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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 518, 17 June 1869, Page 2

The steamship IJangitoto, though only due yesterday at Hokitika, with the NewZealand portion of the English mail, reached the roadstead of that port on Tuesday forenoon. Unfortunately it was quite impossible for any of the steamtenders to proceed over the bar, a heavy surf breaking along the shore and for miles out to sea. Under these circumstances the Eangitoto steamed away from the port at three o'elock in the afternoon, and the presumption is that she proceeded direct to Wellington, whence our usual summary of the month's intelligence was telegraphed last evening. The only port on the West Coast at which a steamer eoidd be tendered on Tuesday was Westport, and the natural facilities have, unfortunately, not yet been supplemented by the facility of a steam-tender belonging to the place. The Mokihinui rush has already subsided to small dimensions. Information confirmatory of the excellence of the prospectors' claim has all along been received, but a majority of those who visited the neighbourhood have left the ground. Those who are still on the terrace are driving from different directions towards the

prospectors' claim, so that any similar ground to theirs is almost certain to be be reached. One who has experience of the West Coast, and who has visited the locality, describes it as the finest piece of country he has seen, and one well deserving further prospecting. What is wanted, he says, is men with money, and a few tracks.

We learn that Koss and party, who have been putting in one of the gigantic tunnels from the sea-face of Giles Terrace, have struck gold. This is a circumstance satisfactory to more than one party, as there were several tunnelling with the hope which, in the case of this party, has now been realised. Eoss and party had previously struck gold, but it was above their tunnel, and did not prove payable. They have now struck the gold at a lower level, and the wash-dirt promises to pay well, yielding about five grains to the dish. After their long and patient work, they deserve a good return. We believe that the Eev. Mr Harvey, during the past few days, has collected, on the Caledonian, German, and Giles terraces £2S towards the fund for erecting the English Church at Westport. This makes a total of £23G collected chiefly through the personal exertions of Mr Harvey and there are promises for further amounts to within £45 of the cost of the contract for erecting the church. After the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the church, yesterday, £G 8s was collected from among those present, so that the small deficit is still further reduced. A Charleston caricaturist has sketched an amusing cartoon intended to represent one phase of the Separation Question, but a phase which, we believe, only exists in the minds of caricaturists. He has sketched, in the rudest of shirts and moleskins, and in hats of the most antiquated condition and form, two diggers whom he designates Tim and Denny. Tim, with a knowing look at Denny, whom he " chucks" under the chin, says:—" Bedad, Denny, this Siperation will do a dale of good. Shure oursilves stand a good show to be mimbers." Denny, who has apparently political proclivities, replies:—"Be gov; the ground's getting poor, Tim, and a man might do worse than turn ;his attintion to that same." The humble cartoon is now to bo seen in the window of Mr Bishop, stationer.

Saturday last was tbo day appointed for the election ef members of the Westport School Committee, but the day passed without any attention being- given to the announced election. In accordance ■with the Ordinance, tlio vacancies in the Committee will be filled by appointment of his Honor the Superiiitcndcnt. The retiring members are Messrs E. K. Tyler, F. Harris, and E. C. Eeid.

A meeting of the Athensmn Committee was held on Tuesday afternoon, when the Secretary was instructed to communicate with the Provincial Secretary on the subject of the .£IOO voted by the Council, and Dr Giles undertook to communicate privately, in emanation of the circumstances of the institution. For the safe keeping of the library, it was resolved that books should only be given out during the day-time, when the key of the library will always be available in the Warden's office, and in charge of Mr Whitefood or Mr Cooper. The public reading-room, it was resolved, should be kept open in the evening, as usual.

At Mr Beaton's store, at Deadman's Creek, there was a meeting of miners on Tuesday evening, called for the purpose of appointing a deputation to wait upon the Warden, to secure the gratuitous services of a surveyor for the purpose of surveying the level of the lead struck by Eoss and party on Giles Terrace. The parties have been so long and at such expense in prospcting that it is hoped an exception may bo made, and a survey taken without the imposition of further outlay to the miners.

A disgraceful assault is reported by the Hokitika correspondent of the Greymonth Star to have been committed on the person of a Mrs M'Bride, a resident of Gibson's Quay. It appears two men visited her house on Saturday evening. One of them left shortly after, leaving his companion in the house. He had not been gone long before violent screams were heard in the street, and on his return with a passer-by, upon entering, they found the woman deluged in blood, lying on her bed. The man (Moor) who committed the offence, was brought up next day, but was remanded for the evidence of tho woman, who was unable to attend.

Tlio Falkland Islands, where somo of the passengers of the unfortunate ship Blue Jacket are presumed to have landed after the burning of their ship, lie about 300 miles E.N.E. of Magellan Straits, and stretch from in latitude 51 to 521 degrees S., and in longitude 57i- to GOJ "W. They are comparatively barren, andhi a cold region, and little beyond vegetables can be grown on the islands, although the natural grass is luxuriant, and sheep have been raised successfully.