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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 513, 5 June 1869, Page 2

Complaints have lately been made by suburban residents of some prowling vagabond or vagabonds annoying- and alarming the inmates of houses, especially tliose in which there are ladies, and at hours and seasons when the male protectors of the domiciles are, or are supposed to be, from home. Several cases have lately occurred to excite the vigilance of the police, but, in the present attenuated state of thepoliceforce bore, it is scarcely to be wondered that a detection has not been made. The consequence is that some respectable citizens have intimated, through our columns, that they have provided themselves against intruders with something more effective than even a policeman's baton, and another pator-familias offers a reward of £o for the conviction of the offenders, and with the object of abating these nocturnal nuisances. The danger is that, if there is a general resort to arms, some innocent neighbour or some old horse may come to grief, while the real culprits escape. A little wholesome terror among the vagrant class might be effectually administered from the Bench. If it cannot increase the numerical strength of the police, it may stimulate them, and it will both decrease and subdue the element of vagrancy and vagabondism.

Although we had received a full report of the late Separation meeting at Charleston, wo do not purpose now publishing it, as, in addition to the fact of our space being otherwise occupied, it has, no doubt, been sufficiently reported by tho Herald, and its results have ah-eady been noticed by us. We are compelled also to hold over a letter from Mr Adam Porter, in which he indignantly denies some insinuations made by Mr Ligbtband as to the signatures to the Separation petition.

Upwards of 5172 ounces of gold have been exported from Westport during the past week—lß72ozs by the Bank of New Zealand, and 33000zs by the "Union Bank. In the Warden's Court, yesterday, there was a ease in which James Graham, miner, Giles Terrace, summoned William Graham, miner, Shamrock Lead, to account for certain gold, the proceeds of a claim wrought by the defendant at the Shamrock Lead, on the grounds that a share in that claim belonged conjointly to them, and that he wished a settlement of accounts, so that the partnership might be dissolved. Mr Tyler appeared for the defendant. The complainant recited the transactions between him and the defendant, who is his brother, and he called one witness. Mr Tyler considered that there was no case to answer. The Magistrate said that, by the evidence of the complainant himself, the whole arrangement, if there was any, was with a view of keeping the share out of his estate in bankruptcy. It was one of the lamest cases which had come before him, and was not very creditable. He gave judgment for the defendant, with costs. i

In the Besident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, It. O. M'Lare summoned Daniel or Dennis M'Maiian for an alleged assault committed at the Caledonian Terrace. The complainant said the defendant came up to him '* looking very dart in the head," and " put a bit of a log down near him." Suspecting something, the complainant asked what that was for, when the defendant "caught hold of him by the head, and gave him such a crushing before he could get up." The complainant added:—"l got \i\), and got hold of him; and after I straightened myself, I did my best to knock him down, and he tried to knock me down, but I couldn't do it, and he couldn't do it. We fell, and his head came agin something, and my head came agin something. And he said 'Will you give it up,' and I said ' Yes, but I will make you pay for it.' He went away, and I washed myself." The defendant had a different statement to make, and the Magistrate, on the ground of insufficient evidence, dismissed the case. The horses from the stables of Mr Eedwood and Mr H. Stafford have been successful in carrying off nearly all, and, indeed, all the principal prizes, at the meetings at the Thames and Auckland. Mr Redwood's Peeress achieved the greatest victories, and won the race (the Galatea Cup, at the Thames), in which the greatest interest was centred, aud the heaviest stakes given; Mr Stafford's Magenta coming in second on that occasion. We leam from the Examiner that Mr Eedwood has entered his horses Manuka, Peeress, and Misfortune for the Melbourne cup, the entries for which have closed. This race, which is the greatest handicap of the year, will be run at Memington on the 4th of November, but the weights will be published on the 24th inst.

The Hon. Elliot Yovke lias appeared at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Auckland, several times. That gentleman's impersonation of the Danish Prince, Hamlet, is described by the newspapers as one of the finest pieces of acting ever seen upon the Auckland stage. Colonel Whitmore's expedition to the Urowera country is virtually at an end for the winter. Our friendly allies—the Arawas and Ngatihauas—refused to proceed further into the country, and they have been dismissed to their homes, loaded with loot taken from the enemy. Colonel Whitmore is at present in Auckland, and he is suffering from a severe attack of dysentery. Tho Thames races having been timed to come off during the visit of tho Duke of Edinburgh to Auckland it was folly expected his Eoyal Highness would have honored the meeting with his presence. A slight put upon her Majesty, whose health was studiously omitted from the list of toasts at a late public dinner at the Thames, was, however, properly resented by the Prince, and although urgently solicited to be present, he declined attending the races, to the great disappointment of the visitors generally.