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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1012, 11 October 1872, Page 2

Reasonably presuming, from the tenor of our telegrams, that Mr Vogel has succeeded in forming a permanent Ministry, marshalling his allies in array, compact and strong as ever, it is not probable the sitting of the present session will be prolonged further than to vote supplies for the current financial year, and for the despatch of certain routine business. In the present state of party feeling it can hardly be expected that any useful legislation will be accomplished, and the sooner therefore honorable members are sent to the homes for which they weary, the better for themselves and their constituents. Mr Vogel has promised that West Coast affairs shall receive immediate and earnest attention, and there is reason for belief that his action will be more prompt and decisive than that of his predecessors had they remained in office, however desirous they might have been to remove some of the causes of discontent under which the Southwest Goldfields have so long suffered. It may not be that the promised boon will be granted, even at the hands of Mr Vogel, so speedily as may be desired, but the prospects are more cheering, inasmuch as the members of Mr Vogel's Cabiuet will be men of one mind with their chief in this matter, above all others Meanwhile, awaitting the fulfilment of good intent, it will be unwise for the people of the South-west Goldfields to relax in the slightest degree their watchfulness, or lessen one iota their earnestness and constancy of appeal for redress of crying evils. It is not a great deal we ask for; the boue of contention between the Nelson Government and the goldfields, has ever been the expenditure of revenue. Under the Curtis regime our share has been but the barest pickings ; wo plead now that the total revenue raised on the goldfields, less a just and equitable contribution towards common goventnent, shall be left to our own expenditure, as the best judges of what is really and absolutely essential for our welfare and advancement. This grauted the exact form and pressure of new systems of local government would be a secondary consideration. We want the revenue assured first, so that we may then be able to appreciate the good services of either general or provincial government in aiding our efforts to adopt a

system of local ailuiiuistnvtion, but without the first essential secured, all devices and pet theories for establishing the second are productive only of vanity and vexation of spirit.

Mails for the Australian Colonies close at Bluff, this day, 11th Instant, at 2.30 p-in. Telegrams will be received at Westport Tost Office until 12.30. In our next issue will appear an interesting and highly favorable report on the Ngakawhau Coal mine, by Mr R. C. Chambers, who, as a practical coal viewer of long experience, came from Melbourne by the Albion, specially to inspect and report on the mine, We may say brielly that it exceeds in extent and value his most sanguine anticipations. The manifest of the Dunedin appeai-B in our shipping column. The site for the Government Buildings, fronting Palmerston Btreett on the new township, is now cleared, and, with the exception of the removal of a few tree stumps, i 3 ready for building on. Tenders are called by the Provincial Engineer, for ihe removal of the Government buildings. Rumours are still rife a3 to the anticipated struggle for the Superintendency, proving at. least, that whether Mr Curtis has made up his mind to resign or not, public opinion holds that he ought. the follow ing is the latest «tip' as to the probable chances of candidates:—Kynnersley 1, Collins 2, Luckie 3, Saunders 4, Shephard 5. Of the first two it is doubtful whether either would contest the election if the other declared to stand ; it is yet uncertain whether Mr Luckie aspires to the honorable cares of office, and Messrs Saunders and Shepherd's chances of success would depend in the event of a contest, as much on ailuke as or> legitimate polling. However there is time enough yet for the public to make their book*. The larger the field the better chance for the West Coast favorite to win, whoever he may be.

The Nelson Provincial Government have decidsd on making a radical change in the control of the Westport gaol, Ou and after the Ist proximo the gaol will be classed as a watch-house and police barracks, and placed under the superintendence ot Sergeant Kiely; the present gaoler, Mr Maguire, retiring on a compensation allowed. Prisoners, other than those summarily dealt with, will be sent to Nelson gaol; and we believe the same system will be adopted with prisoners convicted in the Reefton and outlying districts. A saving in departmental expenditure will be eifeeted thereby, but whether judiciously or not remains to be proved,

On the passenger list, per Wallace from Nelson, we notice the name of Mr Shapter, Barrister, who has returned to tha Coast from Dunedin, with the intention of resuming practice here and at Reefton.

During the past, two months upwards of 124,000 feet of timber have been imported here for building purposes, and the demand is only temporarily supplied, In the face of this fact, it seems parsing strange that an attempt is not made to establish and encourage a local industry in timber sufficient to supply requirements. There is already a steam engine and appliances in the district, available for driving a saw-mill, the use of which might be obtained on reasonable terms, and the outlay for saws and requisite gear would not be beyond the means of two or three men with a small capital. At present the Westport consumers are at the mercy of their southern neighbours, who consign to this port what they like and when they like. The steamers too ehavge a freight on timber which alone would leave a fair margin of profit to local producers.

The Loyal Greymouth Lodgo of OddFellows purpose celebrating their fifth anniversary by a ball and supper at Gilmer's Hall, Greymouth, on the 17th instant.

The next sale of town and suburban lots at Ilokitika, will take place on the 4th proximo,

The Greymouth Masonic Hall Companv has been duly Gazetted under the Limited Liability Companies Act, and the managers have purchased 21 years lease of a section of land in Mackay street, having a frontage of G6ft by a depth of 132, on which stand 3 the Native Reserves, for the sum of £230. The annual rental is fixed at £2O.

A fire happened at Deadman's Creek on Sunday last, whereby a house the property of_ Peter Heron, better known perhaps as Waterloo, was burnt, and its contents totally destroyed. It had been occupied by two or three men, who went out during the morning leaving a fire burning on the hearth, and it is supposed t.ie wind blowing through crevices in the chimney scattered the sparks which ignited either the boards or bedding. The flames were first seen by Mr Beaton, storekeeper, but he had little or no assistance at the moment and could do nothing to combat with the fire. Another fire took place at Hatter's Terrace about 2 a.m. on Monday, the store and residence of Mr Catchpole being totally destroyed. The accident in this instance is supposed to have arisen from the ignition of soot in a foul chimney. Mr Catchpole with his wife and family, were all soundly sleeping at the outbreak, and were only awakened by the crackling sound of burning wood, in cime to rush from the building, saving scarcely a vestige of clothing, building, or stores.

The Eangitoto brings fifty Chinamen for Hokitika, the advance guard of a much stronger force of celestials, The ' Charleston Herald' of the 9th inst. says yesterday afternoon an accident resulting in serious consequences happened at Candlelight, to a miner named John Cummings, Cuminings was in the act of sluicing away a dam when a small quantity of earth gave away, struck him on the head and knocked him down, and a boulder of granite concrete fell on his leg—which lay across a small race—and broke, the bone. A party of his friends and mates was at once organised to bring the sufferer into town for medical assistance, and carefnlly carried on a stretcher, he was brought to the Hospital, where he was put under the care of Dr Henry. It was fortunate his mate was handy at the time of the accident, otherwise Cummings might have been drowned, or smothered, for where he fell, the hose continued playing on his face.