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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 660, 19 May 1870, Page 2

In consequence of the difficulty in crossing the Nile river, tho coach did not arrive from Charleston as usual yesterday; we are consequently unable to publish the report of the Miners' League meeting held at Charleston on Saturday last. The lower end of Gladstone street presented, on Tuesday last, an animated but not cheerful appearance. Workmen were busily engaged dismantling and removing the business premises of Messrs Stitt Bros, and Mr M'DoweD, and Mr Williams, aa previously stated, has transferred his business to the premises previously occuped by Mr Horn, tobacconist. The gaps' hi the blocks of buildings caused by the removal of

the above will not be filled, and in a businejs point of view the sites commencing at a point a little beyond Molesworth street and extending to Eussell street have ceased to be of any value. The re-erection of premises for Messrs Stitt Brothers and Mr M'Dowell is being proceeded with, the latter having tat en up the corner section occupied previously to the fire by Mr John Southern, while the former are building at the corner of Bright and Palmerston streets. The writ for the election of a member to serve in the Nelson Provincial Council for the district of Grey has been received by steamer Kennedy. In another column are published the petitions to the House of Representatives and His Excellency Sir George Bowen; in each case the object of the petition is definitely and intelligibly stated; that addressed to the House of Representatives asks for increased representation in the Assembly while that addressed to His Excellency asks that the delegated powers may be withdrawn from the Superintendof Nelson and that under the " Goldfields Act, 1866 " the province may be declared a district for the purpose of forming a Mining Board. Yesterday we supplied our town readers with a supplement containing a detailed report of the proceedings in the Nelson Provincial Council, from Monday the 9th to Thursday the 12th inst. Our country and Charleston readers are supplied with the supplement together with the present issue of the Times to-day, being the earliest opportunity of presenting copies to our subscribers resident at a distance.

We had hoped to publish telegram containing result of Tuesday's proceedings in the Provincial Council, but in consequence of breakage of the wire between Hokitika and Christchurch communication with Nelson had ceased, and had not been resumed up to the closing of the Telegraph Office yesterday evening. The two cases, Munday v. Lloyd and Munday v. J. G. Hay, charged with breach of the Customs' Regulations were adjourned on Tuesday last till the 24th inst. The Greymouth Star reports that the Duke of Roxburgh was on board the steamship Kangitoto incognito on her passage to Greymouth on the 11th inst.

It is said to be the intention of Colonel Haultain to re the from the representation of the County of Franklyn, and that there is every probability of James Mackay, jun., coming forward as a candidate for the vacant seat.

A trial at Ballarat of an atmospheric stamp and quartz crusher recently patented in England was a remarkable success. It surpasses in power auy battery now in use, and has the great merit of practicability of packing. Important intelligence has been received in Auckland, via Natal, respecting the safety of Dr Livingston. In the month of January letters were received stating that he expected to reach Natal at the end of February or beginning of March. He also stated in his letter that all his men had left him, so that he was entirely dependent upon the natives for assistance. A requisition is in course of circulation on the Otago goldfields to Messrs O'Neill and Vogel, representatives of the goldfields in the General Assembly. The opinion therein expressed is that the position of chief engineer of the Province of Auckland, held by Mr O'Neill, is inconsistent with the independence of a reprepropriety of Mr Vogel's resignation is urged on the grounds of his having completely identified himself with Auckland, and on the land question, the reduction of the gold export duty, and all matters immediately affecting the goldfields, Mr Vogel's views had been proved to be antaggonistic to those of his constituents.