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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 985, 5 July 1872, Page 2

Wo call attention to a mistake in our hurried report of the mooting at the Court House on Monday evening Inst. By a transposition of the names of streets, Mr Sharp is reported to have said that ho would recommend the " formation of Palnierston, Rintoul, and Eonblanque streets, instead of only to Wakefield street." What he really did say was " tho formation of Kintoul and Wakufield streets, instead of Fonblanque street, as at present proposed ; tho wharf to be at the end of Wakefield street."

A welcome addition to the languishing funds of the Westport Hospital, has been made in. the shape of a remittance of jEIG 16s; forwarded by Mr A. Zala, from the Lycll. Representing a donation of £5 ss. from the Alpine Claim, and other subscriptions collected on neighbouring claims. A praiseworthy example worthy of imitation in many other localities. We call attention to the notice of meeting to be held at the Court House, tomorrow evening. Probably owing to the fact that the opening of tho R. M. Court at 10 a.m., instead of 11 o'clock, as heretofore, is not always remembered, many cases called for hearing are struck out, on account of the nonappearance of parties. It has been customary to call each case twice, but the Resident Magistrate on Tuesday last expressed his intention to discontinue doing so. and to adopt some stringent mode of procedure to enforce punctual attendance. Anothor cargo boat, the property of the owners of the X.L, was launched yesterday afternoon from tke end of Moles worth street; from the building shed of Messrs Ryder and Garrio. Some two score of willing hands, aided by a span of stanch horses, dragged her along tho ways to tho edgo of the surf, and she was launched on the briny without accident, and, with a numerous company on board, was thereafter rowed up stream to her moorings. Tho boat is about six tons burden, and, for strength and trim built appearance,, presents a very favorable specimen of boatwrights handiwork. The works at the Ngakawhao coal-mine are very satisfactorily progressing. The drive i 3 now in some seventy feet and a tramway laid throughout, right up to tho coal face. The cargoes brought down lately by the p.s. Result show a marked improvement in quality, and in future will be still better for the purchaser, as it is intended to send nothing down but screened coal; the screens being now in course of erection! The price, however, is too high, and also prevents the coal being brought into general use. Two pounds sterling per ton, and drayman's charges for delivery, prevents very many householders from inresting in Ngakawhao ** black diamonds." The 'coal has been tested for steam purposes, and is found equal, if not superior, to the Grey coal; burning freely and being free from ash. The supply of provisions at Reefton scarcely keeps pace with the requirements. Last week the stock of flour in the district was reduced to about five tons, two tons being at Black's Point, and about three tons at Reefton. The entire quantity was scarcely equal to a week's consumption. The Reefton people are complaining of tl»o mnuUW 111 nrhiull Uie UUtttrUuk fui lUu conveyance of mails from Greymouth is carried out. The road is so bad that the contractor, when the mail is at all heavy, is compelled to leave the bags containing newspapers at wayside places, to bo sent on by pack horse, and it often happuus that a delay of many days thus ensues, The road from Westport to Reefton is certainly bad enough at present, but the mail contractor contrives to deliver his charge within reasonable time. If the people of Reefton would join with those of Westport in agitating for a second weekly mail between" the two places, they would have little cause to complain of irregularity in the service. The contract for building the new Court House at Reefton, has been given to Messrs Rankin and Miller.

Intending claimants for sections on the Colliery Reserve, aro reminded that their claims must be made on or before the 10th instant. We ('Argus') understand that the Energetic Company, Inangahua, have struck the reef at a lower level, and at a distance of 175 ft in the lower tunnel within 10ft of the spot that the Mr Bray, indicated before tho level was put in. The stone obtained is of an excellent description. The whole of the machinery, including the turbine wheel with which it is to be worked, is at Mr Wickes's store in this town, and will be forwarded to its destination without loss of time. This is tho claim from which the trial crushing yielded an average return of 4oz 6dwt to the ton, ten tons being put through the mill. We now hear that the machinery will be sent back to Westport, as its ovorland transit from Greymouth is impracticable. Barbor, late Postmaster and Receiver of Revenue, at Hokitika, has been committed for trial on two charges of embezzlement. Bail was allowed. The rumour current last week that a large fire had occurred in Dunedin, has received some confirmation, although fortunately the damage done seems to have been less than first stated. The fire broke out on the morning of the 28th ult., at M'Leod and Co.'s glass and china warehouse ; destroying their stock and fittings. The stock was insured in the New Zealand Office for £2500, in the Liverpool and Globe, for £2OOO, in the Northern for £ISOO, and in the Victorian for 1000. Tho origin of the fire is unknown. An enquiry is to bo helf\ The new gold country is attracting attention in the. North Island. A project is on foot at Wanganui to fit out prospectors to the Tuhua goldfields. Several diggers are in Wanganui awaiting an opportunity to proceed. A third attempt has been made to rescuscitate the ' Grey Valley Times,' published at Ahaura. As to its probabilities of success we quote the opening remarks of our contemporary:—"ln resuming once more the publication of this journal, we have thought it advisable to lay before our readers a brief explanation of the motives, which have influenced us to embark, for the third time, upon a venture which, judging by the past, would seem to have little to recommend it in a commercial point of view. That the attempt to establish a local newspaper in the Grey Valley has, up to the present, been unsuccessful, the spasmodic sort of existence which it has been our misfortune to enjoy, will in some measure testify." The 'Times' proceeds to attribute tho previous failures to insufficiently frequent publication, and promises at the beginning of the month, to enlarge its present dimensions, demy folio, to twice that size, and to make it bi-woekly, or triweekly, should the support met with justify such extension.