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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 298, 15 July 1868, Page 2

Those interested in the Caledonian will learn with great satisfaction that the obnoxious tolls recently collected for permission to wade through the mud pond facetiously designated a track, have for ever ceased, and the holder oi the late license had this fact unpleasantly brought under his notice yesterday in the Magistrate's Court, of which our readers will see a report in another column. It seems that permission to levy tolls was only granted for six months from January last, though it was not gazetted till February. Mr Scott evidently was under the impression that the six months would date from the time of gazetting-, but the Resident Magistrate very properly, as we think, ruled that it terminated with the month of June, and suits he brought against a small army of packers to X'ecover tolls, fell through in consequence. The new track, we may add, will very shortly be open for traffic. In our notice of the proceedings of the Hospital Committee on Monday last, we omitted to state that several sub-committees were formed, amongst others a printing and a visiting committee. With reference to the former, all work will be done by tender. The first will be printing the hospital rules as now passed. Dr Giles Messrs Harris and M'Farlaud were appointed the first visiting committee, and it was resolved that this committee should be elected monthly, The perjury case of Jolliffe v. Leach in which the former charged the latter with perjury in connection with a trial that recently came off in the District Court, was heard yesterday, and the information was dismissed. These litigants have now appeared in court five times, without coming to a a satisfactory settlement of their disputes. It is not unlikely that they will complete the half dozen at the next District Court, on facts arising out of recent proceedings. The prospects of Griles terrace continue to be flourishing, and so satisfied are some parties that a lead exists along the whole line to the northward, that they have set in actively to work, in order to put the supposition beyond dispute. Three tunnels are now going in, in a terrace on the northern side of Deadman's Creek, which is cut off from Giles' by the creek in question. The work is heavy and the prospectors expect to have to put in a great deal of work before striking the lead, but they are very sanguine as to meeting eventually with w hat will well repay them for their enterprise. We sincerely hope their anticipations will not be disappointed. A sixth share in the claim of Hodgson and party of Ballarat terrace, was purchased yesterday, by Mr Charles Webb for £lO5.

Bull and party struck good payable gold in their claim yesterday, they have been at work for some months past, on the north-east side of the terrace. The members of the Church of Eagland resident in Westport are about to make strenuous exertions towards the erection of a suitable place of worship, and there is no doubt that if they put their shoulders to the wheel they will gather the necessary funds without difficulty. A concert in aid is to be given shortly, and a number of ladies and gentlemen have already commenced practice for the event. There are some exceedingly good musicians in Westport, both vocal and instrumental, and

we have no doubt a really good concert will be the result of their present exertions. The gift auction for clearing the debt off the parsonage was a great success, why uot have another in a month or so ? If to this a bazaar was added, the proceeds of all would, we are sure, go far towards the whole sum needed for a church that would be a credit to the district. A public meeting of subscribers to the AJihentßUtn will beheld on Tuesday next at the Court bouse, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Provisional Committee, and electing a Permanent Committee in their stead. It is intended to go to work with spirit, erect a building, and furnish it as well as funds will permit. Like all other institutions of its kind, it must creep before it can walk, but when it is once fairly established we feel sure its sphere of usefulness will be so immediately felt, that it will readily meet with all the support that its importance demands. Many or the householders of Westport were startled very considerably from their propriety on Tuesday last, by a constable paying them a visit and requesting payment of the education rate of £1 per householder. A great many were excessively puzzled as to what they could possibly have to do with it as they had neither wives nor children. A worthy boniface, a foreigner, on being applied to, ignored the matter altogether on the ground of his wifeless, childless, and singly blessed condition, and finally, because he did not want to go to school himself. Altogether the collection was very unsatisfactory in results, and the collector intends, we hear, to prove his power by summoning one or two who decline to pay. We have before published the 12th clause of the Act, having reference to the rate, but as it is possible that many who are liable have not seen it, we reproduce it. It provides that — "For raising the necessary funds for establishing and maintaining district schools, and for otherwise carrying out the provisions of this Act, there shall be levied yearly upon every householder in each district,- constituted uv.der the authority of this Act, a uniform rate of twenty shillings, and a further sum of five shillings for each child of such householder between the ages of five and fourteen years : provided always that no person shall be liable to pay for more than four children, nor for any child residing more than four miles from any school established under this Act, nor for any child attending any school not so established, in respect of whom such person shall produce to the collector a certificate, signed by the teacher of such last mentioned school, showing that such child has attended such school for three months previous to levying such rate."