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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1192, 10 July 1874, Page 2

Mails for Nelson and the north, per tb< Murray, will close at 2 p.m. this afternoon

Efforts are being raado to purchase the Ino on behalf of a We3tport proprietary

company. A greater portion of the necessary capital has already been subscribed. It has been arranged that a meeting, to be convened by circular, will be held this morning among parties willing to subscribe their nanus as shareholders in a Limited Liability Company, for the purchase of the steamer Ino. Tho projectors of the company have an assurance that the J5500 subsidy for coastal service granted by the Nelson Provincial Council will be secured, and also that the tendering' of ocean going steamers will follow in due course.

A memorial to the Governor in Council, from the section-holders on the Colliery Reserve and other residents within the Municipal Boundaries, praying that sole control of the Reserve may be vested in the Borough Council, was numerously signed yesterday, as also copies bearing original signatures to be forwarded to tho Hon. Minister of Public Works, his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson, and the Provincial Secretary,

By the steamer Charles Edward, the Rev. Mr Cross, Church of England minister, and his family, arrived on the Coast, commissioned by the Bishop of the Diocese to take charge of one of the coastal districts. 'Die reverend gentleman has lately arrived from England, and li:il- b_-en selected By tin; Bishop to take charge of the Westporfc District, vice the Rev. A. 0. Sotitar, who sumo time since applied for removal There seems, however, to have been some misapprehension on the subject and a want of definite arrangements, the Rev. Mr Soutar being of coarse unprepared to break up his home at, a short notice. For the present the Eey. Mr Cross will take charge of the Reefton District, pending other arrangements. Tlio Rev. Mr Flavell, who for sutne time pa3t has had charge at Reefton, having recently been transferred to tho

Ahaura. A meeting will bo held at St John's Church, this evening, when matters of importance to the welfare of the congregation will bo fully explained. A little diffusion of light, as an aid to a better diffusion of knowledge and the lessening of profano expressions, would be a public boon, if exhibited in the Post Office lobby on the nights tho up-country mails 'arrive. At present the owners of private boxes have to trust to tho feeble light of wax matches, held gingerly between tho fingers, and as often as not dropped hastily, with accompanying blessings on the stern economy of the department that cannot provide a lantern aud caudle for a, couple of hours, twice or thrice weekly, Tho plant of tho Charleston and Westport line of coaches was sold on Monday by auction to Mr John Alien of Princes street Charleston. For the present it is not the intention of tho purchaser to continue running the coaches, but now arrangements will probably bo made for tho summer season. The last rain-fall at Charleston is estimated to average not more than ten days' supply to tho district; Rumors are rifo as to tho reductions made in Provincial departmental expenditure. It is reported by travellers from Nelson that sweeping changes have boon rnado in tho police department. Soma of tho oldest servants having received dismissal, and that the duty of gaoler at Nelson now devo'ves upon Mr Inspector Shallcrass. In tire Harbor Department, Chief-Harbor-master Cross has received notice that he will be expected to retire ou a small allowance of pension, and that- his duties will devolve o:i the port pilot. On the Coast, the contemplated dismissal of signalmen at the smaller ports has been carried into effect. At We3tporfc the present arrangement will continue, tho Provincial Secretary, since first announcing his 1 intention of dispensing with the aignal man and transferring tho duties to the Harbor master, having made arrangements with the' General Government to pay part of their salaries on condition that the Harbor Master supervises some of the works in connection with tho river bank protection, | and harbor improvements. On the goldfields four police officers are- to be dispensed with. Sueii are the reports in circulation, and which may be taken as substantially correct. Fifteen hundred pounds were reeeived last week for publicans licenses in the Reefton District. * The Lyell District will probably yield at least £9OO. The first monthly payment of subscriptions on shares held in the Westporfc Building Society was made last evening, and the result may be considered eminently satisfactory. Tho cash received amounted to £79 13-, exclusive of some £l6 since pail in. 36 additional shares have been taken up, aud from the many enquiries rnado by intending shareholders, the directors a:e sanguine that the share list will soon reach 400, giving a subscription, of ,£IOO per month for investment. The young soeiety is thus starting under favorable auspices, and the benefits will soon become apparent. A meeting of the Westporfc Volunteer Fire Brigade was held on Tusday for the | transaction of general busiiuss. The I financial statement made by the Treasurer, shewed a debit balance of soma i."50 against the Brigade; an unsatisfactory state of affairs, that for the credit of Westport should not be allowed to continue. An appeal to the public should ensure, without trouble, the wherewithal to wipe olf the score and place tho Brigade again in funds. Possibly the long immunity from fire onjoyed in Westport tends to cause indifference to the efficient support of the Brigade, but a more suicidal or reckless state -of affairs cannot bo well conceived. In fact, it is hardly possible that owners of wooden buildings will wait the outbreak of a fire to convince them prevention is better than cure. There seems a need for the formation of a Fire Committee in Westport, based on a similar system to that in vogue in other towns on tho Coast. The members of the Committee —not necessarily also members of the Brigade—taking upon themselves the duty of gathering funds for keeping the fire brigade in efficient organization. At Greymonth and Hokitika nearly every business man is connected with the local committee, and actively exerts himself on its behalf, and the same rule should be observed here. For present emergencies, however, tho public will no doubt liberally respond wnenever called on, and new arrangements should only need suggesting by the Brigade to bo carried into etfeot. Caledonians are advancing iu the market, and are now held firmly at 20s. The stone now getting is expected to go ten ounces to tho ton. We have received a small and curious specimen of the Printing Art from the Post-master-General in the form of a combined Australian aud New Zealand time table for tho mail steamers, the whole of which, together with postage table s ; and an Almanack for the year, folds into a book which will go into the smallest purse, measuring 2V by \\ inches. Having been first set up in type of an ordinary size, the impression has been reduced by photography, and thou transferred to stone, and printed by the lithographic process.