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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1025, 26 November 1872, Page 2

The yield from the Little Wonder is still of extraordinary richness. The nest crushing may very possibly yield nearer twenty ounces to Hie ton than nine, the last result. A few night 3 since nearly five pounds weight of gold was sent up in one truck load of stone. The leader still keeps about eighteen inches wide. The next cake of amalgam will be sent down about Christmas time.

The reef has been struck in the shaft in the Caledonian claim at Larry's, and the stone looks exceedingly well. The formation of Cobden street is progressing satisfactorily; the long spell of dry weather having greatly facilitated operations. The temporary tramways are in position for conveying ballast and the work should now be soon completed. New buildings are already in course cf erection on both sides of the street.

Predatory pig 3 and vagrant curs have ben playing sad havoc with tho Hospital gardens. Amateur porkists wh:> wish to wave their bacon, and proprietors of ' dorgs ' registered and unregistered, will do well to note that cold poison has been laid on the forbidden hunting grounds.

The Westport Raco and- Sports Committee have issued a programme for Boxing Day and the following Friday; and considering the present depression in trade, the bill of fare should prove satisfactory. Tho prizes in the aggregate do not amount to as much as on previous occasions, but tho events are more numerous, and if variety possesses charms in such matters the programme should please everyone. There is yet plenty of time for subscribers who are hesitating as to the exact figure the intend placing after their names, to make up their minds to do tho thing handsomely, aad thus enable the Committee to increase the value of prizes or arrange for a third days sports. Seeing that in preparing for merry Christmas time no one loses by liberality, the fund doubtless will be augmented, aad Westport Sports lose none of their accustomed prestige. On Saturday evening an obscurely worded telegram was received from Beef ton purporting to i;ive information as to the yield from Anderson's. The figures as they stood could be only ""lotted up ' as showing about Sdwta to the ton, and momentary consternation ensued. Very brief reflection dissipated all fears. Tho figures cr the wording of the message was too evidently wrong to cause any lasting misapprehension, and the wires were as speedily as possible set to work to gain surer tidings. The result was satisfactory. The reply being "33"> tons crushed yielding llSozs, retorted gold and GSiiozs. amalgam, plates not cleaned " Calculating the amalgam to yield one-third, the stone gives over loz. to the ton, without calculating the accumulation on the plates, which will not be touched until Christmas,

The attention of miners and business men throughout the district is called to the newly published West Coast Almanac and Directory for the ensuing year' It is, what it really purports to be, a general vade mecum of practical information compiled from the latest and most authentic sources. The Jvlining Law 3 alone aro worth more than the cost of the entire book, and in fact aro hardly procurable except in a very expensive form ; while the mas 3 of general and statistical information given far exceeds the contents of average publications of a similar nature. 'the Japanese troupe of jugglers anl ac.'obats will arrive from the south per E.nnely, and will give their ojiening per-

formance on Wednesday evening next, at the Masonic Hall, Lytteltos street. Their performanes seem to have fairly astonished our southern neighbours, and they will no djubt attract large audiences during their stay here. The decorations and fittings of the Masonic Hall are now nearly completed, and on the opening night the public verdict will doubtless be that the * Masonic ' is the most eomfortablo and best appointed Hall ever built, on the Coast. Mr N. Thornton, the well-known scenic artist has been engaged for some time past in painting elaborate scenery and superintending the fitting up of the stage. A neatly designed proscenium has been erected fronting an expanding stage, of which the dimensions can be enlarged or reduced to suit either musical or dramatic performances. The new drop scene will present a speciality in artistic painting, and the usual stage scenes will be in Mr Thornton's best style. In addition to the space behind the scenes, a commodious green-room has been built with separate entrance, and thus the convenience of performers a3 well as the audience ha 3 been studied. The Hall is a credit alike to the enterprising proprietor and the builders.

Mr Henry Lucas of Nelson, has been appointed a clerk of the Warden's Court for the Nelson South-west Goldfields, and will probably be stationed, at Beef ton or Charleston.

The Keefton people have adopted a very sensible course in arranging for their Christinas Sports. Instead of canvassing from door to door, and taking just such donations as might bo offered, they have made a compact among themselves that every storekeeper and publican subscribe three guineas each and nothing less. In this way the Committee got £IOO in a few hours, jast to start with. Mr John Leslie of the Bank of NewZealand having recovered his recent illness, is expected to return to Westport by the steamer Wanganui. The Provincial Government Gazette of the 14th instant notifies that the following goldmining leases on the South-west Gold" fields will be granted at the expiration of two months : —Kainy Creek, Joseph Kilgour, Bann Water Co., 3 and 4 south, 10 acres; James Connolly, Beef ton Co, 13 acres; John Wallace, Caledonian Co., 1 north, 1 south, 12 a 2 r 10 p ; John Pooley, Young Bepublic Co., 15 a 2 r'j H. Fitzsitmnons', Kainy Creek Co., 9a2r 34 p; W. A. Woods, Polar Star Co., 13 a at Boatman's; Henry Caplin, Hopeful Co,, 4a3 r2S p,- J. Corr, Cosmopolitan Co., 5 south of Thompson's 14 a3rl3 p. At Murray Creek, G. W. Moss, Ivanhoe Co., 12a3r20p; Martin Thomas, Shotover Co., 8 a2 r 6p; Isaac Gill, Keep it Dark, Co., 4 a 3 r 23 p ; W. Lyon, British Empire Co., 10 a 2 r36 p; Hugh Brennan, Inglewood Co., 9 a 2r 18 pj Michael Dunn, Golden Star Co., 8 a 3 r 26 p ; Phoenix Co., 13 alr23 p; Sutherland an I others, Albion Co. 1-1 alr23 p. Hankin and others. Edith Co., 14 alrl4 p. The following applications have been refused : Bainy Creek, Edward Gittoes, Atlas Co., John M'Lean, Belfast Co., Murray Creek ; C. Mirfin, Australian Co.; J. Dixon, City of Nelson Co ; G. W. Moss, Disowned Co ; W. Lynch, Brighton Company. Some splendid specimens from the Little Wonder claim have been brought down by Mr Cairns, for the Christchnrch Exhibition, and specimens from other claims in the Lyell District will shortly follow. We call the attention of intending exhibitors to the notification appearing in another column, that all exhibits should be B=nt in hy

The- career of one but lately branded as a theif has possibly come to a sudden and tragic ending. The man known as German Jerry, who lately stole a considerable sum of money from the house of a countryman at the Landing, and decamped into the bush with the evident intention of making tracks either for Picton or Nelson, upon the chance of getting clear away by some sailin" craft; has been, since his departure, pei> sistently sought 'for by the police and others interested in his capture. On Thursday last intimation of his whereabouts was obtained, and on being discovered between the Lyell and the Matitaki, he made off and was chased down to the river, where he took boat and attempted to row across, He was closely followed by constable Chichester in another boat, and seeing the chance of escape useless, German Jerry suddenly plunged overboard and attempted to swim ashore. The current was too strong for him and ho was carried over the Uochfort Falls where all traces of him were lost. Whether he was drowned or succeeded iu afterwards getting ashore is not yet exactly known. It was thought at first that there was no possible chance of his escaping death, but telegrams from lieefton, received yesterday, report that it is rumored he is still alive.