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Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1108, 19 September 1873, Page 2

In the Lyell news furnished by a correspondent, and appearing in our last issue, a misprint occurred in reference to the Maruia claim. It was made to appear that theclaim was ten acres in extent and divided into forty-four full shares. It should have been stated at fifteen acres divided, into fourteen full shares. Mr Leon Northcroft, Acting 1 Postmaster, obligingly intimates that the next outgoing English mail will close at Hokitika on the 25th, and at Nelson on the 27th inst., and that correspondence will be despatched from Wostport by every steamer to reach those ports before that date. There would seem to be some peculiar atmospheric influence prevading the Court House at eventide, inimical to healthy lung expansion, and the free enunciation of honest Saxon phraseology by the members of the Town Council; or perhaps their new found dignities press heavily upon them and the "flow of reason and feast of soul'' prevail not, and their latent energies find no vent in eloquence. Anyhow, dropping down to the prosaic, 'tis hard to understand them, even from a near point of 'vantage, and the electors who congregate in the body of the Hall to glean words of wisdom or instruction go away athirst, and it may be savage. His Worship, from his elevated position, is heard plainly, and likewise one at least among the councillors ; but of the rest it may be said •' they have mouths but speak not," for their utterances, haply pregnant with reason, are but as drowsy murmurings, or buzzing of blue tail flies in a bottle. Is it that our new Municipal members are qualifying for designation by the irreverent as Municipal mumblers, or do they evince but symptoms of diffidence which will wear off, even as the gloss from a new garment. Mr M'Leod has so far completed his extension of the Wakefield street wkarf that in a few days two steamers will be enabled to come alongside together, and when the wharf is built to the full extent as contemplated, there will be ample room for berthing safely, state of the tide or river> all the sailing or steam craft at present coming to Westport. A very narrow escape from a serious accident occurred in Wakefield street on {Wednesday afternoon last. The infant daughter of Mr E. Roche was playing in the street, and by some unexplained means got underneath the hoofs of a horse driven past in a dray. She was rescued therefrom by Dennis M'Garrell, and fortunately suffered no injury, except a slight graze on the arm. How the little one escaped was a mystery to those who witnessed the occurrence.

The p.s Coomerang, purchased by Mr Beethain on behalf of the Albion Company, may be expected in the Buller during the next month. Some alterations are being made in her steering gear, and she will then take in a cargo of timber and receive quick despatch for this port. First-class fire -clay has been discovered on the coal reserve at Greymouth, and arrangements are being made for the manufacture of fire-bricks.

Mr White, the member for Hokitika has asked in the House that the Government would extend the time for tie conveyance of mails between Greymouth and Reefton. He said the contractors had been fined ten pounds for the late delivery of mails during flood time, It was a hard case. Would the Government institute inquiry, not merely by writing to the Postmaster ? The Premier replied that the Government were more inclined to contract than to extend time for the delivery of the mails. They would institute inquiry, but would not be dictated to as to the manner of doing so. At a recent meeting of the Greymouth Cricket Club Mr Masters was elected president, Mr R. C. Eeid vice-president, Messrs Turner and Cresswell secretary and treasurer respectively, and Mr P. W. Paul, captain. Messrs P. J. Glesson, Woods, Guinness, P. W. Paul, and Daniel Twohill were elected members of the committee for the coming year, and it was arranged that the opening match should take place on October 4th.

The New Zealand Gazette ot' the 28th August contains a proclamation under the Public Worka and Immigration Acta of 1870 and 1872, defining certain roads in the Nelson South-West Goldfields which it ia expedient should be constructed tinder these Acta, and not by the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Nelson. Maps and surveys of these roads have been deposited in the Public Works Office at Westport. The roada described are (1) from the Arnold river, by way of Grey Valley, Little Grey Valley, and Inangahua Valley to the Buller river; and (2) from Ahaura to Amuri. Respecting the second road, the same issue of the Gazette intimates the Government's intention to construct it, and that all persons affected are required to set forth in writing, addressed to the Governor, and left at the Public Works Office, Westport, any well-grounded objection they may have to the line of road.

The boundaries of the Bailor District, as defined under the tfekon " Goldfields Local Revenues Act, 1873," are thus set forth in the Schedule to the Act: —Northward, by the southern boundary of the Electoral District of Collingwood in the General Asaeraby, being a right line drawn from the mouth of the River Mackay to the summit of Mount Arthur j thence by a line from peak to peak along the summit of the watershed between the West Coast and Blind Bay to the saddle between the Rivers Mackay and Mokihinui; thence along the range to a point on the Bullet: River two miles below the Inangahua Junction; thence crossing the Buller River and following along the watershed between the Rivers Inangahua and Blackwater to a point on the eastern boundary of the Charleston District at the source of the River Nile; thence along the eastern and northern boundaries of the Charleston District to the Totara River; and thence following the coast line to the mouth of the River Mackay. The new Lunatic Asylum to be built at Nelson will cost ,£498" 10s, besides extras. Mr John Scott is the successful tenderer.