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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1195, 21 July 1874, Page 2

Tho Alpine Quartz Mining Company (Registered) property, comprising three leases, about 48 acres, at the Lyell, together with battery, water-rights, shoot, paddock, Sea., was sold on Saturday afternoon by auction by Mr John Munro. The whole brought „-52150. Mr Saxton i 3 the purchaser. Publication oC an anonymous letter has been permitted in tho columns of the I«yell Argus reflecting on tho mail service between Lyell and Westport; and blaming the contractor for alleged neglect of stipulated duty. The statements made are reckless in the extreme and based more on imagination than Fact. Whatever slight sub-stratum of truth exists has been contorted and twisted out of all reasonable shape to suit the mischievous intent of the writer. It i 3 well known in Westport that the contract service is performed as efficiently as the heavy state of the bush tracks at this season of the year will permit, and that the arrangements for arrival and departure of mails have been regulated by the Postmaster here, with most careful regard for the convenience of the public, both as regards and the Lyell.. The writer who signs himself " Traveller" says "there ought to.be a remedy for lagging on tho part of.the .Westport mailman, and the Westport postmaster ought to see that due diligence is used iu the forwarding of mails, either out or to his office, and proper days in the week appointed for receiving and dispatching mails, not on Sunday, as under the present arrangement. It is all very well to study the convenience of contractors, but it should not be done at the cost of tho public." " Traveller'" ought to know that the contractor does not lag by the way, he ought also to know that the postmaster is.ever vigilant in the discharge of his duties, and he might know if he Quired, that the convenience of the public is studied at the cost of the contractor.

Tho Charleston Herald of Saturday last says:—lt is with deep regret that wo have to record the death of Mrs Salter, which took place early on the morning of Wednesday last. The deceased had beon very ill for some weeks past, and latterly but little hopes were entertained of her recovery. She loaves a young family, too young in fact to be aware of tho great loss they have sustained. Wo deeply sympathise with the bereaved husband and father, and are well aware that every person in the district will experience tho same feelings. Tho funeral cortege,, which on starting from the deceased's lato residence numbered nearly two hundred persons, was largely augmented us it moved on its solemn -fray to tho grave, were the usual burial rites of the Roman Catholic church were performed by tho Rev. Father Walsh.

The Charleston Herald says:--" Coraplaints are rifo at the apparent neglect on the part_ of the Provincial authorities in not pushing forward tho re-construction of the Nile bridge. These complaints arc not without reason,' for tho want of proper communication between tho Northern portion of the district and the township is not only a great inconvenience to those who reside north of the Nile, but is the direct cause of an actual monetary loss to the tradepeoplo of tho town, freight on goods having been advanced, and people being kept from coming into town unless actually compelled to do so by tho black mail they have to pay in. the shape of ferryage." Our Charleston fiiend3,must, we fear, content themselves for some time yet with the services of tho ferryman. The Provincial Secretary at his last public meeting in Westport stated that plans had been prepared for a wire suspension bridge and that such structure would be erected. The materials ore not yet in the Province nor likely to be for many montli3 to come. The Charles Edward left Nelson at 1 p.m. yesterday. Up to finale last night she had not shown np, having probably laid too yesterday at the Spic for shelter from the storm, i -

The Hokitika Evening Star says tho lato rush to the Glreenstone ia likely to tnrn out well. There are already eight paicies on got 1 gold, and should those now ttfnfielL'no' into the toirr.ee succeed in striking tins loid.it will prove tho ground well, and open up a field sufficient for a very largo number of minors.

Thelnangfiboft HerFlilof tho 13th saja : Ttto hundred sciip, ia Anderson's- changed

hands on Friday at 8s 9d. Tho figuro is slightly below tho market price, holders demanding 9s to 9s Gd. A proposal is mooted for tho formation of a Good Templar Lodge in Westport. The rules of the society permit female as well as male members to hold offico, and actively superintend its affairs.. Without questioning the need for such an institution, there is very little doubt that its operations would bo successful even in Westnort. Tho ferryman at Fox's river has hauled up his boat, protection having been withdraw!). , Traveller's have now to ford the , stream, braving the freshes and chilling' effects of icy water. The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times saj's it is rumored that Mr Fox intends going home after tho session, and that a strong feeling exists that a dissolution will follow the prorogation. By the steamer Kennedy several Greymouth contractors arrived in Westport, no doubt for the purpose of taking stock and estimate of the projected railway works, for which tenders close on the 29th instant. Tho price of meat is not only advancing at Westport, but at all other places along the coast. On the last trip of the Charles Edward to Hokitika the providore had to pay per pouud for beef for use on board. At the lnsfc sale of sheep, to account of Messrs Sea-ton and Davidson, at Greymouth, thirty six shillings "per head were given.

Mr W. Bishop's cottage and quarter-acro section in Peel street realised at auction, last week, £69 ; Mr Georga Jervia, purchaser. Mr M'Kenna's butchery, in Palmerston street, fetched £il ; a,ud the slaughter yard at the Orawaita £l9. Mr Joseph Brown, of Caledonian Track being tho purchaser of both lots.

A reading and musical entertainment is on the tapis, to be given by members of the Westport Cricket Club and their friends, in aid of funds to cover cost of clearing a new ciicket ground at the Orawaiti. Entertainment's of the class intended to be given have, hitherto, been very favorably received, and present the one great advantage of being inexpensive in details, and hence tending to a financial success. The little i;egociations for the purchase of the Ino, although failing in a direct degree, have resulted in being of advantage in another respect. The necessity for the local proprietorship of a vessel to trade between Westport and Melbourne has been discussed, and the discussion has ultimated in eight Westport and Charleston firms subscribing their names as investors, to a total amount of £3200, for the purchase of a suitable schooner for the Melbourne trade ; Charleston men subscribing £BOO, and Westport £2400. The business has been quietly arranged, without parade or sound of trumpet, and will, no doubt, result in material advantage to the port, end to those most directly concerned. Sovere frosts have sot in, and the ice forming nightly is exceedingly thick for this part of New Zealand. On standing water at Christie's farm, about a mile up the river, the ice in ouo. night was nearly two inches in thickness. The snow falling on the ranges has remained at a lower level than the oldest inhabitant remembers as before occurring. Following tho .example set at "Westport, efforts are now being made, with some promise of success, to float a building society at Hokitika.

In consequence of the present high price of stock, the butchers of Stafford and Waimea have raised the price of meat to sixpence, aevonpenee. and- eightpeuee per pound. It is fully anticipated in Itokitika that stock will realise very high prices this winter.

The West Coast Times hears, on reliable authority, that it is the intention of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand to open a branch in Hokitika directly after the head office is open in Duneclin. The large number of shares already taken up in that district has doubtless caused the directors to decide .on this'step. Telegraphic communication with all stations has beeu resumed.

As proof of tho advancing value of shares at Larry's, we may mention that a sale of one-eighth in No. 2 Larry's has been effected at .£IOO.

At a meeting of the Halcyon Quartz Mining Company, held on Friday, it was decided to make a call of three-half-pence per share, and also to invite tenders for the supply and erection of a five-head battery.