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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 922, 3 February 1872, Page 2

The honorary treasurer of the Wcsport District Hospital desires us to acknowledge the receipt of £\ from Mr F. Courtney as a donation to the funds of that institution. In our last issue we referred to the fact of the pocket-book containing a portion of the missing money lbst by Mr F. Courtney, express carrier, having been returned. Since then we have been informed that the letter was forwarded by "Honesty" to DrGiles, Resident Magistrate, in place of Scrgt. Kiely. The pocket-book contained £46 ia notes and gold, and a cheque for £4 10s on the Bank of New South Wales, drawn by Robert Tapley in favour of Fergus Campbell. About .£7O in cash and gold are still missing. The package was forwarded through the Post Office at Westport during Mr Courtney's absence at Reefton ; and on learning the circumstance on his return the news proved an agreeable surprise. Whoever "Honesty" may be, however, it is pretty certain that he has very dishonestly extracted the bulk of the missing contents.

A telegram was received yesterday by Captain Leech, Harbormaster, from Captain Fairchild, of the Government steam ship Luna, enquiring the depth of water on the bar, and whether the Luna, drawing Gft 6in, could safely enter the Bnller. A reply in the affirmative was despatched, there being sufficient water to admit of a vessel entering with nearly double the draught or the steamer Luna.

Collins and Carroll's male and female troupe will rrive an entertainment at the Masonic H; 1' this evoning prior to leaving for Nelson by the steamer Murray. In Charleston the company met with an excellent reception.

Ih another column tenders are invited for cleansing and clearing Gladstone-street of the rubbish accumulated during the past five years. No later than yesterday we saw several dead cat s lying about the thoroughfare presenting a most loathsome spectacle. 11 every direction old rags, bagging, hoop iron, rusty and dilapidated tinware, and other rubbish encumber the thoroughfare, while the large loose shingle covering the streets render them totally unfit for walking exercise; indeed, to hobble through some of the streets is a perfect infliction, and for the infirm, or women and children, quite impracticable. Wo are unaware Of the present strength of the hard labor gang in the gaol, but surely during the past five years opportunities have been numer. ous to employ the prisoners in r€ moving the large shingle or breaking it to the size of ordinary road metal. The tunnel of the Anderson's Creek Quartz Mining Co., Inangahua, is now in 470 ft and within 110 ft of the boundary, at which point they expect to strike the reef. The tunnel is being driven at the rate of twenty feet per week. Mr Findlay proceeded to Melbourne in the end of Dec. last for the purpose of obtaining a crushing plant, which is expected to arrive in Wcotport by the schooner Northern Light. The

machinery i 3 to consist of throo Latteries of 15 head of Gewt stamps, to bo driven by a water wheel thirty feet in diameter by an eight foot breast. The company has secured an excellent water supply of 24 Government heads from the Inangahua river. Scrip in this company are now quoted at £B. There are 1900 scrip held by shareholders. Captain Holmes, of the steamer Charles Edward, was fined J25 and costs at Hokitika on the 25th ult, for landing one head of cattle without a certifleate from the Inspector of Cattle.

Information was received by the General Government by last mail, to the effect that shipments of rails for the Clutha Railway had been arranged lor. The Jessie Readman, from Loudon, brings 250 tons ; the Margaret Galbraith, from Glasgow, 150 tons ; and the Euterpe, from London, 300 tons. These vessels were to leave in November and December.

The Gcrman3 of Canterbury havo subscribed dE3()O towards the erection of a Lutheran Church in Canterbury. Samuel Solomon, iroumonger, was commit-

ted for trial at the Hokitika Police Court on the 23rd ult., for having in his possession more than 10lb of gunpowder, not being duly licensed to sell that article, the offence being a breach of the Arms Act. The penalty is something tremendous for a breach of this Act. The punishment on conviction of a misdemeanor under the Act is imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not oxceeding three years, with a fine not exceeding ,£SOO, at the discretion of the judge; and for a felony—that is, selling gunpowder, arms, &c. —penal servitude for a term, not exceeding six years, and not less than three years. M'Donald, clerk to the Thames Mining Company, has levanted in the Nebraska with Miss Alley, a barmaid, after victimising several friends, one to the extent of £SOO. The men employed on tho Waikato Railway have struck, in consequence of an attempt to introduce the nine hours' system. Mi Brogden refuses to give way.