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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 894, 30 November 1871, Page 2

Dp Giles, accompanied by Mp Pitt, proceeded to Reofton yesterday morning. He will hold a sitting of the Wurdon's Court thero to-morrow, and at the Inang.ihua Junction on Saturday, returning to Westport on Sunday. The European mail via Suez was due in Melbourne on Thursday last, and may be hourly expected. The mail via San Francisco is duo in Auckland on the 7th proximo. The Nol-on and West C >ast steamers are all at present in Nelson, the presence of the officers being necessary in the collision case which came before the Supreme Court there yesterday. We understand that the p.s. Charles Edward will leave for Westport today The increased rate of stamp duties upon cheques .and receipts will commence to-mor-row. Receipts for £2 and upwards, and all cheques, will require to carry a twopenny duty stamp or two one penny stamps. The new issue has not yet arrived in Westport, but is expected at an early date. The old issue wjll probably he called in very sh .rtly. The Provincial Engineer, Mr Dobson, returned yesterday morning from Reefton, leaving the latter place on foot at G a.m. on Tuesday, and reaching town at 11 a.m. yesterday —good travelling considering that the distance is 58 miles. Mr Dobson reports very favourably of the prospects of the root's in that neighbourhood. The object of his visit has been to lay out the line for the proposed road, and we believe that the country along which it will be carried presents all the facilities that could be desired for cheap and rapid con.

struction. Mr Woolley, surveyor, remains behind with instructions to lay out 5000 acres for agricultural settlement in 50-acre allotments. The ca*go of the schooner Lloyd's Herald will he submitted to auction by Mr John Munro, at Stauloy Wharf, at 11 a.m. this day. A meeting of thoso appointed to canvas for subscriptions to the race fund will be held at the Post Office Hotel to-morrow evening. Rents are now overdue on the following agricultural leases, and unless paid forthwith application will be made to the Superintendent to have the samo cancelled.— James Bentley, Thomas J. Jones, John M'lntosh, Alfred Smith, Henry Hudson, and Edward Dowd. In the report of the Resident Magistrate's Court proceedings on Tuesday, it will be seen that one of the causes was adjourned until the next day, in consequence of the plaintiff not having paid tho fee for hearing previous to the case being called on. The following is a copy of the ,iule adopted in the local court in lvspect to this matter : — " Parties having causes for hearing in the Resident Magistrate and Warden's Courts, Westport, are required to pay the court fees to the clerk before their cases are called; and those cases in which this requirement is not complied with will be placed at the bottom of the list, or adjourned to the next Court day at the plaintiff's cost." The ketch Lloyd's Herald, from Dunedin, via Oamaru, arrived at Westport on Tuesday morning. She left Oamaru on the 19th inst., and arrived off the Buller on the 26th. Captain Henry reports fine but hazy weather during the passage. After discharging cargo will proceed to the Sound for a cargo of timber. This vessel, as usual with those arriving from Melbourne and southern ports, dispensed with the services of a tug. Gold mining leases are lying at the Warden's Court to be executed by John Hennebury and Edward Gallop. To-day being dedicated to St. Andrew, the patron Saint of the Scottish Masons, the members of the Thistle Lodge of Westport purpose commemorating the occasion by a Masonic Festival. A ball and banquet will be held at the Masonic Hall, Empire Hotel, this evening. Austin, the celebrated pedestrian, at present on a visit to Westport, contested a few events on Tuesday with an amateur runner of some local celebrity, named Mosley. The programme included two races each of fifty yards, and two of seventy-five yards, Mosley receiving five yards' start at the lessor distance and ten yards in seventyfive. For the various events the start was signalled by firing a pistol. The first race of fifty yards was won easily by Austin, who got well away at starting, and quickly overhauled his man. The next event was won after a close struggle by Alosley, who was about a foot ahead when breasting the tape. Tho third event, distance fifty yards, was won easily by Mosley, who getting away quickly at the start increased his lead, and Austin, seeing no possibility of overhauling him, declined the race after a few strides. The fourth race, for a distance of seventy-five yards was won very easily by Austin, who passed his opponent before completing half the distance. The start for this race was by no means even, Mosley getting away very badly. The stakes were then divided, each having won two eve nts. The runners then decided to have a final heat of fifty yards, ■ Austin conceding six and a half yards. A good start was effected, both men getting well away on the report of the pistol; but, notwithstanding tho distance conceded by Austin, he came in an easy winner. A considerable number assembled to witness the running. Austin's style of going is very pretty, and drew forth considerable applause. It will be perceived by advertisement in another column that the two principal banks will be closed to-day as a bank holiday. Tho other bank, it appears, does not think it worth while to intimate to the public whether it keeps open or not, which is really of very little importance; it may be that the agent has time to acquaint his clients by letter, which by all appearance would not be a laborious undertaking. In the Warden's Court, on Tuesday, Moran and party, of Addison's Flat, brought an action against M'Narney and party for encroachment. The complainants are holders of a gold mining lease, and it was alleged that on the 20th instant, the defendants removed wash dirt from their claim. The defendants denied having encroached, and stated that they held an ordinary claim prior to the complainants' lease being surveyed, which was within the boundaries of said lease. They had uninterruptedly occupied the ground. The complainants were nonsuited. Three extended claims on the beach near the Okuri and Totara rivers were granted, the applicants being Donald Munro, William Lloyd, and W. J. Lamning. Two tions for dams and one for a tail-race were also granted.

The Westport Volunteer Fire Brigade met for practice on Tuesday evening, about twenty members mustering in uniform. The engine was run out, and the hose affixed to three of the stand-pipes—namely, that at the lower end of Gladstone street, that in Kennedy street, and the one opposite to the Court. The supply of water was found to be excellent.

The gold mining leases of John Gallagher, situate at Addison's Flat, and of Patrick M'Lary, also at Addison's, will be cancelled unless tho overdue rents are immediately paid.

The editor of a Dublin paper apologises to his readers for " the many typographical errors and omissions that have appeared in our journal of