The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1872 COURT DEBTS BILL.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 951, 23 March 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1872 COURT DEBTS BILL.

A>- Act weLs passed at the last 3ession of the General Assembly for "The better Security of Debts due to Workmen." As the preamble sets forth, it is especially designed to enable persons employed upon work, for which their employer has not paid them, to obtain payment from moneys due to that employer for the work that they have done. The Short Title of this Act is, " The Contractors Act, 1871." It provides that, in order to come within the operation of the Act, the work must not have been done upon a moveable chattel, such as could be detained by the workman until this work be paid for, and also that the amount claimed shall not exceed sixty days' wages. The forms of proceeding are simple. The sues the contractor, and obtains a "certificate, which, when served with a notice upon the contractor, obtains the force of an assignment of any moneys due to the contractor by serving upon him a notice of action. There is also provision that where a contractor "sub-lets any portion of his work he shall be responsible for the wages of the workmen employed by such contractor, and the workman may proceed against the contractor as if he had been directly employed by. him.

The want of such a law as this has often been sorely felt by working men, who, after giving their time and labor to the completion of some work, found when it was too late, that for their wages they were at the mercy of some bunkum contractor or dishonest employer. As we are aware that both in this district and other parts of the colony extensive public works are now being disposed of by contract, we think that the spread of knowledge concerning this most useful Act may prove of 'considerable advantage to all whom it may concern.

The steamer Kennedy arrived in port last night. She brought a large amount of cargo, mostly transhipments. A great number of passengers arrived in her ; they are principally carpenters and other tradesmen, and nearly all have departed or are about to depart for Reef ton.

The Charle3 Edward steamer arrived here early this morning from Greyrnouth, with the excursionists on board, who one and all expressed not only dissatisfaction but disgust at some of the doings on the racecourse. The ' steamer left for Nelson, after landing some cattle on the 'other side, about 10 o'clock. The schooner Three Friends arrived from Charleston this morning. From a recent "Gazette" we learn that Reef ton Post Office will, after the Ist of April next, be made a Post Office Money Order and Savings Bank Office. By a General Gdvomment *' Gazette " we see that George Hodgson, Esq., Secretary to the Superintendent of Nelson, has been appointed Receiver of Gold Revenue for the District of Wangapeka and M'atakitaki, Province of Nelson.

The Bishop ot Nelson delivered'a lecture, March 20, in the Town Hall, Greymouth. The lecture was intended only for children, and the hall was crowded.

The performance of Donato, the onelegged dancer, is highly commended by Christchurch papers. When the Grand Jury were discharged on Tuesday, at the Supreme Court Sittings, Hokitika, Mr Justice Richmond commented on the unusual number of bills which had been ignored, and stated that he should take occasion to make some remarks in relation to that fact, and also as to the issue of the two cases tried on Monday. Dv liuliuer reports that no symptoms of small-pox have appeared among any of those passengers :-f the ship England upon whom vaccination had been performed within fourteen years. The Greymouth " Star" says that a telegram was forwarded to Mr T. A. S. Kynnersley, this week, by a few of the electors in the Ahaura district, requesting that gentleman to allow himself to be nominated for the vacant seat in the Nelson Provincial Council. Mr Kynnersley replied that he had no wish to contest any election at present, neither had he any great ambition to secure the seat. Yet he would leave the matter in the hands of the electors, and if returned without the trouble or expense of a personal contest, he would accept the office and do his best for the benefit of the constituency. After this reply it may be fairly conjectured that Mr Kynnersley will be nominated, and it will take a more popular man than we are acquainted with in the district, to shake his chances of being returned.