The Westport Times. SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 685, 16 July 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1870.

Early yesterday morning the police arrested a man, named Edward Fennings, and he was brought before the Bench the same day charged, under the Vagrant Act, with having no lawful means of support. The man presented an abject and pitiable appearance, he was much emaciated and was stated by the police to have lived for months none knew how, sleeping in outhouses, and at times drinking heavily. His Worship thought that it was due to the protection of the public, and it might be almost regarded as an act of clemency to the accused to commit him. He was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor. In consequence of the Supreme Court sittings, at Nelson, having been postponed until August Ist, the witnesses in the case of John White, charged with perjury, did not proceed per Kennedy. Some witnesses, together with the prisoners, in connection •with the Southern Cross fracas went forward by the above steamer. A telegram was received shortly before the departure of the Kennedy fpr Nelson, notifying the postponement. A Masonic ball, held at the Town Hall, Christchurch, on June 24, in aid of the funds of the St. Augustine Lodge, was a great success. Messrs Eeynolds, Griffin, Wilkinson, and H. S. Pish, junior, are the four candidates for the mayoralty of Dunedin. In the Ee3ident SI agistrato's Court, yesterday, the case of Waite v. Harris was aljourned till Friday next. The case of Waite v. Rockstrow, in which the defendant wa3 sued for illegal detention of a cockatoo, valued at JJIO, resulted in a nonsuit. The plaintiff was absent, and appeared by counsel. Dr Rockstrow stated that he had purchased the bird from Mrs Waite for £5. The money had not been paid in cousequence of the present action, but he was quite willing to give up the propei ty if he knew to whom it belonged, and should be glad if the Court would make an order. He trusted, however, if a

verdict was given against him, he should not be mulcted in JE3 3s, counsel's costs. His Worship directed a non-suit, no satisfactory evidence having been produced to prove plaintiff's ownership. A fine of 203 and cost 3 was imposed by the Bench, yesterday, upon the master of the schooner Northern Light, for breach of harbor°regulations, he having inadvertently omitted to hoist the signal notifying that the vessel had powder on board. The Harbor Master, Capt Leech, did not press for a heavy penalty, and his Worship thought that a light fine would meet the circumstances of the case, and act as a warning to masters of vessels in future. Good reports, pay the Grey Argus of Tuesday, continue to come in from the new quartz discovery at Murray Creek, over the Saddle. Cooney and party, who obtained a prospecting claim on this reef, had their certificate cancelled by the Warden at the Court at the Ahaura on the 7th instunt. It was alleged that the certificate had been obtained by misrepresentation, and that Cooney's party, instead of marking out a claim in entirely now and unoccupied ground, had, when they marked off the prospecting area for which they obtained the certificate, jumped a portion of an adjoining claim. Specimens of stone from the reef have been shown at the Ahaura during last week. The stone is solid and hard, of a whitish blue color, and very fine, brightened gold can be seen all through it. At present the fords in the Upper Inangahua river are very dangerous, as they change during every flood, but it is the intention of our mining reporter to visit the reef as soon as the rivers and creeks permit travelling with any kind of safety. We had hoped in the present issue to furnish our reader? with an ace unt of the newly discovered and rich Murray reefs. The parties who proceeded to that locality are expected in Westport to-day, and in the event of their arrival we shall be in a position to furnish particulars in our Tuesday's issue. In the Warden's Court, yesterday, in the case of Rassinussell and Gardiner v. Trucks, tried before assessors, the verdict was for the defendant. They decided that the dam, as at present constructed, should remain, but not to be further raised. Mr Rainford's celebrated troupe of Minstrels will probably arrive at Westport on Monday next, as they leave by steamer Mur ray which is expected to leave Nelson on Saturday. The Christy's make but a limited stay in Westport, and as this will be the first occasion that we have had a really good company of Minstrels in Westport, we have no doubt they will secure crowed houses during their stay. Some much needed improvements have been recently effected to the river bank in the shape of a breastwork and fascines, by which some of the ugly gaps have been filled up. In the Divorce Court, Wellington, on the 11th inst., a decree for a dissolution of marriage in the case of Croucher v. Croucher was made absolute. The Rev. W. Lewis has received a telegram from the Bishop of Nelson notifying his intention of leaving Nelson for Westport by the Kennedy.