THE MONTHS.

West Coast Times, Issue 944, 1 October 1868, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MONTHS.

Considerable uneasiness is felt on the £ Greenstone at the unaccountable absence from liis home of a miner named Kelly. He ( 3ias been missing since Saturday last, and ( despite of every inquiry that has been made ( Ms whereabouts cannot be discovered. For ( .some time previous to his disappearance I .Kelly had been drinking heavily, and conse- I i •quently his absence from his claim was not ! , noticed at first — his mates thinking that ho might have been knocking about somo chanty, but now they arc considerably alarmed. Kelly when last seen was attired in a pea coat, moleskin trousers, and a wldts awake hat. It is with great regret wo have to record the death of George Samuel Evans, L.L.D. t at one time member for Richmond hi the Victorian Legislative Assembly, and i'osl-snaster-Geueral for the Colony of Victoria under the first O'Shanassy Administration. Dr Evans held a distinguished position amongst the members of his profession at iiome, and was a notable man in political and newspaper circles in Victoria. He was f.or a considerable time editor of tire Melbourne Morning Herald. lie had extensive property in New Zealand, and one of Punch's happiest cartoons was that which represented the heavy black-letter lawyer as a Maori chief during his temporary absence from Malbourne on a visit to this colony. Dr Evans was a man of solid learning, but better adapted to the circumstances of an old society than to a young goldfields community. We have to record a narrow escare from a frightful death. On Saturday evening last a boy aged thirteen years of age was playing with the windlass rope of a shaft, and while doing so he swung himself forward over the mouth of the hole, into which he fell headlong. The rope not being properly fastened paid out, and the boy was precipitated to the bottom of the shaft, which was sixtythree feet in depth. Observing the sudden disappearance of the boy, a numbar of mincra who were about proceeded to the shaft, and one of thorn went down and brought the boy up. Singular to state beyond a very slight 1 scalp wound no injuries were sustained by the poor little fellow, but as might "naturally be imagined he was much shakeu, an 1 nearly dead with fright. There were two feet of water at the bottom of the hole, and had not the men so quickly detected the disappearance of the little fellow he would have been suffocated, for when he was found he was lying on hia side. The meeting of the County Council of Westland is further prorogued by the Chairman, from the Ist October to the 3rd November next. By that time, we daresay, the General Assembly will have closed its session. In the meantime the County will be represented in various ways, viz., by Mr Barff, who is not a great authority on financial matters ; by Mr Harrison, who is not a Very great hand at figures, but who seems to be in a state of high dudgeon at tho Hokitika people attempting to instruct him, by Mr Cassius as our special delegate, and by Mr Bonar, who will so faithfully interpret our views to the Wellington Parliament A dispatch from tho Colonial Office (says the Argus of the 10th), relative to tho refunding of a portion of the salary received by General Carey while administering the government of this colony, was last night, on the motion of Captain M'Mahon, ordered to be laid on the table of the Legislative As- j eembly. It appears that, when administering the Government of Victoria, General Carey, as had been tho custom, received the whole of the salary appropriated fir the Governor of the colony. On the arrival of his Excellency Sir J. H. T. Manners Sutton in the colony, he demanded half salary from the dite of hid embarkation "in England. General Carey replied that he had been paid, and had spent the salary. The Colonial Office, however, said tha present Governor had a right to the portion he demauded, and General Carey thon refunded it. We understand tho tenor of the despatch recently received is to the effect that if the Parliament of Victoria vole a sum to recoup General Carey there will be no objection to hi? receiving it. An incident of a tragical nature came to light last week, which affords much reason (says the Kilmore Examiner) for entertaining fears that a horrible crime had been committed. On Friday last, between Donnybrook and the Deep Creek, the body of a man was discovered lying in the bush, with a terrible gash in his throat, resembling a wound that might be inflicted by an axe or some other sliarp instrument. A very mysterious fact is connected with the incident — that the body, when found, was almost in a state of nudity, a pair of trousers being the only covering, and no visible traces of any other clothing. The unfortunate victim of so violent a death, in appearance, would be about forty years of age. The district coroner held an inquest on the body, at Donnybrook, on Saturday, when an open verdict was returned. The following account of a desperate struggle with Chinese thieves is given by the Bendigo Advertiser: — " From information forwarded to the police at Sandhurst, it appears that for some time past one of the crushingmachines at Inglewood had been frequently robbed, and Chinamen were the suspocted persons. On« of the men belonging to the works and a constable were watching the machine on Saturday night, and about three o'clock on Sunday morning two Chinamen were seen entering. The watchers attempted to take them into custodj', when a desperate struggle ensued. The two Chinamen were armed with stout iron bars, with which they struck at' the constable and his assistant, and eventually they effectcl their escape, leaving • both the constable and the other man very severely hurt. The constable especially has received very serious injuries about tho head and face from the iron bars used by the Chinamen. The detectives and police of both Inglewood ani Sandhurst are in active pursuit of the two Chinamen, although it is doubtful if they will succeed in arresting them." The soiree in aid of the funds of the National School, Stafford Town, was held on Monday week last, at the old Court House, Stafford Town, when the room was crowded. Mr J. N. Owen was voted to the chair, and the meeting was addressed by Mr Mo watt, a member of tho Board of Education, Mr James CiwtlvHum of the Cew«ty Council, mul

Messrs Hannan, Satterthwaile, and Collyer, 1 and Dr Matthews, Chairman of the local committee. A concert and quadrille j assembly finished the evening's amusement, a and we arc glad to hear that after paying all ] expenses the Committee have £21 to their credit. Tho Amateur Dramatic Glub have j also promised to give v performance in aid of ■ the school funds, so that the Committee will ( at once ba able to commence their laudable labour in establishing a schdol ov a firm ' ba«K ' : The usual fortnightly meeting of the TIo- • kitika Literary Society, was held last Friday i evening, Mr. Keid, the Vice President, in the , | chair. After iho usual preliiubiar^ buA- _ ness had been disposed of> Uie Secretary stated he and tho Vicfr-Presidout had called at tho office of the County Paymaster respecting the sum of £150, voted by the • County Council, in aid of the Society, and had taken initiatory measures for obtaining tho payment of it. It was stated that a special general meeting of the members would be held on Friday week, to pass the amended rales preparatory to their being printed. The meeting then terminated. Wo understand that a deputation from the Board of Management of the Ilokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company, consisting of Messrs M'Beth and Klein, waited upon the Arahura lload Board, *at Staf* ford Town, for the purpose of ascertaining what encouragemeut the Board were prepared to give the Company in the event of thek extending their lino through Piper's flat to Stafford Town. The members of the Board appeared to be quite alive to the advantages likely to accrue to the district from such an undertaking, and promised to give the proposal their best and most favorable consideration. The proposed line will pass through a section of country hitherto unopened, an.l which there is every reason to believe will prove to be of a highly auriferous character. The extension of tho tramway sy&tem in this direction, will prove of great advantage in reducing the rate of carriage to the Waimea, and in facilitating the opening of new and fresh country, likely to become ultimately a scene of funning industry. The Brighton correspondent of the Charleston Herald says :—": — " The new rush at Itoehford's Terrace continues to thrive, and the mining population to increase. Large numbers of men, armed with all requisites for active work, may be seen daily wending their way in the direction of the new Dorado. In my last communication I informed you that gold had been struck about a mile north of the prospectors, and nearer the township. Since then several shafts have bottomed on gold in the immediate neighborhood of Tom Nolan's claim. This h.is caused a considerable movement to set in northwards. lam inclined to the opinion that the newly-dis-covered ground in the neighbourhood of Rochford's will yet successfully compete with the older ground north of the town of Brighton, which attracted such an extraordinary population to Pox's some twenty mouths ago. I mean, of cource, the far-famed "Welshman's. The sum of £720 has been offered and refused within the last two days for a couple of shares in the prospectors' claim. I mention this circumstance as one within my own knowledge, and as indicative of public confidence in the general appearance of things in the locality." A serious accident occurred last Friday morning at the left-hand branch of the Waimea Creek, to a man named Thomas Goodwin. It appears that while walking on the track to the Shamrock Terrace his foot slipped on a wet log which was laying on the face of the terrace, and ho fell down into the bed of the creek among some boulders. Goodwin was brought to the Hospital on Saturday evening, and was immediately attended by Dr Eyley, who, on examination of the injuries, found that he had sustained a fracture of both bones of the right leg ne.ir to the ankle. Dr Ryley applied tko carbolic acid treatment, and although the case is a very unfavourable one. the fracture being oblique, and split for several inches, and protruding through lha wound, lie entertains strong hopes of bringing it to a successful issue. From recent returns we learn that the value of imports to the whole of New Zealand for the quarter ended 30th June, ! BGB, is £917,204 against £1.125,727 for the corresponding quarter of 1567. showing a falling off of £358.523. Thfi criminil sittings of the Hokitika Cirjcuit Court commencpfl on the lOHi ult. at ten o'clock, -before Mr Justice Richmond. His Honor's charge to the Grand Jury was necessarily brief, there being but little either in the state of the district or of the calendar to call for special notice from the Bench. The learned Judge, however, adverted to the report of the Prison Commissioners, and after pointing out that favourable mention was therein made of the efficient state of the Ilokitika Gaol, said he hoped that efficiency would at least be always maintained. The cases disposed of were comparatively unimportant, but a rather nice question of law was raised and decided by the learned Judge in the case of John Mullins. The prisoner was indicted for feloniously attempting to kill and murder himself by taking a quantity of arsenic. He had pleaded " Not Guilty," and a jury was empannelled to try the case, when his Honor said he doubted if a conviction ensued under that indictment whether it could be sustained. The offence charged was a felony, and he was of opinion that the term •' murder" mentioned in the statne, under which the indictment was laid, hardly, included "suicide," which was an offence sui generis, punishable as a misdemeanour, but not as a felony. Perhaps the best course to adopt was, that a verdict of acquittal should be returned on the indictment, and that a bill should be presented to the Grand Jury charging the prisoner with a misdemeanour. The Crown Prosecutor said that he would adopt the suggestion, and a verdict of acquittal was returned. Tho prisoner was, however, retained in custody as a bill charging him with a misdemeanour would be presented to the Grand Jury next morning. One of those pleasing little reunions winch relieve the somewhat tedious monotony of Gold-fields' life, took place at Stafford Town on the Sth ult— the occasiou being the official visit of the Visiting Brothers from the Ilokitika Lodg? to the Loyal Waimea Lodge, Stafford Town. After the business of the evening was concluded, about fifty of tho brethren sat down to a supper provided by ho«t James N. Owen. N. G. Faris occupied the chair, the vice being ably filled by N. G. Fisher. Among the visiting brothers we noticed N.G. Lynch, P. G. Rawlings, and P.G.M. Turner. After ample .justice had been done to the good things provided, songs and toasts followed in quick succession; and it was not until the small hours began to enlarge that ths convivial meeting dispersed . It is with dec]) regret we have to record the death of Mr Archibald Bonar, jun.; which took place on Saturday, 12th ulc, at his residence, Gibson's Quay. The deoeased gentleman was the son of Mr Bonar, manager of the Ilokitika Savings' Bank, and formerly memiw oi \\w wolWwown fivro of Brontlfutkl

Bonar and Co., of Melbourne, and was brother } to tho Chairman of the County Council. His i generous disposition and kind-heartedness r had won for him the cteeni of a largocirclc of { friend?, by whom his loss will be keenly fell, c Mr Bonar had been for some years comiec-ed 1 with the Volunteer movement in Victoria, < Southland, and, Westland. In Southland, he j held the rank of lieutenant in the Invercargill Rifles, and Ira was, at the time of his death, i colof-^pcrgr-ant in the Second Company of i Westland P.ifles. On Sunday, the flags of the i shipping, and at most of the business places in i own were floating half-mast, as a mark 'of 1 respect to Ms memory % .. „ The town of Shprilar;/!, "6j» llio Thames, is i suffering from all Itlii ineonvienced of a i ruslr. Ak at Varia during the late Exhibi- '. lion, beds are not to be got for love or money. : •A correspondent to one of our contemporaries says : — The great cry now is for sleeping : accommodation. The steamers arrive crowded at night, and it ib quite a joke to see the people racing up the Streets to secure "beds. There is,, J;ot> v , a great demand for timber^ and tlve supply is not nearly sufficient; prices are ruling high, and any kind of building material is eagerly sought after. Last week, and during this, it lias been as high as £1 per 100 feet. The last quotation I heard was 18s. per 100 feet, and likely to remain so. A man named Phillips met with a serious accident,, whereby his skull was fractured, on Friday, 11th ult.» at the Waimea. It appears that while.. ,the Unfortunate man was walking on the Waimea track, his attention became diverted by some passing object, and he fell iuto an abandoned shaft, 20 feet in depth, which exists close by the track. Phillips was quickly taken out of the hole by some miners, who saw the accident,, and upon it being ascertained that he was seriously injured, a stretcher was improvised j and ho was carried on the shoulders of a i party of men into town and conveyed across the river to the Hospital. A meeting of the Westland Light Horseo rse corps took place on Thursday, 10th ult., at Hansen's Assembly -room, for the purpose of electing officers, Captain Carey Mas in the chair. Nearly all the members were present. Captnin Carey stated that in consequence of his contemplated departure from Ilokitika, the meeting had been called for tho purpose of electing a captain in his stead. Lieutenant Christian, Mr Boyle, and Mr Comisky, were proposed as candidates for the office. On a ballot bring taken the election fell upon Lieutenant Christian. The office of lieutenant having thus become vacant, Cornet Preshaw was unanimously elected thereto, vice Christian, promoted. For the office of cornet there were two candidates, via., Sergeant-Major Garforth and Sergeant Louisson. On a ballot being taken, Sergeant-Major Garforth was elected cornet. Ssnior-Sergcant Hudson was thereupon appointed f.ergeant-major, Sergeant Louisson was appointed senior-sergeant, and Corporal Smith, sergeant. At the criminal sittings of the Ilokilika Circuit Court, held on the 11th ult., before his Honor Mr Justice Richmond, Bridget Kelly who had been convicted the previous day of assaulting Mary Griffin, was sentenced to six months' hard labor ; and Patrick Blanchfield, who had been found guilty of feloniously Uttering, .and John Henderson, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing from a dwelling, were each sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labor. Joseph Smith, who pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary, received a sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment. John Mullins, indicted for attempted suicide, was acquitted. Charles Hasset, charged with stealing a cheque from "William Dalgell, was found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard Labor. The court then adjourned till 10 a.m. next day. la Whitcom he-square, between Tudor and Park streets, the "La France" claim, better known as Victor Frank and party, is being vigorously worked by its holdtivs — four in number. The mode used by them for the extraction of the precious met ills box sluicing — by which system of working they expect to make good wages. Should they not do sj, however, they intend to cut a tail-race into the swamp underneath them, and to ground sluice, by which means they are cerviin of earning a fair livelihood. The dirt is the ordinary black sand wash, and its value will be tested in tho course of the week, a's the parry intend at the first opportunity to have a washing up. Should there bo a moderate rainfall, the party will always have plenty oC water, and as their lease of the ground from the Corporation is not for a limited period, there is work for a long time to come for them, and as they 'have the only water right available, thoy need fear no intruders in their vicinity. Another mining act;: lout at Ross is reported. This time a miner, named Legex, has suifered tha breakage of a leg while ground sluicinir in German Gully, from a falling boulder. lie was at once carried by his mutes lo the Korfs Hospital, where, under the care of Dr Zurhorst, he will receive all • the advantages which practised f.kill can confer. There is a good deal of talk on the diggings about the new rush to Brighton. The information to lvmd about it is vague at present, \ut there seems to have been "a discovery of some importance in id?. And it is lime that something fresh should break out in Fox's. It has seen mmy vicissitudes. Two years ago it was first rushed, and then nearly as quickly deserted as the important discovery of auriferous ground which attracted the population to ths district was enormously overrated. A few however held out, hoping almost against hope, and their patience was rewarded. A party of men whilst prospecting put in a tunnel into the side of a terrace and discovered a lead of black sand. This torrace was the Welshman's, the fame of which spread far and wide, and caused a tremendous rush to set in, thousands of miners collected, and Brighton became a thriviii"and rising township. The riches of the Welshman's terrace were not overrated, for all who were fortunate enough to secure claims on it made "piles." But the lucky ones were few in number, and although the country was prospected in every direction, no second Welshman's could bo found. There were some other terraces opened, but . the gold found in them was patchy, and thoy did not support many miners. When the Buller fields were opened the population of Fox's began to diminish and Brighton rapidly decayed. Prospecting associations were formed, and parties sent out to re-test the country, but they did not meet with better success than their predecessors. However just when matters were about as bad ns possible, ji terrace was discovered near to the celebrated Jacob's Ladder, upon (.'lnch rapidly gathered a large number of men. The majority of these men after working for a little while deserted the place almost as quickly as they flacked upon it, and once more the Brighton business people were bereft of hope. Now again those that have stuck to the district through good and evil fortune have a prospect of improvement before them and us a matter of course they are jubilant. All the sections in tha town have been taken up, and absent holilervs who have not improved their lands will find if they return that that peculiarly goldfield's institution " jumping" has been the order of the day for the last week. The value of the discovery which has caused all this furore has not yet been thoroughly proved, and until it has been we would advise those intending Lo proceed to it to stay where they are. The new ground recently opened in the neighborhood of Tucker Flat, is turning out really well. There is considerable excitement about in the Kanieri district, but as all the ground, which is very limited in extent has been taken up, there is no room for late comers. One party during the week bottomed their shaft at a depth of 30 feet, and found wash of eight feet in thickness, which gave a prospect right through of one to six grains to the dish. There nro several other parties, both on the Umico awl on the flat

hard at work sinking, anl in the ponr-e of a io\v days it will be A)eu«irchv ]H-<}rcd whether a ilepned le i.l or a if dro patch iuu been struck. Should the former prove to be the case, the depression under which the 01.l Five-mile lias, been for sj long suffering, wi!L give place to good time 3 somewhat similar to wliac it enjeyed two or throe ycirs ago. Tlic KauierJ Road Board is commencing its career by making a vigorous effort to open up its back Country. A tender h.iii been accepted by it "for the construction of a- track in t\K d; region of the Right-hand Branch of tho Ivameri Paver, in the direction of the Lake. This work although it will not fully an fewer the purpose of providing lUcftus! of communication between iho Lake aivl the Kanitri lo^rishlp, la a step in t.hq rijrhh. direction, aud shows that the Kameri Road Board is anxious td do their best for the general mtfrcst of the district with the limited funds at its district. Another wreck is supposed to ha.ye taken place on the coast near the town of Wellington. The Independent states that some station men found on the beach near Cape Terawiti, about 15 miles from AVelliugton, two cases of kerosene, a chest of tea, and a quantity of ship's fittings. This was on the morning of the 28th of August. The Outgo Times says : — Swindlers arc actively at work in connection with the Auckland gold-fields. One of them recently hired several men in Canterbury to proceed to the mines, £3 a week and passage paid. Some of thorn went to Lytteltou, and were surprised to find that their passages had not been secured. Their employer was suddenly called away to Wellington, and was last seen on board tho RakaLi, bound for Panama, John B. Mosely, a clerk in the employ of Messrs Lane and Thoneman, was brought before the Resident Magistrate, at Dunedin, on Saturday, charged with having embezzled £10 4s sd, the moneys of his employers. It appeared, from the evidence, that he was entrusted to collect the moneys, aud had appropriated them to his own use. He had spent it in the purchase of jewelry. Since his arrest, the money had been returned by some one unknown to the prosecutors. The p isoner was committed for trial. Tho fate of poor Harnett. murdered by the Ilau-haus at the Chathams, is thus detailed in the evidence given at the inquest on his body :— Robert Hardy deposed that lie was standing at the end of tho room, smoking and talking, and the deceased was arranging some papers on his chest. A prisoner of the name of Tikoti gave tho signal of attack in Maori, and the prisoners then made a rush at the polic.emen. At tho first alarm Harnetb sprung up, but three of them seized him ; he pushed one r jaway, upon which a prisoner named Tamihami Tikitiki' struck him twice across the face with tomahawk. The first wound was across his eyes and uoso, and was a mortal wound, about 4 inches long aud 4 inches deep. The second wound was inflicted a little lower down. He fell dead without a groan. C.m positively swear to Tamihami Tikitiki. having worked with him formerly. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of wiiful murder against Tamihami Tikitiki. The following is a return of the prisoners confined in the County Goal, Hokiiika, for the week ending 12th September, ICGB: — Undergoing sentence of penal servitude, 9 males; undergoing sentence of hard labour, 30 males, 3 females; imprisoned in default of bail, 1 male, 2 females; imprisoned in default of fine, 2 males; debtors, 3; total, 45 males 5 females. Received during the week, 0; discharged during the week, 4. The volunteer" ball, which has so long been spoken of, is announced to take place on Friday, the 9th of October, Tickets can be obtained from the following members of the committee : — Captains Carey and Bonar, Lieutenant Devorc, Ensigns Fisher and Frew. Sergeants Orborne, Knox, and Pringle, Corporal Stevenson, Volunteers Jones and Walker, Hokitika. ; Captain Campbell, Ross ; and Captain Hamilton, Grcyinouth. Tho drill-shed, tho opening of which this ball is intended to celebrate is now fast approaching completion, and in the course of a few days, as far as estimates are concerned, it will be finished. Tho following is a return of the prisoners confined in the County Gaol, Hokitika, for the month ending September 19 :—Undergoing sentence of penal servitude, 9 ; undergoing sentence of hard labour, 30 males, 3 females ; imprisoned in default of bail, 1 male, 2 females ; imprisoned in default of fine, 3 males ; debtors, 2. Total — 45 males, , 5 females. Received during the week 4 ; discharged during the week, 4. On /Saturday, 24th ulr., the opening cricket match of the season, an account of which will be fjund in another column, was played on the ground cleared arid fenced by the club, up the river, and as tile weather continued fine a capital afternoon's spjrt was : enjoyed by a large number of the community. In Iced it was a most promising beglnniug of what we hope will be a brilliant season, and • the very large muster of all classes of tiie community proves the interest that is taken in this noble game in Westland. We may state that the club is most anxious to level anl improve tho grounl, and we trust that it will receive that support to which it is fairly 1 entitled. All those who wish to enrol their i ni:nes as members arc particularly requested not to lose any time about doing so, and we may remind them that the subscription is ; ten shillings^ entrance fee, anl £1 Is subscription for °ilie season. We hear that the i club will be very largely increased during the present season. A movement i.-; being set on : foot, which we hope may be successful, to try i and get the Christchurdi eleven to come over • during the season, and so give the hitherto . invincible Hokitika " cracks" a fair epportu- ■ nity of being properly tried. Wo also hope to see the Greymouth team at Hokitiloi before long, ani irn3t that when they come they will have a more favourable day for ■ playing than they had last year. i We are informed that a nugget weighing 1 9dwt. was found by a carpenter in the employ i of Mr John Lcngdou, who keep 3 the TwelveMile Ferrj', on tho Grey River, on the top of i the range at the rear of his premises. No , doubt tills circumstance will load to the thorough prospecting of the locality. At the late fire in Taranaki, the Herald newspaper plant suffered considerably by removal. The editor thu3 describes his i'cel- ! ingj as a witness of the destruction of pro- . perty :—": — " None but a printer can possibly i conceive tho destruction the plant ha 3 sufi fered by this removal. When we saw the cases full of type put on the ground with a 1 jerk, and the type spring over the sides, avc i shuddered again. We likewise arrived too : late to prevent the presses being taken down, so we fear that the bolts, screw-nuts, and other small pieces are distributed about the ■ place, and we have great doubt if half of them ; will be recovered. The persons who asisted > to move the things from the of3co must not think we are throwing any blame on them • after their kindness ; we are only describing : the thoughts that would arise in the mind of any practical printer, arriving on the spot an.l witnessing the plant o£ a printing office being . removed by unskilful hands in a hasty jaan- . ner. Printers will understand our feeiings ; when wo tell them that we found a sick containing wood letters, remains of packages of ; type which had. baen tied up, column rules, . side slicks, fancy letter, a tin of ink f opened), packs of printing cards (new), &c, indisi crimiuateiy mixeJ." By a telegram published in ihe Grey River Argus we lourn that on the fourth teri race above the Caledonian, a fourth lead of gold has beeii discovered, and proved to exist for a length of four miles. Since this the Caledonian was rushed in April, 1867, it has been rushed and deserted again time after time and has always been a place which West- ■ portouians, with what reason wo know not, urc always making a boast of. There are on the Caledonian lead proper a few good claims but the great majority of those working are not making mmrii. The ground in the wholo of tho clisf not is exceedingly patchy, and the

sinking extremely difficult in consequence of the wet nature of the grouud. The Westport people are noted for their extremely sanguine and hopeful disposition, aud having been disappointed in their anticipations of "striking heavy gold up the Buller" have now turned their attention towards the Caledonian, and ueoin determined to leave no stone unturned to induce the population which is now migrating fast from their shores to stop and prospect their already well tried country The diggers up north must be rather smart if they can prove the existanee o£ :>, Wd fo-r a length of four railp? ns stated iijk the telegram within ■a day after the discovery of it p.-uyable propped. . „, Queen Jrtiid ludd foil' td become almost as celebrated for bushrangers an the &iator colony of New South Wales. On the 3rd ulfc., Uobb'a coach was stuck up when three miles out J"rom Gympie by three armed men, who robbed the passengers and plundered the mails, and then decamped. Mr Thatcher, the " inimitable," was one of the victimA who were relieved of their money and valuables.On Friday, 18th ult., a man , John Ucdderwick met with a sel'ioils accident, which resultftf ill the b'reakiug of his Teg, under the i following circumstances :— He and three other men were engaged in removing a building belonging to Mr Iline, of the Royal George Hotel, and when lifting one of the walis from off its supports, by some misadventure it slipped, struck him on the leg, knocked him down, and fell upon him. The wall was immediately raised, and Iledderwick extricated from his dangerous position, and conveyed to the Royal George Hotel. A medical man was sent for, who upon examining his patient pronounced his leg to be broken, and recommended his removal to the Hospital. This recommendation was acted upon, and Hedderwick was taken to the Hospital in the afternoon. The case is very serious, as the unfortunate man's leg has been broken previously. An action, attenied by somewhat singular surroundings, was tried in the Supreme Court on the 21st ult., before his Honor Mr Justice Richmond. It is known to all men, that until the last few weeks, Mr Shaw, our ex-mayor, was one of the proprietors — as a member of the firm of ilarnetc and Co.— of the West Coast-Times, and that Mr Klein, late of the firm of Browne and Klein, proprietors of the Evening Star, had purchased the West Coast Tiuks, and hal incorporated with it the Westl.vkd OissKimcit. In the action tried on Monday, the plaintiff was Mr Shaw, and the defendants Messrs Browne and Klein, the cause of action b;ing-an alleged libel in connection with the subscriptions raised for the Eurness family, contained in the Star prior to the subsequent business arrangements entered into by the several parties involved in the suit. Most persons will probably be of the opinion that, under all the circumstances of the case, the suit would very much better have been settled out of court. As Mr Shaw, however, persisted in prosecuting Ms action, the defendants, however unwilling, ha I no option but to let it go to a jury. Jt involved an important question of newspaper conduct and etiquette. . The plaintiil" had demanded an apology for what the defendants alleged was a fair and legitimate comment upon the public conduct of a gentleman holding a responsible official position. Standing upon their right to indulga in free comment upon the action of a public man upon a public matter, the defendants maintained that no apology was due from them. The case accordingly Went into Court, and the verdict, as will be seen, was for the defendants. No ill-will on either side seems to have attended the proceedings ; both parries to the suit appearing on the most amicable terms in Court, and within its precincts. It was an unusual and a somewhat amusing scene to witness their open conferences with each others lawyers — each volunteering information to the other side as to the fp-cts of the case. Nor was it Ics-j amusing to see the parties to the suit adjourning at intervals to the next hotel to refresh themselves, returning to the Court with renewed Vigor to take their respective sides. A parting glass between the two was the wind-up, after the great case had beeu finally disposed of. A sad accident resulting in the death of a miner named William Urban, occurred early on Monday, 21st ult., at Chiekahomiuy Creek, near to Pretty Woman's, in the Waimea District. It appears that the unfortunate deceased who was working by himseli on the side of a terrace, was heard to cry out at about hal [-past eight o'clock in the morning by some men who were working in the vicinity. On these men proceeding to where lie was they found that a fall of earth anJ stones luid i iken place burying him up to the neck. He was extracted^!! a short time, and coutinucl sensible till half-past ten o'clock when he died. Br Matthews of Staffer J Town, who was sent for immediately upon the dangerous position- of the deceased being made known to his fellow minors, arrived on the spot just previous to Ids death. Medical skill was however of no avail, as the injuries sustained by Urban, viz., fracture of the spine, and also fracture of the tliigh tyrae rendered his case hopeless. On Sunday, 20th ult., as a child six years old, belonging to Captain Thompson of the Harbour department, was proceeding on au errand along the wharf, a large dog, who is said to ba very ferocious, and is known by the cognomen of Woolf, started up from its crouching position and, without any provocation whatever from the child, flew at him. and seizing him by the scalp tore a wound down from the crown of the head to the ear. The dog then let go its hold and seized the • child by the shoulder, biting him through. He then seized him by the knee, and it is difficult to say to what extent the ferocity of the animal might have continued had not a laly, who was passing at tlie moment, draggal the child away. The poor little fellow contrived to stagger home, aud falling down as soon as ho got in, eric.l out to his mother, " Oh 1 mother, I am dying, a dog has killed me." Captain Thompson immediately carried the child to Dr Dermott, -who sewed up his wounds and administered such relief as the serious nature of the case admitted. The most narrow escape Eevell-street has yet had from being made the scene of a destructive conflagration, occurred on Monday, 21st ult. It appears that between ten an.l eleven a.m., flames were discovered in a room at the back of Mr C. O'Leary's drapery warehouse (which i 3 situated opposite the Gridiron Hotel). Despite the energetic efforts made by a number of the residents in the neighbourhood, who, upon the alarm being given, rushed into the place to stop ihe progress of the lire; it rapidly spread, aud at one time it was feare.l that it win impossible to prevent the destruction of the place. Providentially, however, a large supply of water was at hand and after a time the fire Avas sublued not, however, before the lining of the whole of the back premises was completely destroyed, au'l the woodAvork much scorched. The origin of the lire is enveloped in mystery, but it is supposed, that some children avlio Avore in the room were amusing themselves by setting lire to pieces o£ p iper, Avhieh by some mean 3or other communicated Avith the lining, producing the result detailed above. A circumstance in connection with this fire is Arorthy of record. Among the articles which Averc partially destroyed Avas a dress Avhiuh Avas hanging on the back of the door. In the pocket of this dress some bank notes had been placed, and, singular to relate, whilst the pocket Avas entirely burnt, the notes, beyoucl being slightly singe.! at the ends, escaped Avholly uninjured. Had the fire not beeu got under the consequences would have been most disastrous, for a fre3Ji breeze was blowing at the time, and the hot weather Avhich lui3 prevailed lately has rendered ihe buildings of Hokitika very inflammable. Another much-esteemed resident has been removed from our midst by the unsparing linn .l of death. On Tuesday, 22nd ult., Mr V. J. llnfligun, of U><> well-known firm of

Mulligan and Ilalligan, drapers, departed this life, lie had been suffering from indisposition, and was under the treatment of Dr Dermott for some days previous to his demise; and on Monday night he felt rather worse, and seemed to be very feverish and restless. Towards the morning, however, he appeared better, and fell into a deep sleep, from which he never woke. Mr Hallig.in was a man of genial disposition and kinlly manners. He was much vespecte J. by all who knetf hiti>> and his death will leave a blank which it will be hard to fill. • A, widow and two children, are U'ft.to'deploie his ld«3 On Tuesday, 2s!nd uic,, while a little boy, illo son of Detective Dyer, was enjoying luniielf at skipping, ho was, by the entanglemsnt -of the rope round Ids lega, thrown violently to the ground. When he was' lifted up it was found that his arm was broken. The poor little fellow was immediately taken to his father's residence, aud medical aid was called into requisition. We arc informed that, during last week, several persons were looking about the country lying between the Hokitika aad Kanieri rivers, for the purpose of finding out suitable locatioua for farms. Two or three of these gentlemen expressed themselves as highly pleased with the nature of the country, and regretted much the absence of a bridge, as the Kanieri is such a treacherous stream that it cannot be forded. This want is now about to be supplied, so we may expect the number of farmers in the place will receive a material addition. Robert Anderson, a miner, thirty-two years of age, and who had recently arrived in Dnnediu, from the West Coast, committed suicide on the 13tji ult., at his residence, York Place, by shooting himself with a fowling piece. The Times says that his wife weut out about four o'clock, leaving him in bed. She returned in about an hour aud a half, aud not finding the deceased in the bedroom, went to look for him-. She found him lying crouched up in the fireplace in the kitchen, with & fowling-piece between his feet and knees, lie was dead, the shot having entered under the chin. The deceased had been much depressed in spirits for some time past. The New Zealand Advertiser of the 18th says .— " There is a rumour that a native emissary from the Front is recruiting in the Ilutt District. Our information on the subject is neither clear or definite, but there is evidence sufficient to show that the Government should institute enquiries." The Ararat and Pleasant Creek Advertiser vouches that the following romantic story comes from the best authority :— " A wedding will shortly be celebrated between two who are now •dwelling in the neighborhood of Pleasant Creek, whose ■ experience in the pleasant and ordinary rosy path of courtship has certainly proved of the most trying kind. Perseverance, however, has been tardily rewarded, an I if rashly uttered vows have been rigidly adhered to, they have in this instance proved the means of achieving a well-de-served success. Between four and five years ago, two young persons who were engaged at a fashionable establishment near Melbourne — one as nurse girl, aud the other as stable helper — came, hy some singular combinations of circumstances to consider that they were ' born for each other ;' and on the strength of the consideration, they exchanged promises of faithfulness, &c, adding to the solemnity by purchasing a gold ring from their joint savings, breaking it, and attaching the two halves to two strings, which they mutually placed round each other's necks : &c. The exigencies of cireumstunees parted the, fervid couple, aud, as matters turned • out, they started on verj opposite roads with their share of the divided ring. Two years from the date oj the ceremony the ' helper ' managed to get about £50 together, through acting successfully 'as agent for another' in the lane racket, and with this sum he bought and sole sheep upou the diggings till he became tlu happy possessor of £500. Then the name oi M.A.H. was well advertised under the head of missing friends, And ultimately a half ring despatched from an hospital in Sandhurst was sent, requesting the presence of the advertiser, who repaired to the place and found M. A. R. much reduced and almost unrecognisable with suffering, It was six month! before the patient was pronounced convalescent, and on quitting the hospital she, accord ing to agreement, went to be married to hei affianced; but she arrived at the town wher< he had been living only lo find that a minim; speculation in Ballarat or some other goldfield had ruined him, and that he had left tlw place in debt. The girl obtained a situation in the bush, which she filled satisfactorily and about a year ago again recognised in the person of a swagman staying for the night, the bearer of the broken Jialf of tht ring. Half of the woman's savings were drawn aud placed at Ids disposal, and with these few pounds he transformed them into as many hundreds. Pleasant Creek is the last place that attracted liim, and there his faithful fiancee has arrived and settled, previous to the final joining of the broken circlet." The Melbourne Age of the 17th September says : — "The inquest commenced at Williamstown on the 7th inst., and adjourned on the 9th, on the bodies of two Chinese passengers who died on board the barque Dayspring, was resumed yesterday afternoon., The coroner (Dr Maclean) read a medical certificate he had received from Dr Moloney, the resident physician at the Melbourne Hospital, stating that Mr W. A. Langdbn, one of the Dayspring cabin passengers, was still too ill to be removed from- the hospital, and would be compelled to remain there for at least three" weeks longer. An officer of the water police also stated that he had seen Mr Langdon that morning, and he complained of still being xtnable to move. The coroner informed the jury that this adjournment was made for the express purpose of obtaining Mr Langdon's evidence, and it was unfortunate that he was unable to attend, as he believed that he would be an important witness. Mr Sliilliuglaw, the Government shipping master stated to the coroner that he had recently seen Mr Langdon, and he had made certain statements respecting the treatment of both passengers and crew by the captain which had au important bearing on the case. Several jurymen expressed a wish to close the proceedings without any farther adjournment, aud, after some hesitation on the part of the Coroner, he consented to do so. Captain Middelton was then asked if he wished to make any statement, the Coroner cautioning Mm in the usual way. By the advice of Mr Stephens (his solicitor), the captain remained silent, and soon after left the room. The Coroner then went through the whole evidence, and made comments upon all the principal points. Notwithstanding the opinion of other medical men to the contrary, he said that both he and Dr Figg had no hesitation in pronouncing the disease to be scurvy which had occasioned the death of the two men referred to; aud the question for the jury to determine was as to whether the captain by his treatment of the passengers had done all that was required of him to lessen the disease, or whether his conduct had tended to increase it. The jury retired to consider the evidence before them, and about seven o'clock they returned a verdict as follows :—": — " We are of opinion that the Chinamen, Choug Ah Vow and Sam Yek, died on board the barque Dayspring, in llobson'a Bay, on the Gth of September, 1868, of scurvy; and we think that the captain is very much to blame in not having called into some port to obtain provisions and assistance, seeing that the vessel was becalmed for twenty-eight days in the China Seas, and after having put all hands on short allowance.

Wo arc also of opinion that the captain is guilty of gross neglect for not haying called into some port after the deaths became frequent on board." The coroner then committed Captain Middleton to take his trial for manslaughter, and he was arrested at the Williaivßtown Railway station, just as he •was on the point of leaving by the seven pan, train, and was conveyed to the watehtymse,