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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1190, 3 July 1874, Page 2

Mails close for North per Kennedy at 9.30 a.m. (This Day) Friday. Wo have received the New Zealand Gazette, of the 25th ultimo, but in reply to many anxious enquiries have to state that it contains no proclamation of description of line, and limits of deviation of the Westport and Ngakawhau railway. An Artillery Cadet Corps is in course of formation at Nelson, and young Nelsoniuns are jubilant at expectation of douhing smart uniforms and burning gunpowder.

Attention has beon drawn to a correspondent's letter, signed Watch-Dog, appearing- in another publication," and reflecting on the method adopted in carrying out the contract on the Buller Eoad. The Watch-Dog complains that drains are not cut in places where they are needed, that bridges are built of white pine instead of blade birch, and that, in general terms, the work is boimr scamped by the contractor. The whole tone of the letter is ill-natured, and appears to bo influenced more by trade rivalry than any particular regard for the public good. The fact is over-looked that such reflections affect not the contractor but the officers of the Survoy department, with whom rests the responsibility of seeing and insisting upon v the works being carried out in direct terms of specifications. -No reason exists for supposing that the Survey department is at all remiss in strict duty in iu this respect, and beyond giviug vent to personal ill-feeling, a communication like the one under notico does more harm than good. The greatest harm failing on the writer.

At Nelson, on Monday last, Charles Moffat, the clown belonging to the Asiatic and Siamese Circus Company, was charged with stealing two five pound notes from the

premises of Mr Jauies Chamberlain, at Wakefield. The Company wore performing at Wakefield on Friday last, and it was then that prisoner, who was stayiug at the Wakefield Anns, committed the theft, the money being the property of the landlord. Mr Fell, who appeared for the defence, had advised the prisoner to plead guilty, to enable the case to be dealt with summarily, besides there was 110 doubt lie had taken the money, but ho did so whilst he was drunk, lie was in receipt of a good salary and had no occasion for the money. He had been drinking for three days, and when ho took the money he did not know what he was doing. Mr King, the proprietor of the company, gave prisoner a good character, and said he was paying him £5 per week. The prisoner was sentenced to nine months imprisonment. Mofl'at was clowning it in Murray's Circus when last at Westport. The annual congregational meeting of St. Mark's Church, Charleston, was held on Saturday evening last, and in consequence of the meagre support accorded during the past year, either from the Diocesan Fund, or from congregational subscriptions, it was decided to closo the church, and vest the property in trustees. Several gentlemen present severely criticised the conduct of the Bishop and his Commissary' for their neglect in allowing the incumbency to remain vac;int over fourteen mouths. The first cargo of sawn sleepers for the railway'has been brought down the river and since stacked at the Adderley street terminus of the line. Mr R. >T. Tonks, of the Albion Hotel, Grey mouth, is getting up a £IOOO sweepstake on the Great Metropolitan, to be run at Randwick, Now South Wales, on thelOt.il September, proximo. For particulars see advertisement. The Lyell Argus of the 27th inst. says : A reply has been received from the Provincial Secretary to the telegram which was forwarded by the Committee re Location of Wardens. Mr O'Conor deprecates any further agitation, and promises' that the wishes of every district shall bo considered before coming to a decision. The amateur dramatic society recently formed at the Lyell has adopted the designation of the " Lyell Garriek Club." At a public meeting held at Reef ton on Thursday last to consider the contemplated removal of the. Warden, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to : " That the removal of the Warden and Resident Magistrate from Keefton to Ahaura, would bo productive of the greatest inconvenience to the community—would leave the Grey Valley without adequate administration, and would, in the opinion of this meeting, involve a loss to the revenue in extra travelling expenses." The speakers at the meeting were the Rev. Father Cummings, the Rev. Mr Flavell, and Messrs Haselden, M'Lean, Davies. Reeves, and Pitt,