The Westport Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1211, 15 September 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1874.

Mails for the United Kingdom, Continent of Europe (via Suez and Brindisi), also India, China, and the Australian Colonies, will bo forwarded by every steamer to Nelson to catch the mail leaving there on the 23rd September, The weather table at the telegraph office has indicated bad weather at Wellington. Sky overcast, squally, passing showers, and hail, although at all other stations the weather appears to be good.

There are still a few immigrants, single men, waiting employment at the temporary Depot in Lytteltou-streot. We give the latest betting from the Argus on the coming racing events. Arrow and Horatio are the best favorites for the Metropolitan at 5 to I each, Goldsborough at Gto 1. Tait took 500 to 25 that lie wins the Metropolitan and the Cup with Goldsborough. 2000 to 240 was taken about Fitzyattendon, 2000 to 200 about Reprieve liii'O to 50 Sunlight; Boodle and Stirling 10 to 1 each, Dagworth 12 to I, rtory o' More 16 to 1, and most of the others at 20 to 1. Speculation had not been seen on the course for suine days. A complimentary dinner to Messrs C. L. Maclean, M.P.C., E. Baigent, M.P.C., and ■J. Kerr, M.P.C., was given on Friday evening, at the long room of the Empire Hotel, the?e gentlemen having visited Westport expressly to be present at the railway celebration. A sumptuous spread was provided by host Hughes, and the attendance of guests was numerous. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, T. B. Shapter, Esq., officiating as vice, and among the guests present were Messrs 0. Broad, Tlzard, Falla, Corr, Olark, SiniT)sm, O'Conor, Fisher, Munro, Bowen, Andrews, Thiel, A. D. Dobson, Snow, Dempsey M'Leod, Garde, Hasolden, Simon, Bartlemy, and Christie. The toast of "Our Guests" was proposed by Mr O'Conor and leplied to by Mr MM.can and Mr Baigent. The "Ministry of Now Zealand" was proposal by Mr John Munro, and the '•Premier, Minister, and Parliament" by Mr O Conor. The toast of the "Provincial Council and Executive" was proposed by Mr Fisher.-and Mr Shapter in returning thanks proposed " The Local Beards" to which .Mr Munro responded. Mr Haseld n proposed "The Borough Council" and I the Mayor and Or Thorpe returned thanks. Mr Tizard proposed " The Banking Interest," and Mr Andrews (Bank of New Zealand) replied. Mr C. Broad proposed" The Mining Interests" and Mr Garde, of the Lyell, responded, Mr M'Loan proposed "The Commercial interests" and Messrs Falla, Munro, and Dempsey returned thanks. " The Press," " The Ladies," "The Host", were all toasted and acknowledged in suitable terms, and the enjoyment of the evening was prolonged until a late period. The friendly reunion forming an appropriate climax to the festivities of the week.

About eleven o'clock on Saturday evening the fire bell was heard, and alarm aro3e from signs of fire at the back of Sheahan's hotel. A crowd quickly assembled, and the Fire Brigade turned out with considerable alacrity, and had the engine on the street in a very short time, but the fire, which occurred in a foul chimney on the premises of T. Melville, in Cobden street, was quickly subdued and no damage resulted. The test of the power of the alarm bell proved that to bring out the full tones it will be necessary to suspend it at a higher elevation than the present, and with proper leverage power to swing the bell, instead of tinkling it by means of a bit of lanyard tied to the clapper. The directors of the Halcyon Company have accepted, conditionally on ratification by shareholders, the tender of Mr Wilson for erection of a stamper battery of ten seven cwt stampers, driven by a waterwheel of 45 feet in diameter, with power to drive 25 heads. The contract price is jfi37'.)o 10s, in addition to the bonus of £10)0. The only other tender put in was that of Messrs Graham and Allen, whoso price for the work was £4300. Mr Wilson intends going at once to Melbourne to procure the necessary castings. The Westport Amateur Dramatic Club played on Saturday night to a beggarly array of empty benches. The fact of the Club giving a performance being, apparently, unknown except to a very few persons. This .was unfortunate, as the Club performed in the hope of wiping oif some of its liabilities.

The Goahead, in the roadstead yesterday morning, was; a welcome sight to anxious providores and housekeepers. She landed her cattle freight at the Spit in good condition.

The fine weather prevailing lias set every hand on the railway lino busy at work to make up for lost time, and their number is strengthened by a score or more of additional hands which Mr M'Lean brought up from Greymouth by the Murray. Mr M'Ndira, of theNgnkawhau, made his journey into town yosteroay under difficulties. Starting with a spring cartload of pelts, his horse, somewhat fresh in the collar, played up by the wayside aud cleared himself of the harness. Putting back to repair damages, the skippsiyby means of stoat Manilla cord and sundry seatnanlike fixings, got again under weigh ; but half the stage completed, the horse working with a will pulled the shafts out of the vehicle, which, witH its load, was then left by the way, and Air M'Nairn came in astride his frisky steed. The West Coast Times says .-—it has been suggested by several commercial travellers, at present in Hokitika, and it is a hint which might well bo extended to the good people of the Grey, that a subscription should bo fipt on foot on behalf of the widow of the late .Tames Johnstone, of the Melbourne hotelj GreynjQJjtll, and formerly of Dunodin, It is alleged that Mrs Johnstone has baen left in Inyercargill in anything but affluent circumstances, and the old lady is now at that time of life that she cannot well commence the world anew. There may be also acquaintances of the deceased in Westport who would willingly coutributg their mites.

According to t!;s rolls just published for the years 1874*5 there ate 453 voters in t>.e three wards of the Borough of (Jreymouth. The total number of the votos held i>y lire JbjjFgflsseeib 803. The Hokitika Municipal vol! pkoays for that Borough 418 voters, who have the righp to record 573 votes. The drawing for tht prizes in the St. Canuioe's Art Union took place a! Koche's Family Hotel, on - aturday afternoon, and the winning numbers are published -in

another column of this issue. The order of the numbers indicates the relative value of the prizes. The Grey River Argus notifies the early departure of Mr and Mrs Buntcn (Miss Adtken) for Scotland. They intend we hear to make a professional tour throughout America on their way home. In a report of the proceedings preliminary to the dispatch of the Greymouth deputation to Wellington, the Argus says: '• If what is stated is substantially correct, there is every hope of the work being earried. ont for two-thirds of Mr Moriarty's estimate. Mr Johnstone, the Town Surveyor, informed the meeting that Mr Moriarty had calculated the cost of stone at 4s lid and 5s per ton, while the actual cost of obtaining stone on previous works was is fid per cubic yard. Mr Moriarty stated in his letter that he calculates by tons in Now South Wales ; probably he understood the prices furnished t> him in Greymouth at per ton, which accounts for the difference therefore of the cost per ton, and the cost per yard would reduce the first two items by about 5A 7,200. His estimat" of carrying out Mr Moriarty's plan is £60,000. We give the facts as they were stated at the meeting, in order that the public may draw their own conclusions. There is a very serious difference of opinion or some serious mistake in figures between the two engineers, which realy amounts in the total to some .£37,000, but who is responsible for the error we are not in a position to say." The candidates for Municipal honors in Hokitika are not by any means so diffident as to their oratorical powers as Westport aspirants. On Tuesday evening last Messrs Tabart, Hall, Jack, Cross, Bevan, and Walker each held separate meetings, and on the following night Messrs Linstrom, Hawkins, and Walker addressed the ratepayers.

Constable Chichester has been re-instated in the police force, and will probably be stationed in the Grey Valley district.

Tenders arc? called at the Provincial Engineer's office Westport, for construction of a dray road from the Grip to the Owen, and it is stated that at an early date tenders will be also called for similar work betwen the Nine Mile and Ohika.

The Annua! Education Kate is now payable at the Court House to Mr W. A. Kiely. Another land slip has occurred on No. 4 section of the new dray road Road to Eaefton, burying about 2 chains of the road which had just been completed. The loss thus entailed on the contractor will be heavy. The flood in the river last week impeded upward trafiic, although boats bound for Westport came down at a rapid rate. On the last trip G. White's boat eauio down from landing in four and half hours, including a delay of one hour on the trip, bringing several passengers. There would have been a full complement had not the floods detained several intending visitors to the railway celebration.

The advocates of womor.s rights will be gratified to learn that the cause is advancing at Westport. At the Municipal Election on Thursday, two lady voters, each proprii tress of a well known hostelry, recorded their votes "like men."

Messrs Graham, Allen, and party, returned to Westport on Thursday evening after visiting the Mokihinui reefs, having left Westport on Monday the 31st August. A. late Wellington telegram states: After Mr Vogel concludes his business in Sydney respecting the Electric Telegraph Cable, he will proceed to England, " taking his family with him." The reeent wet weather has delayed the progress of the railway works, although Mr M'Lean avails himself of every possible means of pushing on. The works were commenced on the I3fch of August last and since that date the highest time made by any men on the line has been sixteen days, and only two or three have made that. Some few have made thirteen, days while the majority only average about ten. Under these circumstances their earnings have been scant and the benefit of increased population has not yet been made very apnarent to the trading community. From the end of Adderloy street up to the crossing at Pahnerston street the permanent way has been laid ready for laying sleepers and plates, and on the arrival of the schooner Alert from Wellington with the first sixty tons of rails Mr M'Lean will at once commence that portion of his contract. The balance of the iron work for the line is on board the ship Strathnaver, now at Wellington, and there will be little delay in forwarding on the material here. Several hundred sleepers have been also piled at the present terminus of the line, and everything, excepting the weather, favors the speedy completion of the contract.

Wo have to thank the Government Printer for copies of Acts I to XII, passed during the last parliamentary session. The Now Zealand Times reports that Mr liurford, Mr Ilydes, and a dramatic company of ten, took their departure from Wellington by the steamer Waipara, which sailed for Hokitika, They purpose giving a series of performances in that town, and at Greymouth and Westport, visiting also the inland townships on the West-land and Nelson goldficlds. They will probably be joined by Miss Clara Stephenson and members of her company, who are already established favorites on the West Coast. It is the intention of the Provincial Government to send down the greater portion of the next batch of immigrants, now due per hhip Chile at Nelson, to Westport, where they will be employed at a moderate rate of wages opening up the branch streets through the bush from Palmerston street. This will be a boon to the public, aud a source of immediate profit to owners of sections whose property will be rendered accessible.

Enquiries arc made almost daily, by intending investors, as to the regulations pf tlio Westporfc Building Society. The rules arc at present at Nelson under legal revision in terms of the Building Societies' Act, but will shortly be ready for circulation. The directors then expect a speedy accession of business.