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Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 142, 14 January 1868, Page 2

The Charleston Testimonial.— A few friends of the recipient were called together in a quiet way at the Empire Hotel, to assist at the presentation of a testimonial to Mr Apted, late Editor of this journal. Mr R. Reid. of the Westport Star, had been deputed by the subscribers to be the interpreter of their sentiments, and this task he performe d in a few unpretending, though forcible phrases, expressing his entire concurrence with the views of those who had initiated the movement. He then presented Mr Apted with, the following address, signed by upwards of one hundred of the inhabitants of Charleston, accompanied by a well-filled portemonnaie, which Mr Apted accepted with a few graceful words of acknowledgment, thanking the gentlemen present, and those whom they represented, for their appreciation of his endeavors to do his duty honestly and fearlessly :—" To W. E. Apted, Esq., Westport (late Editor of Westport Times and Charleston Argus). — Dear Sir, —"We, the undersigned, having read with deep interest the able articles on different subjects from your pen which appeared in the above journal, deeply sympathise with you for the late unfortunate sequel to your earnest endeavor to initiate a proper moral tone in society, take this means to testify our thorough appreciation of your endeavors, and herewith beg your acceptance of the accompanying purse of sovereigns." A warm tribute to that gentleman's qualities of head and heart was paid by those who had had the best opportunity of estimating them at their true value, and also to Mr Reid for the handsome aud many ways in which—casting aside all feelings of trade rivalry—he had stepped forward in defence of the rights and integrity of the Press ; and after cordially wishing success in his future career to him whom they had met to welcotue, the little assemblage broke up, well pleased with their evening's work. Closing or the Branch Banks AT MOKIHINUI AND ADDISON'S EIAT. —lt will be seen on reference to our advertising columns that the Bank of New South "Wales, the Bank of New Zealand, and the Union Bank, have determined upon closing their branch establishments at Mokihinui and Addison's Flat. This will be a serious inconvenience to the miners of those places who will have to come into Westport to sell their gold, thereby entailing at least the loss of a day's work on one of their number. We hope that the prospects will soon be such as to induce them to re-establish the branches.

Water-races.—A case of some interest to miners on Addison's Mat was heard yesterday in the Warden's Court. It arose out of an objection made by certain claimh olders to the digging of deep tunnelled tail-races intended to drain a great portion of the Flat. The objection seemed to be that while the applicants were engaged in cutting their race, the neighboring claims would be swamped out by the stopping of the baling in their claim. The decision on a precisely similar case, which is to be heard to-day, will probably govern both suits, and enable us to estimate the merits of the arguments on either side.

Polling-place for Addison's FjjAT.—A correspondent calls atten- i tion to the want of a polling-place for i Addison's Flat. The grievance is one ] thas requires remedying, for, inde- i pendent of tlie serious loss and incon- j venience caused by a journey to "West- ] port, should there be a fresh in the < river on the polling day, Addison's , Flat will be virtually disfranchised. Gold for Melbourne. —The Otago, which is expected almost hourly to call off this port on her voyage to Melbourne, will take ten thousand ounces of gold from Westport, on account of the Banks of New South Wales and the Union Bank. The Bank of New Zealand ships its gold from Hokitika, but as this course is attended with a considerable extra cost for freight .and other expenses, the plan of direct shipment from this port will probably be adopted in future. Government Tenders.—No less than fourteen tenders were sent in for the construction of the foot-bridge across the Orawiti Lagoon, varying immensely in their estimates of the value of the work. John Burns' tender is for £2 a chain; Squire Nuttall, £3 19s ; C. Stuart, £4 ; W. Cosgrove, £6 5s ; J. Lowe and party, £6 10s ; and nine others, the highest being D. M'Leod, £ls ; Burns will accordingly have the contract, if he can find the requisite sureties. For fencing the Cemetery, the tenders present similar discrepancies. The lowest is that of J. IT. Chaffer, for £1 9s per chain; W. Dale, £1 10s; G. Lee, £1 12s Gd ; J. South, £1 15s ; J. Easy, £2 2s 6d ; Edwd. Sykes, £2 ss; Eobt. Bullman, £2; Thomas Lowe, £2 2s 6d; with ten others, up to Joseph Jones, who modestly asks £7 10s. J. 11. Chaffer, the accepted tenderer, will have to find two sureties of £5 each. Tenders will also be received to-day for the removal of the Custom House. The Cemetery.—lt has been found that the small sum allotted for the fencing of the Cemetery, will, according to the foregoing estimates, be altogether inefficient for enclosing it, as originally intended. Besides which, a portion of the original Cemetery Reserve has been cut up into streets and partly disposed of, so that it has been determined to enclose only that portion of the ground already occupied, so as to preserve the graves from destruction, with just sufficient land besides to meet the probable requirements of the next few months ; and as soon as the money can be found for the purpose, to set about clearing the ground for the new cemetery on an admirably adapted site that has been selected at some distance up the river on this side. The same locality will afford a convenient position for the new hospital, but as it will require the cutting of a somewhat expensive road through the bush, it is not likely to be commenced in the present dearth of available funds, and we shall have to content ourselves with the existing make-shifts for some time to come. The Election.—We understand that it is not improbable but that Mr Ferris, storekeeper, of Gladstonestreet, will be induced to come forward as a candidate for "Westport. He is very popular on Addison's Flat, and we believe that a requisition is in course of signature requesting him to stand. Mr Ferris has been a miner, not only in Victoria but also in Otago, and therefore is fully conversant with the wants of a mining community, while his business as a storekeeper will render him competent to represent the commercial interest of Westport. Intercolonial Free Trade. There has been some correspondence, arising from the desire of the Adelaide people to get their corn and wine into Melbourne free of duty, between the South Australian and Victorian Governments relative to the establishment of free trade between those colonies. The South Australian Treasurer, in his letter advocating an arrangement for the above purpose, stated that "it is desirable that there should be reciprocity of action respecting all colonial productions and manufactures, similar in its provision to that which existed between the British North American colonies and the United States of America, for, although the colonies may not be ripe for federation, the principle of reciprocity becomes every day more necessary." The Victorian reply to this proposal is not given, but the Adelaide Treasurer stated that there was a strong desire evinced to have a system of free trade established between all these colonies, and protection maintained against foreign markets—in other words, that the colonies should form themselves into a protectionist league. To this South Australia wisely demurs. None of these colonies have yet been found to follow the onlightened lead of the Tasmanian Legislature, which recently passed an Act authorizing their Government to enter into a treaty of reciproaity with any colony that might desire it.

No Member Yet. —The honor of representing Westport iu the Provincial Council seems to go a-bcgging. Mr Milieu, whose name has been prominently brought forward by a large and iufluentially-signed requisition, having last night signified his intention not to submit himself for election on account of the pressure of his business engagements.