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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1031, 20 December 1872, Page 2

News readied town yesterday of an important find near the Cascades, about 9 or 10 miles up river, and although not very definite, it come 3 from a source that should prove authentic, A prospecting party of two or three men have baen out for sjme time past following np quartz indications, and they have reported to their principals the existence of a well defined reef, yielding gold bearing stone, and also the discovery of an extent of alluvial ground. Fuller particulars are withhold by our informant until first rights have been secured. Mr Carroll, one of the proprietors of the Little Wonder Claim, returned from Nelson by the Charles Edward, bringing with him a fivo head battery of stampers of 5501b each, formerly in use for some little time at Collingwood. The machinery has been sent up river in Charles Crowlo's boat. Serjeant Kiely, and Mr Oxley, one of tho directors in Anderson's Company returning from the Reefs] on Wednesday last, brought down the gold resulting from tho first crushing 1 in Anderson" s, and lodged it in the Bank of New

South Wales. Tho not quantity from 815 tons is 095 ounces retorted and melted gold. The blankets have not yet been touched, but are expscted o to give 40 ounces more.

We call attention to tho programmes of entertainments arranged by the respective committees for tho benefit of the Episcopalian and Catholic Churches, and the District Hospital. The charm .of infinite variety and the promised appearance of now aspirants to musical and dramatic honors, apart from all othor considerations, prompted by charitable intent or personal pleasure, will no doubt attract crowded audiences on each occasion. The Provincial Government Gazette of the 12th instant contains a notification that protection granted in 1871 to J. M. Langdon for a punt ferry-across the Buller river, has been cancelled, and also that protection has been granted for a punt at the same place for a term of three to Messrs Gilmer Brothers. t The notification also appears in our columns ; the principal conditions being "that a substantial punt,-capable of carrying twelve tons, be placed on tho river, in good working order within two months from the dato of Gazette notice, and maintained in good working order during the term of protection," and that " such protection shall not extend beyond 22 miles from the mouth of the Buller river, nor interfere with, or prevent any boats plying for hire on any part of tho river." The want of a punt at the place indicated has been long felt, its establishment will do much to increase trade and traffic in Westport, and under Mr John Gilmer's personal supervision, the work will no doubt be speedily commenced and thereafter efficiently performed. Mr Langdon has lost bis right to protection solely on account of neglecting to fulfil the conditions under which the right was granted.

The Nelson Provincial Government Gazette notifies that the {Superintendent has refused to grant applications for Gold mining leases to the undermentioned parties, they having declined to accept the reduced areas proposed to be granted : Robert Doherty and others, Enterprise. Shiel's line ; Jame3 Coulahan and others, Phoenix, Andersons line ; C. J!. Nelson and others, Golden Gate, Adam Smith's line; William Lynch and others, Brighton Company, Shiel's line; Gerald Perotti and others, Greymouth Company, north of Anderson's; F. Eranklyn and others, Goloonda, south of Kelly' 3, Cement Town; John Corcoran and others, Star of the West, Kelly's line; John M'Gowan and others, Otago Company, Sinnainons line; William Pitt and others, New Zealander, George Evan3 and others, Melbourne Company, adjoining Shiel's Prospecting Claim, all on Murray Creek; and Michell Power and others, Albion, adjoining Mace's claim, German Jack's Gully. The following leases will be granted at the expiration of two months. —Band of Hope, Daylesford Terrace, three acres; and the Hit or Miss, Kelly's Terrace Brighton ; Great Republic, Watson and others, Anderson's line, six acres two roods; Emerald Isle, Coulahan and others, Anderson's line, sixteen acres two roods; East India Company, Eadie and others, Adam Smith's line, eleven acres one rood, thirty six perches; Livingston Company, Sutherland and others, Adam Smith's line, twelve acres; Rose of York, James Holmes and others, Boatman's Creek, thirteen acres, sixteen perches; Prudent Company, Ranft and others, Anderson's line, sixteen acres two roods.

Charle3 Broad Esq. R.M., has been Gazetted returning officer for the electoral district of Inangahua, and a writ for the newly-constituted district to return a member to the Provincial Council, has been issued by his Honor the Superintendent. The writ had been previously kept back awaiting the appointment by the General Government of a Returning Officer.

Brisk competition among storekeepers has reduced the prices ruling at Charleston for general stores and produce to less rates than at Westport. In soma lines a marked difference prevails.

The Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society will hold a ball and banquet at Charleston on New Year's night. We notice in our advertising columns the announcement that Mr J. A. Maguire has joined the noble fraternity of Licensed Victuallers and is now the host of Maguire's Hotel in Packington street. Ho has opened in an improving neighborhood. The Charleston people wero alarmed on Sunday evening last by the cry of fire. The ' Herald' say 3 : —" A rush of people from all quarters set in, numbers leitving their devotional services at the several churches in order to look after their worldly belongings, and the excitement for the moment was great. The fire occurred at Musow's furniture, factory, but how it originated is unknown though conjectured, rightly or wrongly we know not, to have resulted from incautiousnes3 in smoking. The damage done to the building was nob great, though the losa by the destruction of tools will be somewhat seriou3 to Mr Musow. The only other damage we noticed, and that seemed to bo more thought of than anything else, was the soiling of several persons light clothes with splashes of dirty water, the Captain of the C. V. F. B.'s portly body coming in for a fair share, evidently much to his annoyance. Sunday go-to-meetiug togs were of more consequence than the saving of property with not a few.

An addition has been made to the soft goods and drapery stores in Westport. Messrs Manson & Co., of Australian and New Zealand repute, have opened temper ary .premises at the corner of Lyttelton and Paimerston streets, where they are showing a large assortment of novelties in summer goods. Attention is called to their advertisement.

The tables showing the result of the examination for the Provincial Council and Governor's Scholarships at the Nelson College, by pupils at the Provincial Schools have been published. Thompson, of Richmond School (Mr Willis, teacher), and Firth, cf Cobden, (Mr Ray, teacher}, are the winners of the Provincial Council Scholarships; and Sadd and Moves, of Smith's School, Nelson, are the gainers of the Governors' Scholarships, The ' Colonist' remarks it is gratifying to notice that a West Coast school, Cobden, always heretofore making a creditable exhibition, has now made its mark in these examinations.

Mr Farwig, late of Reefton notifies that he has commenced business in Bright street, as Tinsmith and Plumber. He is wellknown as a clever worker in metals, and will no doubt soon succeed in obtaining a fair share of public support. The programme for tho boating regatta to bo hold in Wellington haxbor on the 3rd March next, has been iussed. It comprises five contests, open to all comers, for prizes of £l5O, £75, £SO, £2O, and £2O, respectively. Entries will close in Wellington on Ist February. A copy of the programmo may bs seen at tho office of this paper. The result of Mr Lightfoots exploratory expedition in search of a reported coalfield in tho Hope "Valley ia thus narrated by the ' Colonist.': —" Although the expectation that was entertained by tho alleged discovery

of coal on the Hope river has been dispelled by the fact that it is only brown coal, and not the true coal of the tertiary formation, yet the visit of Mr Lightfoot, the Superintendent of Public Worts, has not been without its adcaatages. The seam first reported was said to bo close by the ■ roadway,_ some forty-fivo miles from Nelson ; but on his way, Mr Lightfoot learned that there was another coal seam exposed a few miles up the river itself. He travelled up the river some fivp or six miles, and although that seam, and varions other seams which he saw, were found to be brown coal, yet Mr Lightfoot reports a fine valley up the main branch of the Hope, extending to the Tadmor river, and containing about 5000 acres of good open land, chiefly light bush, among which are largo cleared grassy flats, the whole district offering a good field for settlement.

Among other recent improvements in building in Westport is noticeable the enlargement of Mr Jules Simon's establishment in Palmerstoh street. He has extended his hotel premises by the addition of a largo bar, two bar parlors, and a suite of bedrooms at the rear, thus making the " Cosmopolitan" a comfortable and commodious house of call. He has also improved the general store department, to meet the requirements of an extending business.