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

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 418, 2 December 1868, Page 2

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

An unfortunate and fatal accident occurred yesterday morning about thirteen miles up the Buller river. At that point, on the south side of the 'river, there is a tributary stream named the Ohiki. On this stream there is a ferry, worked by two men named Michael French and Frederick Moore. Their boat was lately lost when French was absent on a mission of mercy with a man named M'Kirdy, who had broken his leg by an accident on the road. In co sequence of this loss, they were working the ferry with a canoe. Yesterday morning Moore conveyed across the river three men who were proceeding up-country. lie was ferrying a fourth man across, and had nearly reached the other side of the stream, when, from some unsteadiness on the part of the passenger, and from the heavy fresh in the river, the canoe filled and sank. Both Moore and the passenger were carried down the stream, over a fall and into the Buller, where they were carried over another dangerous fall. Fortunately for Moore he is a very expert swimmer, and he was able even to take his boots off while in the water. By extraordinary efibrts ho was able to reach the bank after being carried down the river for about a mile, but it was beyond his power to render any assistance to his companion. When he last saw him, he was struggling for life below the second falls, but immediately afterwards disappeared. One painful incident connected with the accident is the circumstance that one of the three men who had previously crossed, was a brother of the passenger in the canoe, and he was an a'most frantic witness of the accident by wkich his brother lost his life. JBoth were young men, but the name of neither has been ascertained, as the

canoe was carried away, and it has since been impossible for French, or the man who was saved, to communicate with them. They ore remaining on the bank of the stream, waiting an opportunity to re-cross the river. French came to town immediately to report the circumstance, and to represent to the authorities the impossibility of his being able to continue the ferry without some assistance. Altogether he has lost three boats, besides the canoe, jand the traffic does not justify the continuance of the ferry under such adverse circumstances. The name of the drowned man will not be known until his brother is able to reach town, and when that may be it is at present impossible to say. Charley Cradock and his mate> writes a Charleston correspondent, had a rather rough night of it on Saturday. They left Brighton at dusk in a small whale-boat laden with an old budding, tables, stools, &c. When half way down, the boat sprang a leak, and they were forced to heave some of the lumber overboard to bail the boat out. The water w r as gaining fast on them,

and it being very dark, with a strong head wind, their position was not an enviable one. They found the leak, and caulked it up with a bit of shirt. A little before daylight they arrived off Charleston, and stood in towards the bar, but, before they were aware of their danger, a heavy sea broke astern of them, and half-filled the boat. They faced out again, and resolved to wait for daylight. It came on to blow and rain, with terrific gusts, setting up a heavy sea. At day-break the signal was made from the flagstaff, for them to wait until the signal should be given for them to enter. There were only two men in the boat, and the boatman on shore, considei'ing their danger, in a praise-worthy manner volunteered to put out to their assistance, if required. The signal was kept up for three hours, and they remained outside with patience. The Harbor Master considering then that there was a " slant." up went the signal in the height of a heavy squall. The boat stood for the bar on the instant, and, as the squall blew past, there was a lull on the bar, and the boat came iu safely ; and a lucky job it was, as the gale increased with great

violence. The introduction of the name of Mr John Aeneson Uarr m the paragraph we had yesterday, relative to the case of James Rowley, is, we find, liable to some misapprehension, possibly not favorable to Mr Carr. In explanation, it may be stated that such connection as Mr Carr had with the circumstances was creditable to him, and tended directly to promote the ends of justice.

The following are the applications to be heard in the Warden's Court to-day:—Robert Oxley and twentysix others, a head-race from the Orawaiti to Giles Terrace, 16 heads. John Mees and five others, head-race from Dead man's to Hatter's. J. Dudgeon and eight others, tail-race at Addison's. Thos. Chichester and party, headrace, Lyell. William Dillon, head-race, Lyell. Matthew Steel and party, dam, Caledonia. Andrew Douthett, dam, Walker Creek. W. Harper, head-race, Mauua. J. Hastin and party, head-race, Karamea. G-eo. Norman and party, tramway, Giles Terrace. Thomas Bandes and party, tunnel, Giles Terrace. Charles AVibby, washing site. Pat Donlan and party, extension of claim, Addison's. A. A. Russell and party, extension of claim, Shamrock Lead. Amongst the latest vegetable delicacies introduced into Westport, the Java radish, grown in the garden of Mr Eraser of Molesw orth street, deserves* prominent mention. This esculent has ouly lately been known, and very few in New Zealand have been able to secure seed. Instead of, as in the case of the ordinary radish, the roots being eaten, the pods of this radish are the edible portion. These, it is said, at various times attain an extraordinary length, some three feet being the full ordinary size, and they grow as much as three inches in a night. Although imported from so warm a climate as Java, if we can judge from their successful growth in this instance, the plant can readily be raised even on the somewhat inhospitable West Coast. Mr Fraser has about sixty specimens in pods and flower, the former, in fact, being ready for gathering, the seed of which was only sown on the 10th of September last. One of the pods measured over sixteen inches, and the plants bore abundantly. As there are many interested in horticulture in the neighborhood, a few particulars of this rather remarkable vegetable may prove of interest. A throughly reliable authority says—- " These pods have a most agreeable

flavor, and can be eaten in the same way as roots of the common radish, • which they greatly resemble in taste, but are superior in delicacy of flavor. In salads they will be highly es> L mated, for, added to their other merits, they possess the excellent advantage of 1 being digested ; they also make a good pickle, for which they are well adapted. It is, however, when the pods are boiled that they are most delicious, eating like marrow, and having a most delicate flavor." For boiling and pickling, we are told, they should attain their full size before being gathered, (So easily cultivated a vegetable, and one possessed of so many good qualities, cannot be too prominently broug! \ uuder the notice of the public on the! coast, and we can conscientiously advise all gardeners to follow the good example in their cultivation that Mr Eraser has set.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Edmund Barff, Esq., William Henry Harrison, Esq., and Robert Abbott, Esq., of Hokitika, aod Samuel Thorpe, Esq., of Westport, to be Justices of the Peace for the colony. A meeting of the Hospital Committee is appointed to be held this afternoon, at four o'clock. The ship Light Brigade, now loading at Lyttelton for London, will take the largest shipment of iNew Zealand flax yet sent from the Colony—a total of 50 tons.

News of a slight skirmish in the Poverty Bay district has been received. Tareha Ihaka, and a party of friendly Maoris, about 400 strong, advanced to Patnhahi, and found a mounted party of the enemy numbering about 50. They killed two and the rest at once retreated, pursued by our Maoris. Captain Westrupp isactiug well with the Maoris, but feels the want of a European force. Partena Potiti and five other chiefs were found dead. The Nelson Examiner of Saturday states that the Lady Barkly returned from Collingwood on Friday morning, and reports favourably of the new gold-field near the Aorere Biver. Some further lots of gold had reached town, and more was expected down early in the week ; and no doubt exists of the new field being a payable one.

A baker, Henry Steinmitz, was charged at Dunedin, the other day, with selling to a customer a loaf of vrkicli troo ocvca ounces short in weight. Steinmitz was fined £6 and costs. The Wairarapa Mercury Office, G-reytown, together with the plant of that journal, was totally destroyed by fire between three and four o'clock on the morning of the 19 th November. The property was insured in the New Zealand Company's office for the sum of £3OO. Distillery companies under the new Act are projected at Wellington, Bangitikei, and Dunedin.

Marlborough appears to be in a very unhappy pecuniary position. The Press says : —" We have before shewn that we have notliiug in the shape of Provincial income from the Customs, but, ou the contrary, an annual loss of

£335, after paying the salaries of General Government officials, &c.; while our Land Revenue, which falls

due yearly in February, will produce only £4,200. The land sales may be set down as very small. Our requirements will be, for Provincial Government officials alone, without reck-

oning a penny for Eoads and Bridges, £5,332 to March, leaving a deficiency, even for departmental expenses alone, of £1,467."