The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 440, 29 December 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1868.

There has been a small rush to some new ground situated north of Hatter's Terrace. -On Wednesday last M'Dowcll and party, numbering five others, struck gold in one out •of three shafts which they had sunk to a depth of twenty-two feet. They had sunk two without getting a payable prospect, but hi the third, at the depth stated, they got a prospect of from three to six grains to the dish, and there is a thickness of five feet of wash-dirt. The ground in question is about a mile and a half north of Hatter's, or two andahalf miles north of Deadman's Creek, and it is by that creek that it is most easily approached by parties proceeding to it from Westport. It is apparently another link in tiie long chain of ancient beacii which is now known as the Great North Lead, and which includes the Caledonian, Giles, blotter's, and j! her auriferous terraces.

There is to be a tea-meeting this evening, in connection with the Methodist Free Church,

I o be followed by a public meeting at which addresses will be delivered bydiiferent clergymen, recitations given by amateurs, and appropriate music on the harmonium. The meetings arc to be held in Mr Fraser's schoolroom, Molesworth Street, and the chair is to be taken at eight o'clock. Tickets may be hid at several of the principal stores in town., It is not often that meet'ngs of this kind are held at Westport, and although the occasion is one when a majority of people have other •engagements of a similar character, it is probable that there will be a numerous attendance especially of the fair sex and the younger branches of families.

Mrs Harris kindly sent to the patients in the Hospital some fruit, cake, wine, and poller for Christinas, and those who were able to partake of such delicacies enjoyed them with gratitude to the giver.

The miners up the Bailor are complaining sadly about the track to that district. After crossing the Ohiki it is in a very bad state. and so closed up in one place that a stranger would find much, difficulty in pursuing his course. The news from the prospecting partyis of a favorable character. They arc at present occupied in forming a new tunnel, and probably the next news from them will be of a definite description. The road to these prosperous diggings demands the attention of the Progress Committee, as recent events confirm the importance of placing every facility in the prospector's way towards opining the field. A miner on the upper Culler cannot procure "tucker" for a less sum than about £3 a-week. Flour is .£BO per ton, and every other article of food is correspondingly dear. Those high prices would be iu a great measure moderated, and the chief supplies obtained from West port if the road were in a passable state. At present Nelson merchants are in possession of the trade at the Lyell, and there are some who go. so far as to insinuate that the jNelson Provincial Government would much prefer having the track in its present state, and allowing their own town to derive the benefit which Legitimately belongs to Westport. The Addison's Flat Prospecting Association have concluded their labors without any distinguishable results.

At the Odd-fellows' fete at Dunedin, on Boxing Day, Mr J. F. Taylor was to be one of the main attractions. lie had engaged to perform nine feats in an hour, as follows : To walk half a mile ; run one mile ; run a coach wheel one mile ; run a wheel-barrow half a mile ; run half a mile and jump six hurdles ; hop fifty yards on one leg, pickup thirty stones, placed one yard apart, and bring each back to the place of starting ; pick up thirty eggs, placed one yard apart, with his month, without touching the ground with his knees ; and to throw twenty 501b weights over his head with one hand.

At Greymoulh the Christmas sports were to commence yesterday, and to be continued to-day. Tlie Argun of Thursday states : "On both days very handsome prizes will be given to the successful competitors, amounting in the aggregate to £3OO. The ground selected is the best in town for the purpose—the Camp Keserve—and the booths, three in number, are erected at the north end, at the junction of Gresson and Arney streets. On Wednesday, a regatta will take place on the river, but the programme is not yet published. The lessees of Tivoli Gardens have been making great exertions to render them as attractive .as possible during the holidays and they are sure to he well patronised. In addition to the usual games and gymnastic •spuria, a large theatre has been erected, with all the orthodox stage, scenery, footlights, and theatrical paraphernalia, where ballets and liglrt pieces will bo played, by a co upany speciully <engnged, every evening. The proceedings at this place will be inaugurated on Boxing-day by the members of the Greymouth Lodge M. U. I. O. 0. F., who propose to march to I'm gardens in procession, for t lie purpose of holding a pV-nie." A large two-storey bn I ling which Mr 11. .•Jiltner recently .added to his hotel at Grey-

mouth, at ii cost of ovpr £IOOO, on the site of tlio old. theatre in Taiivui street, was to be opened on Monday evening, when a gift auction, on behalf of the funds of the English Church School and Parsonage, was to be held in the hall. The Argm says:—"This room is large and commodious, and is, we believe, the finest in Westland. It measures 56 feet long, by -27 fet I broad, and 16 feet high, with two ante-rooms attached, each 13ft. by 14ft. Th i hall will be consecrated as a Masonic Lodge-room, by the Greymouth Lodge, on St. John's Day, '3oth inst., and a banquet will be held there the same evening." Captain Hcnsonlias a cablegram of the Bth November of a most favorable character. Arrangements have been made for the Panama Company to continue the services, and advices have been forwarded to Mr Marshall, the agent of the Royal Mail Company, now in Sydney, directing all possible aid to be afforded by allowing tho Mataura to continue the service.

A new piece—the Flying Jib—has been brought out on the stage at the Princess Theatre, Diuieclin, and lias bedi rather successful. It is the production of aMr Whitworth, who also plays in the piece. A new feature appears in it, in the shape of a live horse, supposed to be on a race-course, with all its attendant crowd of spectators, betting men, jockeys, and jugglers. A telegram of the 21st inst, in the Christchurch papers, gives the following particulars of the circumstances under which the Kaikoura's passengers were placed in quarantine: —The disease was brought from England with the passengers in the 11. M. Company's ship Tasmania. Only four cases have occurred since leaving Panama, two of which still remain. No fresh case has broken out for nine days. It has been arranged that the Lady Bird shall be anchored off Soaines' Island for the healthy New Zealand passengers to_ sleep and have their meals on Hoard, having the run of the island. The City of Newcastle hulk, with the sick passengers and the cargo, is also to be anchored off there.

Duffield's new mill at Gawler, South Australia, which was erected in the place of the Victoria mill destroyed last year, and only opened a few months ago, was totally destroyed by fire a fortnight ago. The property was insured to the extent of about £II,OOO. A fire was discovered in the mill a few weeks ago, occasioned by over-heating, but was extinguished before any serious damage was done.

The Westland County Council is summoned to meet on Wednesday, the 13th of January. The ceremony of starting the first steam engine for mining purposes in the Grey District took place on Wednesday afternoon, at the claim of Eadie and party, North Beach. There was a large assemblage, and great interest taken in the proceedings. The buildings used as lock-ups at Camptown and Ahaura, have been proclaimed public gaols of the Colony by his Honor the Superintendent of Nelson.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at Wellington, in view of the recent calamities which have befallen certain districts of the colony, appointed Sunday, December 27, as a day of humiliation and prayer in the several congregations.