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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 357, 22 September 1868, Page 2

The scarcity of water is at present much felt by several of the residents in "Westport. The supply contained in tanks and other receptacles is consumed, and numbers are compelled to make use of the river water, which is not by any means as good or healthy as rain water. Some time since we mentioned that different parties were suffering from dysentery through using river water when in a brakish state, and people should see that it is dead low water when they have occasion to replenish their tanks from the river, as when made use of in a. saltish state, it is much more likely to bring on illness. At the Caledonian and German terraces, the miners are in much want of water ; the past fin

weather must have even made Addison's dry, and a little rain at present is much wanted.

Mr Lowe, District Engineer, returned to Westport from the South yesterday. During his absence ho has inspected several works in the Cobden district, and also the locality near Brighton, where gold was recently discovered, and to which Mr Broad recommended that a track should belaid out. On close inspection however, Mr Lowe it of opinion that there are not at preseut sufficient grounds to justify the expense, and the work therefore will not be undertaken. It is probable that a track to Giles' Terrace will be made at once, and Mr Lowe will, we believe, pay that place a visit in a day or two. There are now several claims on gold, quite sufficient to warrant the outlay. A number of other matters were waiting his return, and altogether he is likely to have a busy time of it for the next few days. It will be seen by reference to another column, that the two miners, Cullen and Black, charged with committing a violent assault upon a man named Christenson, who had gone to Addison's to work a share in their claim, have been committed to take their trial at the next sitting of the District Court. Bail, however, was taken for their appearance. At the Arowaite river's mouth a sort of bar has formed, which has made piscatorial labors of no avail, the fish at present do not come in with the tide, as they probably they do not like the roughness of the newly formed bar. Mr. Jones removed his nets, as he could not take a single fish. The last Gazette mentions that William Murray, of Brown's Terrace, near Charleston, mining in co-partner-ship with James Hanna and others, has filed a declaration of insolvency. Edward Fredrick Williams is also declared a bankrupt, as also Charles Bonner, of Charleston, Master Mariner.

The following sad story is taken from a late Auckland paper:—On Saturday forenoon a gentleman who had occasion to go down by the Wynyard Pier observed three children lying on the beach below high-water mark, the water at the time partly immersing their bodies. On going down to them he found to his amazpment and grief that the three of them were insensibly drunk, and unable to move. The eldest of them was not more than eleven years old. Prompt measures were taken to save the children from their perilous position, and restore them from the effects of alchohol they had imbibed, though we understand that yesterday one of them was still very unwell. It appears they had raised the money between them, and purchased a bottle of brandy and had drunk the spirits raw, the whole bottle-full. Surely the publi can who supplied these children with the brandy deserves severe punishment, and we are surprised that a man could be found so eallous-hearted as to let them have it.