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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 644, 12 April 1870, Page 2

Fifty passengers arrived from Auckland yesterday by the steamer John Penn. Thirty others, who had also shipped at Onehunga, proceeded by the vessel to Greymouth andHokitika. They may be said to form the first numerous instalment of what promises to be a return rush from Auckland, where the state of affairs is described as deplorable. Among the fifty who have made Westport their destination, there are several old West Coast men, but the number includes also some Californians who only recently arrived in Auckland, and who have not been on the Coast before. On arrival men of both classes betook themselves to the new. rush on the south side of the river, and have already resolved to set in. The statement of some, from the prospects they have already had, is that, while they could with difficulty earn 30s or 35s a week in Auckland, they can average from .£5 to £6 a week here, after very little loss of time. Other diggers have come up to the same ground from the southward during the past fewdays, and yesterday there were some cases of "jumping" which required the presence of the Warden.

For violence of wind and weight of rain Saturday night and Sunday morning were remarkable. The wind was from thenorthwest, and the consequence was a considerable surf, which has done further damage to the beach behind the town. One oF the consequences of the rain was a flood in the river, attended by one simple but inconvenient accident—the carrying away of the ferryboat at the Ohiki. Another result was the doing of considerable damage at Giles Terrace by a flood in the Orawaiti, which carried away fluming, boxes, and other mining material; and one big boulder from the hill knocked down John M'lntyre's hut. In German Terrace creek similar damage to boxes and other property was done, and the same has to be said of other terraces to the north. Altogether the cost of the damage will be several hundred pounds, and it is only by a fortunate chance that lives were not lost. The flood in the creeks is said to have been higher than on the occasion of the heavy flood at Christmas. In town, the water-tightness of houses was sorely, and in very few instances successfully tried.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, during last year, 263 criminal cases, and 614 civil cases were disposed of. Amonothe criminal cases, there were 57 charges of assault, 93 for drunkenness, 17 for felonies, 4 for malicious injury, 12 sureties of the peace, 15 for violence, and 65 other charges. The total amount sued for on the civil side of the Court was £6765 15s 4d, and judgment was given for .£3005 15s 7d.

By telegram from Greymouth we learn that Mr Kynnersley left for Nelson by the Tararua yesterday afternoon. He was, says our correspondent, well received up country by all classes, and was entertained by the residents at Ahaura and Napoleon.

The American Glass-blowers have given three exhibitions since Friday—in each instance to numerous spectators. To day they proceed to Charleston.

Giles Terrace miners and visitors ask us to direct attention to the state of the track thither, " near Scotch Lizzy's." There are 300 yards of track almost impassable, it is said, and easily repairable. As Mr Dobson has returned to the district, he will, no doubt, notice the matter, and others urgent.

Tidal disturbances, similar to but slighter than those on the occasion of the South American earthquake 1868, took place in Wellington harbor on Wednesday.

There were 218 fresh objections lodged to be placed on the electoral roll of the Westland Boroughs, being 149 from Greyniouth and 69 from Hokitika.

At Cariboo, about four miles from Napoleon Hill, Napoleon's party have struck gold. As yet the prospects are hardly payable.

Telegrams from Wellington report that the Hanawatu surveyor has been again warned by the Natives to leave the ground. Mr Sewell, who is expected from England shortly, is spoken of as a probable candidate to represent the Omata district in the Assembly.

The net sum realised at a concert and ball held at the Greenstone, in aid of the Hokitika Hospital, was between £7O and £BO.

Twenty-seven applicants for publican's license will be heard at the E.M. Court, Hokitika, on the 3rd proximo, and on the same date twenty-one applicants will be disposed of at Greymouth. Only two females are applying for license. Martin, a drill instructor, who, as stated in our last issue, had been arrested on a charge of rape at Wellington, has been committed. The story of the prosecutrix has been flatly contradicted by the defendant's witnesses.

The Grey Valley Times warmly advocates the establishing of a branch bank at the Ahaura township. A great indignation meeting has been held at Wanganui, protesting against Natives being again permitted to settle on the Waitotara block. An armed association, it is said, has been formed.

According to the police returns the population of "Westland is as follows: Eoss, 2000 ; Okarito, 270 ; Kanieri, 2000; Stafford and Waimea, 3155 ; Greenstone, 750; Hokitika district, 7000 ; Grey district, including Clifton and Maori Gully, 3800.

Mr Gillies has been elected to the House of Eepresentatives for Mongonui by a majority of twenty-eight votes to twentythree for Mr Lendon.

The Westland County Council is to meet for business on the sth of next month. A son of Mr Pollock, of the London Tavern, Hokitika, has been seriously injured by being run over by a velocipede.

The Auckland and Thames line of telepaph is progressing rapidly. Near Shortland two turrets, each ninety feet high, are to be erected, to carry the wire across the river.

There has been some excitement at Ohinemuri in consequence of a report that some German had come fiom the interior with a quantity of " alluvial gold." As usual, "they declined to point out the place," and it " has not been found."

The proprietors of ■ the European Mail have determined to offer a prize, not yet stated, for the best essay on the relations ef the Colonies to the Mother Country.

In the various telegraph projects on the tapis, New Zealand is not forgotten. Two companies propose extension from Tasmania to the south of the Middle Island.

At a recent meating of the Ethnological Society, in London, there was read a communication from Dr Haast "On Stone Implements discovered in Bruce Eay."

A -writer to a Home paper who says his colonial experience has been somewhat "mixed" who has broken stones and taught children, sunk wells and built houses—in fact has done everything, even been a military settler in New Zealand, where hi 3 immediate officers were two drunken lieutenants, and a captain who was worse—asserts that "gentlemen" do not succeed in Australia, even with money, in proportion to the ignorant obtrusive man.) A paper called the Argus has been started at Coromandel. During 1809 the number of persons that emigrated from the United Kingdom to Australia and New Zealand was 14,901.