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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 887, 14 November 1871, Page 2

The Bank of New Zaaland, Westport, f rwarded by the steamer Charles Edward, yesday, to Hokitika for shipment, 14380 x 19dwt of gold, the export duty upon which amounted to £179 17s 3d.

Captain Leech, the Harbour Master, took the soundings on the Buller bar yesterday, and reports 12 feet' 6 inches aa the minimum depth of water at full tide. ■ 'A special general meeting of the Piro Brigade was held on Friday evening at the engine houae> Kennedy street. Captain Hughes presided. The business brought under consideration was tbo present position of tho Brigade, and the support accorded it by the inhabitants of the town.

After some discussion had taken place a suggestion was thrown out by one of the Finance Committee that the matter should he taken up by the officers, and their report submitted to th 9 next monthly meeting. The proceedings then closed. Henry Law, alias "German Harry," charged on warrant with stealing four ounces of gold, the property of Messrs Reid, Bruce, and Brown, of Mosquito Creek, New Hiver district, in July last, was arrested at Charleston yesterday morning. He will likely be remanded to Greymouth. Law was a mate of the abovenanied, and, consequently, a portion of the property alleged to have been stolen was his own. A man named Dennis Quinlan has been arrested in the Marlborough Province on a charge of illegally escaping from custody. It appears that Quinlan was convicted of some rowdy offence in the Grey district about two years ago, and immediately upon his case being decided, he rushed from the Court, and had not since been heard of until connected with rowdyism in the Province of Marlborough some two or three months ago. On his flight from the magisterial presence a constable started in hot pursuit, but tiie latter's progress was ignominiously arrested by a clothes line, which caught him under the chin, and he was immediately placed hors de combat. Quinlan, it would appear, cleared out to Marlborough, and a few months back attempted to forcibly enter a publichouse. The landlord, who possessed firearms, threatened to fire unless Quinlan.desisted, and, the latter refusing to do so, eventually wounded him. The wound had the contrary effect to what might reasonably have been expected, as it tended to aggravate Quinlan's violence, who for the space of two hours battered at the house, threatening to demolish everything and everybodj'. Subsequently several men attacked the invader, who was overpowered and badly beaten ; and he thereupon laid an information for wounding and assault, which resulted in one of his assailants being committed for trial. In the interim it transpired that Quinlan was wanted by the police, and he was arrested. A constable has proceeded from the Grey district for the purpose of prosecuting a charge of illegally escaping from custody. The schooner Mary A r an Every sailed for Havelock on Saturday morning. The Mary Stewart, schooner, Capt. Brown, left for Newcastle on Saturday morning, the breeze being favourable she dispensed with the services of a tug, and sailed across the bar. On her arrival she also succeeded in entering the port without towing. Considering that it is the first visit of the master to thi- port, his sailing in and out is worthy of record.

The schooner Ceres, Captain Kendall, completed her ballasting on Saturday, and left on the night's tide in tow of the p.s. Dispatch, bound for Newcastle. The steamers Murray and Charles Edward arrived from Nelson on Sunday, the first named on the morning's tide, and the latter boat in the evening. The s.s. Kennedy from Greymouth also arrived in the evening, and left the following morning for Nelson. The steamer Murray discharged her cargo and left on Sunday morning for Greymouth. The p.s. Charles Edward left for Hokitika yesterday evening. The masters of the various steamers reported a good bar, the depth of water being not less than 12 feet. We regret to learn that Mr Hay, the talented editor of the " Wellington Independent," has been found drowned near the wharf at Wellington. Mr Hay, we believe, took charge of the editorial duties in connection with that journal shortly before i's appearance as a daily, and to his pen is mainly due, the influence which that publication has exercised as the mouthpiece of public opinion. His shocking and untimely end will be regretted throughout the colony. Cuptain Mackie of the Rangitoti, is said to have pronounced favourably of fifteen tons of Collingwood coal, used on that steamer's trip from Nelson to Wellington. A fatal accident occurred at the Inangahua on Wednesday last, resulting in the death of a miner named James Hedge. The deceased, it appears, was bending down, and engaged in tying his bootlace, while another miner was felling a sapling. The latter in its fall struck the deceased on the back of his head, which came in violent contact with a stump immediately in front, of him. The concussion dashed the unfortunate man's brains out. An inquest was held on the body prior to interment, when a verdict of accidental death was recorded.

We learn that the punt recently placed by Ryan and party on the Lyell near its junction with the Bnller, was carried away on Sunday last in consequence of the pennant giving way. The punt was carried down the Falls for the distance of a mile, and eventually came in contact with a rock, when one of the harges broke and filled. Some boats put off from the bank, and rescued those on board. A number of cattle on board the punt were also saved. The schooner Three Friends sailed for Charleston on Sunday night. The schooner W. S. Munday and ketch Standard sailed across the Buller bar about noon yesterday. Both craft were from Charleston.

The steamer Murray arrived from south last night, and sailed the Barne tide for Nelson.