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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1027, 6 December 1872, Page 2

The block of coal brought down by the Result from Ngakawhau for transmission to Christchurch Exhibition, should form one of the most attractive objects therein; that is from a commercial point of view. It is a solid and compact block of splendid looking coal, measuring quite three cubic feet, and without (law or indications of slate. Had time permitted, an entire section of the sixteen foot seam would have been forwarded, but as it is the exhibit will give proof convincing to our Canterbury neighbours that they may open up a trade with the West Coast greatly to their own advantage. At a general meeting of shareholders in Andersons Quartz Mining Company hold on ths 23rd instant, after the transaction of usual routine business, the following alterations were made in the Company's rules : Clause 8, That no person be qualified to sit as a director unless he be tho holder of 500 shares in the company; and it shall bo compulsory with the board of directors to fill up any vacancy which may occur in that body. Clause 13, That the directors or shareholders calling special meetings to be the holders of 700 shares. Clause 16, That eight shareholders or more holding at least 700 shares form a quorum at meetings of shareholders. Clause 19, That any shareholder entitled to vote shall be the holder of not less than 100 shares, and to hold votes in proportion up to 2000 shares, after which he shall be entitled to one vote for every 500 shares held by him. Clause 20, That no shareholder shall hold

more than twenty votes by proxy. Clause 29, That not fewer than twenty shares shall be made in one certificate; and any person requiring a less number than twenty shares cm ono certificate, shall pay the manager a fee of one shilling for each certificate. 1 Clause 30, That the transfer fee shall be one halfpenny per share. Clause 31, That no call shall exceed threepence per share. The following were elected directors:— Donald Ross, Andrew M'Kay, William Walsh, Eichard Sloan, Robert Oxley, John Williams, and Alexander M'Mulleu. The Mining Manager's report was as follows. Gentlemen, 1 beg to lay before yoa a report of the workings of the mino as far a<j it has been worked. The first or upper level is opened forty-seven feet from the surface, and driven south for 60 feet along the line of reef, and stoped for twelve feet above the level. The lower level is eighty-four feet below the upper level, and driven south POft along the line of reef, stoped for thirty feet up by ninety feet along the line of reef, carrying a rise up sixty feet so nth from the shaft, the rise being up thirty-four feet. Intend to carry it up to the upper level, being fifty feet more to rise, to pass all stone from tho upper level down to the main tunnel—Thomas Naysmith. A picnic gathering has been arranged at Charleston to come off during the month as a friendly farewell between the Rev. Thomas Flavell and his parishioners. Arrangements have been made for a variety of al fresco amusements, and from the feeling of universal respect entertained throughout the district for the reverent gentleman, a large attendance is anticipated.

The recent welcome downpour of rain has solaced the minds of miners and agriculturists throughout the district. Vegetation has freshened up wonderfully, and dams and races are again filled, giving promise of active work, and the wherewithal to spend a merry Christmas. The Wealth of Nations machinery started working on Monday last, and latest reports from Reefton state that it is working satisfactorily. Arrangements are now in progress for the celebration of the Anniversary Ball of tho Charleston Hibernian Society, on New Year's night. The Rev. Mr Rusz has been appointed to succeed the Rev. Mr Flavell in the incumbency of Charleston. He will take office about the end of the current month.

The intelligence that Mr Joseph Shephard, Provincial Treasurer, has thrown up his office, after holding it for nearly three years, has not caused any very great surprise. There is anxiety to learn the reason, but the general feeling is that a seat in the Assembly and also in the Provincial Executive, should not be held by any one individual, however great his ability for public duties, or his liberality of sentiment. Mr Shephard has not gained in public estimation of late, simply because his action in the recent political contest has not accorded 'with, the general public idea of the fitness of things; but his retirement from the Nelson Executive means a severance of connection with a cabal of obstructionists, and once freed therefrom, Mr Shephard may, in his largeness of heart and honesty of purpose, prove himself immeasurably superior to his whilom associates.

A correspondent writing to the 'Examiner ' says:—The Lyell reefs are steadily progressing, and promise to be entirely successful; but the progress is nevertheless vexatiously slow, which is a good deal attributable to the want of sufficient capital and the coolness with which the district has been treated by the Government and the public alike. I believe it has been a bad thing for the Lyell, and worse for the province at large, that the Wangapcka reefs were ever discovered at all. Had the same enthusiasm and capital been expended -at the Lyell that was wasted at the Wangapeka, great things would have come to pass long ere this. As it is, however, there is much to be proud of, more especially for Antonio Zala to be proud of. There has something more tangible been realized than "good shews," "the reef looking exceedingly well," and so forth. Ten thousand pounds worth of gold has been won from the Lyell quartz reef, and this with a small toy of a battery, and under all Muds of drawbacks and difficulties—difficulties the magnitude and deterring influences of which the public have no conception of. A very healthy sign in reference to the Lyell reefs, is the the fact of the miners and business people of the locality, having so largely entered into them. Every person in the district seems anxious to hold as much interest in the various claims as possible, but as these parties have to keep good their payments out of their weekly earnings in their alluvial claims, many are willing to] dispose of a share of their interest, and in consequence there is a capital opportunity afforded for speculators to obtain bargains. This state of things 13 not likely to last long, as the next crushing of the Little Wonder promises to be much richer even than the last, and cannot fail to draw increased attention to the district. In conclusion I would remark, that it appears to me Nelson is not an agricultural province at all, but is eminently a mineral one, and that is is in the Bnller and its tributaries those minerals will be found; and further, it appears to me the Nelson people are injuring their pecuniary interest in not giving greater attention to ihe necessity of constructing a good road the shortest and best way to the diggings. With such a road, I believe hundreds of thriving and prosperous homesteads would come into existence. The present absurd plan of requiring every one to have a special survey of his own bit of land, merits the severest censure. It is one of those devices " how not to do it," we are so disgustingly familiar with in the management of the interior. Why cannot the land be laid out in sections and allotments, and pegged and numbered and planned, so that persons can simply and easily select and choose from them ?

Some little difficulty seems to arise in arranging for the Christmas sports at Charleston. The public seem apathetic, and a meeting called at the Melbourne Hotel only brought out some half-dozen persons. We can do a little batter at Westport, but not much.

The specifications for the new Post-office and Telegraph station at Reefton stipulate that the buildings must be finished in six weeks. If the work is properly performed, good well-seasoned timber should be at a premium in Eeefton, seeing that the market is usually bare of anything but green wood.

Mr Sale, formerly Commissioner for the Canterbury Government on the West Coast Goldfields of that province, and now Professor of Classics in tho Dunedin University, wa3 a passenger by the s.s Rangitoto to Hokitika.

Tho Court House and Government offices are now in thir turn progressing eastward, Messrs Bull and Bond having started them fairly on the ways to reach Palmerston st. The building has been cut into three sections, and will be taken up in similar

fashion to the Custom-house aud Post-office buildings.

The news brought by the Claud Hamilton of the safety of the passengers and seamen who first left the wreck of the City of Newcastle, was received with unallowed satisfaction. The female passengers in the boat were Mrs For, Mrs Jones, Mrs Pilcher and Miss Cameron; there were besides three children, and, as no tidings have been received to the contrary, it" may bo reasonably assumed that they are safe also. The boat on leaving the wreck was in charge of an old whaler and, under providential dispensation, he seems to have steered clear of all dangers and made to the open sea where ho awaited the chance of being picked up. The Hokitika correspondent of the "Argus" referring to the impending county elections says:—Whoever wins will not have much of a bargain, for the finances of the County are in a worse state than can be well imagined. Salaries have not been paid for a couple of months, and the hospital here is owed £ISOO. The worst of it is that unless some very unexpected " sweet little cherub " keeps watch o'er the life of the County, things do not seem to be likely to improve. That very radical changes are sweeping economy of the citrement kind will be needed to maintain even the skeleton of County Government must be apparent under the circumstances. How the difficulties at present existing are to be got over without appealing to° the General Government for aid is not very clear; and whether in case of such an appeal being made it will be respoude 1 to is another question. Under any circumstances, a laige army of martyrs must be created by the- necessary retrenchment. It is said that including 29 police officers of various grades, there are no less than 150 civil servants in Westland, inclusive of those employed by the General Government, and paid out of County funds. As a pendant to this may be added a well confirmed statement, that the Hokitika Municipal revenue amounted duaing the last financial year to about .£9OO, of which £550 was expended in salaries. The Westland Racing Olub have decided on holding a race meeting an the 2Gth and 27th instant at Hokitika.