The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1084, 27 June 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1873.

" Before four of the clock in the afternoon" to-day all nomination papers for the election of Municipal Councillors must he lodged at the Court House Westport, and to-morrow the official nomination will take place. The form of nomination paper was published in the lust issue of the Westport Times, and, to save trouble, candidates are reminded that their own signatures must be either affixed to the nomination papers or to a separate form as given in the Act, as proof that they consjnt to stand for elcC ion. The qualification for those who nominate and for candidates is that they shall be "those persons enrolled on any electoral roll, which, nnder the Provisions of the Act shall, for the time being, be in force, wlmse qualifications are in respect of lands or tenements situate within the Borough and none other.

Mails for the Northern Provinces and United Kingdom via Suez close at the Post Office Westport at 8 p.m. this evening. The Revising Officer, Mr E. J. Lee, held a Court yesterday for revision of claims to vote. Mr Shapter appeared for several applicants, and others appeared in person. Nearly every claim was held valid, and the number of objections materially reduced. A sad accident happend yesterday afternoon in Molesworth street. Carpenters were removing Mr Felix West's house, when a mass of boards, forming a part of the side of the building fell suddenly,striking Mr West's second son, a littlo fellow some live years old, and breaking his thighbone, as also bruising him about the head. It was fortunate that the boarding fell partially upon some lumber lying on the ground, for had the entire weight come upon the littlo unfortunate it would have certainly crushed him to death.

The Minister of Public Works and the Chief Engineer have been communicated with by telegram by Mr Dobson, Mr E. J, O'Conor, and Mr Humphrey upon the subject of the road w r ork along the upper end of Palmerston street, with a view to Set it extended to the full width of tho line of street as far as the town boundary, some 53 chains or thereabouts. This is needed in order to obviate expence and annoyance to the inhabitants hereafter. Tho extra cost for labor will be trifling, and as he town sections facing tho line of street have just been allotted for occupation by sufferers from the recent flood, the authorities can hardly in justice object to the very moderate appeal now made them.

The annual election of a School Committee was advertised to take place at tho school room on Wednesday last, but excepting the Acting Secretary, neither member of the late Committee or ratepayer attended, and consequently the meeting lapsed, and no School Committee is at present in existence in Westport. Three members having retired by rotation and the rest resigned in disgust at the recent niggardly action of tho Nelson Central Board, who refused to repay a certain sum expended by the "Westport Committee for school purposes. But apart from this it is much to be regretted that parents of children attending the school show so littlo interest in school matters, and it is now absolutely necessary that a few among them should shako off their present apathy, and endeavor to obtain some six individuals to accept office, and apply to tho Superintendent, according to tho terms of tho Ordinance, to have their names gazetted as forming the School Committee for tho current vear.

All unsold "freehold sites in Westport havo been withdrawn from sale for the present. Tho Excelsior Company wore to commence crushing on Tuesday last, Tho stone is said to bo looking well. The last washing up in the Alpine claim gave 200ozs of retorted gold from 100 tons of stone, a lar<;e proportion of which came from the main reef.

An accident to the fluming in Anderson's claim has delayed the completion of the crushing. In the estate of J. Baptisto Etcveneaux, a compromise is about to be effected with the creditors, who by allowing time and consenting to receive a dividend of ten shillings in the pound will obviate any further proceedings in bankruptcy. The erew of the Lizzie Guy had a very narrow escape from death by poisoning, a few days before sighting the Now Zealand coast. The cook made some cakes for all hands, using as ono of the ingredients a white powder which he thought to be carbonate of soda, and which he found in a bottle among the other ship stores. The cakes wore cooked and eaten, and shortly after the entire crew woro seized with violent symptoms of poisoning, the Captain in particular being badly affected. On searching for the cause it was found that the bottle contained arsenic, and was labelled poison, although the cook had failed to observe it. Such remedies as were to hand on board were freely applied, and providentally the sufferers recovered, but for some little time after were barely fit for duty. Captain Houston is still suffering. The following cases were disposed of in the E.M. Court, Wcstport, on Tuesday the 21th instant:—Tullock and others v. Marous Berosford Brown, captain and owner of the schooner Cynthia, claim for £22 Is, work and labor in endeavouring to get the schooner off sandbank at mouth of Bullor. Mr Fisher for plaintiff, Mr Slmpter for defendant. Judgment for plaintiffs and costs JM 15. West v. Anderson, £2 ISs 6d, bread account. Judgment for amount claimed and costs 9s. M'Farlano v. Pufflett, ,£33 14s lOd, for groceries, board and lodging &c. A set off for £36 for nine weeks wages at £-1 per week, was filed. Mr Shapter for plaintiff", Mr Fisher for defendant. Judgment given for £l3 14s lOd, and costs JE3 ss. Same v. Natrass, £lB duo on dishonored acceptance. Judgment for £ls 8s 4d, and interest at 8 percent. Same v. Anderson. £8 14s Bd, promisory note and interest, non-suit recorded, the instrument being improperly stamped. Same v. Hopkins, £0 18s Bd, dishonored acceptance. Judgment for amount claimed and costs.

In the Warden's Court, held on Tuesday last, protection was granted for one month to O'Horke and party for race from Totara Creek, pending survey. The hearing of applications for Publicans Licences has been postponed until Tuesday the Ist proximo. The Charleston Four Mile Water Race scheme is progressing. Mr Greenwood has finished a memorandum as to probable cost of survey and construction of race, which he estimates at .£SOOO, and a call of one shilling per share has been made to repay preliminary expenses. Telegraph news came to hand on Tuesday last, that Robert M'Kerroiv of Charleston had been accidentally killed. Further particulars arc gleaned from the Charleston Herald. The deceased was a miner, well known on the Coast, and on Tuesday morning was working in the Nile Company's Claim. He, with another, had all the previous day worked at an open face of cement, the block being detached at both ends; they had undermined it, and had left it for the night expecting to find it down in the morning. The fall did not take place, and, though warned it appears by his mate, of the danger, Mr M'Kerrow commenced to knock away a small supporting block, in the act of doing which an immense body of cement slid down from the top (the face being about 12ft high) and buried him completely in. When taken out the body was in a frightful state, the block coming upon deceased and doubling him up, smashing his thighs and completely crushing him into a shapeless mass. In this state it was removed to the Hospital morgue. In the afternoon an inquest was held, and the jury returned a verdict of *' accidentally killed." with a rider to the effect that they disapproved of a system of mining in which men working at a lacing ten feet high undermine to a

distance of five feet. The deceased has left a widow and three children totally unprovided for, but with characteristic, sympathy for the afflicted, the Charleston people at once started a subscription, and in a very short time £7O was gathered. The death of Mr Henry Kedwood of Waitnea West occurred on tho 19th inst. The deceased had reached the ripe age of 79 years. The Examiner says ho was one of the early colonists, having arrived in Nelson in December, 1842, and was a genuine settlor in the best sense of the word. A finer specimen of the British yeoman never left England to engage in the task of colonizing a new country. Eespected by his neighbors and all who knew him, he has terminated a long and useful life without, we believe, ever incurring a reproach. The deceased gentleman has for several months past suffered from a painful illness.

The great parade of contemplated retrenchment made at tho commencement of the session of the Provincial Council, as usual, has dwindled down to the merest petty cheeseparing. Tho Superintendent has taken credit to himself for a saving effected by amalgamating the offices of Provincial Treasurer and Secretary, but even in this the public are to some extent deluded. The clerks in the office have a little additional work to perforin, which allows them less time for pheasant shooting and such like innocent amusements, and so as a, consolation they are allowed extra pay. Visitors to the Provincial offices in Nelson aver that as far as any outward or visible sign of real work to do, or being done, is apparent, any active clerk of average capacity could fulfil the whole duty without any great mental or physical exhaustion supervening.