Untitled

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 969, 10 May 1872, Page 2

The sea still continues its ravages at the rear of the Empire Hotel. A corner of the garden fence is gone, and a slice of cultivated ground swept away. A breastwork of fascines, or- crates laden with stones, backed up by heavy shingle and broken timber might possibly prevent further encroachment, but the remedy to be effectual should be supplied promptly. The holiday proclaimed as a thanksgiving day for the recovery from illness of the Prince of Wales, was duly observed by the closing of the Government offices, and the holding of special divine services in the evening. The drapery establishments and some few other places of business were closed, all day, but the majority of our merchants seemed too actively engaged to evince their loyalty by cessation from business until after noon. By an advertisement appearing in another column, sufferers by the recent floods in Westport are informed that a sum of money, amounting, we understand, to some .£64. is available for distribution amongst them. The money represents a donation from the Auckland people to the Greymouth and Westport Relief Fund; and, as the Subscription lists have been closed at Greymouth, the Mayor decided on remitting the whole amount for distribution in Westport, if needed, Applications for protection, to be decided on the 13th instant, have been made by the owners of business licenses as undernoted. S. A. Leech, j50.;164 and 165, . Palmerston street; Thomas Monsell, No 151 Nelson street and Michael Organ, No 188 Wharf street. . Messrs Seaton and Riley have also applied for protection for sections 182 and 183 Wharf street for a coal depot, pending the arrival of a supply from the Ngakawao mine. We hear that the lessees of the Ngakawao coal mine are erecting a substantial wharf for the shipment of coals, and that the work will be completed with all possible expedition; the getting out of coal from the mine being for the present suspended. The depth of water at the new wharf will be some six fathoms; so that steamers will be enabled to moor there at ull times without difficulty. The Permanent Committee of management for the Social Evenings Entertainment, consists of the following gentlemen: Drs Giles and Thorpe, Messrs J. B. Fisher, J. S. Fleming, R. Whyte, J. Humphrey, W. D. Kerr, R. C. Reid, J. Munro, A. Alexander, 0. Brown, G. Falla, John Corr, J. Powell, and the Revs. A. C. Soutar, and J. White. The committee will meet at 8 o'clock this Friday evening, at the Club Room, Empire Hotel, for the appointment of office-bearers and the transaction of other preliminary business. In connection with this subject it is satisfactory to note that the proceeds of the entertainment, on Tuesday evening last, amounted to £B. Sarah Featherstone, under remand for an assault on Dr Bruen, has been further remanded for eight days, pending the partial recovery of the complainant, who still lies in a precarious condition. He has lost the power of sight in one eye, and fears are entertained that the othir will be similarly affected. A somewhat strange discovery was made by Sergeant Kiely, on the beach, near Dr Thorpe's residence, yesterday morning.

Beneath a small log, lying a little below high water mark, he found, neatly folded up, a man's knitted woollen jacket, faded red sash/woollen comforter, and a towel, evidently placed there between the two tider, but with no indications as to ownership. The Charleston Court will be held this day, having been postponed from yesterday on account of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Mr Warden Giles will return to-morrow. The Rev. A. G. Johnstone, 8.A., has returned from his trip to the reefs, and will give another lecture at the Court House, this evening. The subject will be " British Possessions in India," and from the golden opinions won by the reverend gentleman as a lecturer, on his recent appearance here, he will, no doubt, be greeted by a full audience. With reference to an advertisement from the Directors of the Excelsior Quartz Mining Company, which appears in another column, notifying a call of eight pounds per" share; we are given to understand that it is intended mainly as a medium for bringing up all arrears of calls previously made, and thus facilitate the Directors taking further proceedings against shareholders still in arrears, after the date the above call is made payable. An inquest was held by T. G. M'Carthy, Esq., J.P., Acting Deputy Coroner, on Monday last, at St. Kilda, on the body of a miner named Hugh Devine, who had been found lying dead in his bed on the previous Saturday. Dr Henry gave medical evidence, and a verdict of death from heart disease was recorded. The deceased was a native of Enniskillen, Ireland, and had a married sister living at Kilmore, in Victoria, and a brother at Bendigo. His property, consisting of a small amount of money and a gold watch, was taken possession of by the police, and, with a right to water on Dublin Terrace, estimated in value at £4O, will be disposed of by the Curator of Intestate Estates at Hokitika. We call attention to Mr Vorley's advertisement, notifying that his photographic studio will be Ciosed on and after Monday next, and requesting intending patrons to secure portraits while an opportunity yet offers. Mr Vorley has lately produced some beautifully developed views of buildings in Westport, and river scenery, mounted in carte de visite size, which are well worthy inspection and purchase. An opening for native industry might be well established in the manufacture of paper. It is stated that .£21,904 worth of the kind of paper used for printing alone was imported into thi3 Colony last year. The returns of previous years show that the importations have been steadily increasing. Much difficulty is often experienced in procuring the exaet qualities required. The compositors in the Government Printing-office, Wellington, have struck for a higher rate of pay for setting the Maori language. The frequent misunderstandings arising in the office; would seem to indicate some radical defect in the general management, The Steeplechaser Ronald, has become the property of Mr Proffitt, the owner of Sailor Boy, it having been won for him in a Raffle at Nelson.

Latest mining reports from Auckland state, Caledonian shares as closing at £lB 10s.; Monatari, £4 165.; All Nations, 775. 6d.; Inverness, 15s. to 18s. At lower Wakefield the "Waititi and its tributaries have again made serious inroads by floods arising from the late rains. A small bridge at Foxhill has been swept away, and much damage done to fences and cultivated paddocks. The flood was the highest known for some years past. The following appears in the advertising columns of the ' Taranaki News.' of the 20th:—"Horse for sale.—A young mare that will carry a lady very quiet and easy to catch. Apply to " The great number of marriageable young: ladies at New Plymouth, and the great dearth of eligible bachelors may account for the young ladies being very quiet and easy to catch. The Thames volunteers got up an expensive dinner, and made extensive arrangements on the 25nd ult , to welcome back from the Colonial Firing their representatives, who were to have arrived from Auckland by a certain steamer. The men did not arrive, but the dinner in weljome was eaten all the same. The Thomson road steamer in Auckland has been released from gaol. A correspondent in the Daily Southern Cross suggests that the Government should offer a premium! to married people for all children after the sixth. The Cross calls it a felicitous question. The second day's racing at Nelson gave the following results. The Town Plate, of 40 sovs. was won by Redwood's chesnut marc Peeress ; Flying Jib coming in second. Won by a couple of lengths. Distance two miles. Time 4 min. 2 sec. The Criterion Plate, of 25 sovs; was by Redwood's bay filly Awatea, with Lacenfeed second. Peeress started but was pulled up before the finish. Distance three quarters of a mile. Time: 1 min. 24 sees. For the Hack Race, four entries were made, and the prize was won by Warren's Firetail; who took the lead from the start. The Stoke Handicap, of 30 sovs. with added sweepstakes of 3 sovs. was won by Walters' Slander; running with Peeress, Black Eagle, and Lacenfeed. Distance one mile and a half. Time 2 min. 59 sees. The second Hack Race was won by Mr Arnold's Miss Nightingale, and in the final Consolation Handicap of 25 sovs. Black Eagle came to the fore and carried off the prize from Black Hawk, Mystery, and Fides. The weather during the whole day was cold, and with a bleak raw wind prevailing; and the attendance on the course was small. The Wellington * Telegraph ' says :—Mr Fox has come back ; Mr, Vogel is coming back, or soon will be. The Ministry may be then said to be at home. The work still to be done will probably prevent the meeting of the Assembly before the usual time. In that case there is still time to give Mr Gisborne a holiday. We are perfectly serious. He deserves it, and what is more he ought to have it, Holidays are coming into fashion, and he is looked upon as a helpless creature who does not do his annual sloughing off the skin of care. Every bumptious little counter-jumper who can manage to go through a year's uninterrupted work thinks his superhuman energies want recuperating. Under these circumstances it is possible a few people may think that even a Minister should have a holiday—even a Minister of all work aa some mean newspaper hacks put it in a contemptuous phrase. If all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, Mr Gisborne ought to be a horrible dull dog by this time, for he has had work enough in all conscience since he joined, the Ministry—indeed it has be.en one "demd horrid grind" ever since. We protest against this hit of ministerial imposition. When Parliament meets, such work will be cut out that Ministers will want to Etand in then- places with their vital energies unimpaired ; and not one in the House will have to answer more questions or generally to go through more mental wear and tear than the Colonial Secretary. Perhaps

none can manage to go through what he has to do with less of that lubrication necessary to make unpalatable things pleasant, but that's no reason he should be eternally immured in Government Buildings. it is rumored that the Hon. Colonel Whitmore will take proceedings for false imprisonment against the Justices of Peace at Wanganui, who issued the warrant for his arrest. ■ During the recent stormy weather the Manawatu district was visited by some very severe hail-storms. A correspondent, whose curiosity was excited by the size of the hailstones, measured a number of them which fell on the railway line at Kangitikei at Oaroa, and at Stony Creek. The smallest measured two inches, and the largest four and a half-inches in circumference The ' Otago Daily Times' imblishes the following letter received by a gentleman in Dunedin from a friend located at Catliu's River, who wrote under date April 15th : " I suppose you are aware that I have been on the t*i ee settlement here for tie last three months. I have written to Mr Macandrew, giving him full particulars as to how I am situated, having been several times flooded out by the overflowing of the river to the height of three feet for miles round. Nearly all my provisions and clothes were damaged, leaving me now .with only about a week's supply. We are shut out from all communication—the nearest place being seven miles by water. Unless immediate steps are taken either to send me a supply or means of returning to Dunedin, we must, in plain words, perish with hunger. We have to spend night after night on the higher. We have to spend night after night on the higher part of the bush, with only the trees for shelter. This place was gazetted as fit for settlement, but it was never stated that it was subject to floods. The land is good, and if I had provisions for the winter, I could remove my house to higher ground. You will excuse my troubling you, but I consider it right to apprise some one of the facts." Just as going to press, we learn that an indignation meeting was held at Sattery's Hotel, Reefton, on Saturday evening last, condemnatory of the action taken by the Superintendent in refusing applications for leases, and diminishing the areas where applications have been granted. A resolution was carried nem con, that the General Government be memorialised to take the South-west Goldfields under immediate and special control, cancelling the delegated powers held by the Superintendent. The meeting was crowded, and intense excitement prevails. We also understand that the trial crushing at Mace's realised Some very rich stone has been found near Boatman's.