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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 900, 14 December 1871, Page 2

Mr O'Conor, M.H.R., will address his constituents at the Masonic Hall, Westport, to-morrow evening at eight o'clock ; and at the Casino de Venise, Charleston, on Saturday the 16th instant, at the same hour. An inquest upon the remains of the deceased Alexander Walker was held at M'Enroc's Hotel, Addison's Flat, on Tuesday morning. The medical evidence disclosed that the cause of death was disease of the heart, and the jury found a verdict accordingly. The interment took place the same day, when upwards of a hundred miners and others paid their last tribute of respect to the deceased's memory. Some ten or twelve feet of the extreme end of Stanley Wharf was swept away yes. terday about 4.30 p.m. by a large snag coming in contact with it at low water, during a heavy flood in the river. Telegraphic communication was suspended yesterday with all stations, excepting those on the West Coast, owing to a breakage of the wiro between Hokitika and Christchurch. Up to the office closing yesterday communication had not been restored. The galo yesterday has effected further considerable improvement in the beach. We understand that Mr Pell bas concluded arrangements for conveying passongers between Reefton and Westport during the Christinas holidays.

A meeting of the Westport Jockey Club took place at the Post Office Hotel on Tuesday evening. Present Messrs Simpson, Falla, Colvin, Jones, Seaton, Gilmer, and Mirfin. Mr Falla was voted to the chair. The election of stewards was then proceeded with, when the following were nominated and elected : —Messrs Thorpe, Falla, Simpson, Colvin, O'Conor, John Stitt, and Emanuel. It was proposed by Mr Jones, and seconded by Mr Emanuel, and carried, that Mr Gilmer act as honorary treasurer, and Mr Mirfln as honorary secretary, during the ensuing year. It was duly proposed and carried, that Mr Dobson be appointed judge at the ensuing races, .Mr John Seaton, starter, and Mr Jones, clerk of the course. Mr Clark moved that all further moneys collected, whether for sports or races, be paid to the treasurer of the Westport Jockey Club. This was seconded and carried. Mr Seaton moved that a two days' programme of races be prepared, to be held on January 1 and 2. Mr Simpson seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Mirfin moved that a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Simpson, Seaton, Falla, Gilmer, and the mover, be appointed, to draw up a programme, and submit the same to the stewards, at a meeting to be held the following day at 4 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mr Gilmer, and earned. Mr Simpson moved that the booth at Gibson's paddock, the grand stand, two booths, and a fruit stall on the race courso be sold by auction on Saturday, the 16th instant, at noon, at the Post Office Hotel. The motion wab seconded by Mr Seaton, and carried.

A novelty in pictures is announced under the title of "oleographs," by J. Walch and Sons, of Hobart Town, being facsimiles of original oil paintings by masters of the old and modern schools. These facsimiles are perfect marvels of cheapness and truthfulness as copies, and for wall adornment are superior to anything we have yet witnessed. Our townsman, Mr Pitt, has received a few copies from the above firm, which have in all respects the appearance of original oil paintings.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, Westport, on Tuesday, publicans' licenses were granted to William Norris Franklyn, for the Eoyal Oak Hotel, and to Mrs Charlotte Cooke, for the Occidental Hotelsituated in Wharf street. The police objected to the latter application on the ground that Mrs Cooke was at variance with her husband. His Worship enquired whether the applicant hold an order of protection, and on learning that such was the case, stated that he should grant the appli cation, the object of such protection being to enable a married woman to obtain an independent livelihood. An accommodation license was granted to John Gilchrist for a house situated near to the junction of the Buller and Grey roads. The only civil Cases disposed of wato CliapraM ir. Watoou, claim for £l4 9s, and Mills v. Brown, claim for £2l 9s. Judgment in each case was recorded for the plaintiff with costs. A bill has passed both Houses of the Victorian Legislature, entitled the Drawbacks on Exports Bill, which is to continue in force until the next ensuing session of Parliament, and no longer. The object of the bill is to remove the disadvantages under which the soft goods warehousemen laboured in consequence of the heavy import duty levied upon all textile fabrics. Clause 2 of the Act reads as follows: The Governor in Council may by any order from time to time specify the articles on which a drawback of duty paid on importation into Victoria may be allowed on exportation therefrom; and may alter or cancel any such order; and may approve of regulations and conditions for the repacking of dutiable goods, whether such goods be in bond or be entitled to drawback; and for the due protection of the revenue under which or upon which drawbacks may be allowed. The s.s. Tararua is supposed to have left Lyttelton for Wellington on Monday night, and it is probable therefore that she will reach Nelson to-day. There is a likelihood of the Kennedy being detained by the bad weather, in which case she will bring on the Australian mails and cargo. Wo shall receive no European papers or letters via Suez in consequence of tho disaster to the P. and O. Company's steamship Rangoon. The threatening weather of the past few days culminated yesterday in a heavy burst of north-westerly weather, accompanied by a steady and copious rainfall. The steamers Murray and Charles Edward from south, and the s.s. Kennedy from Nelson, are inconsequence detained. The members of the Westport Volunteer Fire Brigade met for practice on Tuesday evening. The engine was run out, and the various stand-pipes tested, ail furnishing a good supply of water with the exception of that in Palmerston street, where the quantity of sand in the well interfered greatly with the delivery of the water. A little perseverance in pumping the well will bring it quickly into efficiency. A general meeting took place after practice when the usual routine business was gone through, and officers wero nominated for the ensuing year. A circular has been published by the hon. W. Gisborne, Commissioner of Government Life Insurances, Annuities, &c, showing that a person aged 30 may secure XIOO, payable at his decease, by a quarterly payment of 10s 4d, the policy being to a certain extent protected from the operations of bankruptcy and insolvency laws. Full information is obtainable at any money order post office in tho colony. In the Warden'a Court, Westport, on Tuesday, the adjourned application of Peter Nelson for a half-acre residence area at Middle Terrace, Caledonian, was granted. Tho application had been objected to by William Bannerman, on the grounds that the area was auriferous, and that the objector had already marked off a portion for a gold-mining claim.

The application was postponed for 14 days to obtain proof as to tho nature of the ground, and at the adjourned hearing tho objector failed to appear, and the application was grantedTho Nelson Gildfields' Almanac and Directory for 1872 has just been issued, and may bo obtained from the agent, Mr Walter Bishop in this town ; from Mr Dempscy, Charleston; Mr Lush, Addison's ; and Mr Courtney, Inangahua. It contains 142 pages of closely printed matter, furnishing information on every subject connected with these Goldflelds. A valuable digest of the Stamp Duties and other Acts, the Tariff, and a variety of useful tables recommend it- alike t) commercial men and fcb miners. The s.s. Wallabi, from Wangahui, came up yesterday afternoon, but owing to the fresh was not likely to entor on tho night's tide. Mr Robinson, timber merchant, of Nelson, has invested £SOO in mining at the Inangahua. The back wash caused by the upper groin is impinging seriously upon the bank. A deposit of stone similar to the protective work near Gladstone street would prove an effective protection, and mi?ht be constructed at a very inconsiderable cost. Owing to the unprotected state of the bank a further portion of the roadway near the centre groin has been [undermined and swept away. It is deplorable that such destruction should be permitted, when it has been manifested that so small an outlay would conserve the entire thoroughfare.