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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 774, 9 February 1871, Page 2

The declaration of the poll will be made by the Returning Officer at the Court-house, Westport, to-day at noon. The funeral of the late Mr John Leece, whosa accidental death by drowning was reported in our last issue, took place yesterday. A very large number of friends accom anied the remains to the place of interment, and the members of the Masonic and Oddfellows orders in Westport attended in mourning regalia. The last-named society mustering in great force, neai-ly sixty members being present. About halfpast two o'clock the cortege, headed by the Masonic brethren, left the Albion Hotel, and proceeded to the Orawaiti cemetery, where the body was interred. The funeral service was conducted by the Rov. Mr Soutar. The Oddfellows' burial service was very impressively read by P.G.M. Collingp, of the Charleston Lodge, and the Masonic service by R.W.M. Kerr, of Westport. There were eighteen representatives of the Charleston lodges in connection with the two orders present at the funeral. In the Warden's Court, on Tuesday, Dr Giles gave judgment in the case of Dams v. Rodgers. Mr Pitt, who appealed for the d -fendnnt, stated that he believed the case was settled or on the eve of being so. Mt Home, who had been retained by the plaintiffs, did not appear, and the Warden de-

sired to know whether the plaintiffs not appearing, he should give judgment. :He> wished to hear what was the custom of the superior Courts. Mr Pitt said that he had known judgment given in the Supreme Court, when neither the plaintiff nor the defendant appeared. The Warden stated that the plaintiff must be nonsuited on the objection raised by the defendant. The plaintiff had failed to show that either as partner or trustee the defendant had failed to do his duty, and as he might be made personally liable for any injury the plaintiff might sustain by reason of the defendant's neglect, the proper course would be to bring an action for the recovery of any damages actually sustained. He should decide that he had no power to call upon the defendant to produce his goldmiuiug lease in order that the names of the plaintiffs should be inserted therein.

A sitting of the Warden's Court will take place at Christy's, Inangahua Junction, on Tuesday the 14th inst.

An aflilliation case came before the K.M. Court, on Tuesday last, in which the complainant was a woman named Clements, and John Overend was the defendant. After hearing the evidence of the complainant and her son, a buy 14 years of age, the Bench dismissed the case, not considering the evidence sufficient to supi>ort the allegation. Mr Pitt appeared for the defendant.

The names of persons liable to serve as jurors at the criminal sittings of the District Court, to be held at Charleston on the 2() inst, will be drawn for at the Warden's office to-day at 2.30 p.m. The Inangahua correspondent of the " Grey Valley Times" writes: —" The latter end of last week a most extensive bush fire was raging in the neighborhood of Murray Creek. The fire started at the rear of the township, and spread with alarming rapidity in all directions, enveloping huts, tents, and outbuildings, the whole of which were burnt to the ground. In many cases it was with the greatest difficulty that the occupants of the houses destroyed escaped with whatever effects they could collect in their arms. The fire continued its ravages throughout the night, and reached Messrs Smith, Watson, and Co.'s timber yard, setting fire to a stack containing some 15,000 or 20,000 feet of sawn timber; but by dint of great exertions on the part of the workmen much of the timber was saved. The fire continued to burn in all directions, spreading devastation and ruin to many."

The Volunteer Fire Brigade met for practice yesterday evening, when the new hose manufactured for the brigade by Mr Bowlarids was used for the first time. The practicj went off very smoothly, and the members already evince considerable aptitude. It is notified in another column that the proprietorship of this journal has changed hands, having been purchased by Mr E. J. o'Conor.

Quite a stir has been occasioned at Boss Town within the last few days by the discovery of very rich quartz in Anderson's prospecting claim. Our correspondent at the reefs informs us that he had visited the claim, and can testify to the fact that the auriferous stone referred to, was taken from the heart of the reef, and that it is of remarkable richness. It has been hitherto stated that gold had been found at. Anderson's claim only in the casing, but this recent discovery proves that gold is met with throughout the body of the reef.

Mr Farmer, late of the Bank of New South Wales at Westport, is at present at Koss Town, and has made a tour of the reefs. Mr Farmer may be looked upon as some authority in reefing matters, and we are informed that that gentleman speaks in the highest terms of the quality, as well as the richness of the quartz in Anderson's and Shiels's reefs.

Some anxiety is being felt up-river about the probable fate of a hawker of drapery, named John Evans, who at one time kept a drapery store, successively at Nelson Creek, Napoleon, No Town, and Paddy's Gully. He sold out at the latter place in July last year, and proceeded in the direction of the Inangahua with the remainder of his stock. He was last heard of from that locality in the begining of August. Friends of his at No Town have communicated with his relations in Otago, but have received no tidings of him. Mr Evans was well-known and much respected in the up-country districts, and the news of his ultimate safety would be received with great satisfaction by a large circle of friends. Mr Barff has withdrawn from the contest in the Totara election in the favor, it is believed, but not stated, or Mr Conrad Hoos. There are now only four candidates —ilerfjio Carreras, Tribe, Hogs, and Keogii. Dr Burns's funeral, at Dnnedin, was attended by fully 1000 persons. The clay was observed as a Sunday, and all the places of business were closed. A bed of rock salt of considerable extent is stated to have been discovered to the north of the Provincj ot Canterbury. An "Argus" telegram says that the New South Wales Government have received proposals for a steamer to run from Java to Norman Town, where telegraphic communication now extends to, and thus bridge the gap in the telegraph line from Australia to England. This would supply English news of twelve days' old. The condemned man Noble, in his confession made to the Sheriff, states that ho did not open Molaumby's door with a key, but that he prised it open with Lis axe" He struck the child on tho head twice, and then went to the hack door and opened it Hearing some one passing by the house he did not go out. He returned to the bedroom, took the child out, and when near the fence drew the edge of tlie axe across her throat. He denies having committed any rape on the child. For the town ol New Plymouth election Kelly polled 115; Whilcombe, 38. The Hawke's Bay " Herald" of the 27th says :—We recently published a telegram from some Ngatiraukawa chiofd to Mr Ormond, sa,ying that they had separated themselves from tho King Waikatosia consequence of the late murder. Mr Locke went immediately after this to Taupo, to meet these natives, and we now hear, has had a very satisfactory meeting with them, the result of which is, that the whole tribe came, over to tho Government side. The principal chief of the Ngatiraukawa tribe, Wiremu Maahr- te Ngaru, and his son, are now on their way to Napier to see the Government Agent, and arrange for the future.

It is reported that an attempt will be made to upset Mr M'Lean'a election for Waifcouaiti on the ground of bribery. A Sydney contemporary says that the progrens of the telegraph line to the Gulf of Carpentaria is. being watched in that Colony with great, interest, as there is little doubt New South Wales will receive European telegraphic news by that line ere long. A telegram in a Brisbane paper dated, Cardwell,, January 6fch, states that the telegraph line has been completed as far aa Cashmere, the first station on tho line to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and distant 5u

miles from Carpentaria. Mr M'Millan makes the .line, according to the route just defined, to be 130 miles to the Etheridge, and 174 to Western Creek. The route is an excellent one. In view of- the increasing interest attaching to the completion of telegraphic communication with England, we may point to a paragraph in the Suez mail telegrams, which states that the new submarine cable was successfully working between Penang, Singapore, and Batavia. The length from Penang to Madras was to have been opened*in a few days after the mail left Galle, consequently, long before this, Batavia has been brought into telegraphic communication with Europe, and the end of the line has been advanced many hundreds of miles nearer Australia.

The " Anglo-Australian" in the ''European Mail, says:—" The agent for Canterbury is hastening the despatch of rails for the new railways there, naturally fearing that, in view of further European complications, freights may rise very seriously. He has selected a reversible rail, having not hesitated between this and a nonreversible one, which would have, of course, cost much less, but would not have been so cheap in the long run. That chosen by him weighs between 70 and 72 pounds. In our Auckland telegrams some few days ago, it was was stated that Biahop Viard had been arrested as a spy by the Prussians. We have since been informed that his Lorship was arrested, as stated, but was liberated after a brief detention. Bishop Viard is now on his way back again to Wellington, accompanied by seven sisters of charity, most of whom will take up their residence at the Convent, Barbadoes-street. A Wellington contemporary ia glad to be able to contradict the report concerning the arrest of Bishop Viard, whilst travelling on the Continent. The very first mail delivered iu Wellington brought to the Catholic clergy a letter dated from London the 23rd of November, in which his Lordship said that both he and the Very Rev. Father O'Reilly had taken their passage on board the sailing vessel England, and that they were to sail positively at the end of November.

The following is the report of the Select Committee appointed to consider the best mode of encouraging "local industries" within the province of Auckland. They recommend:—(l) That the Provincial Government be empowered to make grants of land in moderate quantities, on qualified conditions, to persons willing to enter on certain industries tending to utilize the resources of the province ; such, for instance, as the growth of beet-root, culture of the vine, growth of tobacco, sericulture, hopgrowing, and other industries where the possession of land will be substantial aid towards presecuting the proposed design. (2.) That a premium or per-centage shall he offered on the amount of goods sold bona fidely the produce of the province, whether prepared raw material or manufactured articles, according to a schedule to be adopted by the Government. (3.) That a limited number of Frenchmen or Swiss be brought out or encouraged to come to this provinee, on such conditions as the Government or the Council shall think proper (4.) The committee further recommended that the subject shall be urged upon the attention of the General Government, with a view to the more effective encouragement of such industries. (5.) It is further recommended that a standing committee, whose business it shall be to collect information and to cooperate with the Government in investigating thoroughly all details of our various resources, and to consider the best means for directing public attention to their importance and promoting their active development.