The Westport Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 998, 23 August 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1872.

We publish the Financial statement of the Honorable Colonial Treasurer delivered before the House, in committee, on the 20th instant. As will bo observed it deals generally in round numbers, and in the absence of specific details, is hardly open to analysis or remark. It certainly presents New Zealand affairs from the very best point of view, but it is doubtful whether it will success? n lly withstand the fierce attacks and unmerciful picking to pieces it must bo subjected to in tho House. The general public will be disappointed to find that it fails to give tho slightest indication of contemplated judicious retrenchment in departmental expenditure or any preceptible lightening of the heavy burdens, which, despite the rosy picture of general prosperity pour tray ed by tho hand of a muster, and held up to dazzle the gaze, still presses Borely on the. taxpayers, the bone and sinew of the country, who, by sheer hard work .and unwearying energy, alone' prevent the colony from drifting into helpless bankruptcy and irredeemable disgrace.

A telegraphic messages, conveying very satisfactory news to many residents in Westpovt, was received yesterday. The true reef has been struck in Anderson's prospecting claim. It was readied ill the main tunnel at a distance of 140 feet, but to make assurance doubly sure a traverse drive was put in from the terrace, and t'.ie reef again struck therefrom. A short t.'me sine.? a leader of very lich stone wa3 cut thr< ugh, and some slight feara were enter taincd that the reef had been missed. The doubt is now dispelled by the above eheoriag &s nuance.

Professor Haselmayer made his first appearance last evening, before a Westport audience, at Mr Sheahan's Assembly Hall, or rather, to give its new appellation, the "Theatre Royal," Lyttelton street. To merely designate the performance of music and magic as a success, would very faintly convey an idea of the astonishment of the audience. Wondering delight and unbounded gratification were depicted on the face 3 of all present. The most seoptical were utterly bewildered, and the credulous were fairly dunbf mndered. The peculiarity of th ; perfo mance was iti novelty. A few of the tricks mi-flit have been recognised, by adepts in fea's diabolique, as old friends witli new face', but the majority were the Professor's own peculiar specialities, cabalistic mysteries beyond the powers of mortal ken. We cannot on this occasion ennumerate the varied illusions, but, amongst other wonderous doings the performance of the "goblin drum" was something to be reniemb -red. It not only told plainly what members of the audience did in secret, but achially what they intended to do. The Professor's second sight was also astonishing. Blindfolded he read.3 equally well with his fingers, as with his eyes. The musical portion of the entertainment is also good. Music from stones has passed into a proverb, but, in addition to hi 3 piano performance, the magician gets music from wood, veritable little slips of pine, handy bits for lighting a fire, but out of which he hammers excellent music. Of the performing birds we can only say go and see them, they are little wonders. A large audience assembled last night, and the arrangements for tho convenience of all were found perfect. To-night and to-morrow night the theatre will be full to overflowing, as all who have once been, will scarce resist the fascination attracting them to go again. A meeting of the Excelsior Quartz Mining Company was held during the present week, and a very satisfactory report received from shareholders who have lately inspected the mine. The stone already obtained seems of first-class quality, and the result of the first crushing is hopefully anticipated as lik.-ly to prove exceedingly good. Arrangements have been made for crushing 800 tons at an early date. A letter received last erening, by a shareholder, states that a reef has been struck in tho lower tunnel, three feet in thickness, showing good gold bearing stone throughout. During the last sitting of the Nelson Provincial Council, on representation being made of the disgraceful state of tho Westport Cemetry; a promise was eiven by the Executive that managing trustees should be appointed, holding a vested right therein, and having authority to charge fees, and expend the income therefrom arising in the improvement and conservance of the cemetry. Up to the present time nothing has been done to redeem this promise; and, in reply to an enquiry on the subject, the Provincial Secretary writes the Superintendent cannot appoint trustees until the site ban been conveyed to him by the Governor, Lilb lII*, EllU utwi/.u*j, with him to Wellington necessary for a conveyance, and hoped to get the matter settled at an early date. The question arises, why such a simple matter of detail could not have been accomplished off hand without delay, or the trouble of further correspondence. It is this constant inattention, foygetfulness, or disregard in matters of minor importance, on the part of the Nelson Executive, that aggravates the feeling of discontent prevailing here against Nel_son rule.

Casualities, resulting in loss of human lire, have been sadly frequent oE late. In our last issuo we had to record the untimely end of Charles Kerns, who was drowned while crossing the Upper Buller. To-day three more names muse be added to the long roll of thoso whom the Fates have claimed. Last Sunday afternoon about three o'clock four men attempted to cross the Lyell river, to a garden owned by one of them, and when about mid-stream, their craft, a frail canoo, capsized. Two of the party managed to save themselves, but the ether two were almost instantly drowned. Their names were James Edmunsen, or Edmonton, and a Swiss-Italian named Romario, or [some such designation. The former had been engaged mining on a beach about two miles up the river, and the latter has recently employed his time in gardeniug, but he was well known as an experienced pioneer miner, and the prospector of the Alpine Eeef. News has also reached town that James O'Malley, storekeeper at the Little Grey, has been also drowned, ab Lairy's Creek, where he was about to open a branch store, but full particulars of the occurrence- are not yet to hand,

Telegraph stations have been opened at Waiau and Kurunui, in the province of Nelson. We call the attention of publicans to the Licmse meeting advertisement published in our columns. Publicans requiring licenses, and not fulfilling all conditions imposed by the new act will receive no consideration for another three months. The principal points of the Act were published in our last issue. Enquiries are daily made for authentic nows as to the reported new diggings in the Roper River district, north Australia. Such meagre items as come to hand are vague and unreliable, as first rumors concerning goldfiolds usually are. A recent telegram reports that the Adelaide Government has information of the existence of gold on the northern territory. Another says, that 71bs weight has been found on Scott's section ; but nothing more definite is published. From private advices wo know that some three months since information was forwarded to Sydney, that the men employed on the telegraph line, ware becoming excited at the discovery of gold found while sinking holes for the telegraph posts. Some prospects bad realised as much as 3dwts. to the dish, and from nearly every hole put down, for a distance of eighty miles, indications of gold could be obtained. The hands were only debarred from throwing up their engagements, and going off prospecting, by reason of the utter lack of previsions, there being none obtainable, except such as had been brought round to Port Darwin for tho party and of these they were not permitted to purchase, as the supply was too uncertain. The blacks also threatened to be troublesome to 6mall isolated parties, and the climate was too unhealthy to admit of bodily exposure without the health preservatives of proper food and medical comforts. Water also was exceedingly scarce at certain seasons, and, although indications of go'd were abundant there seemed little probability of the ground being profitably woiked, except at an ;

enormous cost of money and risk o" lifeThe Sydney and Adelaide merchants will laave no stone unturned to open up the hold for their own advantage, but pending reliable official reports from either place, our mining friends, whose inclination to up stick and off, at the shortest notice, has many a time and oft led them from bad to worse, will do well to rest content with their present prospects. The " Charleston Herald" says that nearly twenty miners are at work on the North Totara beach this week, and that the sand is turning out richly. As a reminiscence of byegone misadventure, we clip the following from a contemporary : —The following extracts from the diary of an old Wanganuite now located in Westport. will give our readers an idea of what people in that sea-beleagured town have to contend against:—"ln trouble again; shipwrecked ashore this time. Total wreck of the Empire Hotel, on Tuesday, 23rd July, when at 2 p.m. 'he sea commenced coming in at the kitchen door—3 p.m., meat safe carried away—4 p.m., water tanks broke adrift and made tracks—s p.m., ebb t'd>, and the house once more high and dry—from 6 p.m. till midnight, all hands backing and removing goods.—Midnight, kitchen carried away by a green sea—l a.m. main chimney broke adrift—2 a.m., two back parlors sailed for Guam—2.3o a.m. green seas rolling through the house, and out of the front door into the street —3 a.m., barmaid and housemaid taken safely on to dry land—all hands for the next three honrs up to their waists in removing furniture, &c —got into new hotel during forenoon on Wednesday, and set to work to dry dunnage." The ' Inangahua Herald ' is informed that Inspector Shalcrass, acting under instructions from the Provincial Government, has been inquiring tho whereabouts of Mr C. H. Crampton, the Superintendent relying upon his assistance to obtain signatures in that district to the anti-separation petition which recently arrived in Westport. Had Mr Grampton still been resident in the district, it is very certain, says the ' Herald.' that any efforts he might have been induced to exercise in tho direction referred to would bave been unavailing ; but, as it happens, Mr Crampton left the district some few days ago for Melbourne. An irate correspondent wants to know the names of the clever hedgers and ditchers who designed or constructed the present mud and man trap at the junction of Lyttelton and Wharf streets, that he may express his opinion to them individually in plain unvarnished English ; and he enquires also, against whom in the event of accident to man or beast, a sufferer would have grounds for legal action. The description he gives of the spot is not exaggerated. At the corner of Lyttelton street there gapes an open sewer, ten feet deep at least. Between the edge of this and the steep river bank about twelve feet of roadway only intervenes, but therein are deep holes caused by the box drain underneath having been taken up and carelessly replaced. The tide comes up the drain, and is gradually sapping the side walls of the open sewer; draymen, twisting and turning their drays to avoid the holes, aro rapidly working the few feet, of roadway into a quagmire, and unless remedial measures are promptly adopted all wheel traffic along Wharf street will be stopped. In fact the street from end to end needs thorough repair.