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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 787, 11 March 1871, Page 2

Edward Harris, for the arrest of whoni a warrant had been issued on a charge of misappropriating a cheque for ,£B, was arrested at Brighton by senior Constable M'Ardle, early on Thursday morning. A look out was kept for him by the police in Charleston, althougu it was anticipated that he would avoid that township, by taking a more circuitous route. A special trip to Greymouth is announced by the owners of the s.s. Kennedy, on the occasion of the forthcoming races. The above steamer will leave Westport on Tuesday, at 6 p.m. A meeting of District Officers, in connection with theNoith Westland branch of the Independent Order of Odd-fellows, M.U., will be held at the Hall, Charleston, on Tuesday next, at 10 a.m. The non-appearance of Mr Dupuis as complainant against Mary Sullivan, who was charged with the use of abusive language, caused no little disappointment to many who had attended the Court in the hope of being entertained by the ludicrous details that were expected to crop out in the hearing of the case. On each side there was quite a bevy of witnesses. The complainant, at a subsequent stage, applied that the case might be recalled, but his Worship declined to meet his wishes, leaving the complainant to file a fresh information or to abandon further proceedings. The recent rains have been productive of much good at the Northern Terraces, and the claims have now a supply of water, which will keep all hands employed for the next few days. Great activity is now shown by the miners who are once more enabled to wash-up the vast heaps of auriferous dirt which have been accumulated during the past two months. Much interest has been manifested as to the issue of two very imp(.rt..n!; applications made in the Warden's Court, Charleston, on Thursday last, the details of which will be found in another column. Either of the applicants are fully equal to the undertaking, which is to bring from the Four Mile river to Charleston a large and permanent supply of that great desideratum—water. The Wellington Provincial Council was opened by Dr Featherston on March 2, The " Independent," in view of the probable early retirement of Dr Featherston from the office of Superintendent, suggests Mr Fitzherbertas a suitable successor A police sergeant, named Beattie, stationed at Leithfield, Canterbury, has been committed for trial for embezzlement. The " Colonist," of Tuesday says that there must be some mistake in connection with the reported repudiation by Mr Webb, the American steam shipowner, of the arrangements made by Mr Nielson, in Auckland. We observe by a telegram sent fjoni Dunedin to a Southland journal, that Mr Fox denies the statement. The telegram says :—" Mr Fox telegraphs that there is not the slightest truth in the report that Mr Nielson had exceeded his powers in arranging for the San Francisco Mail service, or that Mr Webb repudiates the contract." From Riverton the " Southland Times " learns that the miners of Orepuki are making satisfactory progress, it being asserted that they are all earming good wages. One party has just commenced to form an extensive tail-race, and when it is completed there will be work for at least 150 more miners. The great complaint with the residents on this goldfield is the miserable road to it. The assessment of Christchureh for the current Year is estimated at £63,000, being a slight increase on last year. The Council of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society have voted the sum of £lO for the purpose of introducing skylarks from Nelson. The directors of the Excelsior Quartz Mining Company, registered, have made a third call of twenty shillings per share payable on the 16th inst. A fire, supposed to have been the work of a,n incendiary, broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the premises of Manson and Co., drapers. Hokitika, The flames commenced in a back staircase, but were quickly subdued. At an enquiry into the circumstanett the jury concluded that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. A second fire, discovered nearly at the same moment, in the vicinity of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, was also extinguished without extensive damage being done. The fire is understood to have been caused by tho heat from a colonial oven communicating with Some indifferently protected wood-work. The body of the deceased John Conn who was drowned off the Hokitika river on Sunday last, was found on Monday near the Curriers' Arms Hotel on the beach.

At an inquest, held the same afternoon, the verdict was that the deceased was drowned whilst attempting to cross the Hokitika river, he being at the time in a state of intoxication. The boat was found beached early on Monday morning. It appears that the deceased, though unable to manage a boat skilfully, had frequently crossed the river alone in the watermen's boats. Dr Haast states that the Moa has been extinct for 500 years. Sir Charles Wheatstone has just added to his many electrical inventions the completion cf a ,printing instrument. This resembles a piano, having a key-board of 25 notes, each answering to a letter in the alphabet, several of which can be used for stops and numbers. The most frequentlyoccurring letters are situated towards the centre, so that an operator need rarely move his hands from one position. Great speed is thus obtained, and the advantages of this invention are manifestly groat, as, if necessary, a printed copy of the forwarded message can be had by the sender of a message. The criminal business before the Supreme Court, at Dunedin, has been unusually light this session, and was concluded on the sth instant. Four out of five cases ended in acquittals. The Judge and Grand Jury condemned County Magistrates sending trivial cases for trial. The "telegram" case was proceeded with on Monday last. Mailler, the purser, denied that he sent the latest news to the Wellington '• Independent," as Mr Hay alleged. He admits sending a message containing the chief items of the " Argus " third edition for the benefit of the Colony. Remainder of the evidence tended to show that Mr Vogel had a personal animus towards the "Times;" hence the^sSeecution. The steamer Luna arrived at Auckland, on the: 3rd instant, with the Volunteers from the Southern Provinces. They were met by the band of the Auckland Rifles, and marched through the city. The " Otago Daily Times " says that Mr Macandrew has to thank re-union with Southland for his present position, since had the Provinces remained separate, Mr Reid would have been.at the head of poll. In Otago Mr Reid obtained 2788 votes, and Mr Macandrew 2645, while in Southland Mr Reid obtained but 186 votes, and Mr Macandrew 607.

Apples are selling at Napier at Id to ljd per lb. A lady recently dislocated her jaw while yawning during a sermon in a church in Ballarat. Mr Sale, who was recently appointed Professor of Classics in the University of Otago, is expected to arrive in New Zealand in May nest. We give the following upon the authority of a Wanganui paper: portant changes are likely to be made in the judicial ben'eh. Chief Justice Arney will shortly leave for England, where he intends spending the evening of an honored life. Mr Justice Johnston will be elevated to the Chief Justiceship, and Mr Dudley Ward will be made a Justice of the Supreme Court, and be located in the Wellington district. The latest quotation for shares in the Caledonian claim, Thames, is £B2. The following are Ihe particulars of the damage to H.M.S. Clio, received on the arrival of the Stormbird at Invercargill:— " The Storm Bird proceeded to the head of the Sound, and found the Clio riding apparently all right, with sails unbent. The leak was twelve feet under water on the starboard bow. Two divers, belonging to the Clio, were sent down, and packed the wounded part and nailed the leak over. Carpenters repaired the outside, and the leak was then stopped. H.M.S. Virago arrived on the Ist instant. The Clio is fit for sea, but is detained ; for survey before deciding whether she shall go to Port Chalmers. The Storm Bird left at noon on the Ist inst visited Break Sea and Thompson's Sounds, arriving at Invercargill on the 3rd. The Governor afterwards proceeded by special train to the Bluff, en route for Dunedin via Queenstown, Cromwell, Arrow, Clyde, Teviot, Lawrence, and Tokomairiro." It is in contemplation to form a co-opera-ative society at Wairarapa, Wellington. A man named "Richard Knox has been drowned in the Kiver Selwyn, Canterbury. Hats, and dish mats are now being manufactured in Christchurch from tussock grass. The vines of Mr Lord, of Christchurch, have this year produced one ton of fruit. The Christchurch Gas Company held its annual meeting on March Ist, when a dividend of eight per cent, was declared. A publican of Christchurch has been fined £A for supplying drink to men previously in a state of intoxication, A large fire has taken place at Clunes, Victoria, The Victoria and Criterion hotels

and Elder's stables were destroyed. At the first meeting of the Canterbury Phitasophical Institute f r the present year, on the evening of the Ist March, Dr Haast, President, read a very interesting paper on ' Moas and Moa Hunters " The " ttelton Times "of the Ist inst., in a long Lader, backs up tbe " flour and sugar" policy of Mr M'Lean towards the natives, deprecating coercion even to punish murderers.—" Nelson Examiner." The road-steamer lately purchased by the Government from Mr Gillies, of Otago, for .£I2OO, has been successfully tried in Christchurch. The "Grey River Argus" mentions that, towards the close of the business of the Warden's Court on Monday, Mr Kevell became so seriously unwell that he had to be i\ moved to his home in an express waggon. The " Bombay Gazette " say that some of the " educated" natives of Moradabad recently addressed Lord Mayo in English as follows:—"Brilliant as the sun, which enlivens the world with its light; refulgent as the moon, which succeeds the darkness of the night," The Viceroy coolly replied,'" I am much obliged to you." A rush, fays the "Wakatip Mail," is setting in for laud at the head of Lake Wakatip, in the Martin's Bay direction. A Woollen Factory, for the manufacture of blankets, tweeds, and other fabrics, is being started at Mossgiel, in the Taieri district, Otago. While the West Coast has heen suffering from drought, much wet has been experienced on the East Coast. The rivers were flooded at Wellington, the Ngahurangi bridge was washed away, and coach communication has been suspended. At Wellington, last week, F. Mason, B. Martin and J. Moffat, seamen on board the Taranalri, were charged at the Police Conrt. by Captain Wheeler, with insubordination, and sentenc-.d—Mason to 7 days, Martin to 48 hours, and Moffatfc to 48 hours' imprisonment, with hard labor, each to pay lls 6d costs, iu addition.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COUUT. "Westpoht, Fbidat, Maecu 10. (Before J. Giles, Esq., R.M.) ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. Mary Sullivan was charged, upon the information of Agenore Dupuis, with having used insulting language towards hiin in a public street in Westport, on Sunday, the sth instant. The complaiuant failed to appear when the case was called, and it was struck out. PBOTECTION. Ellen Tottenham applied for protection of her property and earnings from her husband. The applicant stated that her husband had not deserted her, but he drank habitually, beat her, and provided nothing for her maintenance. Her husband was able to work. She had not given him notice of her intention to make the present application. His Worship said that he could uot entertain the application uuder the circumstances until notice had been given. He was aware, as a matter of fact, that Tottenham had been twelve months an inmate of thehospital, and he might not have sufficiently recovered to enable him to work. The present application must be dismissed. CIVIL CASE. Roach v. Holmes.—A claim for £i 17s, for alleged damage. Mr Fisher appeared for the plaintiff in the absence of Mr Pitt, and Mr Home defended. In this case a rehearing had been granted on the application of the defendant, who is master of the steamer Charles Edward. The evidence of the plaintiff was taken, and corroborated that given at the former hearing. By Mr Home: I got permission from Mr M'Leod twelve months ago to moor my boat at the wharf. The wharf has not been completed twelve months. The boat was not secured to a pile, but the rope was passed through a hole in the wharf. 1 secured it at dusk, "about half tide. There was about 25 feet of the painter swinging loosely. I had no one minding my boat during the night. The boat was moored head and stern. The stern moorings were not broken in the morning when I found the boat smashed, nor were they shifted. Her painter had been removed by some person, and the boat brought in to the shore. I paid £3 17s for the repairs, and £1 for boat hire. I am aware that steamers come to the wharf. I did not receive permission from the harbor-master to leave my boat at the wharf all night. There are generally a number of boats moored at the spot. I do not know what was done with them that night. It is usual to haul the boats on the bank in certain weather. Edmond Roach stated that he saw the Charles Edward, steamer, strike . Roach's boat and smash it. The boat's head was moored 9 or 10 feet within tie outside line of the wharf. Her stern moorings were down the stream on the bank. The steamer appeared , to be inside the wharf when she struck the boat. Mr Pain and witness removed the head-line. The defendant v as in charge of the steamer. Br Mr Home : The steamer was in the act of mooring when I saw her. By the Bench: It was about high water. The painter of the boat was , slack. Henri Pain repeated the evidence given by him at the previous hearing. By Mr Home : The' Doat was lying : the full length of its painter 'from the wharf. The steamer was straight • up and down stream. Vincent Nevello, boatman, stated i that he witnessed the accident to the 1 boat about the time referred to. The paddle wheel of the steamer struck the 1 boat on the bow. The steamer was rather too far in. The boat was drawn to the steamer by the paddle wheel | causing an eddy.

Mr Home stated that he should prove that the boat was insecurely moored, with 25 feet of a painter which would allow it to swing out. It would be shown that the position of the boat was seen by those on board the steamer to be one of danger; that a man was sent to remove her moorings to a more secure position, and that, while so doing, the accident occurred in spite of every effort to prevent it. Phillip M'Carthy, mate of the steamer Charles Edward, stated tho,t he recollected the occurrence. The boat had too much drift and got alongside the steamer. She was outside the wharf. One of tbe men was sent ashore to secure the boat; he did so, and, while the man was securing the steamer's line, the boat swung out again. The man got ashore from the bow of the. steamer. The bow of a steamer should always be the first portion of the vessel to touch the wharf. By Mr Fisher; The man went ashore before the accident. I do not think the man moved the painter, but he hauled the boat in. After that, the man made the steamer's stern-line fa&t. I am certain that the boat was outside the end of the wharf. A seaman, belonging to the steamer Charles Edward, stated that he shifted the bight of the rope and hauled in the boat. The paddles were not moving then. The boat must have swung out again, but he could not say for certain, as he went away to secure the stern-line. He could not secure the lino of the boat as he had to attend to that of the steamer. Thomas Holmes : T am master of the steamer Charles Edward. I recollect on the 2nd of February coming along-

side the Kennedy-street wharf. A boat was moored to the end of the wharf projectiug considerably outside of its line. The last witness pulled in the bight of the rope hauling the boat in. He had to secure the stern-line of the steamer. The damage occurred when we pulled in the stern of the steamer to get her square abraest of the wharf, and to that end we worked the engines. The bow was iu, and all hands were aft hauling in the vessel's stern. By Mr Fisher: I saw the boat in the stream as we passed. I may have said, on a previous occasion, that the boats could not injure the steamer. His Worship, in giving judgment, said that the plaintiff's claim was only good so long as it was unanswered. He thought the evidence for the defence very conclusive that, so far from negligence having been shown by those on-board the steamer, they had endeavored to secure the safety of the defendant's boat. There was some contradiction in respect to the position of the boat, but on that point the evidence brought by the defendant was more clear and pointed, while by the plaintiff's own account there was nothing to prevent the boat being in the position as stated by the defendant and his witnesses. Tn the absence of more positive evidence the Court must conclude that what possibly might have taken place really did take place ; and judgment, therefore, would be for the defendant with costs.