The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 404, 16 November 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1868.

columns will not expand, and the printer is inflexible. A summary of local and general news—a series of shreds and patches—must be substituted, in this column, for the usual expression of editorial opinion. It is so far fortunate that, except the river bank protection, there is no subject suggesting itself very prominently for opinion, and upon that subject there is expressed, in other columns, sufficient opinion for our readers to digest in any one day. Local feeling has chiefly been excited, since Eriday, by the shocking news from Poverty Bay. There was talk of a meeting being held on Satur-

day evening, to stimulate action on the part of the Government. News had been received that a similar meeting •was about to be held at ISel.on. But the evening passed, and there was no meeting—at least, of that description. There is, however, a requisition beiug signed, desiring that Dr Giles should call such a meetiug on an early day. There has been talk of gold being found, not far from the beach, between ■what was Mr. Kynnersley's house and the Orawaiti; and we believe there is some truth in it. There was gold got in the same neighborhood three years ago, by Richard Nicol and others, and I some other parties are now trying the

ground, with favorable, though not xery magnificent, results. The same Nieol is stated to have sold his share in Perry's claim, Giles Terrace, for a sum variously stated at £220 and £2OO. There was an unusually high tide yesterday morning, and it happened opportunely, if only to illustrate to Mr. Blaekett, before his departure, that the wash of the sea is i. a very slight degree less damaging to the river bank than the freshets or floods. In every other respect its occurrence, or the recurrence of similarly high tides, would be anything but opportune, considering the present exposed and dilapidated condition of the bank in front of much valuable property. The high tide was followed by a low barometer, and, if it should be the means of detaining Mr. Blaelcett, as it has done the steamers, he may have time or occasion to further test the value of the south channel of the Builer as the natural storm channel of the river, and to calculate the possibility of its being restored to its natural purpose by the removal of snags and debris. At the Custom-house, the week ended with a receipt of import duties to the amount of £529. Apropos of this subject, we notice by the last Gazette, that during the September quarter, the collections at Westport, in import and export dutiej, amounted to £11,38.5, while at Nelson they only amounted to £8,163. Yet at Westport the work is done by only one officer, while at Nelson it receives, if it does not require, the attention of eight! By the same Gazette, we learn that District Courts are, in future, to he held at Charleston,, an arrangement the necessity for which does not appear i very palpable. And Dr. Giles has been appointed Returning Officer at Westport for the election of members of the Provincial Council. No mention is, however, made of the issue of a writ for the election of a councillor. It must be the case that Mr. Smith has failed to intimate his resignation to the Superintendent, but the publication of the fact should surely he enough for His Honor, as well as for the public. To a few in our community there has, for several days, been no subject of local interest so interesting as the rehearsal of their own parts in the play to be given this evening, for the benefit of Major Yon Tempsky's widow and children, and it is to be hoped that to-night their virtuous intentions, and their vigorous attention to the preparations for the production of the play, will meet with a proper reward. Two other local incidents we had almost omitted to mention. The miners on the Shamrock Lead have completed the construction of a storm-channel, and have celebrated the same with a great ball. And the editors of Tom o' Bedlam have issued the second number of that humorous local periodical. Both are very meritorious works. Pram Wanganui, the steamer of the same name arrived yesterday, bringing a number of sheep and cattle, but not a single newspaper. In the absence of the one newspaper which would have satisfied every bodv, there are many spoken stories satisfying no one. Matters seem to be in statu quo, but the inhabitants of Wanganui were holding themselves in a state of active armed preparation for an incursion by Titoko Waru. No doubt the intelligence of the Poverty Bay massacre would stimulate their energies, as well as their fears. There is a story of an attack by the Maoris on the Wereroa redoubt, and of their repulse, with eighteen killed, and no loss on our side, but we give this only as a story. By way of Greymouth, we learn tha'; the Westland County Council, as at present constituted, met for the last time on Wednesday. It meets merelv to part, but many of its old members would apparently be " happy to meet again." Messrs Bonar, Shaw, Prosser, Bright, and orhers, are candidates for election in Hokitika; in the Paroa district Mr E. B. Fox and Don Delas Carreras, a miner, are candidates. The Greymouth Borough Council, superior in status and name to our Progress Committee, are evidently inferior, in some important particulars, to our humble but useful local body. Speaking of their last meeting the Argus says : —" The proceedings can only be characterised as an intermittent wrangle, anything but creditable to the parties engaged. Prom first to last there was manifested in some quarters a jealous feeling, which was manifested upon every question, and which usually ended in a display of temper. It is to be regretted that some of our councillors cannot speak three sentences consecutively in public without adopting an injured and highly indignant toue, which would lead their audience to conclude that they have been hardly dealt with upon some moat vital question." Prom Timaru, as from Nelson, we

have the assurance that Mr Stafford is serious in his intention to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of the former district; and it is also stated that Mr Stevens, the member for Christchurch, is to join the Ministry as Treasurer. From Dunedin wo hoft»_that a trreat political meeting had been held in the theatre, when Reynolds and Vogel were rapturously received, and Patterson, whose experience had taught him that there is more satisfaction in the breach than the observance of the rule of meeting constituences, did not attend, and was as warmly condemned. A new journal, which jt was the first intention to call the Otago Argus, but which now, it appears, is to be named the Sun, is about to be started under Mr Vogel's editorship. One of the purchasers of the steamer Albion, who proceeded with her to Japan—Captain M'Kinnon —lias returned; and on his passage from Melbourne, by the Tararua, an extraordinary, but fortunately, unsuccessful attempt to assassinate hin? was made by one of the crew. From Me bourne there is not yet news of the result of the race for the Cap. Sydney Tim was first favorite, at about four to one. There was an inclination to lay against the Barb, reported as an improbable starter. Little Fish and .Hag Picker were freely backed ; the former six to one, the latter ten to one. There were altogether thirty-three acceptances, and for the speculative or the " horsey," an opportunity of joining in a sweepstake on this interesting race will be given at the Empire Hotel to-morrow evening. Poor Miss St. Denis, the clever and accomplished actress, who had committed suicide by taking laudanum, did so, it is said, in consequence of some " love disappointment." The Fiji excitement continued to rage in Melbourne, and another steamer had been laid on to Levuka ; but the South Australian diggings had caused no '' rush," the last news being that numbers were leaving Barossa unable to work for want of water.