The Westport Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1058, 28 March 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1873.

The telegram re coal movement, read at the meeting oa Wednesday evening may be accepted as proof convincing that the sooner the members of the deputation appointed to proceed to Wellington are ready to start on their mission the better for all concerned. It is very evident from the tenor of that telegram, that however anxious the Minister of iPubric Works individually, or the Government generally, may be to open up the coalfields, there exists a haziness of. ideas as to what really is and what is not necessary to be done. Phrenologically stated the bump of locality seems ill defined at headquarters, and the relative position of Ngakawhau, Mount Eochfort and Westport, a subject of doubt. Nor will such misconception be cleared away so long as communication with the Government is carried on bv divided authorities, however good may be the intent of either. Mr O'Conor actuated doubtless by the most sincere desire to advance the movement, telegraphs to the Minister of Public Works, and receives replies, which he lays before the public. The local committee also send telegraphic messages and receive replies, and the public are grateful to either. But it may happen, in fact it is beyond doubt the event will happen, that if this dual correspondence continues tho Government authorities at Wellington will become more mystified than ever, and this community still suffer from hope deferred by reason of the excess of zeal shown by their too willing friends. For instance the present resuscitation of the Waimangaroa Coal Mining scheme, is solely owing to the action now progressing in favor of the Westport and Ngakawhau railway works, and may be followed by a score or more of similar projects as soon as it is seen that the efforts to obtain the commencement of the railway works are approaching a successful issue;; but it does not follow that any good can possibly arise by attempting to divert the attention of the Government towards the Waimangaroa or any other subsidiary scheme or incidental venture, while the main project to wbich the energies of the public are directed, still awaits definite action. A committee nominated by Mr O'Conor, member for the district, and duly appointed at a public meeting, has been entrusted with the duty of corresponding with the Government, and the member for the district has expressed his willingness to cordially co-operate with that committee. The simplest and hence the most effective form of co-operation would seem to be an avoidance even in minor details of the slightest semblance of divided action. As before remarked, the governing powers are feeling their way, hardly possessing as yet a clear conception of what is really the duty they owe to themselves and the colony in this particular matter. Fortunately Dr. Hector is at last on his way hither to inspect and fully report on the coalfield. To give fuller force to his official recommendation—for it can hardly happen that his report will not be eminently favorable—to strengthen also the position of the local committee and their ally Mr O'Conor, it seems at present absolutely essential that the deputation should be in immediate readiness to proceed at once to Wellington, prepared to advocate the cause of those they represent) and urge the Government to speedy action.

The proprietors of the "Westport Times and Charleston Herald communicated yesterday with their representative in. Charleston for the purpose of obtaining a reply to Mr O'Conor's assertion that the editor of the Charleston Herald had surreptitiously obtained from him a certain paper and kept it; and also that the report of his meeting at Charleston was a mere burlesque. The following telegram was received in reply : " Charleston, March 27. " Mr O'Conor on the night of meeting handed me a paper containing four short resolutions, which he said had been passed by the Golciuelds Members last session. Tf I liked I could publish them. I took it and looked it over, but found that the subjects were referred to generally in the address as if unimportant in consequence of not being legislated on last session. Seeing that they were unimportant and published in one shape or other I did not insert. Mr O'Conor pressed me to take the paper, and I promised to post to it him, which I did yesterday, but too late. He seemed indifferent whether it was returned or not. He could not help remembering the pur-

port of the resolutions, they were so short and he bad helped to draft them. " Will guarantee report perfectly fair. Generally admitted so. Only item omitted was a libellous assertion. Wheat inserted. 'Chaff winnowed. " M. L. Bkown."

To these about to register! Monday next, the 31st iiastant, is the last day in the current year wherein applications will be received tfrom those wishing their names inserted on -the electoral roll. There is still room left in the box at the Court House for a few more forms of application.

A pxosjaflcting party has been organised ; to •tfe'st.the pountry between the Caledonian Terrace and the Buller river. The ground has to some slight extent been previously tried hero and there, but under no systematic plan and the results, although unremunorative to small and ill provided parties of prospectors, have been sufficiently good to warrant a more thorough exploration of the numerous gullies that intervene between the old Bailarat Creek workings and the banks of the Buller. Several Westport business men are among the promoters. There was a heavy sea on the beach yesterday at morning tide; the surf washing 'well up into Kennedy street, flowing undorneath the floor of the engine-house, and necessitating the hurried pulling down, at the back of the Clarendon hotel, of West's bakery, the last remaining relic of Gladstone street,

Notwithstanding the long enforced idleness in many claims in the Charleston district owing to the scarcity of water, the yield of gold during the past month has not fallen off so much as had been anticipated. The monthly escort brought up on Wednesday more than 1700 ounces. The mining residents on the Terraces are anxious that a new road should be made from the junction of the terrace road across the flat country to Wakefield street, so that they might have more easy access to the Government BuildiDgs. Many have expressed a willingness to subscribe towards the expense, if subscriptions are also forthcoming in Westport. Mr Dobson, Provincial Engineer, was a passenger by the Charles Edward for Nelson yesterday morning. He will probably be away for some weeks from W estport. A private letter has been received from Wellington containing cheering assurances that the promoters of the Coal Company ■there are favorably inelined to negotiate for trade in Ngakawhau coals, and that probably an effort will be made to obtain a first shipment of forty tons or so, in order to give the coals a fair public trial. Contractors, speculators, miners, tramway projectors, and others, are re>ininded that an important sale of light iron rails, tramway trucks, mining plant, &c, will be held to-morrow at tho Back Lead, Charleston.

The rumor that Mr Alexander, Chief Postmaster, will probably be transferred to Otago, has, as we are informed, no foundation in fact.

The welcome rainfall haa extended from Nelson to Hokitika, and has been productive of much benefit. The prayer still is for more.

A graceful act has been performed by the Volunteer visitors at Nelson, as shown by by the following letter:—Nelson, 17th March, 1873. Sir—l havo the honor, at the request of tho Volunteer prize firing representatives of 1873 and the staff officers, to hand to you the sum of £4l, which they desire you to be good enough to place at the disposal of such charitable institutions of this city, and in such proportions as your Committee may deem necessary. I have the honor to be, Sir your most obedient servant, Wm. Gordon, Major. D. M'Donald, Esq., Chairman Volunteer Reception Committee, Nelson.

A Mr William Gardner of Eeefton, who recently brought an action against the Band of Hope Gold Mining Company, and got judgment for .£lll 13a Id, seems dissatisfied with his legal advisers' costs and charges, amounting to £3B 12 lOd, and publishes the bill of particulars, " pro-bono publico," appending a foot note to the effect that "he was to bo put throueh for £l7, S

Petty thieving is still prevalent at Eeefton, and several cases have lately also occurred at the Lyell. The Lyell Argus says:—The total absence of police surveillance has doubtless called forth the latent propensities of certain individuals whose presence here, in somewhat undue proportion to the rest of the population, is a matter of regret. Unless the authorities take steps to prevent such an undesirable contingency, the district is likely to become a very stronghold for the bad characters of the Coast, who can apparently reside here and practice their favorite avocations with impunity.

Mr E. A. Drury, who recently made a short sojourn in Westport, has been distinguishing himself at Wanganui. The local papers contain long reports of a civil case between him and H. B. Eoberts—a claim by Drury for salary from Eoberts a local solicitor. The evidence is somewhat amusing, the defendant making a number of charges of insobriety against the plaintiff, and denying the existence of any engagement. The claim was at the rate of .£5 per week. The judgment of the Court was for 35s a week. Clothes, said the Magistrate, could not be considered, neither could ginger wine or beer, as these were luxuries, it was presumed, supplied out of good will. The Court had the testimony of two professional gentlemen that £5 a week was a most absurd charge] for the services of a law clerk, unless of extraordinary attainments. And that from 30s to 42s a week was the usual rate of pay, and there was nothing before the Court to prove that Mr Drury possessed extraordinary attainments. A hot discussion in the papers arose as to the testimony regarding the pay of law clerks.

A Wellington telegram repeats a telegram said to have been sent .by Mr Vogel to the effect that the Orangemen refrained from taking part in the Governor's farewell procession in obedience to his wishes. A Grahamstown telegram reports that the Thames Orange Lodge presented an illuminated address to the Eev. Jas. Buller.

A correspondent of the Westland Eegister, writing of the Greymouth races, says : "Two ideas presented themselves to my mind while admiring the rich and varied drasses of the patronesses, of the turf, the first being, that the dra"per3°must do a very lucrative business in Greymouth; and the Becond, that husbands, parents, and guardains, must' part' pretty freely to their fair dependants to pay for all this fashionable luxury. ... A more orderly collection of sight-seers could not, I an sure, be collected together on any race-courso in tho world."

The Dunedin Echo, after an existence of five years, has ceased publication. It dies game, however, for in a valedictory article the Editor says:—"Many of our advertisers

have "withdrawn support, because we have published what to them or their friends seemed blasphemy. We have been told over and over again if we would only make the Echo Kke other papers, and crush out from our columns all free thought, we could rely on support. We declined to accept such terms. We felt, -and we still feel, that if the Echo iyere to T»e free only in name, it were better that it should cease. If we were to pander to advertisers, or toady to some of our citizens for support, then it were better that there should, be no Echo. We do not see why the proprietors and writers should 'be asked to expend their time and means for nought, and if there are not sufficient .people in our community to support an organ of free-thought in politics and religion, we must bow to circumstances, and retire for a season. He also remarks we do not see if our publication is not to be continued why, when we are in health and strength, we should not write our own epitaph. Here <ia the>announcement we ask our contemporaries to make should we not re-appear—" The Echo has died away,"