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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 785, 7 March 1871, Page 2

The usual monthly meeting of the District Hospital Committee will be held at the Court-House this evening. The Provincial Government have replied to the application of Mr M'Leod in respect to a bridge over the Buller Biver, declining the oiler. That gentleman proposed to throw a bridge over the river at a point a little above the Island, submitting a scale of tolls to be approved of, and the consideration for constructing the bridge was to be a bonus of seven hundred acres of agricultural land to be selected by the applicant in the Buller District. We are informed that Mr Langdon from the Grey District has lodged an application to place a punt on the Buller river at the spot referred to, and that his application has been granted. In consequence of a telegram received from Nelson, the Harbor-master has instructed the contractors to discontinue depositing stone at the foot of Gladstonestreet. One hundred and thirty-five tons have been brought down of the 160 tons originally contemplated to be placed at that point of the river. The following sittings of the Warden's Court are announced to be heldin the Upper Buller District during the months of March and April:—At "Williams's, Fern Flat, March 14th ; at Christy's, Inangahua Junction, March 16th, and April 14th; at Barker and Anderson's store, Eeefton, April 12th. Some mischievous persons have recently been in the habit of setting fire to the driftwood on the North and South beaches. It is notified by the Harbor-master that any person discovered so offending will be prosecuted. His Honor Judge Ward held a court at Hokitika on Thursday for the disposal of a number of bankruptcy cases; and left for Christchurch the following morning, on his way to Timarn, which is also within his circuit. A list of persons resident within the district of Wesport and liable to serve on juries has been made out. All objections will be heard at a meeting of justices, to be held shortly at the Court-House, Westport. Two one-eighth shares in the water race recently constructed at the Karamea by M'Mechan and party, have been disposed of during the week for JIOO. The parties

who have disposed of their interests, Messrs Logan and M'Mechan, purpose proceeding to Victoria. The majority of our mining visitors from the Karamea left town for the North yesterday, Laving completed the purchase of stores and equipments for the winter. The goods will be forwarded by the ketch Standard at an early opportunity. The Westport Volunteer Firo Brigade held their usual practice yesterday evening, the members mustering well. After an hour's practice with the* engine, the members repaired to the Masonic Hall, when a general meeting was held. Particulars of the proceedings will appear in our next issue. The construction of the Addison's and Charleston road has been commenced by two of the contractors, Moore and party and Cox and party. The state of the road between Westport and Addison's is very bad in some portions, many of the culverts having given away. A small expenditure is very necessary to place this'chief line of communication in passable repair. Mr Dobson, District Engineer, is expected to leave Nelson for Westport to-morrow, and will journey overland in company with Mr Greenfield, Provincial Secretary. They will probably arrive in Westport in the early part of the ensuing week. Dr Giles will probably meet Mr Greenfield and Mr Dobson at the Inangahua, and will afford the former valuable assistance in obtaining what, no doubt, is the object of his visit —the necessary and reliable information to enable the Government to frame the estimates for the approval of the Council. The last visit of Mr Greenfield resulted favorably to this portion of the Province, his plans and projects being generally accepted by the Council as judicious and trustworthy. At the E. M. Court, Brighton, before Dr Giles, E.M., Sergeant M'Ardle was charged with assaulting a fiddler, named Kitchener. The circumstances of the case are as follows : —On Sunday, sth February, defendant fell in with complainant, and accosted him by saying "Are you Old Bosh?" Complainant replied in the affirmative, and then defendant took him by the side of the head, and with hand and foot pushed him out at the door, so that he fell on some broken glass on his face. This was at the bar of Searight's Empire Hotel. Several persons were present. Defendant then took complainant away. The evidence was that defendant was at that time in liquor, complainant not perceptibly so, although he had been so during the previous part of the day. Defendant locked complainant up, and in about half or three-quarters of an hour, when Searight and others came to ask for bail, defendant said he had no prisoner in the lock-up. Mr Broad then came at the request of the parties and liberated the complainant, defendant saying he had o charge against him. Complainant was then half naked, his clothes having been torn off. Defendant offered him a blanket, which he refused as it was a Government one. Defendant then struck or pushed him again, so that he feU down. Mr Broad then interfered and got defendant removed. Defendant was very excited. Defendant said, in his defence, that he believed he had been drugged at the Empire, where he had been and that this prosecution was uoncocted against Mm. The Magistrate, after a quarter of an hour's adjournment, said that no defence had been shown. The supposition that defendant had been intentionally dragged was altogether unsupported by evidence, and in itself improbable. It was true that one witness, stated the excitement shown by defendant was not like ordinary alcoholic intoxication, and possibly the liquor he had taken might have been adulterated, but that would be no excuse; and it was desirable that constables who were in the habit of taking drinks at the public bars should know that the law would hold them fully accountable for their actions. This assault appeared altogether unprovoked and wanton, and the full penalty of .£lO including costs would be inflicted, of which half would be paid to complainant, not in any way as compensation for false imprisonment, for which he might have maintained an action for damages had he chosen to adopt that mode of proceeding, but to cover his costs and immediate damages. No doubt the previous good conduct of the defendant would be taken into consideration by the government in any inquiry they might think fit to make in the matter. There were several witnesses called, and amongst them Mr Broad, E.M. Mr Salamon, jeweler, of Dunedin, arrived by the steamer Charles Edward on Saturday, and is exhibiting a very large assortment of articles comprising every design in jewelry and silver ware. Tbe goods are on view at the Empire Hotel, and will be exhibited until Saturday evening. The Dunedin telegram libel case has been postponed, pending an argument in the Supreme Court. A criminal information has been filed against Mr Lemon, Chief of the Telegraph Department, for a breach of the Telegraph Act by supplying Mr Gisborne with a copy of Mr Stafford's speech. Mr Gisborne, the Colonial Secretary, was examined, and admitted that he received the ' Daily Time 3' telegram of Mr Stafford's speech without that journal's sanction The case was adjourned till Thursday.

His Honor Mr Justice Chapman has admitted Mr Walter Taylor, of Balclutha, as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The "New Zealand Mail" is the name of a new weekly paper published from the office of the " Wellington Independent," and intended for country circulation. The Westland papers report a rumor that shallow ground had been struck by Mabille and party on their lease at HalfOunce. The report, say 3 the '* Grey Valley Times," is so far correct that a large patch of auriferous ground has been opened-up, but not sufficient to give durable employment to any large number of men. The " Bendigo Independent" says:— "A private letter received in Sandhurst on Saturday from an old resident of Bendigo, dated from Tambaroora, New South Wales, says that Kraumer's claim, on Hawkin's Hill, at that place, is turning out splendidly, 3 cwt of gold having been obtained without crushing. The lucky partners (four) have been offered £IO,OOO a man for their share 3, but they declined to sell, and the offer, without avail, was subsequently increased to" £12,000. 'Northumberland Jemmy,' who works as a 'hatter,' is reported to have crushed rubbish turning out 3 ozs 10 dwts per ton, and has got out 48 lbs weight of gold. The remaining stuff is expected to go 8 ozs or 9 ozs per ton." A writer in the Thames " Evening Post" thus satirises the practice, which has become so prevalent of late, of " writing up " every little cockle boat that comes into port:—"Arrivals.—The Betsy Jane has arrived from Tokangamntu. Captain Jones Brown, her amiable and accomplished commander, reports a mutiny amongst the crew, whilst off the Monataira Oreek. The crew refused to cook the Captain's dinner. The crew have since received their discharge. The Betsy Jane is a magnificent specimen of naval architecture, and the arrival of so splendid a vessel in our harbor, is an episode

of no mean importance. She is built upon what is now known as the coalskuttle principle; Bhe is supposed to travel faster astern than any vessel of her class; and ample provision for the comfort of the passengers in the way of baths has been made by the sieve system, on which her hold has been constructed." King Thakombau, of Fiji, imposes curious fines upon defaulters. They consist of one bottle of champagne. Eecently a court was held in Mr Manton's verandah, and as a great number of offenders were brought before the bench the flow of champagne was something considerable. Much to the surprise of some of the bystanders his Majesty walked away with a firm gait, and in no respect incommoded. The Eoss Volunteer Fire Brigade purpose holding an amateur dramatic entertainment in aid of the funds on the Bth inst. In the case of the Okarito Company v. the Alpine Company, tried at Okarito, where damages were claimud for over .£2OOO by plaintiffs, the case was dismissed, and an action by the Alpine Company, against the Okarito Company terminated in favor of the former. Mr Button was for the Okarito Company, and Mr Harvey for the Alpine Company. Information of the discovery of a quartz reef, at the Big Eiver, Upper Grey, reached the Ahaura in the early part of last week. Some specimens brought into town by the finder, purporting to be from the newlyfound lode are said to look very promising. A fatal accident occurred at Eoss on Monday the Ist inst. in a claim at Swiper's Gully. A large mass of earth fell from a 25 foot face which was being hydrauliced, completely burying two men named George Miller and Luigi Corioli. When extricated Miller was found to be dead and Corioli escaped with one leg broken in three places. The latter was conveyed to the hospital where Dr Zurhoff, Bush, and Hosking attended him. It is always well to learn. The Americans have been successful colonisers, and here is the course laid down by the " New York Tribune ":— " We believe colonisation to be the true plan for emigration by the Eastern men, either to the South or West, and that the three cardinal points of any colony should be:—l. No rum. 2. No fences. 3. No land speculators; and to these should be added, as minor incidentals, shade-trees, parks, schools, churches and the lyceum, from the first."