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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 874, 14 October 1871, Page 2

About eighteen months ago the Central Committee of the Methodist Free Church were corresponded with in reference to the establishment of a branch of that Church in Westport. The request -was complied with, and the Rev. John Parkin was sent out to the colony, and has taken charge of the church in Charleston, the Rev. Mr White being instructed to direct his ministerial efforts to Westport. With this view, the latter gentleman has permanently located himself in Westport, and will hold opening services to-morrow in the morning and evening at Mr Fraser's school buildings. The schooner Garibaldi, laden with coals from Greymouth to Hokitika put in for shelter at this port on Thursday, and is now lying in the Lagoon. We understand that she is between nine and ten weeks out from Greymouth, and owing to contrary winds and rough weather has been unable to enter the port of Hokitika. Her lengthened passage has caused a great scarcity of coal at that port. The Towers family give their farewell performance in Charleston this evening, and in Westport on Tuesday evening. Wo are glad to learn that the Nile Cement Crushing Company, Charleston, are entering upon a renewed career of prosperity, and that the dividends are likely to equal those paid a few years back. The company, we believe, are at present crushing cement taken from the ground formerly belonging to the Southern Cross Company. A change has taken place in the wellknown firm of Parker and Garsides, brewers, of Charleston and Brighton. Mr Parker has retired from the firm, having disposed of his share to Mr Macarthy. The cordial and wine and spirit business belonging to the latter gentleman will in future be carried on in connection with the brewery, under the new firm of Macarthy and Garsides.

Messrs Bailie and Corr, to whom was entrusted the duty of collecting signatures to the Road Petition, succeeded in obtaining between 200 and 300 yesterday. Mr Mace kindly consented to canvass the miners and business people at Reefton with the same object. We are requested to call attention to the negligence of the contractors having the charge of maintaining in repair the Buller and Inangahua roads. Excepting on the expected arrival of a government official, not the slightest effort is made to make good any damage caused by the ordinary wear and tear of traffic. For a distance of eight miles between the Blackwater and the Junction, the road is in a most dilapidated condition and requires immediate attention. Local telegraphic communication was interrupted at 10 a.m. yesterday with all stations in the colony except the West Coast stations, and the line continued in that state until evening. The arrival of the San Francisco mail was not announced at the hour of going to press. Owing to the boisterous state of the weather the arrival of the p.s. Charles Edward from Nelson, and the s.s. Kennedy from Greymouth is delayed. The departure of the s.sWaipara, now lying in the river, for Brighton and Greymouth ia postponed owing to the same cause.

The proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, were unimportant. Hayne

v. Ilayne, an action for assault, was struck out, neither party appearing. Only two civil cases were set down for hearing. Bull and Bond v. Weston, an action to recover the value of a pair of wheels, which the defendant had refused to accept delivery of, in consequence of inferior quality, resulted in a voidict for the defendant with costs. In Dickinson v. Brown, a claim for J62 ss, for goods supplied, the plaintiff obtained judgment by default.