The Westport Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 639, 31 March 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1870.

Mr Kynnersley, formerly Commissioner of the Nelson Goldfiolds, and now quasi Commissioner, as well as member of the Nelson Executive, arrived in Westport on 'Tuesday evening, somewhat unexpectedly for the inhabitants and the. friends among them who gladly welcomed his return. Mr Kynnersley, according to promise, left Nelson for the Upper Bailor district last week, and, having come by the road as far ao the Lyell, he took boat there, and came down the river on Wednesday during a "spell" of the worst of West Coast weather. We understand that, before returning to Nelson, Mr Kynnersley will visit the district surrounding Westport, the Charleston district, and the Grey Valley, with a view to informing himself as to the condition and necessities of these goldfields. The same ground has been but recently gone over by the Provincial Secretary and Engineer, with the exception of the Upper Boiler and Lyell districts; but no doubt, Mr Kynncrsloy's present visit will be useful in its results, by informing him as to goldfields wants, and enabling him to advise with the Executive how these wants may best be met or anticipated.

We give elsewhere a report of important cases in the Charleston Warden's Court, and the legal opinion which formed the ground of proceedings on the part of the defendants. The defendants were, in default of payment of penalty, imprisoned, but were afterwards liberated on a deposit of money being made, and on the understanding that they should not work the claim—the Southern Cross—for ten days, or until a special case should be stated to Judge Clarke. A meeting had been called in Charleston in connection with the case, and we notice that the Herald refers to it " as an indignation meeting called at tho instance of Mr George Donne to consider the course pursued by the Warden." So far from this being a corroct description of it, wo understand that the meeting Teferrod to was convonod by Mr Donne as the representative of the district, incompliance with a requisition, and not at his special instance.

Moreover, that it was not intended to be a meeting either of indignation or of sympathy, but simply of discussion which subsequent circumstances rendered unnecessary.

This is the last day upon which applications for registration on the Electoral Roll can be made. The list, when completed, has to be posted in conspicuous places within the electoral district, and a voter may, during A|pl, lodge objections against any names appearing on such list. In May a list of these objections is published. The lists are finally revised by the revising officer between May 15 and July 1. The new roll comes into force on the Ist of August. Nothing has yet been done at Wangapeka in the way of crushing, although in some of the claims on the field a good quantity of stone has been taken out, and the mm are generally set in for working, and express high hopes of the result. This is evidenced by the refusal to sell a share except at high figures. Until machinery is on the ground it will be impossible for a large crushing to take place. There is some talk of the revival of a proposal to form a Quartz Crushing Company which would erect machinery on the spot. There has been a fire at the Port of Nelson, nearly attended by loss of life. Early on Sunday morning Mrs M'Donald, (who, with four children, lives in a cottage belonging to Mr Cross, near to the property of Mr Baly, on the beach), was awakened by finding her bedclothes on fire and one half of the house in a blaze. With the greatest difficulty she got her children out of the burning building, no easy matter, as all are young, and one is a baby of eight months, and another a sick child of three years. Mrs M'Donald was unable to save anything, and she and her children escaped only in their night attire; unfortunately losing about £ 100 in notes, which her husband had left with her out of a sum of money he had received prior to going over to Colling wood district.

An unwearied and successful experiment has been made in the cultivation of the silkworm in Nelson, by Mr T. C. Batchclor, of Wakapuaka, who for years has steadily followed out the idea of establishing a tmde in silk growing, by proving this climate to be well suited both for the growth of the mulberry tree and of the worm. This, the Colonist says, Mr Batchelor considers he has proved.

Mr J. Lambert, a highly respectable settler at Rangitikei, returning home from TVanganui on the evening of Saturday last, on approaching the toll-gate recently erected near Putiki swamp, clapped spurs to his horse as if to rush through it, when the keeper, who had been often defrauded of tolls by horsemen riding rapidly through it, closed the gate against Mr Lambert, whose horse came heavily against it, and thre%v his rider to the ground. Mr Lambert was so much injured by the fall that he never spoke afterwards, and died within three hours, leaving a widow and two children.

A daring burglary took place in Grahamstown, Auckland, on the 20th inst. Some persons effected an entrance into Messrs Barnett and Levy's store about that time, and stole a large quantity of tobacco, cigars, and other goods. The night was a bright moonlight one, and the store is situated in the most populous part of Grahamstown, only a few doors from the police station itself.

A Gold Reward Commission is sitting at the Thames to hear the claim of Thomas Reven to the goldfields discovery reward of .£SOOO. The following additional applicants have to be heard:—J. C. Boyd and party, Charles Crawford, Wm. Kazlett. Colonel Chesney, Captain Brackenbury, W. H. Taipari, Paratene Puhai and Hamiora Kewa, and Hunt and party! Mr F. A. Camngton, the Superintendent of Taranaki, has come forward as a candidate to represent the Omata district in the House of Representatives.

On Monday, March 21, the dead body of an infant was found in a flour bag in the bedroom of a girl named Annie Green way, at the Hua village, Taranaki. The woman has been arrested on a charge of concealment of birth.

Mr Pratt, whose premises were destroyed in the late fire at Christciiurch, has lost £IOOO by omitting to renew his policy, which expired on the day previous to that on which the fire took place. The following amusing scene is dscribed by a recent Auckland journal:—The other day a Maori gentleman who, like his pakeha friends, no doubt found business nearly at a standstill, resorted to the auctioneer's hammer to drive a little trade. Perching himself on the palings of the market, he began to sell to the highest bidder, and without reserve, water-melons, kits of peaches, grapes, <tc. A large crowd soon gathered, and some spirited bidding ensued for the various lots. It was amusing to hear the Maori urging on his bidders with " Kai pai this kit," "Big melon this one, pakeha !" "How much you give?" "One herrin—one herrin three cop—thank you—only one herrin three cop—going, going ; one herrin hickapenny—kapai." ■■ From the hearty manner in which his audience entered into the fun, we are pretty sure our would-be auctioneer drove a slashing trade for the time being. And when our dark friend came to the balancing up, he could very well report bidding brisk, prices higldy satisfactory.

At an adjourned meeting of the Provincial Council of Marlborough, Mr A. P. Seymour was elected Superintendent of the Province by eleven votes, being a majority of the Councd.

A Ragged School Association has been formed in Auckland at a meeting at which the Governor presided. Explorations and testing of the reefs found in the Maitai river have been made within the last few days, and the explorers having struck what is called " very likely " quartz entertain good hopes of success. So says the Colonist.

The Collingwood Coal Company, says the Colonist, is promising to be an excellent success; and no doubt will, at an early day, prove itself one of the best coalfields in New Zealand. The tramway, carriages, and gear for conveying the coal are almost complete.

A serious fire has occurred at Wairarapa, Wellington. The property destroyed consisted of a farm-house, out-buildings, barn, stables, shed, &c, and belonged to a farmer named M'Master. It was insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for £IBOO. The total damage is estimated at £3OOO.

The potato crop in the district surrounding Auckland has this season been considerably above the average, the tonnage being somewhere between seven and eight to the acre.

The American glass-blowers have concluded their entertainments in Nelson. It is understood that they are to visit Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika. On Friday evening a prize was given for the best "poem." An "irregular lay" by Mr Luukie won it.