WESTPORT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 843, 27 April 1888, Page 15

WESTPORT.

[By Telegraph] (lICM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Westport, April 19. The first meeting of the new Harbor Board was held last evening. F. W. Martin, the District Engineer, was elected Chairman. The other business done was unimportant. Westport, April 20. The third race meeting of the year is to be held here on Queen’s Birthday. £IOO will be given in seven events. The Greenwood family open, here this evening. Dr "McCarthy, late of Greymouth, has settled in Westport. There are now six medicos in this district. A number of single men left by to-day’s steamer en route to Broken Hill. Several others are to follow. An officer of the Salvation Army arrived to-day to open fire here. Mr Blair and the other engineers are still here doing business in connection with the Harbor Works. The weather has been fine tho last two days, but a squall is threatening to-night. Westport, April 23. The local coal export for last week amounted to 2588 tons. The Greenwood Family have had a prosperous season here, and leave for Nelson by the Maitai to-night, at 10.30. The members of the -family sang in the Catholic Church yesterday to a very large congregation. Mr Blair, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief, leaves for Nelson, overland, to-morrow morning. Westport, April 24.

Important business was transacted at the last meeting of the Harbor Board. It was resolved to give Mr Greenland (secretary and treasurer) and Mr Austin (assistant engineer) three months’ notice of the termination of their present engagements, but I understand the former will be employed by the Public Works Department on the survey of the Mokihinui Railway, while the latter wili be re-engaged in a position similar to that which he now holds at a reduced salary. The weighbridge clerk also received one month’s notice of the termination of his present situation. The Chairman was also empowered to make whatever arrangements he considers necessary to the economic and diligent prosecution of the works, and to the assimilation of wages paid here to rates paid in other parts of the Colony. Under this latter resolution, Mr John Barrowman (who was discharged by the late Board during the troublous period) has been reinstated, and it is furthermore understood that wholesale discharges will be made with the object of re-appointment, in some cases at reduced salaries and wages. This latter point of redaction of wages is certain to cause great dissatisfaction, as, considering the broken time caused by bad weather, 10s per day here is only equal to 8s in the North Island. Mr Martin, the District Engineer, is at present directing the works, and it is not settled who will have permanent charge. Mr Blair, assistant engineer-in-chief, left for Nelson, via the Buller-road this morning. Previous to his departure a deputation interviewed him with respect to the road, and ho promised to examine it and report. At a meeting of householders last evening the old School Committee was re-elected. Their report showed that 412 children were on the roll. A young woman named Fanny Adams, formerly barmaid in Wellington, was arrested this afternoon, having become insane. A man named Oliver Johnson, an eccentric individual, set fire to himself and hie hut, and was badly burnt. . A hut belonging to Thomas Thornton was gutted hy fire last evening.

A small blaze in the kitchen of the Empire Hotel alarmed the town this morning. Westport, April 25. There are a considerable number of uuemployed men in the district at present. There were over 30 tenders, for several small borough contracts to-day. . It is understood that the Government rate of wages on the harbor works will range from 7s or 8s to 9s per day, but every possible particle of work will be let by contract.