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Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1101, 26 August 1873, Page 2

The tidings anxiously looked for that the necessary money has been voted for the Westport Harbor and Railway Works, is not likely to be obtained for some little time. The passing of the Estimates will be probably deferred until the more general business has been effected. Meanwhile it is satisfactory to learn from private telegrams that the Government are thoroughly in earnest in the matter, and have declined offers from private individuals to do the work ; intending, as soon as the session is concluded, that operations shall be commenced as part of the Public Works scheme. The result of the crushing at Anderson's for the Invincible Company has been satisfactory, 136 tons weight of stone having yielded lOOozs 13dwts of retorted gold. The cake was lodged in the bank of New Zealand yesterday. The Albion Company have now some twelve or fourteen men at work at tho Ngakawhau, in tho mine and removing stones from the bed of the river, to make a clear way for steamers up to the mine. The following is the returns from tha late crushing by the Excelsior Company at the Alpine Company's battery, Lyell:—Quartz crushed—2l7 tons 17 cwt. 3 lbs 2oz. Pre ceeds:—l4loz. Mdwts. 12grs. Melted gold at 78s per oz., £552 14s 6d. Mr Eogeraon, of the Customs, Nelson, is now Acting Collector of Customs at Westport, Mr W. Munday having leave of absence for six weeks. It is probable som e change will be niado in the Customs' staff here. The Provincial Gazette of tho 11th inst., contains a Proclamation by his Honor tho

Superintendent concerning new rules and regulations for the Nelson gold-fields; regulations for the leasing of agricultural lands; and rules for regulating the procedure and practice of Wardens' Courts, but with the usual courteous attention to the convenience of the mining community, who may be presumed to feel somewhat anxious for speedy information thereon, no copy of the Gazette has yet been forwarded to newspapers the on Coast.

The adjourned extraordinary meeting of the Excelsior Quartz mining Company was held at the Post Office Hotel on Friday evening last, but as the business brought before the shareholders was not concluded a resolution for a further adjournment until Friday next was carried. In the meantime a requisition to the directors to convene a special meeting of shareholders has been considered, and the meeting ordered to bo called for Tuesday (this evening) at the Post Office Hotel at seven o'clock sharp. The news has spread, and expectation is on tip-toe, that Westport is actually to be saved from destruction, and will become by the expenditure of public money on harbor and railway works the centre of a flourishing community, a standing and profitable testimony of the good that may accrue from the development of the Public Works Scheme. Anticipating this, a demand has set in for sections, and inhabitants of other townships, where dumess reigns supreme, are on the qui vive to obtain eligible stands for business.

The Post Office at the Inangahua Landing has been closed.

The crowded state of the Westport school requires immediate attention, the more especially as the warm season is now approaching. The number of children of all ages crowded in the school-room daily is greatly in excess of what ought to be permitted. The visiting committee report that ou the last visit there, 117 children were present, and that the teachers having a class in exercise at each end of the room were compelled to crowd all the rest of the young unfortunates in a huddled mob between the two classes, to the utter subversion of all good order or attention to school duties. It is the height of absurdity to expect that teachers, however faithful and anxious to perform their duties thoroughly, can make any headway against such obstacles, and the sooner parents bestir themselves to remedy matters the better. The ingenious architect who desgined the building evidently took as his model a bakers oven, and thoughtless parents now send their children there to be packed as closely as baker ever packs a batch of bread. And this they fondly suppose to be conducive to the cause of education. The Nelson Central Board propose laying out £BO for an additional class room to the present building, but it is very apparent that such will not be nearly sufficient. What is needed is a new and lofty school-room, to which the present building, if placed in the rear, might form a useful adjunct. If the Board cannot, or will not, grant all the money needed, the Westport public should contribute thereto. The late Social Entertainment Committee have some £35 in hand, which could not possible be devoted to any better purpose and hereafter, when the building is completed, a series of entertainments might be given therein, similar to the Charleston Institute weekly gatherings, for the special purpose of paying oif any existing liabilities. A really good building would be found useful for many public purposes, and the subject is one that demands attention. An irate correspondent indulges in strong personalities, whieh we decline to publish, against a Westport resident, who it is asserted, has, by privately communicating with the Provincial Secretary, stirred up the Westport police authorities to make a sudden raid upon parties removing wood from the beach. The suggestion made by " New Chum" last week that notice boards should be erected warning the public, and also defining the limits of the port, is worthy attention by the Harbor Master. Very few persons know aught of the Harbor Regulations, nor can they obtain such information without some expense and trouble, and as it was very evident from the proceedings in the Court on Tuesday last that the authorities were determined to force a conviction against the accused parties, it would be only an act of common justice to give the public fair warning in future. It surprised some in court to find that although in January last the Harbor Master advertised a notice, warning people not to take drift wood from the sea beach " within a radius of one mile from the mouth of the Buller river," yet this fact was quietly ignored by the prosecution, and convictions obtained upon a regulation, with which the general public wore utterly unacquainted, defining the limits of the port to a radius of " two" miles. It is a fact that many persons have regularly gathered drift wood outside the one mile radius in perfect ignorance that they ran the risk of being pounced on by the police. For this reason alone the limits of the port should be clearly defined. Another purpose would also be served; presuming that outside the boundary persons would still gather wood, while within it remained untouched, positive proof would be given as to the correctness or otherwise of the theory that drift wood and drifting sand combined will form a barrier against sea encroachment.

For some especial reason the Nelson Examiner newspaper if it ever does attempt to give any original news concerning Westport generally succeeds in giving such statements a peculiar twist, utterly at variance with real facts. The issue of the 22nd instant says:—We are favored with the Westport Times of the 19th instant. We observe from it that a meeting of the local shareholders of the Albion Coal Company was held there at Gilmer's Hotel, on Saturday last, to meet Mr A. Beethani,

tho Managing Director *###*# It was explained to Mr Bcetham that the Westport shareholders favorably regarded Mr Higgin son's report on the Ngakawhan Railway and Buller Harbor Works, and also the remarks and recommendations of Mr CaiTuthers upon that report They looked upon the opening up of the Ngakawhau coalfields as essential to tho prosperity of Westport, and regarded with " some dread the outlay of money on the improvement of the river at Ngakawhau, for the purpose of shipping coal there." Nothing of the BOrt was said or dreamt of, except by the Examiner. "What the shareholders expressed, as stated in the Westport Times of the 19th, was that they were uneasy at a rumor that Mr Beetham had intended to bring any influence ho might possess to obtain a modification of the railway and Buller harbor scheme by diverting some of the proposed outlay to river improvements at the Ngakawhau. In plainer words they objected to any meddling, on behalf of the Company, with Mr Carruther's proposals. Now that spring time has again, approached, and gardeners, amateur and practial, are busily preparing to make the desert places bloom again ; it would not be a bad idea to start a Horticultural Society, as an incentive to healthy out-door recreation, ana a means whereby money might be obtained for public purposes, Hospital, Churches and so forth. The Greymouth Horticultural Society have issued a prize schedule for their show, to be held in November next, wherein prizes are offered, as follows : —" Class A comprises plants in pots, for which there are to be twenty-four competitions, and first and second prizes for each, varying from 2s to ss. Class B comprises seventeen first and second prizes; for Cut Blooms, the highest prize being 10s for the best collection of cut blooms. Growers of fruit will find a distribution of several first and second prizes under Class C. of the value of 2s to 10s, and vegetable productions are classified under class D, with fifteen competitions invited, the highest prize being 40s, market gardeners only, for the best basket of vegetables, containing ten or more varieties, with a second prize for the same at 20s. The rules of the Society are that one shilling entrance fee will be charged for each lot exhibited for competition, but those for exhibition only are to be free. Now, may not something of tke sort be not only attempted but accomplished in Westport, and the admission money to the show devoted to some good local purpose. The details might be easily worked out and the " show " made to prove quite as attractive as any bazaar or free auction venture. Eefcrring to a case Marr and Lock v. Clarson, heard last week in the R. M, Court at Ahaura, wherein the judgment was given with immediate execution against the defendant who had been liable for debt incurred in a mining venture, the Grey Star says : —" While according entire concurrence with the justice of the decision, we cannot, withhold an expression of sympathy with the defendant who is a hardworking man with a large family. For years he has been endeavoring to make a home, and was slowly but surely establishing for himself a position as a respectable settler, when he was induced through the representation of some acquaintances to take part in a mining venture. The resulc was unfortunate, and the consequence to this particular defendant, ruin. We draw attention to this case with the hope of preventing similar occurrences, and desiring that the law relating to Mining Company partnerships should be prominently kept before the eyes of the mining community. Tho law holds any one of the party responsible for the debts that may be incurred by the company during the adventure. Whether this law might not be amended to some advantage in this respect is at least an open question, but as it at present exists we can only warn men of small means and comfortable circumstances against being inveigled into mining speculations through tho specious representations of men of straw, without a distinct and written understanding with the parties who agree to furnish the necessaries for the undertaking.

A Reverend J. W. Stack has been lecturing in Hokitika on " Traditions of the Maoris." The lecturer paraded three Maoris on the stage dressed in full Maori costume, who served, according to the West Coast Times, to illustrate some of Mr Stack's remarks. The lecture was a great success.

The Grey Argus of the 20th writes: — The extent to which a mother-in-law may interfere in a man's domestic affairs is woll known, if not always appreciated. A father-in-law's position is not so well defined, but there was given yesterday, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, an illastration of some of his privileges. A person who described himself as the father-in-law of another who was accused of an offence, was asked by Mr Perkins—" Has he been temperate lately?" Father-in-law replied— '* He has been anything but temperate. I have had to check him several times. In fact, only a day or two ago I had to knock him down." Wicked counsel suggested sotto voce, that the same was certainly an emphatic way of checking a man in evil courses, and of promoting the cause of temperance.

A rumor has been current in Hokitika that some Maoris had discovered a quartz reef up the Hokitika river, and were making inquiries a3 to the means of securing a prospecting claim.

Agnes Irving, a married woman residing at Tucker Flat, near Hokitika, died very suddenly of disease of the heart. Tho deceased woman held a miner's right, and worked with her husband in his claim. She was much respected by the people in tho district, being regarded as a hard-working and industrious woman.

The Groyiuouth Star of tho 20th instant says:—We are very glad to hear that a settlement of the difference betwen the contractor for the railway and his workmen has been arrived at, and that the latter have returned to worjt, Mr Hungerford agreeing to give lis per diem to those who in his opinion are worth that sum. The annual report of Mr Gisborne, the government annuities commissioner, has been presented to the Assembly, and shows that during the past financial year the income of the department has been increased by £13.976 for insurances effected. Since the department was created in 1870, the Colony has granted insurances to the amount of £1,085,G49, and tho gross income from the premiums last year reached the sum of ,£27,317.

A " wharf rat." givon 4o sarcasm, thus epitomizes commercial and general affairs in Hokitika:—" Commercial matters are quiet. The money market is very tight (isn't it ?); lumping on the wharf, inactive; coals very light; freights, low; honorarium market very unsettled; towage, hard to get and worse to pull; arrivals, few; departures, many; oats, firm; (as per contracthor's report) chaff, more than is palatable ; maize, amazingly hard to crush ; Borough matters, as refreshing as ever; timber, free of duty, all the go ; Auditors' reports, out of the market; Greymouth Steam Tug Companey's shares, in great supply; Swindlemjax's, rising in favor : Caledonian Family Parties' Quartz Mining Co. shares, are very consumptive, although a strong District Court plaister has been applied and has removed some of the dangerous symptoms. A powerful emetic from the same dispensary is ordered for the 4th of September, which is expected to dislodge for ever the very sluggish inactivity of this stock. Gas Company shares well in hand; Eailway Committee floundering ; Treasury payments dormant. Our correspondent " Dutchman " may be gratified to learn that an edict has been promulgated in Japan forbidding the practice of spitting in the public streets. Civilisation is progressing. Mr Watson the diver, who, it may be remembered, succeeded in recovering the sunken machinery from the bed of the Buller, deposited there by the collision of the Charles Edward with the Cobden street wharf, has been engaged by Mr Cassius to go down the shafts of claims at Ross to dislodge therefrom portions of the steam pumping gear. In the hearing of the evidence in a bankruptcy case at Greymouth his Honor Judge Harvey took occasion to express hi 3 surprise at certain bills not being pre sented on maturity. His own experience with promissory notes was in quite the other direction. Like 80-peep's sheep, he observed that it was generally only needful to " leave them alone, and they'd come home." His Honor appeared to enjoy the joke immensely, and recommended the witness to store up this little moral for future use.

The total quantity of gold exported from the colony up to the end of the financial year, 1872-73, was 7,008,3090z, valued nt .£27,105,880. The total amount exported for the year was <147,6590z. being a decrease of 114,8320z on the previous year.

Referring to the constitution of Westland as a province the Hokitika Evening Star says : —" To obtain the fullest good results, nothing but the fusion of the whole of the West Coast Goldfields must be effected. The apathy that has been shown in Greymouth, and the adjacent Nelson Goldfields, were recently such excitement and loudvoiced discontent were shown, is marvellous, and we are surprised that the Press has not been more outspoken of late. It would almost go to show that by some means or other, the political storms that were wont to excite the mining communities north of the Grey, had been, by some mysterious means, suddenly allayed; but we have good reason to believe that the very reverse is the case, and that the deep seated detestation of Nelson rule exists on these goldfields, and only wants a very little to fan it into a flame. If the West Coast Goldfields be not united on this occasion, it is very questionable whether such an opportunity will ever occur again, and the chance of. creating a goldfields political power by such "unification" will probably slip away for ever." Curtly stated public opinion on the Nelson Goldfields may be summed up in the adage " 'tis better to cleave to evils that we have than fly to others that we know not of." The result of Provincial rule in "Westland will bo very closely watched by the communities north of the Grey,

The Westland County Council is literally on its last legs, and waiting the " happy despatch" that shall end its existence. Night after night the farce has been repeated of opening the door of the building used as a Council Chamber, and closing them again, in consequence of the members not putting in an appearance. The West Coast Times says :—lt may be a matter for amusement to some and of enjoyment to others, to see the governing body of the County brought down in its last days to such an ignoble position, but to those who have the interests of Westland at heart it cannot but be a matter for sorrow and regret.

The Wellington Evening Post says:— "The Buller constituency has the honor of possessing as representative a gentleman who has achieved the notoriety of making not only the worst pun given birth to this session, but probably the most atrocious on record. When speaking on the Tariff he said it was a Tariff-ic question.