REEFTON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1007, 24 September 1872, Page 2

REEFTON.

(FIIOM OTTR OWN COBUESrONDENT.) September 19th. Since my last letter our usually quiet town has been aroused from its lethargy by reports of outrages beiDg committed on all sides. "Wo who have hitherto had only a few cases of petty larceny to remind us of the need of Police supervision had scarcely recovered from the emotion caused by the rumors of the murder of Costello in a lonely hut by the side of a bush track, indeed the magistrate's preliminary investigation was not concluded, when two other informations were almost simultaneously laid against two men charged in each case with shooting with intent. It would seem almost as if a mania for crime had suddenly settled on the district, And thus are the citizens reminded that tho cause of humanity is not the only, though perhaps the most urgent reason why the gaoler's accommodation should bo extended. It must be patent to the most superficial observer that men, who commit crimes such as those it is a very paiuful duty to chronicle as having been committed here during the past week, most certainly cannot be considered to be in safe keeping, when they are permitted to roam in and out of a room only 12 x 8 feet in size, and with no one to guard them but an unarmed policeman. At any rate if men so confined are safe, then all tho paraphernalia of stone walls, massive gates, chains, locks, bars, &c, to say nothing of the multitude of warders with as many loaded revolving rifles, bayonets, and all the customary accompaniments of gaols are not only absurd, but a scandalous waste of public money. While on this subject it is due to Sergeant McArdle and Constable Jeffreys to state that during the past week they have not only attempted, but have actually performed the work of at least six men. The prisoners have had to be guarded day and night, to see not only that they did not escape, but that they held no communication with one another. The sittings of the Court have had to be attended to ; arrests made ; and all the usual work of the Police office attended to, and all this has been done by two men. The new Court House is receiving a coat of paint and so 1 presume ero long it will be out of the contractors' hands. Up to the present Barker's billiard room has supplied tho deficiency. Mr Warden Broad using the table as his desk. The only space left for solicitors, officials, press, public, aud prisoners, being the narrow passage-way between the table and four walls of a by no means large room.

The protection for a tramway from Eeefton to Black's Point originally granted to Mr Courtney of Westport, has been transferred to a joint-stock Company who already are making rapid progress with the work. The contractors clearing the line expect to finish in ahout four weeks' time, and I believe the company intend calling for tenders for the supply of rails and sleepers immediately. This undertaking, when completed, will be an immense boon to all whose business take them up the Inangahua. There are actually many places on the present track where if a man's foot slipped, even an inch, he would be precipitated down to the river bed, indeed every ordinarily cautious paterfamilias would do well to consider the advisability of iosuring his life before venturing many feet out of the town. Another much needed public work which is being rapidly completed by private enterprise, is the construction of a footpath and kerbings up one side of Broadway. Unless the residents on the other side take a leaf out of the same book they will be guilty of ridiculously peuny-wise and pound-foolish conduct. The Hospital Committee decided to retire at the end of the present month, so as to give the publican opportunity , of passing an opinion on their administration of the affairs of the charity. An entertainment is about being held at Black's Point under their auFpices and for the benefit of their funds. It is much to bo hoped that the incoming Committee will see their way to considerably enlarge the Ward and erect an out-house in which to do the cooking. In a report sent in at the meeting this evening, Br. Bulmor drew special attention to thia point on sanitary grounds, That the present Committee should have been able to do as much as they have done after receiving only £SO from the Government speaks volumes for the liberality of the district, than which there are few if any, poorer. In Eeefton the number of apparently

abandoned and valueless curs, that are constantly prowling about, is an intolerable nuisance. Lot anyone who objeets to pay his dog tax only bo banished to this delightful place for a week or so, I guarantee ho will pay the tax for ever after without a murmur. In tho Court held on Monday last, before Mr Warden Broad, 13 civil cases were heard, and decided, but they possessed no unusual features. The North Star Company, was, however, most conspicuous, as several of the shareholders were sued for important calls.

In the criminal jurisdiction on the same day, Andrew M'Shane and j William Roberts were brought up charged" with shooting with intent. Roberts was discharged, M'Shane was remanded till this morning, when he wai duly committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the District Court, to be holden at "Westport. John Williams was charged with shooting with intent &c. at Daniel Quadri. A very had feature in this case is that Quadri was endeavoring to turn the prisoner out of his wife's bedroom at the time when he fired otT tho gun, which was so heavily loaded that the boards of the door were actually puncture 1, and were produced in Court. Charles Sibree and George Barton were again brought un, charged with the wilful murder of Thomas Costello, no further evidence being forthcoming, his Worship ordered the discharge of Sibree, and remanded Barton for another week.

I have just ascertained that the Westport road, as it is called, in other words, the road from Eeefton to Christy's landing, will he officially opened to-morrow, in fact a waggon was permitted to travel over it to-day. Eeefton can no longer be considered as almost a terra incognita, for thanks to the action of the late Ministry we are now placed within easy access of both Westport and Greymouth, either place can now be quite easily reached in a day. The opening of this road and consequent reduction in the rate of freight, is not the only good news I am able to send you this week. Two more claims on Kelly's line are at present employed in conveying stone to the Westland machine, which will afterwards crush for the prospecting claim known as Kelly's, and subsequently for the Victoria, who intend crushing 500 tons, about 70 of which are to grass. The Hokitika managment ot the Westland does not seem to have much improved the state of affairs as the mine. The manager and all the men were paid off two days ago. On Shiell's line, Paddy Hunt's or the Golden Fleece Company are sinking a shaft to connect the upper and lower levels. This will have the effect when finished of enabling them to work the two levels with the one tunnel, and will also greatly improve the quality of the air down below, which so far has been \erj bad. The North British have resumed work. The Ajax Company are still crushing for themselves. The Band of Hope are steadily progressing with the erection of their machinery. The water-wheel for which, was completed, or very nearly so yesterday. Anderson's are expecting to crush in about three weeks, and are sanguine of meeting with success. A comparatively new claim, situated a short distance southeast of the grouud occupied by the Wealth of .Nations, is just now attracting a considerable amount of attention. The stone they are getting out ia exceedingly rich, with gold freely distributed throughout. Their reef is about three feet thick. The chief items from Boatman's are that Capleß expect to strike the reef very shortly, they are in about 192 feet and expect to get the reef at about 220. They have the reef at the surface, where it averages from 3 to 5 feet thick. The Just in Time are sinking alongside the reef, and keeping very good stone. Numbers 1 North and 1 South are both putting in tunnels at the lower level. Thompson and party are about sinking on the reef in their claim, where it is exposed near the mouth of their tunnel.