The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 340, 2 September 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1868.

Our Charleston contemporary took us rather severely to task for as alleged, overstating the 1 ast escort brought up from that town and Brighton. . We find after all that we were very nearly correct iu saying about 9,000 ounces was the amount, for in his issue of yesterday we find his statement of 2,20'J being brought from Brighton to be incorrect, the real quantity being 3,530 ounces. If the axcesa is added to bis previously published statement 9,000 ounces is as near the quantity as possible.

We would remind masters of vessels that the new system of signals came into operation yesterday, September Ist. and will be u__i in future.

Messrs Leuovau and party who have been working for some time on the Buller side of the Caledonian Terrace have struck a lead of fine gold, the prospect is said to be 5 grains to the shovel, with throe feet of wash dirt. They wore trying for the valuable run Braithwaite and party had for some time been working when they struck quite a distinct lead. The whole of this side of the Terrace has been rushed, and was at once taken up. We learn from the Waiinangoroa that the tunnel into the reef is now finished, it is over two hundred feet in .ength, and had to be bored principally through solid rock. The proprietors intend crushing at the end of this Week. The machinery is quite complete with an abundant supply of water. There is no doubt of the richness of the quartz, and we hope that the approaching crushing will be as productive as the first. The heavy rains caused a considerable fresh in the river yesterday, and the necessity for the completion of the ■wharf protection was still further shown. At the present rate it will be finished in about a year, and by that time it will be necessary to take a fresh start as the (dies will then be at some distance from the daily crumbling bank. It is absolutely necessary that some energetic steps should be "taken at once, otherwise the river will before long be up to the houses in Wharf street.

The rough bridge over the creek before coming to the Orawaite, has been broken down for more than a month, and no effort has been made to repair it. It has quite given way on one side, and in the centre there arc large holes that render it most unsafe for even a horse to cross. We are sure that the District Surveyor is unaware of this, or it would have been remedied before, for although an apparently trifling matter, it has already occasioned a great deal of inconvenience.

A fight between blacks of the Brisbane and one of the coast tribes took place on the night of the 30th July. The Brisbane Courier gives the following account:—" Many of the Brig. t>ane blacks have lately been working

for settlers in the neighbourhood, but so quietly had. the arrangements for the light been kept that little or.nothing was known of it until an unusual stillness in thejSamps directed attention to something unusual being on foot. ■lt was then found that the blacksjwere making a general muster, and about nine p.m. fierce yells showedtheir} whereabouts. Some whites attracted by the noise, were soon on the field'of battle, but all their efforts could not stop a fight from taking place, until many of the blacks were wounded, not a few of them seriously. The women of the tribes seemed the most eager for the fighting, and by their yelling encouraged the men to 'goin ' again, after some of them evidently, if left alone, thought they had enough of it." The Chrislchurch papers contain more detailed accounts of the effects of the great tidal wave, but they are mostly of the same character already given. On Banks' Peninsula, the inhabitants of the various hays were aroused at an early hour by an extraordinary irruption of the sea, rolling witlvfearful force up the various bays and tidal rivers, carrying away bridges, fences, and everything else obstructing it course. There was no apparent agitation of the ocean ; the sea appeared perfectly calm, and the tide receded to an extraordinary distance. The very rapid flow and ebb at very irregular intervals, varying from fifteen minutes to an hour, continued through the day, were such as never hav ebeen witnessed here before. The highest rise occurred about the time of high water, and it was estimated at not less than twenty-five feet, from the lowest to the highest level ofthewa ter, during the time the phenomenon continued. In Okaio Bay, at two miles distance from the sea, the water rose over the top of the fences, completely inundating the lower portions of the locality. Very considerable damage has been done to both public and private property, and unfortunately many thousand feet of timber and posts and rails,&c, have been irrecoverably washed away. In several cases the inhabitants had to leave their homes, and took refuge on the hills. In one or two cases the houses were destroyed or washed away. A. very distinct shock of an earthquake was felt during the forenoon on Monday. Considerable damage seems to have been done in Little Akaroa, and indeed in all the settlements on the coast.

The London papers of the 18th May have the following amusing paragraph: —" In the House of Commons, on Monday, Mr. Taylor asked whether a prisoner in Mountjoy Prison was sentenced to the penal cell on refusing to declare his religion. The Earl of Mayo said that the governor inquired, in the usual manner, what was the religion of the convict, who stated that he was of no religion whatever, and that he never attended any place of worship. lie added that he was a pagan—(a laugh)—and refused to be instructed in religion of any kind. The director being a military man, ordered him to select his religion immediately. (Loud laughter.) The governor stated that he told the prisoner what was required of him, but he objected to go to any place of worship, as he did not believe - in any religion. FTe was, therefore, put on penal diet for three days, (Much laughter.) Two days afterwards, namely, on the Ith of August, he was removed to the hospital, and after he left the hospital he was again placed on penal diet for three days—(Oh, oh !') —at the expiration of which time he selected *the Roman Catholic religion. (Renewed laughter.)"

There seems to be no limit to the extension of business and increase of population in London. That city is now fast absorbing local institutions, and becoming as much a synonym for Great Britain as Paris is said to be for France. The Scottish Banks are finding it to be necessary to have an establishment of their own in London, and now the newspapers are following suit. The " Scotsman " —a well known Edinburgh-paper—has been a favorite in liberal circles for fifty years, and from its commencement has taken a front rank in journalism. In evil times it vindicated the principals of liberty and progress, and it has aided in establishing the literary celebrity of " Modern Athens." Since the repeal of the old newspaper stamp duty, " The Scotsman" has appeared as a daily and weekly, and its circulation has enormously increased. The spirited proprietors have now, in order to meet increased business requirements, opened a Branch office of the " Scotchman " at 84, Fleet street, London (next to "Punch Office), where the papers are kept constantly on sale for the trade and the public. The Literary and reporting arrangements for the supply

to the '• Scotsman " of London News,! Parliamentary Debates, City and Market Intelligence, &e. ; all of which are telegraphed to Edinburgh by a special wire, reserved afc night exclusively for the uso of the "Scotsman", are now concentrated at 81, Meet street; and the servises of a Bpecial City Editor are retained. This is progress indeed, and must appear striking to those of bur readers especially who remember the office of the " Scotsman" in old times, up a dirty outside stair in the High street of the Old Town.