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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1013, 15 October 1872, Page 2

Mails for Australian Colonies -will close at Greymouth, this day, at 4.30. p.m. News received from the Lyell, last evening, confirms the report that the stone now being obtained from the Little Wonder is still improving, and the next crushing is confidently expected to yield even better results than the first. The Excalsiorpfospejtof striking the run is exce ?d----ihgly good. Shares are hardly procurable even at an advanced figure. Some offering at £6 10s, last week are now held for an increased price. Work in the Alpine Companys claim has been delayed by another slip occurring on Friday last, which has covered up the rich leader previously opened. The slip will necessitate the goound being now worked from their other tunnel. It occurred just after the men had knocked off work, and thus fortunately any accident to life or limb was averted. The number of visitors to the Lyeil increases daily; but any hasty rush thither is strongly deprecated, At Irishman Creek a nugget weighing 10oz., was found a few days since. Mr C. E. Button conducted service, and delivered a most effective sermon at the United Methodist Freo Church, on Sunday evening last, attracting a very large congregation.

The Westport school was re-opcnod yesterday morning for school duties, alter having been closed for two or three weeks past on account of the whooping cough epidemic prevailing among children in Westport. The attendance was small, as very many children are still Buttering. Crushing in Anderson's will commence on Monday next, and the present intention of the management is to continue putting stone through until Christmas, before stopping to wash up. This evening the Amateur Entertainment for Mr J. T. Crawford's Benefit will eventuate at the Theatre Royal, and the attractive programme issued, and a fine moonlight night, should attract a well filled house. A perfect plethora of local talent will coma to the fore on this occasion. The list of songs, glees, choruses, musical selections, farcical sketches, and comic situations, should satisfy the most exacting. There has been a lack of legitimate amusement of late, and, as the management in this instance promise due regard for the convenience and pleasure of all visitors, a select drois circle, and strict observance of due order and decorum, there ia little doubt that the entertainment will prove a pleasure to the audience, and a benefit to the recipient, iu every sense of the word. The information voluntarily given at our office some few days since concerning the Westport Gaol, ami which formed the subject of a local in our last issue, was, to some extent, incorrect. It is not intended to rank the present gaol as a watch-house only. Serjeant Kiely has been appointed gaoler pro tern, and will fulfil the duties in addition to his present responsibilities, and an under-warier for the gaol, person of Mr Frankiyn, some time since Inspector of Police, has also been appointed. The change in management will commence from the Ist. proximo. There has been left at the office of this paper a sample of bricks, the product of local industry, and well worthy the inspection of present or prospective builders. The bricks were made by Messrs Kernping and Mosley, who for some time past have been prospecting up the Buller Eiver for suitable seams of clay for brick making purposes. These they have now discovered, first on the south and afterwards on the north bank of the river, about, two miles or so distant from the township, and they now intend burning bricks for sale, their temporary brick yard being at the South Spit. They anticipate behig able to sell bricks at a very much less price than Nelson make, in fact at a mere fraction over the freightage, and of Jequally good quality. The specimens left with us are good shapely bricks, firm and well burnt, not perhaps perfect models bat bearing the promise of better things hereafter; and sufficiently good for chimneys, lining partitions, and any other minor branch of building operations. The next kiln is expected to turn out a really first class article, and Messrs Kemping and Mosley should command a ready sale for all they can produce. The Westport public, busy as they now are in putting their houses once more in order, should 'go in' for native industry and use bricks instead of importing timber at exorbitant prices.

An alteration in the postage rates on letters from New Zealand to France, came into effect on the Ist instant. Letters specially directed via Brindisi are charged lid per \oz or fraction thereof, and letters marked via Marseilles are charged for at the rate of 8d per joz. We have received a copy of the Imprest Supply Acts, 1872, No 1 aud 2, authorising the advancement of £150,000 from the Consolidated Fund, and .£50,000 from the Defence Loan towards the supplies for the current Financial Year.