckland aud Tauranga, the " Southern Cross " says : —"We are glad to learn that so far the overland mail between the Thames and Tauranga has been successful. The mails have been conveyed acAiss, on the average in fifteen hours, and on one occasion in thirteen, 'ihe natives, who at first opposed the conveyance of the mail overland, have recognised its advantages, and many of those who were foremost in protesting against it are now offering their assistance. The only obstacle hitherto has been the floods, but we believe a plan has been mentioned of stretching wires across the river over which the mail couid be drawn. ..„..•-

" Killed by a soda-wafer bottle" was very nearly the fate of Charles Fabian, the telegraph messenger at Blenheim. We learn from the " Express" that a soda-water bottle burst while being opened, and a piece of it struck him in the throat, cutting a severe gash ab :,ut two inches in length. Dr \Yiiliauis, who was sent for, sewed up the wound, and the patient is now recovering, though for a day or two he was iu a precarious state.

A woman of ill-repute named Alice Cummings, resident at Charleston, brought a charge of robbery against a man named Bavah. After heaving evidence, his Worship dismissed the case.

Mention has move than once been made in the English papers of the excellent artillery practice of the French marines. Tiiis excellence appears to have been markedly displayed in the second battle of Orleans, ia which the French beat the Bavarian General, Von Dor Tanu. The special correspondent of the *' Times" with the German, army, writes:—"The French were supported by an admirably s:\rvcd rnaiiuj artillery. The precision and efficacy of an arm from which, in French hands, of late so little was to be feared, are the themo of universe, remark among the German officers, who, had begun to t'ali into the sonuwhafc natural error - , coaiiddi'iag th;ir pas; experience, of underrating their enemy. It is to be remarked that it to the marine infantry and artillery that t.ie highest praise has been awarded."