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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 875, 17 October 1871, Page 2

His Honour Judge Ward arrived from Greymouth per Kennedy on Sunday night. He will hold a meeting of tho District Court at Charleston on' Friday, aHd at Westport on Tuesday next. The sittings of the Warden's Court in the Inangahua are postponed until tho 27th and 28th instant. The sittings at Reefton will take place on the 27th, and at Inangahua Junction on the 28th. The state of tho weather during the past ■week has caused the delay up to tho present, and the further postponement has been occasioned by the approaching setting of the District Court necessitating Dr Giles' presence in Westport, A body found on the beaoh at the Orawaiti yesterday is supposed to be the remains of the man Brown, who wa3 drowned a few weeks ago in the Bailor river while convoying a wounded man from the reefs to Westport. It will be remembered that the canoe in which the men were travelling upset, and Brown was washed down the river, and disappeared. Tho remains discovered yesterday were free from all clothing, beyond a strap round the waist and a pair of watertight

boots, while the body was greatly swollen, so as to render identification difficult. From the height, and marks about the face and body, it is believed that the remains are those of the deceased Brown. The appearance of the body would also correspond with tho length of time that has elapsed since the accident by which Brown lost hi 3 life. Tho remains were taken to tho Bridge Hotel, and an inquest will bo hold to-day. Mr Etevenaux is about to lay tlio lines of a large cargo boat, to be built upon the diagonal principle. The boat will be employed in the Buller and Inangahua traffic. The steamer Murray left Nelson for Weßtport on Sunday, at 10 a.m. The Towers troupe will give their farewell performance in Westport this evening, at the Masonic Hall. The unfortunate weather experienced by this company on the occasion of their first performance must have greatly interfered with tho attendance, but we trust thiß evening to see an excellent house. Their performances are really of a very superior character, and well deserving a visit. Mr A. Morell, chiropodist, was a passenger by the steamer Charles Edward. In consequence of the lengthened passage from Nelson ho will proceed to Hokitika and Greymouth, returning to Westport in the course of ten days. The schooner Mary Van Every, for Westport from Dunedin and Oamaru, sailed from tho latter port on the 3rd inst., laden with produce. "We are informed that the dray with the first load of machinery between the Inangahua aud Eoefton arrived at the latter township on Friday evening.

Mr Macandrqto's resolutions on the proposed alteration of the constitution of the colony have been negatived. The Morning Star Company, Ross, paid a dividend of .£3OO on the 6th inst. A man named Charles Grutt has been murdered at Tauna, New Hebrides.

In reference to a report that the Hon. John Hall was dangerously ill, tho Christchurch " Press " says that tho following reply wa3 received to an enquiry on tho subject:—" Not dangerously ill, but unlit for work: is coining down."

Some of the English skylarks introduced into Taranaki by Mr H. R. Richmond, have, says the " Tiiranaki Herald," been heard singing during the past month or so. A. meeting, at whieh about 200 persons were present, has been held in Christchurch to protest against tho. Brogden contracts. Resolutions were passed, urging that tho railways be constructed in short sections, and be paid for in cash. At a meeting held in Otago to consider the Chinese question, the following resolution was carried . —" That the position of the colony in reference to the Immigration and Public Works scheme demands the discouragement of Chinese coolie immigration, and the encouragement of European immigration."

Mr Vogel, in reply to Mr O'Neill, has expressed an opinion adverse to the propriety of establishing a mint in New Zealand.

At tho anniversary dinner of the Nelson Fire Brigade, held a few days since, it cropped out that a gentleman who was present, Mr W. Duckett, who had just favoured the company with the song " The Red, White, and Blue," was one of the "gallant six hundred," who earned for themselves so honorable a name on the fatal field of Balaclava, and for that noble deed have since been immortalised by Tennyson. On this becoming known, the whole of those present rose as one man to do honour to the hero, and later in the evening his health was proposed in a most vigorous speech by Mr Luckie, and responded to with the heartiest cheers that were ever heard at a public dinner in Nelson.

A destructive fire broke out early on Thursday morning in Invereargill, originating in the premises of the Bank of Otago. The New Zealand Bank was saved by extraordinary exertions. The following premises were totally destroyed: Bank of Otago, loss ,£2500 ; Hunter and Hawkshaw, grocers, £ISOO ; Halurg, cabinetmaker, £3OO ; Broad, watchmaker, £900; Hatch, chemist, £1700; Garrick Club Hotel, £150; Coutts, tailor, £250; Mitchell, bootmaker, £300; Moffit, cordial manufacturer, £7OO.

Tho body of William Webber, who was drowned some three weeks ago, in attempting to take the Boulder Bank channel, was discovered on the morning of the 9th, near the Lighthouse, in a decomposed and scarcely recognisable state. The Tuapeka people petition tho Government to commence the construction of public works. The Lawrence people offer to set apart a commonage worth .£3OOO to guarantee cost of the works.

The Roman Catholics in Auckland have resolved to build a new cathedral, the present one being too small. At a meeting lately held to consider the subject, it was resolved to start a subscripti >n list, which the Bishop (Dr Crokc) headol by £IOO down, promising to give the same amount every year until the building -was completed. Over £2OO was subscribed on the spot. The "Southern League" says:—"lt was elicited in evidence in the case of Neilson v. Douglas that the -whole permanent service staff on the station of Mr Douglas, at Mount Royal, Palmerston—a station occupying some thous.tnds of acres (14,000) —consists of only there people!" There is a good deal of speculation afloat as to the gentlemen who will compose the Board of Works which the Government propose creating to administer the Railways and Public Works Act. The Board will consist of five gentlemen, each of whom, it is said, will receive i>Boo a-year ; and as tho holding this office will not bo a disqualification to having a seat in tho Assembly, the appointments, we may be sure, will be looked after by some of the hangers-on of the Government, [for Ministers know how to reward faithful adherents. It is to be hoped, however, that other considerations will weigh with Government in making these appointments, otherwise the measures the colony is paying so dearly for, instead of proving a blessing will become a curse.—" Nelson Examiner." At Auckland a man named Samuel Atkinson has attempted to commit suicide by discharging a pun into his side, using ten £1 notes us wadding. He inflicted a serious wound, but it is not supposed to be fatal. Mr Vogel, while defending the|Brogden contracts, stated in reply to Mv Stafford, on Tuesday last, that the contractors wore dissatisfied, and not anxious to proceed with the Contract if held rigidly to the terms. He referred to the probability of tho earlv romission or reduction by the American Govornmcnt of the duty on wool.