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Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1099, 19 August 1873, Page 2

The first meeting of the Municipal Council will be held to-morrow at 10 a.m., when tho Councillors will be duly sworn in, and thereafter proceed to the election of Mayor. Telegraphic communication was interrupted yesterday, and our usual press messages were consequently delayed. It will be observed that a Saw Mill Company intend shortly to commence operations in this district, and thus supply the long needed requirement of cheap timber, locally produced. A site has been secured on the river bank above Thiele's Landing, and machinery to work by water power, was brought up from Hokitika by the Wallace on her last trip. An effort made some little time since to establish this new industry was frustrated by the selfish opposition of a few interested parties, but the promoters of the Westport Saw Mill Company having at last secured a good site, will now be able to fully test the value of their enterprise, without fear of interference from individuals who deem no interests worth caring for that docs not bring direct profit to themselves. The heavy rain falling on Sunday has caused a slight fresh in tho river, but no serious rise is anticipated, as the storm seemed to prevail more on the coast than inland. Last night, however, there were ominous signs of impending trouble. In a few dayß, tho state of tho river favoring the venture, the first despatch of timber logs down stream will be made for exportation. A party of axemen has been organised at the Landing, who intend cutting timber there and floating it down to Westport, where tho logs will be. squared and made ready for exportation to Melbourne. The idea is a good one, and the only wonder is that the experiment has not been tried before. An abundance of suitable trees can bo obtained on the banks of the river, aud tho demand in Melbourne for West Coast timber is only limited by the 6upply„ As an on dit, the story has got about that a gay and festive bachelor, now sojourning at Greymouth, but not unknown to fame in Westport as a desperate lady-killer and staunch pillar of the church, has become entangled in the meshes of a threatened action for breach of promise. The maiden all forlorn is of discreet years, and is said to know her way about in bringing such matters to a satisfactory financial termination.

As referring to the management of the Ngakawhau mine the following paragraph will bo read with interest. The Auckland Herald of the 9th instant says:—Our Thames correspondent writes in reference to the appointment of Captain Ninnis as manager of the Albion Coal Company:— *• By the appointment of Captain Ninnis as chief manager of this large undertaking, the directors have shown good judgment in their selection, and ono that at any rate will give satisfaction to the shareholders of this province. Captain Ninnis, I think, will also prove himself to be the right man in the right place, and in a few months the Southern gentleman will have no reason to complain that they left the selection of a manager to the Auckland directory. It is unnecessary on my part to spoak of the abilities of this gentleman, for his experience throughout the colony in all branches of mining extends over thirty years, and is such that very few men possess. The Thames will bo a great loser by his departure, for he has identified himself strongly with every movement that has for its object the promotion and social welfare of

the mass of the people. What is our loss in this respect, it is trusted, will be amply compensated for by the introduction of those principles into the new community which is bound to ariso around the Albion Company's coal-works."

Touching the Superintendency, this is what the Greymouth Star says :—The same suggestion made by a newspaper correspondent in Auckland might be applied to the West Coast at the present time, in respect to the Superintendent's election. It is asked whether there is any legal hindrance to a female becoming Superintendent, as there are doubtless some who consider themselves quite as eligible for the office as some of those of the male ses who have gone before them. Seeing that we are likely to have some difficulty on the Coast to get out of the male sex suitable for the position, why not look to the other side of the question. There ought, if possibly, to be more than one "old woman" in the field.

The report of the Finance Committee appointed by the Nelson Central Board of Education contains the following recommendation as to subsidised schools :—That from October Ist, Mi for oach scholar in daily attendance, of school ago and efficiently taught, shall be the scale of payment for subsidised schools during the remainder of the educational year; such allowance to be calculated quarterly on the average daily attendance for the preceding quarter, but not to exoeed .£BO for any school. Among the passengers by the Kangitoto was Miss Isabella Carandini, who was on her way to join the other members of the Carandini Company at Wellington. She has since appeared with them, making a most favorable impression on crowded audiences.

A return laid on the table of the House of Representatives, show the total import of coal during the past three years to be : 1871, 93,048 tons; 1872, 93,815 tons; 1873, 108,523 tons, the year ending on 30th June in each case.

The Coromandel Mail says:—Here is ■what provincialism does in the small province of Nelson:—"A return laid before the Nelson Provincial Council gives the number of persons in the employ of the Nelson Government as ninety-seven. The total salaries received by these (excluding tho Superintendent and his salary of £600) amount to £16,456 Is. A number of them are also found in house and firing." The Wellington correspondent of the Southern Cross writes : —" I wind up with the latest bon mot, said to have come from Auckland, and told by a grave and reverend seigneur. It is this: —' Do you know why the Government would not go to war with the natives?' 'No,' was my reply. 'Because,' quoth he, 'so many of the Constabulary have their lives insured in the Government Assurance that they can't afford to run the risk of having them all killed by the natives!"