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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 196, 17 March 1868, Page 2

Buller Uiver Diggings.—Some time ago we gave a detailed account of the various diggings on the Buller and its tributaries. We then predicted the ultimate richness of the country, and little by little the truth of our prophesy is becoming 'exemplified. Yesterday, by the arrival some parties for tools, &c, we hear that a terrace, with a lead about eighty feet wide, five feet of stripping, and five feet of washdirt, has been opened and taken up, and a water-race, with about half-a-mile of cutting and forty chains of fluming has been brought on by Croawell and Party and Pierce and Party, so that washing will at once commence. The gold is coarser than the ordinary run of Westport gold, and the prospect shews a probable return of i'rom £ls to £25 per man weekly. The number of people up the river cannot be ascertained, as the parties are scattered through the bush, but the general impression seems to be, amongst tha miners themselves, that any men who go up the river with the determination to work, and not to let the first baulk discourage them, can be certain to find gold, and in payable quantities. There are three stores at the Lyle, near which this terrace is situated, and they are doing well. We are not trying, by these remarks, to cause a rush, but we should advise miners who have never prospected the Buller and its tributaries to do so, before leaving the eountry, and we are quite sure that success will attend their enterprise. The track is good, and a boat works once a week. We shall be in a position soon to give a more detailed account, and we will do so as fully and as correctly as possible. Opening of the Roman Catholic Chapel.—This being the anniversary of St. Patrick, has been chosen for opening the new Roman-Catholic Chapel, when mass will be celebrated at nine and eleven o'clock. At eleven o'clock selections from Mozart's beautiful Twelfth Mass will be sung by the choir. At six o'clock in the evening. Vespers will be celebrated. We must congratulate the Rev. Father Walsh on the assiduity with which he has labored in the attainment of a place of worship for the denomination of which he is the spiritual head, in Westport, and are glad to notify the erection of the first place of worship in Westport. Good News from Addison's.—"We are happy to record that several parcel* of gold were sold yesterday at the various banks, principally from Addison's Plat. The prospects are very encouraging, and although the diggings are not of fabulous richness, we are assured on good authority that nearly everyone is getting gold, and that the drainage in progress is proving so effective, that no fears of flooding for the future, has been the great drawback to the success of this extensive field, we may look forward to brighter prospects, of the drain in question will be recouped their outlay. Influx of Population.—Whether from the approach of St. Patrick's Day or other causes, the streets of Westport yesterday presented a lively appearance, and more people were about than have been seen for some time. We only hope that this is only the beginning of a brighter state of things, especially . as fine weather likewise recommenced yesterday. St. Patrick's Day.—We are re. quested to [draw attention to the grand ball in honor of [St. Patrick's-Day, to be held this evening at. Trimble's Nelson Hotel. From the well-known character of the balls held at this hotel, a numerous attendance may be expected, and therefore, friends are invited to attend early, and they may be sure of a hearty welcome.

The Auckland Islands.—lt seems, if the following account ia to be relied upon, that our old acquantane the Southland, will have her voyage for nothing. The Southland News of the 29th ult. says :—" By the arrival of the Fanny, Captain Aker, we are in possession of intelligence respecting the Amherst, Captain Grilroy, and the Search Expedition, in charge of Mr. Henry Armstrong. The Amherst, after a fair pasasge, arrived at Port Ross, about the 2nd February. This Fanny, at this time, was at anchor in Camp Cove, Carnley Harbor, and her crew were much surprised on the arrival (on the 4th February) of the Amherst's two boats, in charge of Captain Gilroy and Mr Armstrong. They reported having come round the west coast, the side on which the General Grant was wrecked, but had failed to discover any vestiges of the ship or to identify the exact locality of the place where she was lost- They erected a flag-staff on the following day on Musgrave's Peninsula, and doubtless left the stores in the hut before proceeding to Saddle Inlet, where they proceeded to form another depot in accordance with instructions, and then proceeded from Port Boss to Campbell's and Antipodes Islands. In all their wanderings in search of seal—which have to hunted for inland through dense scrub, as well as on the beaches—the Fanny's people found no traces of other castaway than those already known to have so lonoinhabited the island." Secluded Habitation - .—We were yesterday shown a dwelling, so curiously constructed and so artfully hidden in the bush, that we think a short description of its peculiarities and locality may prove both useful and interesting. About three hundred yards on the right of the tramway, and past the old saw-mill, in the thickest part of the bush, some individual whose object seems to have been secrecy, has constructed a dwelling by logs and ferna, commingled with the stump of aii old rata tree, the whole thatched and covered with fern and brushwood as to be imperceptible, until one is quite close upon it. Inside this dwelling a fern bed has been fixed, and part of the tree is made to take the place of a table and serve as a candlestick, reminding one rather of a hermit's cave than a civilised habitation. _ No fire has been lighted at any time in the vicinity, and only a few jam pots, sardine and salmon tina, and a part of a packet of candles were found in or near the spot. The inhabitant is not known; but as some persons were outashootinga short time ago and spied a man close to the locality-, who " skedaddled" as soon as seen ; it is probable that detection scared away the dweller, whoever he may have been. Several petty robberies have taken place down the neighborhood, and as the spot chosen was one likely to escape detection and enable a criminal to baffle pursuit, we think it likely that the place has been the den of some scoundrel whose deeds would not bear the light. We caution women and children from penetrating too far into the surrounding thicket unless protected, as the greatest incentive to crime is opportunity. The spot has, we believe, been shown to the police, and is well worthy of inspection by the curious, from the trouble taken and ingenuity displayed by the builder of this Sylvan hut. Completion- of Younghusband's Tunnel—A great undertaking has been completed on Addison's Flat. Younghusband and party has been successful in constructing a tunnel of nearly thirteen hundred feet in length, in the the short space of two month. The beneficial effects are already being felt, as it is draining the ground completely in that part of the lead. The above parties deserve the greatest credit for their perseverance, as the work has been completed under many difficulties. The Value oe a Leg.—The money value of a leg was ascertained on Wednesday in a curious action in the Daylesford County Court for surgical attendance." Early last year Mr Henderson, of the saw mills, was suffering from a disease that necessitated the removal of one leg. Dr. M'lntyre, with the assistance of Dr. Doolittle, amputated the limb. Dr. M'lntyre charged £9B 16s ; and Dr. Doolittle, £ll lis. The patient paid both amounts less £lO, which Dr. M'lntyre deducted. Subsequent to the operation, he made seven additional visits to see if the stump was healing, and demanded £l4 14s more. Defendant thinking that his unfortunate leg had cost him enough already, refused to give more than the £IOO he was out of pocket, and hence the action. Mr. M'Dermott, for defendant, humorously remarked that if such' charges were sanctioned, it would soon come to this —" no poor man could afford the

luxury of losing a leg." Defendant and two other witnessed having sworn they understood from plaintiff that the se\en subsequent visits were friendly ones —in lai-r, similar to those which an accoucheur would make after a confinement, his Honor gave a verdict for defendant with costs. Presentation to Da Cusack.—The Examiner of Thursday says : The following inscription has been engraved in a r ost elegant and workmanlike manner, by Mr. H. Drew, upon the silver salver which was presented to Dr. Cusack by a number of his friends on Friday las>t:—"Presented, with an adress, to S. A. Cusack, Esq , F.R.C.5.,1, M.8., M.RC.S..L.. on his leaving Nelson, by a number of friends who regret his departure. Nelson, N. Z., March 6th, LS6S.,' The Stephen-streetOuTßAOE-The W.O. Times says : —At the February Criminal Sessions in Melbourne, the persons supposed to ha\e been concerned in the affair known as the Protestant Hall outrage, in which a youth was killed by a shot from the window •of that building during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, were arraigned for wilful murder; but the trial of the case is postponed till next month. The Emperor Maximilian—The following rather improbable story we clip from a Melbourne paper:—The New Tork Correspondent of an Irish paper, who claims to have reliable information, states that the Emperor Maximilian was not shot, but that a brigand named Hamero, very much like him, was substituted by Juarez at the last moment; that Hamero's body is being brought to Europe, and that Maximilian still lies in the dungeons of Queretaro. Sea-Sickness.—Who will try th. old homoeopathic " remedy how they are not accustomed to passe the Sea ma/ avoyde perbreaking or casting He tliat will passe the Sea must (a few dayes before heetake Shipping) mingle the Sea-water with his Wine. This is a remedy for them that be rich; but if he bee a poor man then he must drink Sea-water onley, that he may the easier eschew casting. The reason whereof is, beeause tbe Sea-water is salt, and so with his saltness and stipticite that followeth saltness, it closeth the mouth of the stomacke, and thereby avoydeth casting."— Schoole of Arts. |