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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1232, 27 November 1874, Page 2

The steamer Albion is expected to leave C Hokitika at eleven forenoon on Saturday c the 2Sth instant. Telegrams for tho '\ Australian Colonies via Java Cable, will be received at the Westport office for trans- ] missiou to Melbourne up till ten o'clock of the 23th instant. The Wallace left on Wednesday for Karamea, and will no doubt get in easily, havi g favoring wind and sea. filer complement of passengers, during tho vessels detention ( at Westport, found their way some little ] distance along the Nine Milt road and in the • direction of the Terraces, to get some idea of the nature of the bush country they are I about to inhabit. Oa the whole the prospect has not damped their hopes, and ] most of them seem endued with a spirit of quiet self-reliance that will stand them in good stead. '' At the R M. Court yesterday Mary Daniells was charged with drunkenness iu Palmerston street on the complaint of Constable Rendell. The accused volubly denied the charge, and there being fioin the evidence some doubt whether she was really the worse for liquor or excited from other causes the case was dismissed. As a sign of the times in Reefton the Herald reports that Mr Richard Reeves, auctioneer, has disposed privately of the Royal Mail hotel and shop adjoining, the property of Mr Joseph Booth, for £350; Mr Wilckens, late of Half Ounce, being the purchaser. A little over twelve months since the same property was purchased for £l-10. The United Free Methodist Soiree at Charleston on Wednesday evening last is reported as having proved a great success. The arrangements made at the Institute Hall leaving little or nothing needed to ensure the comfort of the host of visitors who come trooping to the spread. The Choir rendered some selections of sacred music in highly creditable style, and the addresses delivered were replete with wisdom, geniality, and kindly counsel, Financial affairs of the Church are satisfactory. At the last meat sale at Ahaura, prices fell considerably, tho late high rates having caused the market to be rushed somewhat. Prime beef fetched only from 35s to 40s per lot) lb, and store cattle were sold at anything but a profit to their owners. The West Coast Times contains the following :—Sonic Weeks ago wo hinted that our friends would be doing well iu the way of charily wore they to contribute a mite to old Mrs Johnstone, formerly of the MelI bourne hotel, Urayinouth, and we are since gratified to learn, by the Orey River Argus, that several amounts have already been received towards that benevolent object. As confirmatory of the remarks then made by us, we quote from a telegram received from a commercial traveller, who is well known on the Coast, and who is at present in Invercargill, where Mrs Johnstone resides. He says : " The poor old soul is living on the sale of remnants of jewellery she has left. Sho wants to join her sister in Victoria, but has not the means to get there. Here sho is almost unknown." We again refer to the matter, knowing that there are many who will readily do something on the old lady's behalf, she having, in her palmier da) s, frequently been among the foremost in maiiy good works. We understand that the Engineer-in-Chief, Mr Carruthers, has authorised Mr M'Loan to construct the additional two miles of railway required to reach the Waimangaroa. This, if correct, will tend to very materially expedite the bringing down of coal to Westport. la fact coal from Waimangaroa should arrive nearly concurrently with stone from Fairdown Mr John Hughes has donated to the Committee the sum of five pounds, in aid of the funds of the Westport District Hospital Bazaar. Tho bi-weekly issue of the Lyell Argus has been for the present discontinued, and the paper, as formerly, will be issued on Saturday only. The support accorded does not warrant the expense of bi-weekly publication, and the proprietor very wisely abandons the desire to give his clients more than they desire to pay for. A proposal has been made at" Reefton for a race meet, to be held on a new raee-course to be cleared within a quarter of a mile from tho town. On Monday, tho 9th instaut, the Eeho, a new evening journal, made its first appearance in Auckland. It is well written, well printed, and " well advertised," and bid fair to become a very formidable opponent of the opposition evening paper, the Star. Tho plans and specifications for the railway station at Westport, and stationmaster's house, show that it is intended to construct what is called a fourth-class station of wood, with arched roof of corrugated iron, and comprising the usual ticket office, clerk's apartments, and retiring room for ladies. A goods or engine shed will also be built opposite the station. The station-master's house will be a comfortable structure of some five or six rooms and with verandah. The site selected for the station is in Brougham street, at the corner of the right-of-way laid off at the rear of the sections facing Pahuerston street. The station-master's house will be built on the right-of-way, and facing Wakefield street; that is, on the opposite street frontage from the Bank of New Zealand. The couditions of tender stipulate that the house shall bo completed within six weeks from the signing of contract, and the station by the 31st January, 1875. The Wallace left on Wedneeday evening fjr the Karamea. Mr M'Nairn, of the Ngakawhau, went up on Tuesday overland to take soundings at the river entraneo, and to erect temporary signals to guide the Wallace in entering. Harbormaster Captain Leech who lias gone up took take with him beacons for erection there, which will be necessary, as the Karamea will now be a port of call for the Nelson steamers. Mr Tizard, Customs Collector, also went up per Wallace on an offieial visit. A mishap occurred iu Palmorston street oa Wednesday. W. C. Chambers had loaded a spring dray with mats of sugar at tho bonded stores, intendiug to take his load to Messrs Bailie and Humphrey's store, but the horse jibbed at starting, and at last made a sudden plunge, and swerving sharply round, fell into tho deep drain alongside the street, capsizing the dray, andgettir.g- pi to an awkward fix. A good many willing hands were promptly to tho fore, and after sumo heaving and pulling got the horse on his legs again and the dray reloaded. Neither the horse, dray, or'doad, were much damaged. ■ '