The Westport Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1872

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 963, 19 April 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1872

His Honor Judge Harvey was a passenger from Greymouth yesterday by the steamer Murray. One inebriate, Augustus Vaughan, was charged at the R.M. Court, yesterday, with having been drunk on the evening previous. He was further charged with having been three times convicted of drunkenness within the period of six calendar months. Defendant denied having been drunk on the last occasion mentioned, but after the evidence of Constable Meredeth and Sergeant Kiely wss taken, he was sentenced to four days' imprisonment with hard labor. The machinery for the Band of Hope Company, Shiel's line, No 1 and 2 south, arrived by Northern Light, and is now landed and ready for transmission to the reefs. It is expected that a contract will be signed to-ilay with Mr Pell for the conveyance of the same to the mouth of Murray Creek. Tenders have been received at the Company's office for the erection of the battery and construction of a water-wheel 50 feet in diameter. The water-race i 3 already in, and the materials for the erection of the wheel and battery are on the ground, and excavations have been made for the erection of the machinery. The Company are at present engaged driving a tunnel on the extreme northern boundary, at a level of IliO fcet lower than the level in the centre tunnel, They have driven 150 feet, and expect to strike the reef after driving 50 to 100 feet further. The reef is already struck in the Golden Cros3 claim, Trenery's lease, outside the northern boundary of the Band of Hope. When this company strike the reef in the present tuunel, their intention is to lay down a tramway of 110U feet from the mouth of the tunnel to the machine-site, which will be worked by trucks and wire-rope, the down-going trucks raising the empty ones. At the entrance to the Warden's office a list of the claimants to vote on the electoral roll of the Buller district, for the ensuing year, is hung up for public inspection. The list contains the names proferred during the month of January, February, anil , March of this year, and any objections to any name or names on the list must be sent in to the Registration Officer before the 30th of this month. The District Court sittings commence at Charleston to-morrow, Saturday, the 20th instant, and the sittings in Westport commence on Wednesday, the 24th inst. The only cases for hearing at Westport are the disputed section case between Stitt Bros. and T. Gallagher at Reefton, and two of bankruptcy—Neville Bull and Ebenezer Goth:ird, who are applying for their final discharge. Mr Broad, R.M. and Warden at Reefton, left Westport on Wednesday morning for Christy's Accommodation House, where he held a Court yesterday. He intended proCSPrHrig to tko Lyoll oil n. visit, ili't Ci' disposing *ilx<cr buoliicraa ttti OUrISCy'S. To-morrow evening Mr Rainer will exhibit his far-famed Diorama of the American War. Mr Rainer has*been drawing crowded houses in Greymouth and Hokitika during the last three weeks, and on his way through Westport ho purposes giving one night's entertainment only, when we feel certain that a large number of visitors will witness the instructive exhibition. The insecure condition of the Orawaiti bridge is a matter we have again had our attention directed to, and 13 one we should desire to bring under the notice of the Provincial Engineer. If there exist no funds for the purpose of putting the bridge in rrpair, then the attention of one of our members of the Provincial Council might be given to it next month, in order that a _ sufficient sum may be voted. At present the bridge is unsafe for foot-passengers, and seldom does a week pass without the record of some horse and rider narrowly escaping the fracture of limbs. Mr Eteveneau has launched from his workshop another and most creditable specimen of his skill in boat-building. Many improvements have been introduced since the last boat was turned out from his establishment. This boat is fifty-four feet in length, with a beam of nine feet, and a depth of two feet two inches; her carrying capacity will be about nine tons. She is fitted with combings, and a moveable panel at each side to admit the horses. A large concourse of people assembled on Wednesday to assist at the launch, which was successfully achieved, after the usual amount of health-drinking and hurrahing. We understand that the proprietor, Mr C. Crowell, who was absent from the launching, will take her on her maiden trip early next week. The sooner the better, as Westport is becoming quite choked up with stores, building material, machinery, waggons, and drays, intended for the reefs; but as Mr Eteveneau is under agreement to launch another large boat in four weeks from date, with three others to follow, and as there are now two other builders at work, we may hope soon to have something like a sufficiency of local accommodation. The mining case, Drury v. Cooney, Kennedy, and others, in which the plaintiff sought to establish a right to a share in a quartz claim at the Inangahua, was decided by his Honor Judge Harvey on Wednesday last, at the District Court in Greyraouth. It will be remembered that this case first came before Dr Giles, as Warden at that time for the Reefton district, whose judgement was adverse to the plaintiff, who gave notice of appeal. The trial in the District Court lasted two days, at the conclusion of which the Judge delivered an elaborate written judgment in the case. The judgment waa in favor of the defendants, with professional and Court costs. His Honor, on being applied to for farther costs, remarked that he had given his> decision on the grounds of publie policy, and also that the defendants did not come into the Court with clean hands » for, although work had unquestionable been done for them by plaintiff, they had made no offtr of payment. Had this been otherwise he would havo allowed mnch heavier costs. His Honor added that in case of plaintiff desiring to take the case to a higher Court he would be happy to afford his counsel every assistance. Mr Newton said that it had been generally understood on both sides that, whatever the judgment of the Court was, an appeal would be made, and he asked Mr Pitt (counsel for defendants) to agree to state a case, but this, in the absence of all his clients, that gentleman declined to do.

The passengers on board the steamer Murray on her trip from Greyraouth to Westport on Wednesday evening had their nervou3 systems somewhat put to the test. Gliding down the Grey river at dusk, and hearing the first shout of the lineman " ten feet," all went well. The knowledge that the little craft was drawing less than seven feet, and the fact of the signals having been shown from the north spit for half an hour before leaving the wharf, gave Captain Palmer not the least uneasiness in regard to the boat, nor even the fear of getting a wet coat. He had a slight suspicion that " a spray or two might come over," and this being expressed, one of the passengers took the hint and removed from the ' weather side.' Half-a-dozen turns of the Bcrew, and the lineman's voice was no longer heard. * Port' and * Starboard' were words disobeyed, not by the man at the wheel, but by a steamer imbedded in sand from bow to stern. Three consecutive 'curlers' of the dark blue tinge over her port bows disrespectfully extinguished even the meerschaum of his Honor the Judge. Broadside on went the vessel, and the captain spoke truthfully when he predicted ' a benefit.' Smash went the bulwarks, crack went the galley fixings and side houses, and away went one of the side boats minus her pulleys only. The drenched passengers had to take their bath kindly. Not a syllable was uttered but by the captain and every word of his was weighed by the hearers. ' Full speed ahead ' was ordered in vain. ' Stop her,' ' Back her,' followed consecutively from the voice of the captain, and a wicked passenger was heaid to echo *' Damn her." At last a succession of rollers enabled the screw to propel again, and the dismal forebodings were allowed to vanish. The Judge was seen emptying his boots of the briny water, the brand of Hennessy was run upon by the parched lips from the poop, and Palmer was " himself again" on the ocean wave. The steamer safely reached the Buller yesterday morning.

Messrs Pell and Atkinson have sublet their contract, Section No. 3, on the Inangahua road. On Section No. 2, Moms and Co.'a contract, there are a large body of men at work, part on wages and part having taken a sub-contract. The work in connection with this contract is being proceeded with rapidly, a large quantity of the bush being already cleared. Section No. 1, next to Christy's is also being proceeded with satisfactorily. Operations have not yet been commenced on the section between the Mi Mi and Reefton. Freight has every tendency of being raised between Westport and Reefton, owing to the larger quantities of goods offering at present. As high as £l7 to £2" i per ton has been paid this week for goods taken to the landing, and in one instance ,£22 per ton was given for a boat-load of drapery to the same place. At a meeting of the Greymouth Flood Relief Committee, held on Monday last, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr R. C. Reid, Hon. Treasurer to the fund, that the sum of £64 4s 6d, beinsj the amount received from Auckland on account of sut' ferers by the late floods in Greymouth and Westport, be handed to a committee at Westport, consisting of Dr Giles and the tnembers of the Education Committee for distribution in the town of Westport. A cheque for that amount was handed to Mr White, Chairman of the Education Committee yesterday, who on behalf of the Committee tendered its thanks to the Treasurer, to be conveyed to the Greymouth Committee for the amount voted. The resignation of Mr James Wilkie is likely to cause some delay in the election of a member to supply his place, if we may judgoby tlio following obs*erw»*-iox»w in tlio - Oiey Elver Argns' of the 13th instant:— We find we were promature in announcing a date for the election of a member of the Nelson Provincial Council in the room of Mr J. Wilkie, resigned. It appears that the Government have now woke up to the fact that there is no roll in existence, as we pointed out a few days ago, upon which the election can properly take place, and the election will have to be postponed until a new roll is made up and printed. It is a nice little mess, and will probably result in the Grey district being partially disfranchised during the approaching session of the Provincial Council. [Since the above was written, we notice that tie nomination day is fixed for the 23rd instant, and the poll, if necessary, will take place on the 27th instant.] Mr Warden Whitefoord is this alluded to in the * Grey River Argus' of Wednesday last: —" Yesterday morning we took occasion to insert a paragraph stating certain facts regarding the imprisonment of James Bergin at Cobden, and the attempted ejectment of his wife and family from his premises during the term of incarceration as a debtor at Cobden. Yesterday the matter was dragged before the Court in a very irregular manner, in order to give Mr Warden Whitefoord an opportunity of explanation while he was present. He made an explanation which was highly unsatisfactory, and which will require the evidence of several other witnesses to interpret at the next sittiug of this Court." We copy the following from the * Wanganui Herald,' observing that hitherto a bitter feeling has been exhibited by the 'Herald' on all occasions towards the former editor of the 'Chronicle .'—The first number of the ' Wanganui Chronicle' under the management and editorship of Mr Duigan appeared on Monday. The editor asks for public support, and indicates briefly the course the journal will pursue in politics. We cannot do better than apply to our contemporary the words of the late Walter Taylor [editor and proprietor of the * Wanganui Times' for ihe few years of its existence] about ourselves nearly five years ago. —" Upon the principle "that two lawyers or | two doctors can make a good living where one would starve, we really do welcome our j contemporary, and the more so because we believe that whatever Bide he takes in ' politico, or in hia endeavors to remain neutral, ho will speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and then he will have our hearty co-operation." ■ The ' Gi'ey Argus' says that the steamer Waipara, On her last trip fi-orn Okarito to Hokitika, brought up 273 ounces of gold ' and 33 empty eaoka. The diggings of the district seem. to hold out well, and bo docs the "drouth" of its inhabitants.

A new Boman Catholic Chapel has been consecrated at Ngaruawhia, by Dr Croke. A Melbourne telegram of March 28tb states i —Boberfc Eyton; a successful digger from New Zealand, has attempted to pois on himself. His life was saved by active measures. It is said that he was connected with the Press in New Zealand, and is wellknown in Nelson, Taranaki, and Auckland. A case of death under somewhat suspicious circumstances occurred o.n Friday last, at Wa.ltham, Canterbury! It appears that a man named Birch, residing at the Ilurunui, engaged a young girl, thirteen or fourteen years of age, named Isabella Thompson whose mother resides at Waltharo, as servant. At the time of her leaving home to proceed to the Hurunui the girl was in perfect health, and with no apparent signs of disease. On the 27th March, Birch came down to.town with a waggon, bringing the

girl with him in an almost insensible condi- ( tion, and on arriving at Walthani, finding , the mother of the girl away from home, ho asked a Mrs Kaye, resident there, to take charge of the girl, alleging that he wished to get back to Hurunui o3 soon as possible. ( Mrs Kayo took charge of the girl until her mother's return, when she was removed home on a hand barrow, and Dr Campbell was sent for. The girl, who continued wandering in her mind, only had one or two lucid intervals, during which she spoke of ill-treatment, and also complained of being starved, and gradually sank until her death as above. Several marks of ill-treatment were visible on the body of the girl, as to whose death an inquest was to be held. Scarlet fever has broken out in Christchurch. In one house five children, the governess, and a servant, are ill with it. The Canterbury Provincial Government have taken precautions to prevent the disease from spreading. Robert Rodgers, a carpenter, hung himself on April 3rd, with a strip of blanket in the Turakina gaol (Wellington). He was apprehended the previous day, suffering from delirium tremens. When cut down he was not quite dead, but expired shortly afterwards. He leaves a wife and family at Castlemaine, Victoria. A verdict of temporary insanity was returned at the inquest. On April 3rd, 25740zs of gold reached Auckland from the Thames. On April sth, the City of Melbourne took to Sydney, from Auckland, 74050z5, valued at £30,000. During the first quarter of this year, 32,5870zs of gold, valued at £102,649, were exported from Auckland. The publication at Ngaruawah<u of a new journal, the ' Waikato Times, a triweekly, is announced in the Auckland papers. Mr Walker's flax mid at Tuakau, Auckland, has been totally destroyed by fire. Information was received on Saturday that a fire broke out on the evening of March 31 on Mr Cruickshank's premises, Upper Hutt, Wellington, by which a blacksmith's shop, stables, and some outbuildings, were destroyed. The ' Wellington Advertiser' is to reappear once more. It will be named the * Telegraph.' It is not to touch general, provincial, or municipal politics. The Zavistowski sisters, who are now performing in Auckland, lately visited the Caledonian mine, and after inspecting the various underground workings, sang several songs in the lower regions, much to the delight of the miners. The Roman Catholics of Christchurch appear to be outgrowing their church accommodation. The existing building, which is now capable of holding 700 people, is to be enlarged to such an extent as to provide accommodation for 1200 or 1300 people ; the alterations costing, it is estimated, about £IOOO. On March 30, says the ' Timaru Herald,' at the Government Landing Service we noticed no less than twenty drays and waggons, all loaded with grain, waiting to discharge. Harnessed to these vehicles there were exactly 70 horses. Thomas Reilly was killed while employed launching a Government cargo boat at Timaru. The case of Joske v. Cassius, recently tried in the Supreme Court, Melbourne, was an action brought to recover £360, the value of spirits, wine, <fcc., shipped bj Mr Joske, in 1865, to Michael Cassius, of Hokitika, New Zealand. Defendant admitted the receipt of the goods, but contended that they were not equal to the price charged against him. Some was so bii<l that, after atoring it for a time, he offered it to the owner of the store in payment of the charges—an offer which was declined. The jury gave a verdict for plaintiff, damages .£333 Is 2d. It is in contemplation by the Christchurch Orangemen to build, at no very remote date, a handsome hall in a central part of the city, for the purpose of holding their gatherings.