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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1024, 22 November 1872, Page 2

The price of gold has been advanced sixpence per ounce, with the probability of a further rise. At Charleston the rival bank agencies are bidding more for the sake of securing customers. It is said £3 18s was given for parcels during the last week. This sort of generous rivalry will suit the Beachcombers' books extremely well, especially for a few weeks before Christmas. A report reached town on Wednesday of an extensive fire at Keefton, and it was rumored that several buildings had been destroyer!. Happily enquiries elicited the fact that, beyond some slight danger arising from the near proximity of a bush fire to the township, nothing of any moment had occurred there. Now that the fine summer weather tempts many bathers to take a morning dip in the briny, it is well to noto warningly that it is not unusual to come across on the sandy bottom in shallow water, healthy and lively specimens of the sting ray fish, which if accidentally trodden Uj-Oa are given to instantly dart and wriggle about in furious fashion, striking their poisonous stings freely. Death has often resulted from the sting of those terrors of the deep, and

bathers should be guarded. A specimen of tho brood was caught on the beach yesterday.

Shares in the Band of Hope claim haTe advanced to 183, with an upward tendency.

A rifo in town yestorday that an extraordinary find had been made in the Alpine Company's claim, Lyell, in the shape of a 101b nugget. We givo tho rumour for just what it is worth. On the arrival of tho mail this afternoon it will be either confirmed or contradicted.

At the Court, on Wednesday, the 20th instant, E. Keeves, convicted, on complaint of the police, of having imbibed too freely, and caused a disturbance in Wallabi street, on Friday evening, was • fined five shillings. Two meetings are called for to-day. The Social Entertainment Committee meet at 4 p.m. at the Post Office Hotel, and the Colonial Exhibition Committee at the Empire at 8 o'clock. Important business at both. A full and punctual attendance of members is suggested.

The Harmonium prize won at the Art Union in aid of St. Mary's School, Nelson, was received yesterday, per Kennedy, by Miss E. Kegan, who drew the lucky number.

The Nelson boats are now bringing down good supplies of early vegetables and fruits, and report says the Nelson gardens toem with abundant crops. Prices rule high yet in Westport, but in another month garden produce of all kinds should be as cheap as it is abundant. The Custom House and Post Office buildingß are still progressing on their slow and tedious way up Palmerston Street. They are now nearly abreast of Broham street, and in a few days more, barring accidents, will reach their present destination. The daily run after the Custom House, with a glaring sunshine overhead and a road underfoot rough enough to satisfy the most penitential pilgrim, is becoming something more than a joke even to good walkers. A disgraceful fracas occurred yesterday morning in Lyttelton street, at a low den inhabited for some time past by disreputable characters. Tho police made an entrance there about ten o'clock, and found a scene of filth and debauchery better imagined than described. The two ostensible tenants of the place Kate McCarthy, alias Auckland Kate, and Mary Ann Woodhouse were warned that informations would be laid against them under tho Vagrant act, and the men who were there then made speedy exit. About half an hour afterwards information was brought to the camp, that the two women had quarrelled, and one had received injuries. The police on returning found McCarthy lying on the floor weltering in blood, which was flowing from a wound on the temple, inflicted by a blow from a frying-pan by her companion. The wound hud been temporarily dressed by a neighbour, Mrs Cox, but it svas necessary to call in medical aid, as the wound is severe and the sufferer is in a precarious condition. Woodhouse was arrested and a3 soon as McCarthy can be removed the place will be closed, and the owner warned to either puli it down or take care to obtain a decent tenant. The row between the two women arose as usual from a drunken altercation.

The ' Ai'gus ' says:—The first gleam of advanced civilisation reached Ahaura on Saturday evening - in the shape of a black stove-pipe hat on a man's head. White golgothas have been seen occasionally, accompanied by wandering nigger minstrels or itinerant members of Parliament, but this is the first " black belltopper" that ha 3 ever made its appearance in legitimate use further up the Grey Valley than the Arnold Junction.

In a certain Victorian township there are 14 public houses for 500 inhabitants. In certain Otago townships the average is one public house for every scoro of adult population. The Dacotah is expected to make the passage from California in 22 days, arriving at Auckland on November 28. She will bring a large number of passengers, including Chiarini's Italian Circus, consisting of titty performers and fifty trained horses. They will visit Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and proceed thence to Melbourne.

Information was given to the constable at the Matakitaki, on October 28, that the body of a man was found on the Newton terrace, Bnllor Kiver. District Constable Chichester immediately proceeded to the spot, and found the body of a man in a very decomposed state; the lower part of tho body being buried in the sand. An enquiry was held on the 29th, by the constable and a jury of twelve. Witnesses were examined, and the jury returned the following verdict: —That is the opinion of this jury, after viewing the body, and hearing tho evidence of William Kearns, that the body found is that of Charles Frederick Kearue, and that he was accidentally drowned in attempting to swim bis horse across the BuLer river, on the luth of August. An iuquest was held recently at Stafford Town, before Br Garland, which, says the ' West Coast Times,' is likely to lead to a criminal prosecution. The circumstances, as they have been furnished t© the police, are that a Mrs Keed was attended by a gentleman professing himself to be a qualified medical practitioner, who is not so qualified, and that the medicines he administered wero of a dangerous, if not fatal character, and it is alleged that they were the cause of death.

The last flood, affecting the Grey river, caused some little excitement at Gobden, A correspondent from that place writing' to the ' Nelson Colonist, says:—" The flood at the end of October was not so high as that of February by about sfc feet, but notwithstanding tho positive assertions of Mr Blackett and Dr Hector, that the river would not change its channel, it is so, and the north bank of the river was swept away to a considerable extent. A public meeting was held at Cobden, and it was resolved to telegraph the Superintendent at Nelson, requesting him to protect the township, and the answer to this was that there was no fund for the purpose. On Monday, the 4th, there was a crowded meeting held, at which it was resolved, nam con, to consign the Superintendent of Nelson to the winds: and to make an application for the assistance of tho General Government. A committee was formed to draw up a letter, and to carry out the wishes of the inhabitants, if possible." Westport residents will be interested in learning the result of the application. The recent rains caused heavy floods in the Okarito district, but no damage was done tc mining or household property.

The result of the late Ajax crushing, said to be about GO'ozs, was brought into Greymouth on Tuesday evening last. The Hokitika ' Star ' expect 3 to hear before long that a rush has taken place in the neighborhood of tho Eight-Mile. A few weeks since several claims were taken up at a terrace within two miles of the place named, and in one of the tunnels gold has now been struck. We belicvo that tho prospects aro about a quarter of a pennyweight to the dish, with six feet of

washdirt. Several parties of minera aro now tunnelling from the face of tho terrace and eipect to strike gold in a few days. The Nelson' Colonist' learns that the specifications for the Fox Hill Railway plant will be included in the next order despatched to England, and that Mr Oarruthers will bo in Nelson in a few days to gq over tho line. Nelson has been definitely fixed upon as tho place where the next Colonial prize firing will take place. Something in this direction, says the ' Colonist,' is -wanted to remove an appearance of stagnation amongst us, and as we shall only be enjoying in turn what the other provinces have already experienced, let us hop« that the visit will prove mutually agreeable to our coming visitors and the residents of this province.