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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 902, 19 December 1871, Page 2

A sitting of the District Court of Westland North will be held at the Court House, Westport, on Friday, at ten a.m. There are two cases for hearing at the criminal sitting, namely, Regina, on prosecution of Anderson, against O'Doa and Butler, charged with maliciously wounding; and Regina, op prosecution of Margaret Caw, against Margaret Woodman, also charged with maliciously wounding. In if s Bankruptcy jurisdiction there are two applications for final discharge by John Rodden and John Curtain. We believe that there will be an application also brought before the Court in the matter of the winding-up of the Enterprise Quartz Mining Company, Waiinangaroa. Wo understand that Mr It. Ramsay, formerly well Inown aa a storekeeper at Brighton in connection with the firm of Salmon and Ramsay ia about to commence business aa a storekeeper at Reef ton.

In another column we publish a report of Mr O'Conor's meeting at Charleston on Saturday evening last. On the Friday he addressed his constituents at Weatport, and was well received. Mr Munro having been voted to the chair, expressed his great satisfaction to preside over a meeting calL'd for such purpose as- the present. He deemed it the duty of a representative after a session of Parliament to call together the elec'ors and thus give them an opportunity of signifying their approval of, or dissent from, the lino of action, the member, had thought fit to pursue. Mr O'Conor had always shewn a ready willingness to subject himself tj the test of an expression of public opinion, and it was this readiness to invite criticism which caused him (the chairman) to feel such deeid.d pleasure in filling the chair. The chairman then introduced Mr O'Conor, who addressed the meeting, treati'g on the various topics touched upon at Charleston, and in a similar tone. After a very attentive hearing, during which the speaker's remarks were frequently applauded, Mr Bull proposed a vote of confidence which was seconded by Mr M'Kenna and carried by acclimation. Highly encouraging news continues to arrive from. Reefton. A half share in the prospecting claim, Shiels's line of reef, has boen disposed of by Mr Dwyer for £1075, the purchaser being Mr Mace, A number of other interests have also been disposed of for smaller sums. In our last issue mention was made of two horses belonging to Mr Pell having been drowned in the Buller river. It appears that oue of the animals took the water deliberately, and was swept down by the freshet then running. The second horse followed his companion, and met with a like fate. When the new 3 reached town a few sympathising friends collected, and presented Mr Pell with the sum of £BO as a substantial proof of their good will, and to mark the appreciation in which Mr Pell is held by his fellow townsmen. Some Charleston friends, actuated by a like friendly feeling, forwarded the sum of £3O. Incidents such as these speak volumes for the hearty good fellowship which, notwithstanding our rough manners, asserts itself when the occasion arrives. We consider the presentation highly creditable to our townsmen, and Mr Pell may be justly proud of the goodwill and appreciation of which he has received a well-merited testimonial.

Arrangements have been completed for carrying passengers from the luangahua Landing to Westport on Friday and Saturday, a boat starting from the Inangahua each day at 6 a.m. The newspaper plant recently belonging to the proprietors of the Hokitika " Independent," arrived in Westport by the steamer Kennedy for transmission to Reefton, where the present enterprising proprietors, Messrs Ivess and Thomson, purpose starting a journal, to be called the " Inangahua Herald." We heartily wish them the success merited by their spirited enterprise. The plant will be transmitted by Mr Pell's cargo boat, leaving Westport for the Inangahua Landing to-day, and thence will go forward by Fletcher's waggon. This is another instance iu which it has been found advantageous to ship goods from the Westland ports to Westport en route for Reefton via Inangahua—the excellence of the port, the cheapness of a long water carriage by way of the Buller river, and the singular natural advantages offered by the Inangahua Valley for dray and waggon traffic, all combining to establish Westport as the inlet and outlet of that rapidly rising district. The auction sale of the booths at the ensuing sports and races took place on Saturday in front of the Post Office Hotel. The sale realised £4l ss. A serious accident happened to Mr Jas. Suisted on Saturday morning last. While in the act of splitting down a sheep the cleaver meeting with little resistance at the neck sank into his leg, inflicting a very ugly wound below the right knee joint. An accident, resulting in the delay of conveying the boiler for M'Lean to Reefton, occurred at the latter end of the week. It appears that Scott and Wilkie, the contractors, had got to within sixteen miles of Reefton, when they had the misfortune to capsize the boat at one of the falls of the Inangahua river. Mr M'Lean, we understand, on hear, ing of the occurrence, came to their assistance with a party of men and succeeded in re-em. barking the boiler safely. The accident to the Star cargo boat, also being used by Wilkie and Scott, resulted in the machinery forming her cargo being submerged in the Inangahua river boat; the various portions are visible and will, we understand, be easily i-ecovered. A nugget weighing 21 ounces has been obtained by Pascoe and party at Irishman's Creek, Lyell. Antonio Zala, one of the prospectors of the the Lyell reef, arrived in town yesterday afternoon with a handsome parcel of gold, the result of six weeks' crushing. No exact record has been kept of the quantity of stone put through the batteries, but at a liberal estimate it would not exceed twenty tons weekly; Tho present difficulty in obtaining qnariz is expected to diminish, when the yield of gold will exhibit a corresponding increase. The gold weighed when melted 2960z. 14dwt.

The steamer Murray arrived at Westport from. Greymouth yesterday morning e.irly, and left the same afternoon for Nelson. She crossed the Grey bar at high water, but touched all the way out owing to the bad state of the channel, the latter having now a circular formation caused by the late heavy floods. The above steamer entered the Buller shortly after half flood, and reported nine feet of water on the bar. At full tide there is now fourteen feet. Tip-country storekeepers are reminded that all cheques require an impressed or adhesive stamps to the value of 2d. Where

the latter are used care Bhould be taken to bo attach the signature that a portion shall be to the left of the stamp or stamps, a portion to the right, and the body of the same be carried uninterruptedly across the stamp or stamps. To strictly comply with the letter of the law is most inconvenient, but according to the wording of the Act stamps on cheques may only be cancelled in a certain manner. The omission to do so in the form prescribed renders the drawer liable to a heavy penalty. The new cargo boat, built for Mr Pell, was launchod yesterday afternoon. She is to bo named the Perseverance, and will start ou her maiden trip to the Inangahua to-day.