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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 416, 30 November 1868, Page 2

Lieut. Woods, R. INT., by whom the survey of the coast to the southward of Okarita has been made, arrived in Westport yesterday by the Charles Edward. His object iii visiting this part of the coast is to join his survey party, who are at present stationed at Cape Eoulwind, and to proceed with the survey of the coast south and north of that point, including the Steeples and their surrounding dangers to navigation.

The opening of the new Masonic Hall in proper masonic form willj take place this evening, when a large attendance of the fraternity is expected. Besides the ceremony of the cousecration of 4 the lodge room, the newly elected master (Bro. Tyler) and officers will be installed in their various offices and instructed in their duties. All members of the ancient order are particularly requested to attend at eight o'clock. A banquet will be held after the conclusion of the ceremonies.

At the Eesident Magistrate's Court, on Saturday, Elisabeth Jackson, charged with stealing money from Frederick Robertson, was brought up on remand. Robertson, for whom a. warant had been issued, gave his evidence, and the prisoner was committed for trial.

The arrival in Westport of Lieut. Woods, R.N., has happened opportunely during the visit of the Provincial Secretary, Mr Greenfield. At Mr Greenfield's solicitation, Lieut. Woods has undertaken to examine the damage done to the banks of the Buller, to investigate the natural causes of the tendency of the river towards its north bank, and to report upon the means best calculated to make protective

works secure, or to avert further damage being done. Lieut. Woods's opinion on the subject is necessarily one of considerable value, and upon his report recommendations may be based by Mr Balfour which may render a personal visit not absolutely essential. The Provincial Secretary, Mr Greenfield, has been fully engaged during his official visit to Westport. During the past few days, when the weather has favored, he has visited Addison's Flat, the Caledonian Terrace, and the terraces further north— Giles and Eochfort. Mr Greenfield's personal experience of the track to Giles Terrace must have fully convinced him of its almost impracticable state, and we have no doubt that he has seen enough of the diggings to the north to be convinced also that they are only a part of a very extensive and rich auriferous district. In fact we understand that, upon both these points, Mr Greenfield has made strong representations to His Honor the Superintendent, and that an effort will be made by the Executive to undertake early a work which is so necessary to the existence, not to speak of the advancement, of an important goldfield.

We insert, as an advertisement, a letter from Mr Freeth on a subject connected with the Christmas Sports. Believing; that, although there may be diversity of opinion as to mere matters of detail, all parties are desirous of making the sports a success, we are rather disposed to discourage the correspondence, and we should prefer seeing all preliminaries settled within the Committee, rather than through the columns of the public press.

The New Zealand Sun is the name of a newspaper just started in Dunedin. Judging by the first number, a copy of which we have received, if it may not be able to command success, it certainly means to deserve it. The Sun is produced more in the style of an English newspaper than any other in the colony, and there are* pith freshness about its original writing to which Dunedin readers have not lately been accustomed ; the other, and once leading, ioumrJ] Laving latterly en--uea*voi*ed to be all things to all men, with the inevitable result of finding its opinions "nothing to nobody." Some of the best men of the old Daily limes staff are engaged on the new paper, and, if they are only judiciously " assorted" in point of professional duties and position, they should constitute the most competent newspaperial staff in New Zealand. The old Lake Brunner water-race scheme is about to be revived. The Grey River Argus says that twenty shareholders are about to commence to bring in a race, of G ft. by 3ft. 6in., from even a higher level than the Lake.

The Chinese who lately arrived at Hokitika from Otago are now being allowed to settle down quietly, and have, in several instances, purchased claims from Europeans. More are expected from Otago. An extraordinary fish has been washed ashore at Abut head. It is eleven feet in length, twenty feet in girth, about two tons weight, and shaped like a flounder. It is reported that the Rev. Mr Taylor left Melbourne for England in the ship True Briton.

The notorious Garrett has been sentenced, at Dunedin, to six months' imprisonment for stealing a clock, and twelve months' impri.-onment for having skeleton keys. He was also committed for trial upon two distinct charges—breaking into Mr Allen's premises, Princes street, and stealing from Mr Bagley's shop, Great King street.

A corporate seal for the County of Westland is now being designed. The Panama Mail Company has reduced the passenger rates between the colonies and England. Saloon fares from Melbourne to Southampton are row £BO, second cabin £SO.

One of the men supposed to have been killed at Okutuku has turned up. He left Sergeant Kirwan and three others also wandering about, and there are many more unaccounted for.

The All Nations claim at the Thames has just yielded 7570z5. of retorted gold, from 380ibs. weight of stone. The ship True Briton, from Melbourne to London, has taken a large quantity of colonial butter for sale in the London market. This is the first shipment of the kind ever made from Melbourne.

Later accounts to hand from the Natal goldfield, via the Mauritius, are not so bright as previous ones. A sum of £SOOO has, however, been voted by the Cape Parliament for the purpose of fitting out an expedition to explore the district. A report was also current that a nugget weighing l|lb had been discovered, but this was said to want confirmation.

The miners of Jones's Flat have petitioned that that district may be proclaimed a Mining Drainage District, under the " Gold Mining Claims District, 1808."

Hokitika has exported its fourth cargo of "West Coast timber to the Melbourne market.

Numbers of persons who went to visit the recently discovered goldfields at Barossa and Jupiter Creek in South Australia, are said to have returned disappointed. They assert that though gold undoubtedly exists there, it is thinly scattered, and not in sufficient quantities to support a numerous population. A man named Williams robbed the parsonage at Spring G-rove, Nelson, of the silver chalice and patten belonging to the communion service. When he discovered their use, he repented, and delivered them and himself up to the police. Ha got two months' imprisonment. Westport, during the quarter ending September 30, paid as import duty, £3922 on spirits, ,£lB9 on cigars, £990 on tobacco, £374 on wine, £129 on ale in bottle, £228 on tea, £l7 on coffee, £492 on sugar, £llO2 on goods by weight or measurement, and £2BO, as other duties not specified. A whaling company, with a capital of £IOO,OOO is about to be started in Melbourne, and one on a smaller scale is also in course of formation in Ballarat. The number of vessels at present employed in this trade at the port of Hobart Town is 15, forming an aggregate measurement of 3605 tons, carrying 40 boats, and giving employment to 370 men; while previous to the discovery of the gold-fields in Victoria, 40 vessels, carrying over 200 boats, and employing 1000 men, were engaged in the trade.