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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 782, 28 February 1871, Page 2

We perceive by the last issue of the "Charleston Herald" that Mr E. G. Neale has disposed of that paper and plant to Messrs Tyrrell and Co. Since the earlier settlement of these goldfields, Mr Neale lias been connected with the press, having founded the " Brighton Times " and sub° sequontly the " Charleston Herald." We understand that he is about leaving the Colony, and we trust that his future career may be marked by the fullest prosperity. We wish the new firm also every success, though, at the same time, we cannot but express disapproval of a certain little incident occurring so recently as Saturday last. It is generally supposed that Mr Robert Eeid, lately one of the proprietors of this paper, is interested in the " Charleston Herald," At least his acts would induce one to behove it. Last Saturday afternoon he applied to the proprietor of this paper for permission to take home, to read, some of the late exchanges, particularly the late dates of the West!and papers. The papers were lent to him on the distinct understanding that they would be returned the following morning, as the editor of the " Westport Times" had not seen thein. Mr Eeid promised to do so, but did not. On Monday morning, a messenger having been sent to Mr Eeid's house for the papers lent, was informed that Mr Eeid had left by the early coach for Charleston, and received from the servant a few only of the papers lent, and those mutilated—several articles of interest having been excised. Whether this was done for the use of the " Charleston Herald," or for any other purpose, it remains for Mr Eeid to explain an action which we do not care to characterise. Some of the files we have been able to replace, by applying to the Athenaeum for the use of their papers. Others we have been unable to obtain, and possibly the public may, by Mr Eeid's action, have been deprived of some items of interest. A party of miners, known as Hackett and party, well known in the Brighton district, are about to commence groundsluicing a terrace at the Nokawai, between the Waimangaroa and Mokihinui. They anticipate making good wages, with the prospect of a long job before them in working out the ground. We have been shown by Mr Eowlands, hose manufacturer, &c, Gladstone-street, a novel contrivance in the shape of a length of two-foot seamless canvas hose. The object of weaving the canvas in a form adapting it for immediate use in hydraulicing is, as a matter of course, to obviate the necessity of running the seams by hand, obviously effecting a considerable saving. A good many miners are at present in town from the Karamea district, some of whom have not visited Westport for the past eighteen months. As a general thing, the men express themselves satisfied with the workings in that locality, and it is confidently anticipated that fresh discoveries will follow upon the efforts of the numerous parties prospecting in that district. The want of a track where the beaches are intercepted by precipitous bluffs, is very much felt, and the want must be supplied before the district can be made capable of employing a considerable body of miners. The expense of getting provisions round, and

the trouble, are at present so great, that very few men are in a position to seek their fortune on this field. The course hitherto adopted by the miners has been to charter a craft, and lay in six or eight months' provisions, there being no stores nearer than Mokihinui, while the land communication between the two places ia impassable, unless for a man of great nervo and|activity. To convey stores overland with horses is altogether impracticable at present. A peculiar fish was caught at the Orawaiti on /.Thursday last, variously called the elephant fish and scorpion fish. The body is about three feet long, of a light silvery color, aud not unlike that of a shark. The dorsal fins are large and strong, the pectoral fins are also exceptionally large, while the ventricle fins were enormously developed, and altogether disproportioned to the size of the iish; the head is large and square, with a considerable frontai projection, and a most peculiar organ about a foot in length, extends from the nose, having very much the appearance of an elephant's trunk. We do not venture to affirm that the fish is scientifically known by the above names, but we are inclined to believe that the nasal elongation is nothing more than a species of sucker, provided by nature, to enable the fish to adhere to the rocks when in search of food. The Rev Mr Soutar held a service on Friday evening, at Barry's Store, German Terrace. There wa3 a full attendance of the resident population. We notice that the contractors for the last protective work on the river bank have been getting the stone from the opposite side of the river. The short distance that the material has to be conveyed must greatly facilitate the execution of the work, at the same time it is almost a question whether the general character of the stone obtainable in the locality is sufficiently heavy for the purpose. The protection is only intended, however, to serve against the action of the tide.

The long wished for rain came yesterday, and now that the weather has broken there promises to be a few days' continuance of wet weather, as indicated by a low and falling barometer. Judgment will be given by the Resident Magistrate to-day in the case of Munro and M'Laren v. Rowlands. Rather an exciting and interesting, as well as a novel game on the West Coast, came off on Saturday last, in the ballcourt attached to the Shamrock Hotel, Mr Michael Condon and Mr Robert Kirkpatrick, contested a game of hand-ball for £a a side, The game was at first well contested, but towards the close Mr Kirkpatrick, finding he had no show, played quietly, and the gam» proved an easy victory for Mr Condon. The premises at the corner of Princesstreet and Rotten Row, Charleston, formerly occupied by Mr Williams, chemist and druggist, were disposed of on Saturday, together with the contents, consisting of a full assortment of drugs, chemicals, &c, by Messrs Dwan and Co., to Mr Marney. The premises and stock-in-trade realised £l3O. The following statement of the assets and liabilities of the County of Westlaud to December 31st, 1870, accompanies the Auditor's Report. Assets—Amount payable to County on account of released sinking fund, £12,000; due by Nelson Government for half expenses of Harbor Department, Greymouth, £156 15s lid; "Gazette" fees, £2o6' 13s 7d. Total, £12,363 9s 6d. Liabilities General Government Consolidated Revenue, overpaid to County, £4,689 8s 10d; Arahura road, deferred payment, £3,010 3s lOd; Detieiency bills, £5000; Outstanding accounts, as per vouchers, £2,537 It's 4d; Bank of New Zealand overdraft, £4,747 4s sd. Total. £20,014-7s sd. The "Examiner" calculates that, with Sir David Munro returned for Motueka, Ministers will only be able to count on the support of two Nelson members out of eight. Sixty-three ounces, from 180 tons of stone, was the result of the last crushing of the Perseverance Company, Collingwood. The Wellington "Evening Post" informs us that some informality has been discovered in the voting papers for the two members to represent the City of Wellington, and grave doubts are entertained as to the validity of the return of Messrs Hunter and Pearce. A boy, named Andrew Miller, was drowned while bathing in the Grey River, above the Gorge, on Wednesday last. The body has been recovered. It is stated that Colonel Haultain has been appointed Inspector of Flax Mills. Mr Macandrew's present majority for the Superintendency of Otago is 206. Two returns from small places have yet to come. It is stated in the Wellington papers that the Hon. Mr Fox's health is completely restored. Napier now possesses three daily papers —the one most recently published being named " The Telegraph." The Auckland "Evening Star," of the 16th instant, states that authentic news has been received that Webb has purchased Halliday and Bernham's interest in the Honolulu and Australian route, and has formed a Company, with two million dollars capital, and is to run boats via Tahiti, Honolulu, Fiji, Sydney, and Auckland.