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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 423, 8 December 1868, Page 2

Some prospectors in the "Waiau country, Otago, are said to have been lately somewhat successful.

At the monthly meeting of the Education Committee, held yesterday afternoon, there being only three members present, it was resolved to postpone the consideration of various matters before the Committee until the return of the absent members. The Secretary was instructed to apply for a return of the number of scholars in attendance, and the daily attendance of each during the last two months. At the Besident Magistrate's Court yesterday, a man named Hill was fined 40s or one week's imprisonment for using obscene language to Mr T. Addy. John Tucker was charged with being incapable of taking care of himself. Dr Thorpe stated that he was suffering from the effects of drink, but would be sufficiently well in a day or two to be at large. A Hokitika correspondent writes : " A great many persons left this by the Omeo on their way to the Cape diggings, and, should news'by the next English Mail corroborate what has already been received, we may expect to see a great number of the diggers leave our shores."

Intelligence reached Napier on the 15th ult. that a very respectable native named Tararapa, formerly in the employ of Mr Lowry, of Okawa, called upon that gentleman on the previous Tuesday with a beautiful specimen of quartz, filled with particles of gold. It was found in a creek of Kaimanawa range, and he says that a great deal of quarts of equal richness is to be found in the same place. It had only just been discovered. Further accounts from Timaru of the reported discovery of gold on the Waiho river state that the district is being thoroughly tested, sixteen men being at work. Hitherto, however, though gold has been found and good prospects have been obtained, the diggers have barely succeeded in making wages. The men, notwithstanding, are hopeful, and feel confident that gold will be discovered in payable quantities. They describe the district as bearing a remarkable resemblance to Tuapeka. The gold is got in a sort of sandstone.

It is rumored, says the Nelson Mail, that gold in payable quantities has been discovered near Ben Nevis, in the district of Waimea South, on the way between Quail Valley and the Tophouse, and that 8 ounces, its produce, have been brought to Nelson. Mr Hawthorne, of Ipswich, in Queensland, has been elected Headmaster of Dunedin High School, the office lately held by the Rev. P. C. Simmons, now Head-master of Nelson College.

The steamer Lady Barkly brought 200 ounces of coarse nuggetty gold on her last*trip from Collingwood to Nelson. Most of it was from the head of the Aorere, where prospecting is actively going on.

The Nelson Mail makes the following extracts from a private letter from a friend on the West Coast:—l told you that there was a likelihood of this portion of Nelson (Cobden) applying for separation, and I am sorry to say this feeling is spreading far and wide. The following skit or something like it was forwarded to Mr Dutton the other day—' Mr Curtis commanded Mr Greenfield to order Mr Burnett to instruct Mr Dutton to request Mr Dent to inform Mr Greenwood to pay the 11 men now working at the Brunner coalmine per ton extra for winning the coal, on account of the great risk they ran of losing their lives in the present dangerous state of the mine.'

It is with much regret that we notice by the papers that Mr J. Kempthorne, cashier of the Bank of New South "Wales, Dunedin, met his death last Tuesday while sailing in his boat on the bay. Mr Kempthorne was known to several gentlemen in Westport, and his death will create a blank amongst a large circle of friends in Dunedin and in Auckland, where his father resides. To those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance in private life, his sudden death will be mueh felt, as his private character exceeded in merit that of the majority of young men. As a friend andcompanion his virtuous example had a salutary influence among his acquaintances, and did not prohibit him from engaging and excelling in all manly exercises. Mr Kempthorne was stroke-oar in the greatgigrace at Dunedin last year, and one of the winning crew, and at the Caledonian gathering, in the same season, he took four prizes. His loss will be much felt by his parents and the establishment to which he belonged, and in which he had by his ability risen to an honorable position. "We are without further particulars of this sad occurrence, but no mention is made of the loss of other lives than that of Mr Kempthorne.