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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 811, 11 May 1871, Page 2

The return of the quantity of gold exported from the various Provinces of New Zealand during the quarter ended March 31, 1871, shows that the single Province of Auckland produced only 10,000 ozs short of the total yield of Otago, Nelson, Westland, and Marlborough. During the corresponding period of 1870, Auckland as a goldproducing Province ranked fourth in importance. We subjoin the returns.— Quarter ended March 31, 1871: Ozs. Value. Auckland ... 84,019 ••■ .£292,417 Nelson 20,944 ... 83,776 Westland ... 32,384 ... 129,536 Otago 42,673 ... 170,692 Marlborough ... 140 ... 560 180,160 £676,981 Quarter ended March 31, 1870: Ozs. Value. Auckland ... 30,008 ... £105,997 Nelson ... 41,106 ... 165,318 Westland ... 38,893 ... 155,647 Otago 46,386 ... 185,628 Southland ... 885 ... 3,542 Marlborough ... 48 ... 192 157,326 £616,324 A miner, known as Sam the Packer, was wounded on the head on Friday last while working in his claim. It appears that he was in the act of hooking on a bucket at the bottom of the shaft, when a stone, dislodged by the rain, fell down the shaft, striking Sam on the head, and causing a wound two inches in length, but without fracturing the skull. Fortunately, the impetus of the stone was broken by striking against the side of the shaft, or the result must have been fatal. In the R.M. Court, Westport, on Tuesday, there were a few civil cases disposed of. In the case of Sheldon v. Theresa Getheng, the defendant was called upon to show cause why she should not be imprisoned in default of payment of £5 10s, the amount of plaintiff'sjudgment. His Worship dealt with remarkable leniency in the case, the defendant being called upon to pay the amount and costs in twelve months in monthly instalments of 10s or, in default, three weeks' imprisonment. London v. Wartman, was a claim for 4s 6d, for bread supplied. The defendant admitted being indebted 3s, which amount was paid into Court. His Worship gave judgment for the plaintiff for the 3s paid into Court, and the costs, amounting to 18s, were divided. London v. Campbell was a claim for £7 9s, the plaintiff obtaining judgment by default in that amount and costs. In the Westport Warden's Court, on Tuesday, James M'Gowan made application for a gold mining lease of six acres, situate at Hatter's Terrace. There was no opposition, and the Warden stated that he would recommend the Superintendent to grant the lease. The Westport Athenaeum and Reading Room is now open daily. An amateur entertainment in aid of the funds will be held on the evening of May 24th. Thirty tons of stone were deposited at the foot of Gladstone-streeet yesterday, being the first instalment of a larger quantity to be placed there for the protection of the river bank. Letters and newspapers, by the outgoing European mail, will be forwarded by the steamer Charles Edward, leaving Westport for Nelson to-morrow. -.

The Governor offers a free pardon to any accomplice, not being a principal offender, who shall give such information as will lead to the apprehension and conviction of the principal offender or offenders implicated in the incendiarism at Mr William Reid's farm, Canterbury. The Post Office, Foxton, has been gazetted a Money Order and Savings Bank Office. Under the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870, the Provincial Government of Wellington have been relieved of the burden of constructing a line of road forty miles in length, commencing -at Foxton, Manawatu, and terminating at its junction with the road line from Napier. A recent proclamation announces that the road above referred to " is not a road which should be constructed by the Superintendent and the Provincial Council of the Province of Wellington. Professor Huxley, in his late address at Liverpool, as President of the British Association, says that in the years 1863, 1864, 1865, 90,000 persons died in England and Wales, of scarlet fever. These figures point to a much higher mortality from scarlet fever than has ever been recorded from cholera.

The North Pacific Railroad is being pushed forward rapidly. On the Ist of December a mile and :i half of track was laid, and the contractor expects to lay two miles a day. The engineers have discovered vast veins of coal on the line of the road, in the valley of the Missouri, sufficient to furnish fuel for locomotives over the woodless portion of the route. The Central Pacific railroad is receiving considerable freight for San Francisco from coal and metal mines, east of the Nevada basin. A London letter states that Major Yelverton (now Lord Avonmore) never intends to return to England; that the exposure of his conduct during the notorious trials brought by his wife have made his name detested all over tho country. The probability or otherwise of a change of Ministry taking place during the next session of the General Assembly, ia thus referred to by tho "Timaru Herald":— " We should say, from a careful analysis of the new Parliament, that the parties—

Ministerial aud Opposition—are now about balanced, but the probability is that after the House has got to work, the anti-minis-terialists will bfa found in the majority. This opinion is based simply on the bare fact that the Fox-Vogel Government has not done its duty to the country. That Government has had the fairest of fair trials. Last year it had an almost entirely obedient House, the means at hand were unstinted, and it was left unfettered as to its action. But with all these advantages, matters someho-y have goue wrong. Through its native policy the North Island is trembling on the verge of a native outbreak, and this, combined with a falling exchequer, tending to disarrange the Treasurer's financial plan between the colony and the provinces, has put the country into a bad humour, and deservedly so, with a Government, the members of which have shown themselves to be such poor administrators. Naturally then, at the meeting of the Assembly, the Government will be severely brought to task, and failing satisfactory evidence given as palliation for the present disjointed state of affairs, one result can only follow—the ousting of the present, and the installation of a new Government."

Harriet Martineau has written and published altogether not less, it is said, than 300 volumes and pamphlets, nearly half of them since she was 50 years of age. The numerous accidents from landslips that have lately taken place at the Thames have caused the residents to think seriously whether some means cannot be taken to prevent their recurrence. As yet, however, no steps have been taken in the matter.