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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 868, 30 September 1871, Page 2

The election of officers for the Loyal Westport Lodge. M.U.I 0.0.P., for the ensuing quarter, took place at the Lodge Room, Empire Hotel, on Thursday evening. Bio. V.G. George Clark, was elected N.'G.; Bro. Chas. Bishop, V.G.; Bro. P.G. Walter Bishop, E.S. In the R.M. Court, Charleston, on Thursday, Michael Geary, for drunkenness and disorderly conduct, was fined 20s and sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, it being the third offence within a short space of time. A considerable number of debt cases were disposed of; the only one forming any interest was an action brought by George Donne against John Harold for the recovery of £5 ss, alleged to be* due for preparing the particulars of a case for the opinion of Mr Connolly, barrister, and for payment of certain fees to the last named gentleman in connection therewith. Mr Shapter appeared for the defendant. The plaintiff stated that Harold on*rte to him in August, 1870, and requested that lie would prepare a case for the opinion of Mr Connolly, as to whether an actiou would lie against the Bank of New Zealand relative to the recovery of wages in the Southern Cross ease. Harold gave him ,£1 Is to forward to Mr Connolly for the opinion. On returning the opinion Mr Connolly claimed a further sum of £2 2s, and for other services £1 Is which the plaintiff had since paid. The remaining ,£2 2s were for the preparation of the case. For the defence it was contended that Harold acted as agent only for the Southern Cross Company, and it was proved by a witness that the ,£1 Is paid by Harold was obtained by subscrption from the shareholders and wages men. Judgment was deferred until Monday. Josep Welch and party, representing upwards of 50 miners, applied at the last sitting of the Warden's Court, at Reef ton, for registration of a head race, intended to convey 40 head of water from the left hand branch of the Inangahua river to the Reefton workings. The length of the proposed race is seven miles. The application was ordered to stand over until the next sitting of the Court. In the Warden's Court, Charleston, on Thrus.lay last, Jonathan Harle applied for registration of a head-raoo, four miles in length, to be brought from the Totara river to the beach. J. E. Gillespie objected to the application on the ground that Harle already held a right of water on the beach, with which he did not act impartially. Objector wished all parties to receive the water in turn, and to that end lie considered it the duty of the Court to protect consumers of water as well as the vendors. The objector called a witness, whose principal grievance was that he had to pay rent in advance, which was not usual. The applicant stated that he treated every person alike' letting them have water when he had it ; but with regard to Gillespie he had doubts about the payment of the rent. The Warden did not consider the objections of any weight, and granted the application. A number of other applications were disposed of; and a gold mining lease of 4 acres 2 roods 27 perches, at Argyle Terrace, applied for by John Dudgeon and party, was recommended. Mr D.jbson, Provincial Engineer, is expected in Westport in a few days. He has been absent on a visit to Nelson whence he will return overland. '

After holding a Court at Reefton on the 21st, the Warden proceeded to the Junction, where the Court sat at five p.m. Several mining applications were granted, and an agricultural lease of 50 acres to Peter Mangoes. The following morning the Warden paid a visit to the Lyell reefs.

A sitting of the Warden's Court will be held at Reefton on the 16th of October, and at Inangahua Junction on the 17th. TJhe transport of the quartz crushing machinery to Reefton for Messrs Mace an i Dixon will commence on Monday, when two boats will be despatched from Westport by Mr Pell, the contractor. The schooner Three Friends arrived from Charleston yesterday mta-ning.

The Charles Edward sailed for Nelson on Thursday night, and will leave here for Holutika and Greymouth on Monday at midnight. The s.s.Kennedy proceeded south last night, and her departure for Nelson is announced for Tuesday.