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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 783, 2 March 1871, Page 2

The Bank of New Zealand, Westport, forwarded 894 ozs 19 dwts G grs of gold per steamer Charles Edward, yesterday; the export duty upon which amounted to ,£lll 17s Sd. His Honor Judge Ward was a passensrer per Charles Edward for Hokitika. The next sittings of the District Court will be held at Westport on the 24th, and at Charleston on the 20th proximo. Mr Charles Broad, R.M., was a passenger by the steamer Charles Edward frorn Nelson. He proceeded to Charleston yesterday morning. The Westport Fire Brigade held a practice on Tuesday evening ; the engine was taken out and manned in the usual effective manner. There was no general meeting for the ordinary transaction of business. Improvements are being effected at the Post-Qffice, Westport. The portico has been converted into a division for the transaction of business in connection with the Savings Bank, Money Order, and Government Assurance Offices, the entrance being at the side next the Telegraph Office, and the entire space between the two offices has been covered over. The private boxes remain in their former position j and the delivery windows, the letter and newspaper boxes have been moved to the same side of the building. The present alterations have been much needed to facilitate the despatch of business -which has greatly increased, owing to the number of departments centred in one small building. Much inconvenience is still felt, however, owing to the narrowness of the approach. There is certainly no suitable provision for the ingress and egress of the numerous visitors to the Post-Office and the deparments connected with it. Quite an enjoyable trip was afforded yesterday afternoon by the p.s. Charles Edward crossing the bar to tow in the schooner 10, and a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen, residents ot Westport, took advantage of the magnificent weather and calm sea to view the mountain scenery fringing the coast under the most favorable aspect. The steamer returned in about twe hours with the schooner. Crossing the bar the lo grounded, and the tow lino parted but was got on board again without much difficulty by the Harbor-master's boat. The steamer went ahead and the line again parted, not however until the vessel was in the channel. The Hnrbov-mj,ster being on board the lo sails were set, and she sailed up to the mouth of the Lagoon. The steamer was then called alongside and the vessel was towed abreast of the Kennedystreet Wharf where the anchor was let go, until her powder, coasisting of 130 kegs, was landed. She will haul alongside this morning and discharge cargo. The pleasure seekers, on being landed at the wha"f, expressed themselves in the highest degree gratified with their trip. An expression of thanks was also tendered to Captain Holmes for his courtesy, In the Warden's Court, on Tuesday, a number of applications were disposed of. Mr Pitt appeared on behalf of Clarke and party who applied that certain mining leases, at Shamrock Lead, Addison's, should be declared subject to the regulations relating to wet claims. M'Laren and others interested applied for an adjournment, and the application was adjourned for hearing on Friday. We regret to learn that Mr Jones, of the Orawaiti, had to destroy a valuable row recently purchased by him at a sale, all efforts to yard her being useless. The beast was shot. Telegraphic communication was suspended on Tuseday between Hokitika and Christchurch. All stations were in communication again yesterday. It is with much satisfaction we learn that Messes M'Leod and Atkinson have the work in hand to repair the Orawaiti Bridge. Some of the supports, measuring 10x12 inches, have had to be replaced, owing to their being thoroughly roiten, and a portion of the roadway ha 3 baen removed, the

planking having been found to bo highly dangerous. The repairs will have approached completion by the end of the week. A recent gazette contains a notification of the appointment of Thomas Blackall Shapter, Eiq., to be Examiner of Titles under " The Land Transfer Act, IS7O " for the Nelson Land Registration District. In the Magistrate's Court, Charleston, before T. G. Ma car thy, Esq., and J. Henry, Esq., justices, Joseph Boulti was charged with assaulting Catharine McCarthy. The complainant stated that she recently loft Westport and was followed by the defendant, who violently assaulted her at her own residence and had frequently assaulted her previously. Boulti stated that M'Carthy had struck the first blow from the effects of which he bled considerably. The Bench considered the assault proved and fined the defendant 20s, or in default, seven days' imprisonment. A civil case —Weitzel v. Dowd, in which the plaintiff claimed JS4 133 6d, resulted in a verdict against the defendant for the amount claimed and cot-ds. There was no other business disposed of. The Charleston Volunteer Eire Brigade held their customary practice on Tuesday evening. The brigade still maintains its efficient discipline and organisation. The bankruptcy of Messrs Ereeth and Greig, cattle dealers and owners of the steamer Wallabi, has been gazetted. The liabilities are stated to be £O,OOO, the assets are not yet announced. An inquest wa3 held on Friday, at Nelson, on the body of Elizabeth Merton, aged 53, who met with her death by a fall down stairs. The only injury was a bruise on the right, side of the head. The medical officer, who attended the deceased and made a post-mortem examination, attributed death to a severe fall, by which a bloodvessel was ruptured on the brain. The blood had flowed freely during the at'ternooc, and when the clot became so large as to press on the brain, death had ensued. A verdict of accidental death was returned. At Queenptown, Lake Wakatip, the thermometer, at the end of January, ranged daily from 80degs. to 90degs. in the shade, and from 120degs. to 140d.egs. in the sun. In this district the heat has been equally intense, though tempered by breezes from the sea. Amongst the late " fashionable events " in Melbourne, may be mentioned the wedding of the widow of the late Mr J. P. Fawkner, the founder of the colony. His relict, at the youthful age of 72, has blushingly surrendered herself in wedlock to a bridegroom of the immature age of 90 ! The Government steamer Luna took up at the various ports on the East t Coast, those of the volunteers who are to take part in the Colonial Government prize firing at Auckland. The Westland representatives embarked on Doard the Eangitoto.

Mr Maurice O'Connor, of Paroa, has

offered to turn the New River into its old course in the Saltwater Lagoon for the sum of £6O, and a committee of the Council lias recommended that his offer be accepted. The news from down south received by the s.s. Waipara, which arrived at Hokitika on Saturday evening, is, on the whole, very satisfactory. At Jackson's River a race has been brought in to the terrace over the beach. At the Haast River another large water race is coming in, which will be completed in about a month, and will carry a water supply sufficient for the full employment of from forty to fifty men. Gold appears to be got in payable quantities on the terraces as well as along the beaches ; and now that a store is established, and a plentiful supply of provisions always to be procured, we may hope that it will not be long before several prospecting parties, in addition to those already there, will have taken up their quarters down south.