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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1218, 9 October 1874, Page 2

Mails per Kennedy, for Nelson and the north, close this evening at six o'clock. A mishap, not unattended with serious consequences, occurred yesterday near the Half-way House, Charleston road. Mr Nicholls and a man in his employ wore splitting up logs on the beach, and to avoid a heavy surf roller coming in they jumped on a log, but the force of the water drove the timber away and they fell, the log rolling over them. Both were much bruised, and their escape from more serious injury was narrow.

An assault case occupied the attention of the Court yesterday. J. S. Anstice, bailiff, charging George Falla and his son with assaulting him by setting a dog at him. The complainant had gone, presumedly under authority, to take possession of the dwelling house of accused at Orawati, and words arose. The dog was called to the front, and complainant departed hurriedly. The weight of evidence on either side depended much on the nature of the beast. The complainant averring that it was vicious, and defendants, by their counsel, pleading that it was a harmless and playful creature. The Court was adjourned that the dog might bo produced, and the Bench ultimately, after inspecting tho canine witness, held opinion that it was not a very ferocious looking animal. However, as an assault was held proven, a fine of 20s, with o's fid costs, was inflicted on the elder Mr Falla, and the case against the son was dismissed.

A slight accident occurred to ono of the platelayers on • the railway yesterday. In fixing the rails one of tho clips flow up and struck him on tho forehead inflicting a rather severe flesh wound. It was promptly dressed by Mr F. White. The Rev. A. C. Soutar held a farewell service with the Addison's members of his congregation on Monday evening last, and was presented with a flattering testimonial expressive of respect and esteom, and also with a purso of sovereigns specially contributed at Addison's. A telegram was received on Wednesday stating that the Rev. Mr Flavell was on his way to Westport from Reefton. His visit is supposed to have reference to the future charge of St. John's Church. Messrs 11. Pain and E. Roche have been nominated as candidates to fill vacancy in the Municipal Council, and the election will beheld on the 23rd instant. The Charleston Herald reports that the heavy rainfall during the past week has caused the fording of the Totara river to be attended with considerable danger, the current having cut a very deep channel. On Monday last, the coach, and also Mr Hill's dray, were unable to ford the river, and Mr Duggau, who managed to cross on tho same day with a spring cart, had a nairow escape from being carried out to sea, and possibly losing his life, a,nd it was owing to his coolness and good generalship that he got safoly ov.-r. We would recommend travellers, before attempting to cross, to consult the ferryman as to the practicability of fording tho river. [Since the foregoing was in type wo have heard that the ford is now in good condition. Tho coach and drays passed over yesterday in safety.] Tho Bazaar Committee of the "Westport District Hospital are making arrangements for the first entertainment in aid of tho funds to coma off on Wednesday evening next. A. good programme is guaranteed, and now songs, new music, and new faces will bo presented. The annual soiree in aid of St. Patrick's School, Charleston, will come off on the 15tb instant. Energetic preparations aro being made by the committee, who have enlisted the services of a number of ladies, and thereby secured an efficient and zealous addition to their numbers. Some urgently needed repairs to roads in tho district are at last about to be effected. Tenders aro called for repair of the Addison's road, and for the erection of a bridge and approach at tho United Company's dam, Brighton.

The British census of 1871 makes it clear that Queen Victoria rules over nearly twice the numbor of subjects that were governed by the Emperor Claudius. The imperial crown of England ia the symbol of sovereignty to which 234,000,000 of people look up, and those inhabit 7,769,449 miles of territory, "hey live ia 44,142,651 houses, and they are congregated tor the most part in towns and villages, of which London, with its 2,800,000 people, is the centre. At last, after many threatenings of the terrors of the law, owners of stray horses in Westport have been summoned under the Municipal By-Laws, and very properly the first culprit brought to book is au active member of the Borough Council. The names of jurors for criminal cases in the District Court, were drawn on. Wednesday at the Court-house. A meeting of members of the Westport Cricket Club was held at the Post Ollice Hotel last evening. The election of officers for the current season wa3 the principal business transacted. The Lyell Argus states that the stone now being obtained from No. 4 level at the Break o' Day mine, at the very lowest estimate, will go five ounces to the ton. Good stone has been struck in the Alpine grpund of the United Alpine and Excelsior claim. A meeting of the Westport, Athenaaum Committee was held on Tuesday afternoon and among other business transacted, the mutilation of a book taken from the library was discussed. The librarian handed in a letter containing the names of subscribers through whoso hands the book had recently passed, and it was resolved that a notice should bo posted in the reading room offering a reward of £5 to any one giving information leading to the conviction of the party who has committed the offence. The Reefton Courier states that crown grants for the sections in Reefton are at last in the hands of the Government draughtsman at Nelson, and will b_> issued immediately; and also that the withdrawal of the town from the operation of the Goldiields Act will be announced directly. The Reefton Courier says that the minor, George Casey, who sustained a dislocation of the hip joint by a fall of earth in the Anderson's mine, is progressing favorably. Attempts to reduce the dislocation by the ordinary means having proved ineffectual, the patient was placed under chloroform by Dr James. A powerful double reave block and tackle belonging to the lineman was then procured from the Telegraph offic i, and with its aid the operation was quickly and successfully performed.

The time made on the railway works during the past month has been about twelve days. This is oven better than on Public Works in Westland, where the tally has hardly reached ten days. Judgment was given on Wednesday in the case, Bailie and M'Kenna v. Logan. The decision being a nonsuit against the plaintiffs. £'J 19s costs were allowed defendant.

Nearly a famine prevails in tho land, a plentiful scarcity of everything eatable. The butchers shops are bare, eggs and butter at a premium, and salt and preserved provisions running out. At Charleston worse times prevail, scarcity has been succeeded by absolute dearth, and the principal viands now in consumption are jams, kippered herrings, and tomato sauce. Bacon is not to be obtained there, and the butchers days ago shut up their shops for an indefinite period. It is anticipated that the next consignment of cattle at Westport will realise unprecedented prices. The next steamer from Wauganui with cattle is due to-morrow evening. A landslip recently occurring near Junker's house on the Lyell track, and impeding communication, is now being cleared away by laborors employed by the Lyell District Board. At the Police Court, Wednesday, a youth 15 years of age, the son of a Westport resident, was charged with stealing a watch from his mother. He confessed the theft, and a witness named Webber deposed that the accused had sold him the watch for ojs on Saturday last. The Bench took time to consid«r a decision, and in the afternoon bound the prisoner in a recognizance of £lO to appear when called on. The watch was returned to the rightful owner.

A specimen bag of coal from the true sea in recently opened up in Seaton and Company's claim at the Mokihinui has been brought in for testing. It is claimed that, unlike the first lot of coal procured from the outer and broken portion of tho scam, it burns free from ash and dirt, and is in every respect a good merchantable article. If these qualities can bo assured the demand for Mokihinui coal will speedily increase. The coal was forwarded to the Government Laboratory at Wellington by the s.s, Waipara on Wednesday. A meeting of creditors in tho estato of Georgo Falla was held on Wednesday. Beyond a lively passage of wordy warfare between the; bankrupt and his principal creditor, not worth repeating, nothing definite ensued. Last night a proposition to pay five shillings in the pound was made, and is now under consideration by the creditors.

The subscriptions received on Tuesday by the directors of the Westport Building Society amounted to £75 4s Bd, tho highest monthly total yet augmenting the funds of the young society. Two investments of one hundred pounds each have been made on mortgage, and the directors are now prepared to advance another .£IOO on approved security. As showing the profitable nature of tho Building Society business, it may be noted that the first two transactions, on loans re-payablo in 3 and 5 years respectively, will yield a profit of £6O net, in addition to the profit derivable from the payment of monthly instalments in extinguishment of the sums advanced, such repayments being again-re-invested. That portion of the Bailor roa 1 from the Ohika river downward towards Westport is in a frightful state of travelling. The last flood swept away all traces of tho original road, and horses now have to climb like goats up asteep bank, where a single false step would imperil their lives. Possibly when somo serious accident ensues, tho provincial authorities may consider it expedient to authorise repairs, or somo temporary expedients to lessen tho dangers of travelling. Tho Secretary to the Hospital Committee desires to acknowledge receipt of cheque for £\'l from Sir John M'Loan, third donation to Hospital Funds, from men employed on the Westport and Sit. Koehfort railway. The amount of Education rate collected in the Westport District for the current year has been ,£l-23, including £L4> arrears. The uncollected rates still duo and recoverable amount to £9O. Mr E. Kolling, on his way to Reefton to assume duties as Clerk of the Court, and Gold Receiver, left town on Wednesday in company with the mail Contractor. Hie jonrney will not bo an enviable trip to the mountain regions.

Charleston residents are anxious that the time of departure of the Westpc-rt mail should be telegraphed to the Charleston poat-omco daily, so that the Postmaster there might be enabled to notify the probable time of its arrival in Charleston ; the nresent uncertainty causing much inconvenience to persons waiting for letters.

The Directors of the Wellington Gas Company are offering to sell a complete gas plant. It seems that the plant now in use by the Company is not largo enough for the requirements of the City of Wellington, and the Company propose to replace it by a new one n.ore suitable to the increased wants of the city. The novelty of a meat sale by auction occurrod yesterday. Mr T. Jones having driven in a beast, slaughtered it and got it cut up in lots to suit purchasers. Mr T. Dwan knocked down the various cuts to purchasers, at prices ranging from four pence halfpenny to eight pence, per pound. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held on Wednesday for the purpose of confirming the Eegulations made and passed by the Council under the XIII Schedule of the Municipal Corporations Act. On the proposition of Cr Organ, seconded by Cr Stitt, the regulations as passed at a meeting held on the 2nd September ultimo, were confirmed. The regulations have reference to the erection of buildings, driving cattle through the streets, fires in open places, storage of gunpowder, slaughter housos, carting charges, boats and boatmen, and other cognate matters. The Maruia Company now work three leaders, and expect to crush 400 tons.