Travellers by tho newly surveyed track from Caledonian Terrace to the Nino Mile road all agree in their statement that the country thereabouts is worth prospecting, looking extremely likely for gbld. The track strikes off from the left hand side of the Sine Mile road some four miles from tho Post Office corner, and leads through the bush for about ten minutes walk, locomotion being somewhat difficult on account of fallen timber. The track then emerges on to a swampy pakihis, and, this crossed, a bald hill is ascended and some more bush traversed leading up to Ballarat Creek. Across this creek and up a steep ascent the traveller finds himself on Caledonian Terrace, and from the time ho leaves the Nine Mile road until he reaches thither ho passes over likely looking and easily prospected gold-bearing country. It might bo a good speculation in these dull times if Westport residents were to fit out 'a party to prospect in that direction. A landslip, causing serious injury, occurred at the Lyell on Sunday last, a large mass of earth coming down and completely burying tho crushing machinery of Messrs Carroll and Cairns. This mishap will seriously retard work, as it is feared at least two months must elapse before tho machinery can ba set in working order again. At tho time of tho accident the battery was engaged for crushing the Maruia stone. The Break o' Day, Monte Christo, and Maloney's claims were also waitiug their turn. The body of a man named James Budge, was found at daylight on Tuesday lying dead in a paddock near Gibson's Hotel, Orawaiti Road. Tho deceased had been for some time past employed as field-man by tho Survey department, and is supposed to have attempted to make a short cub across the paddock to tho survey camp on the railway line near the Orawaiti. He was wellknown throughout tho district, and some little time since, while engaged with the party surveying a site for the lighthouse at Capo Foulwind, fell off a tree and received some internal injury that compelled him to visit Nelson for rest and medical treatment. Ho was about 50 years of ago and supposed to be unmarried. An inquest was held the next morning at Gibson's Hotel, on the body. The evidence of Charles Brown and Samuel Anderson, who found the body, was giveu, as also of police constable Ibbitson and of Dr Thorpe, who had made a post mortem examination, A verdict was given that death .had occurred from rupture of the liver, caused by internal hcemorrhage. tho liver being previously diseased. The funeral took place at 2 p.m. yesterday, and was numerously attended by those who had known deceased for years and had learned to respect him as an honest, trustworthy fellow-man. He has died intestate, and his little property, consisting mainly of money deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank, will bo taken charge of by the Public Trustee of Intestate Estates.
The West Coast Times learns that tho tender of Messrs Sinclair and Jack for the erection of tho new building for tho Bank of New Zealand has been accepted, and it will bo proceeded with forthwith. The new edifice, which will be a handsome addition to street architecture when completed, is to bo erected on the old site occupied so many years by the Bank previous to tho late fire, and from the known reputation of the contractors, there is every reason to believe that the work will be completed within tho specified time, and give entire satisfaction. Tho Hon. W. 11. Reynolds in absence of the Colonial Secretary has writ ton to the Superintendent of Westland that the Government would not be justified in holding out any promises that the Mikonui Race will be undertaken after the approaching session of Parliament. Ho says " tho claims which are being threatened in connection with the waterworks at present under construction appear likely to absorb all tho funds in hand, and until tho extent of these claims is known it will bo impossible to commence any further works of this nature, which may involve liabilities at present unthought of." From this point of view the promoters of the Totara Water Race at Addisous Flat will have to depend on the contributions of shareholders rather than on the hope of obtaining any loan under the Immigration and Public Works Act. Unless tho Provincial loan is floated and they can share therein.
A somewhat peculiar case was heard on tho _29th ult. at the Rocftou Resident Magistrate's Court. Glenn Bros., assignees in the estate of Kenneth M'Kenzie," who has loft Reefton abruptly, sued a Miss O'Noil for £lo lis Bd, value of goods alleged to have been taken illegally from M'Kenzlo's store. It came out in evidence that the lady held a dishonored promissory note of M'Kouueth's, and after his departure to parts unknown, she went to his store on a Sunday and prevailed on a small boy in charge to let her have goods about sufficient to square her claim, and which goods were afterwards stowed away in under the bods in her hotel. Tho Court said, looking at the facts, there could be no doubt whatover that the defendant had endeavored to obtain a preferential settlement of any claim that she might have, and had obtained illegal possession of the goods. It was perfectly monstrous to suppose that creditors, under any circumstances, could be justified in making a raid upon the estate of any absconding debtor to tho prejudice of other creditors. . Judgment for plaintiff was given for £\o Is 3d and costs. A Ilokitika paper mentions, as a proof of tho "glorious uncertainty" of everything in connection with the turf, the fact that a resident of that town was afforded an opportunity of "swapping" a large dog for
the ticket which drew Speculation in theGroymouth sweep on the Sydney Cup. The tondor of Messrs R. C. Purkor and Company for the construction of an extensive section of railway in the Province of Wellington, has been accepted. We presume this refers to Mr Parker, of Charleston. The anniversary ball of the Brighton H. A. C. B. Society came off last evening. The fine weather, no doubt, induced a large attendance, as previously there had been a brisk demand for tickets. Mining matters at Brighton aro looking brighter than for a long time past. The beachcombers aro meeting with tolerable success, and are in good hopes of profitable work during the winter season. At the last sitting of the Warden's Court a number of applications for dams, races, extended claims, washing sites, and residence areas were granted. Cr. Dodson, of the firm of Hooper and Dodson, has been unanimously elected first Mayor of Nelson. Cr. Fell, in proposing him, said Cr. Dodson was one of the oldest members of the late Board of Works, and had taken great interest in the welfare of the town; he was, moreover, a gentleman, in whose uprightness and integrity they had every confidence, and he had reason to believe that the public would be perfectly satisfied with their choice. Cr. Burn seconded the motion, which was carried amidst much applause. The last residents of the Haait river have been brought up to Hokitika by the Waipara. They were Sergeant Sugrue and Constablo M'Konna, and a luckless washerwoman named Clarke, who had taken her tubs down there at the time of the rush but found the miners in too great haste to get away to care for clean linen. The Greymouth Star says that the Grey Valley Board has passed a resolution not to levy any rates until funds are provided by the Government. Arguing that if powerless to do good they will certainly do no harm. Good progress is being mado in the temporary repair of the Christchurch road, so much so that the mail coach can again pass over the washed away site. There are about two miles that the coach cannot cross, but for this portion the mail contractors furnish passengers with saddle horses, and a track sufficiently safe and good for the latter to traverse has been formed. The Enginoor-in-Chief, Mr Carruthers, is expected to visit Greymouth in a few days to inspect the railway works and to view the recent changes made by the floods. It is just possible he may also visit Westport. A telegram in the Grey River Argus notifies the return to New Zealand of Mr P. Comisky, an old resident at Hokitika.
A letter as undernoted has been received by the Ahaura Local Revenues Board:— " Superintendent's Office, Nelson, 23rd April, 1874.—Sir, —Referring to your letter of the 11th instant, I have to inform you that the Local Revenue Boards will receive one-half the revenues derived from miners' rights and business licenses, and from the sale of alcoholic liquors, notwithstanding the wording of clause 22 of the Act you refer to. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Alfred Greenfield, Provincial Secretary." Miss Aitken is still performing a round of dramatic characters at Grey month. On Monday she appeared in the sensational drama of " Jessie Brown, or the Relief of Lucknow."
A week of united prayer meeting ia nowbeing held at Hokitika, under the auspices of the Presbyterian body, and will bo followed by another week of evangelistic services. The Grcymouth Star says:—"The deterrent effect of the late news from the Palmer was noticeable on Tuesday morning when the Dispatch went out to tender the Alhambra. Instead of the tug's decks being crowded with infatuated diggers, the mining element was represented by about a dozen individuals only.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18740508.2.8
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1174, 8 May 1874, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,606Untitled Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1174, 8 May 1874, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.