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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1172, 1 May 1874, Page 2

Jumping sections is still the amusement of that portion of tho community who lind time hanging idly on their hands. Yesterday several sections were spotted and pegs driven thereon, and ostensible preparations made for erecting buildings. Tho legal

right of tenure of any Colliery Reserve section, whether built on or unoccupied, is so doubtful that the sooner the Municipal Council is enabled to obtain a definite- ruling the better for the community. The subject was discussed at the meetinglast evening and action decided on. Wo have reason to know also that the Superintendent has been appealed to and pulico machinery will be probably put in motion to warn off trespassers. The attempt at jumping sections has evidently been at the instigation of a few to whom artful dodging is more congenial than fair play. The following extracts from a letter in October last, and which letter was addressed by the Warden of the District to the Borough Council, is of interest. The letter conveyed the substance of a reply from the Provincial Secretary re rents of sections on Colliery Reserve, and states : "The rents are payable in advance from the Ist January to Ist July, and this payment relieves tho occupier from the much larger payment formerly requited for a business license."—" Tho payment of tho rent secures the occupation for the period for which it is paid."

The Assessment Roll of the Buller Local. Revenues District is now open for inspection for the period of 21 days at tho office of tho Chairman, Mr John Muuro, Ly ttelton street, and, under Clause 6, Part 111 of "Tho Highway Boards Empowering Act, 1871," any person may appeal against such assessment, at any time within one month after such is made, to tho Resident Magistrate's Court holdcn nearest to such rateable property. No such appeal will be entertained unless 7 days notice in writing is given to the Board.

A meeting of the promoters of tho Totara Water-race Company was held on Wednesday evening at the Empire Hotel. The attendance was small owing to attraction elsewhere, but sufficient encouragement was given to warrant the appointment of provisional directors and the issue of a prospectus.

A good many applications for shares in the proposed Building Society have been obtained during the last fortnight, and the promoters anticipate being enabled to call a meeting of shareholders early in the coming month, to adopt rules, and appoint a directory. The effect of the recent flood in the Grey Valley will be experienced for a long time to come. Claims have been levelled, and the work of months of patient labor completely destroyed. A deal of material has been lost owing to tlio number of landslips that form a prominent feature in the devastation, caused by this great disaster. Miners busy for half the night carrying their material to what they imagined a safe place discovered the following day that not only their tools but the terrace on which they had been placed had entirely disappeared. Many parties who had good paying claims, in working order, have been compelled to abandon them owing to the amount of work that would be necessary to put them into the same order as they were previous to the flood. The Charleston Herald of the 29th instant reports that between eleven and twelve p.m. on Monday night, a fire broke out in a tenement owned by a Mrs Flowers, at the Back Lead. It appears from Mrs Flowers' statement that the fire originated through one of her children putting a piece of paper into the fire, and drawing it out alight, and. on taking it away from the child to put it out, she had accidentally let the bags forming a lining to the room ignite, and it spread so rapidly that she could not subdue it, and had to use her utmost endeavors to get the children out of the house. AVe understand that the poor children have lost all their clothes through this untoward accident.

As a contrast to the encouragement given to factious and vindictive newspaper opposition in Westport we quote the following from the report of proceedings of the Charleston District Eoad Board:—The opening of tenders for the Board's advertising for the ensuing twelve months was next proceeded with. Two tenders wore produced, one from the Charleston Herald proprietors, and the other from the Bailor News Company for their gratuitous sheet published in Charleston. On the tenders being opened it was found that the Herald tendered at the low rate of 2s, Is 6d,and Is per inch, including free insertions in the Westport Evening Star when required. That of the Bullev News Company at Gd per inch for all insertions, and Is for tabular work. The Buller News Company's tender did not state to what length of time they purposed their tender to extend. Mr G ran t on proposing "That the tender of the proprietors of the Charleston Herald be received," said it was a question whether the Charles con News could be considered a newspaper, and that it had but little circulation. Dr Henry in seconding the proposition observed that ho would draw attention to that fact, and all other things being equal, he considered it cheaper to insert the advertisements in the Charleston Herald, especially as another great inducement was offered by free insertions in the Westport Evening Star. The resolution on being put was carried unanimously.

The Provincial Government Gazette of the 23rd instant notifies that goldmining lease of ten acres at Waite's Pakihis will be granted to Ferdinand Apitz, two mouths from date.

The very best news reaching Westport for a long time past is that Mr Evans, Resident Engineer, has received instructions from head-quarters not only to temporarily protect the river bank at the foot of Nelson street and other parts adjacent, but to extend the works along the whole river frontage of the colliery reserve wherever temporary protection is needed. It will be seen that by advertisement the time for receiving tenders for supply and delivery of stone has been extended until the l» Ist proximo. Mr Evans informs us that instead of a thousand tons of stone only, he contemplates using at least ten thousand tons, aud- that the work now to bo commenced will be designed as part of the permanent structure.

Quite a flutter of excitement has pervaded in Palmer'ston street during- the week among holders of unoccupied sections, consequent on one or more of such coveted bits of ground having been jumped, and in one instance a building partially, erected. Tickings for the legal fraternity are cropping up ominously in this much vexed question of right to have and to hold. The Thames Star has learned from good authority that taking Sullivan the murderer on board the Hiodostau ostensibly to send him to England was only a ruse to put people off their guard as to his real destination, and that he was subsequently embarked on the City of Melbourne for Sydney. One thing is assured, Sullivan is not in Mount Eden, and the general belief amongst the gaol officials is that the murderer has sailed for Sydney. Sullivan's deportation to Australia is as much to be deprecated as the former attempt to foist him upon the people of California. If ho had been hanged at the proper time a world of trouble would have been saved, and some expense—the extent of which cannot yet be estimated. ■■i i ■ A sitting of the Lyoll Court will bo hold this day, Friday, tho Ist May.

Some important alterations liavo lately boon made in the police department of tho Nelson South-West Goldfields. The Courier has been informed that the Grey Valley and Heefton districts, hitherto separate, have been united, and placed under tho supervision of Mr Sub-Inspector Goodall, and it is also probable that Roof ton will shortly be made tho head quarters of tho stall'.

The Courier of tho 21th instant, regrets to learn, after the numerous deputations and official pledges which have been bestowed upon the purchase of Dalton's bridge, that the Provincial Government have, during the week, reversed their pro-viously-expressed views. The Courier is at a loss to account for this last pieco of tergiversation, as the Executive, during their late visit to Eoefton, promised that the matter should be promptly attended to. The reason is, we may presume, tho same that prevents the rebuilding of tho Nile bridge. Tho Provinco of Nelson, is too poor to cither build or purchase bridges. A notorious character named Mary Price was, on Wednesday, sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labor under the Vagrant Act. She will bo sent up to Nelson Gaol, and Westport will be well rid of her for a season.

The opening exhibition of Bacholder's American Pantascope was given on Tuesday evening, and the Masonic Hall was crowded to overflowing. The views fully deserve the lavish encomiums given them in all parts of the colonies where they have been exhibited. From tho opening views of Now York City away to Niagara, Chicago, the Mississipi, Koeky Mountains, Utah, the Sierra Nevada country, Sacramento, Yosemite Valley, and so on to tho streets of 'Frisco, and then away through the Golden Gate, and across the seas to Honolulu, Auckland and Sydney, the spectators saw gliding on before them a most interesting sequence of artistically painted views, "holding the mirror up to nature." The stereoscopic effects in many of the views were excellent, and the mechanical effects introduced were in many instances new or above the usual average of such things. Tho proprietor himself was tho delineator, and successfully blended amusement with information, A feature in the entertainment was a trombone solo by Mr 11. Illiugworth, who brings most melodious symphonies from a most unlikely looking instrument. The great novelty of the show is an automaton figure that performs on tho flying cord or slack rope all tho tricks done by artists in spangles and fleshings. Electricity appears to bo the motor, but tho motions are most life-like, aud fairly puzzle tho beholder. Not the least attractive is the excellent music rendered by the orchestra, which though few in numbers, comprises some of of tho best musicians travelling in the colonies. On Wednesday and Thursday the exhibition was again given. The panorama was also exhibited at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon for the accommodation of children, who were admitted for the moderate price of sixpence. The Hall was crowded with youngsters, whose delight was unbounded. The Borough Council of Wanganui has adopted a suggestion of the Borough Engineer to construct a concrete facing at a portion of the river bank requiring protection. Mr Miller, F.S.A., the engineer, reports that tho concrete can be made at a very chtap rate. Hokitika was lit up gas for the first time on Saturday evening, and this, Wednesday, evening it is intended to illuminate with devices in gas light the Town Hall, Government Buildiugs and others edifices, in honor of the event. On Saturday tho West Coast Times office, which, we understand, contains as large a number of lights inside the premises as any other single building in town, made an extra effort out of compliment to the Gas Company, by fixing an iron rod on the balcony of the premises' from which sixty lights wero made visible for an hour or two, aud which successfully proved a simple but most effective mode of iUuiniiia* ing the whole building aud a large portion of Weld-street. Twelve months ago the Gas Compauy was first projected, with a nominal capital of „SIO,OOO, and at an outlay of about <£7uoo. Shares are already at a premium aud a handsome dividend may be looked for within twelve months.

The Guardian of Saturday says :—Mr M. Cassias visited Ro3B yesterday, and returned to Ilolcitika in the evening. That was the last we will see of him for some time, as he leaves for England by the first San Francisco steamer, which sails from Auckland at an early date, The following telegram appears in the Grey River Argus of yesterday's date : Patrick Ferry, attached to Mr Hall's railway survey party, ran, whilst druuk, into the Buller river, on Saturday evening, and was drowned. The body has not yet been recovered.

A writer in the Creymouth Star says : Females are not all angelic, and there "must be " more 'tother" in the party who sent a chihl between two and three years of age from Nelson by the Charles Edward the very last trip that steamer made to Greymouth. Not overflowing with the milk of human kindness was the breast that could send forth its offspring at such a tender nge alone into a world where Priests and Levites abound and Good Samaritans are rather scarce. Fancy the poor child shut up iu an empty cabin during that dreary voyage. Too young to think, possibly, but certainly old enough to suffer, and at the termination of the passage to find only strangers to receive it. Well, perhaps it found more kindness among strangers than it had ever experienced from its natural guardians, and and it is to be hoped when the little fellow reaches his destination, which is Reofton, he will find a father more worthy the name of parent, than the mother lie leaves behind. The youngster, which had been for some time in the care of residents in VVallabi street, Wcstport, had been sent up under careful keeping to his mother in Nelson, and by her sent back per steamer to Greymouth, and thence to Iteefton to its father.