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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 550, 2 September 1869, Page 2

A new lead of gold has been struck on German Terrace, in this neighborhood. The lead was found some time ago by a party of Germans, but it is only this week that the circumstance has become generally known, and already applications for ten tunnels have been received at the Warden's Office.

William King, a " colored man," was yesterday charged in the Resident Magistrate Court, with attempting to commit, at Giles Terrace, a criminal assault upon a child five years of age. He was remanded for a day, for the production of evidence.

A man named Fraser committed suicide at Charleston on Tuesday. He had been ill in the Hospital there, suffering from some temporary mental affection. In consequence of his violence he was about to be removed, or was removed, to the Police Camp, when, with a knife which he had procured and concealed, he cut his throat. An inquest was held at which the verdict of the jury was—" That the deceased took his own life whilst laboring under temporary insanity." And they added the following rider : —" The jury desire to add that no blame attaches to either the Hospital or the Police authorities, who appear to have taken every precaution."

Oddfellows and other fellows should remember that this evening is the evening upon which is to be held, at the Empire Hotel, a ball and supper under the auspices of the M.TJ.J.0.0.F. Letters for the English mail were forwarded yesterday to Hokitika by the Charles Edward, but we understand that a mail will also be forwarded by the s.s. Murray, which is likely to leave Westport today, and which will be in time for the Tararua, appointed to sail on Sunday. It has not been our fault that authenticated information has not sooner been given on the subject as a Postal Notice. On Tuesday last there was an attendance of eighty-one children at the Westport School. As it is impossible that justice can be done to that number by one teacher, the Educatiou Committee should, at its first meeting, take steps for the appointment of an Assistant Teacher. We understand that the Central Board have granted an allowance of £SO per annum for the services of an Assistant Teacher, and probably upon proper representation this amount might be increased so as to enable the Committee to secure the services of a person fully qualified for the office. Mr Berry, builder, met with an accident on Monday last, while removing some timber from a building adjoining the Church of England manse, bruising himself about the chin and face. Beyond incaj)acitating him for work for a few days, the injuries were fortunately not of a serious character.

Dr Hector has delivered, at Wellington, an interesting lecture on the coalfields of the Colony, from which we shall quote in our next. He makes favorable reference to the coal deposits of the West Coast. How much more advanced are the diggers of the Caledonian district than are the denizens (for which please do not read Dennistouns) of Westport What is " Yankee grab" for "drinks round" compared with a challenge to play chess for a dinner for thirty men ? These industrious gentlemen, the " tailing-washers" of the Caledonian Terrace and Ballarat Gully, we are told, have challenged the " tailing-washers " of German Creek, to play them chess for a dinner for thirty, to be held within the nest fortnight, at Mr Braithwaite's store. And the challenge has been accepted. Whether two or thirty are to play the game our informant hath not said. We understand that Mr Harrison has constructed a good strong bridge across the Orawaiti, at Giles Terrace, and has cut rjivGu^^eriVawn c uf-j?i% l works, he receives a free license. We have received printed copies of the Acts passed during the last session in the Provincial Council of Nelson. They are seven in number, including the Appropriation Act. The Motuel a Cemetery Act, we notice, has been disallowed.

Mr Harvey and Mr South, solicitors, are again in Westport, as a commission to take evidence for the Supreme Court of Victoria in the case of Sponco Brothers v. Duffield, an action with regard to a consignment of flour. George "Winter, the late County Treasurer of Westland, was again brought up on Friday in the E.M. Court, Hokitika, and remanded to the 6th inst. Mr Gallagher, M.H.R. for this district, returned to "Westport yesterday bv the Charles Edward, having paired off for the remainder of the session, which has probably by this time closed. Several other Members had left Wellington, both for the North and South. The earthquake which was, a few days ago, felt so shaijly in Westport and Charleston, does not seem to have been uoticed in other parts of the Colony. Judge Richmond has delivered another lecture at Nelson—we need not say how able in thought and eloquence. The subject was " The Modem Aspect of Natural Theology." Mr Gavan, who was deputed by the General Government to examine the Westland accounts, has accomplished the purpose of his mission, and has returned to Wellington. A new Jewish Synagogue was opened in Nelson on Sunday last, and consecrated according to the forms and ceremonies of the Jewish law.

In Greymouth there is a municipal byelaw, as there should be here, by which owners of dangerous or defective chimneys are liable to be fined. The Inspector of Buildings has alreadv pronounced eight chimneys to be highly dangerous. The fresh in the Grey-river on Saturday last does not seem to have been serious. At high tide the river did not nearly reach as high as the protective work, although, from the immense quantity of rain which had fallen, it was feared that the lower lying portion of the town would be heavily flooded. As considerable interest is felt as to the intention of Mr Redwood respecting his horse Manuka, engaged in the Melbourne Cup, we may say that, on the authority of the Nelson Examiner, it is Mr Redwood's fidl intention to run his horse in Melbourne, and that he will be shipped by the nest steamer via Hokitika after the Gothenburg Should the Omeo call at Nelson on her next voyage, she will leave for Melbourne about a fortnight hence, but failing this opportunity the horse will have to wait for the next trip of the Gothenburg. Supposing this to be necessary, Manuka will arrive in Melbourne about the sth of October, which, to the 6th of November, will give a full month for the horse to recover the effects of the voyage. Manuka is now doinw work and looks well. His companions to Melbourne will probably be Misfortune and Peeress, the latter having only returned from Auckland on Saturday last. On Saturday last Mrs Cooper, an a<*ed woman residing in Molesworth-street, Wellington, while engaged in winding-up the clock which stood on the mantlepiece, set fire to her clothes and was so frightfully burnt that she died in a few hours.

A new sporting journal, Bell's Life in Melbourne, is now published. It is said to be well "got up," and is illustrated.

Last week there was a small rush to the | North Beach, Greymouth. It appears that ! a miner named Weightrnan has been prospecting a mile from the beach, at the Eightmile Creek, and found gold. Others followed him, and a prospecting claim has been granted. The prospects are two grains to the dish, fino gold, with twentyfive feet tunnelling. In Nelson, on Thursday last, before a Bench of Magistrates, Mr C. F. Watts, J.P., was charged with having assaulted Mr W. Tomlinson, by beating him with a cane, in Trafalgar-street. Mr Tomlinson is the third master of the College, and on the morning in question had chastised a son of Mr Watts in a manner contrary to the rules of the college. Mr Watts, excited by the complaint made by his boy, happening shortly afterwards to meet Mr Tonilinson in the street, committed the assault complained of. Mr Watts was fined £lO, including costs. Mr. St. John Branigan has now taken up his residence in Wellington in the recognised capacity of Commissioner of Colonial Constabulary. His salary is said to be £BOO a year. An interesting game at billiards has been played in Sydney between Mr Stritch and Mr Weston, the New Zealand champion, when the latter was defeated by only seven in 1000 up. The Hokitika News says there is a rumor that the Governor's delegated powers will be immediately withdrawn from Mr Hoos.

The inhabitants of Okarito have been rather awkwardly placed by the Waipara being unable to enter the port on her last trip. It is stated that on Tuesday last there were only six bags of flour in the place to supply some 400 people, and no tea, sugar, bacon, candles, or kerosene.

The latest news from Timaru, where the gold fever has been raging fiercely, is that one of the prospectors who have been for some time in the ranges arrived at Timaru to take out a prospector's claim, and to lodge an application for the reward of £2OO offered by the Provincial Government. The prospectors themselves say it is poor, and some old diggers, who have examined the prospect brought down declare that the ground will not pay to work. The discovery of a quartz-reef in Deep Creek, near Havelock, is reported. The finders have got three weeks' protection. The Wesleyan chapel, Temuka, in Canterbury Province, has been destroyed by fire. The villagers knew nothing of the fire until they woke in the morning and found the burning embers of the building.

A scene recently occurred in the Town Council, Alexandra, in the Province of Otago. It is thus described by Mr T. L. Henderson, the Town Clerk: —" As to the scene in the chamber, the following is exactly what occurred: —On the memorial being again brought before the meeting, Councillor Jack rose and made a violent attack on me—attributing all sorts of motives—amongst others, that I had put names down on the roll to serve party purposes, and that I had made a false declaration. The Mayor called twice to me to take down his words. I bore his assertions a long time, but when he said I made a false declaration, unconsciously to me my hand whipped round, and the open fingers struck Mr Jack on the face ; he was next me, and speaking into my very ear. Immediately I struck him I jumped out of my seat —certainly not on to Mr Jack, but_ several feet said I had better leave, and made towards my hat, but was called back to my seat by the Mayor. The business then went on as usual, Councillor Jack leaving."