The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 817, 27 May 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1871.

His Worship gave judgment yesterday in the case of Askew v. Stitt Bros. He held that the covenant to pay rent was valid and gave judgment for the plaintiff for £44 lis and costs. Mr Home, on behalf of the defendants, gave notice of appeal. The shoot for the Alpine Quartz Mining Co., is completed all but nine chains, and everything will be ready for crushing in the course of five to six weeks. We are happy to state that some very favourable specimens of quartz have been recently obtained from the stone which the company are now getting out. Some of the stone has been brought to town by the manager. Mr M'G-regor, the contractor for the Abyssinian wells is expected to arrive with the necessary gear by the steamer Murray to-day. The recent discovery by Adam Smith and party has given rise to considerable excitement at Reefton. This reef is about a mile and a quarter distant from the present workings at Murray Creek, and the quality of the stone is said to exceed them in richness. The reef can be seen cropping above the surface for a considerable distance. Five claims have been pegged off on the new line, and, it is said, that shares in the prospector's claim have changed hands at £2OO each. The Bonds in Herbert-street, recently condemned by the Collector of Customs, have been taken down and are now being rebuilt upon the Government Reserve, at the rear of the Court House. We have been shown a small sample of scaly gold extracted from a duck's gizzard. The owner of the duck, Mr John Pasco, resident at the South Spit, states that the duck had been in the habit of resorting to the lagoon near the spit, where it must have picked up the gold. There is evidently a rich auriferous deposit in the locality. A very narrow escape from a serious conflagration took place on Ihursday morning at Roche's Harp of Erin Hotel. By some means the paper and lining above the parlour fireplace ignited, but was providentially discovered in sufficient time to arrest the further progress of the flames. We understand that a call of 5s per share has been made in the Anderson's Creek Quartz Mining Company, payable at the Bank of New South Wales, Westport. The late rains have greatly interfered with the traffic between the Inangahua

Landing and Reefton, as also between the latter place and the Grey. The track was under water, owing to the flooded state of the Inangahua river, and storekeepers are anxiously awaiting the cargo boats, having exhausted their provisions. Owing to the prevailing scarcity the mailman informs ub that he had to be content with water gruel on his downward trip. The Bank of New Zealand, Westport, shipped per steamer Kennedy, on Thursday for Hokitika, 9960z lldwt 12gr of gold, theexport duty upon which amounted to £124 lis 6d. The compositors of Wellington have held a meeting to consider the proposition of the Government Printer for a reduction of wages. It was unanimously agreed not to accept the offer of one shilling per thousand, and a deputation was appointed to wait on Mr Didsbury. The result of that waiting is not yet known. Mr It. G. Neale, lately the proprietor of the " Charleston Herald," has become proprietor of the " Talbot Leader," published at Talbot, Victoria. MrHooshas been elected to the Westland Council. It is reported that the police were unsuccessful in arresting Mr Hurst (late of Greymouth) at Melbourne, though he was setn on the wharf at the time of the arrival of the steamer which carried the warrant. He is supposed to have received timely notice to enable him, for a time at least, to evade the police. Those who are s-ceptieal (says the "Lyttelton Times") of A, 10 Bir.i's ability to run twenty miles in two hours—and the num' er is by no mea-s small—will be somewhat taken aback to learn that he has made a match to perform even a more difficult task. He has in short accepted a bet of ,£2OO to <£so that he does not run thirty miles in three consecutive hours. This is a feat nothing approaching to which has e\er been witnessed on this side of the line, and, to say the least betrays a confidence by Bird in his powers of endurance that ensures an ex ibilion of pedestrianism worthy some sacrifice to witness. The match was made at Tattersail's on Saturday night previous to the athletic sports' meeting, and from a full knowledge of the gentlman who backs the old scythe bearer, there can be no doubt as to the bona fides nf the match. The conditions stipulate that the race shall be run on or before the sth August ; twelve hours' notice of the day to be given by Bird, anil that it is to be run within twenty miles of Christchurch. The provision *• on or before " is made wih the view that if Bird feels that he is in the requisite form on the evening previous to running his twenty mile match, he may declare to run the two races off at the same time, thus the distance to be run in th first match would also form a portion < f the thirty-mile match. But, on the other hand, should he not be in sufficient conditi n for the lorger race, he will have six wo> ks to specially prepare himself for it. Five per cent, of the mot :ey was staked by each party on Saturday night, fortv-five per cent, more is to be paid on the 10th of June, and the balance on the 25th of the same month. We need scarcely say that the feeling is strongly in favour of time, although it must be said that Bird is very confident. One of the neatest and most compact cards of directions we have seen for some time has just issued from the Government Printing Office. It is called the " New Zealand Telegraph Guide," and contains all the information likely to be required by any one who may have occasion to telegraph. In addition to the list of stations in New Zealand, and the rate of charges for ordinary telegrams, there is a variety of general information and hints regarding telegraphing, amongst which we may enumerate—" how telegrams can be posted," "stamped telegrams," "money order telegrams," "foreigntelegrams,"" complaints," " hours of business," &c. The guide is four small pages, printed on stout cartridge paper, aud has a quadruple fold, so that it can be carried in a waistcoat pocket like an ordinary card. To Mr Lemon, General Manager of the Telegraph Department, we believe is due the credit of this convenient and useful little compilation.

At the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand, held at Auckland on the 26th ultimo, the directors were again enabled to present a highly favourable report. The net profit to the 31st March, including ,£30,000 premium on the new issue of shares, after making due provision for every bad or doubtful dependency, and for appropriations in reduction of Bank premises and furniture accounts, was set down at £74,643 10s 3d, to which the undivided profit at 30th . epternber, 1870, of £7,745 lis 7d being added, a balance of £82,389 Is lOd was available for distribution. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, and a bonus of 5 per cent, was declared, .£30,000 was added to the reserve fund, and 7,389 Is lOd was carried to the profit and loss new account. The Customs revenue for the colony for last quarter was £171,323, of which Auckland contributed £31,667. During the corresponding quarter in 1870 the total amount was £199,698, of wliich Auckland contributed £45,055. It is rather melancholy to read that the South African " diamonds," after due scientific examination, turn out to be " lunii'S of translucent quartz." The best London lapidaries will have nothing to do with these worthless crystals. The mistake which it is averred has been made is not an uncommon one, and very large stones are always of doubtful value. We have seen it stated that the great Brazilian diamond, once the pride of the Imperial collection, is a qaartz crystal, and that it is now kept out of sight and not exhibited with the other Crown jewels. A mathematical tutor has been committed for trial on a charge of inciting a printer in the employ of Messrs Gilbert and Riving!on to steal a copy of one of the examination papers of the Apothecaries' Company, that he might the better " coach" his pupils for the approaching examination. Thefts of examination papers are very rare, the offence being in bad repute, the risk great, and the profit not very sure. Perhaps, however, if a man will perpetrate this highly objectionable crime, he cannot do better than follow the example of that undergraduate, who tradition says, made Irs way into the compositors' room in a pair of spotless white trousers, marked where the block of tipe lay well inked and ready, and, gently lifting up his coat tails, sat down with an innqcent air, taking thus a neat impression of what he wanted to know. He committed no felony, though he did much harm to his clothes. The body of a man was discovered in the surf about one mile and a half from Hokitika on Sunday morning, and was recovered by some persons, and conveyed to the Montezuma Hotel. It was subsequently identified as that of the body of Mr Fred. Bird, a cattle dealer and settler near Okarito. It would appear from all that could be gleaned, that he was on his way from that district to Hokitika, and was last seen by Mr Bell, the ferryman, at the Little Wanganui.