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Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 835, 11 July 1871, Page 2

It was reported that the Government intended to form Palmerston-street forthwith. On enquiry we learn that the construction of this necessary work is entirely dependent upon the removal or otherwise of the Gaol and Government offices. The, latter will remain on the present site until partially undermined by the sea encroachments. We would call the attention of the Provincial Engineer to the condition of many of the thoroughfares. In Wharfstreet the culverts have given way in many places, leaving holes several feet in length, which imperil the limbs of any person using the thoroughfare after nightfall. A few loads of metal are also much required to Kennedy-street and Molesworth-street, the road at the intersection of these streets presenting a perfect sheet of water. An unusually large quantity of snow has fallen thus early upon the ranges. Large floods may be expected in the spring.

The s.s. Omeo arrived in Hokitika roadstead on Sunday at 1 p.m. from Melbourne, and is supposed to bring the Suez telegrams. It was impossible to tender her on Sunday, in consequence of the state of the bar and heavy surf in the roadstead. Owing to the low state of the tides, the rough weather of the last few days has not resulted in further serious encroachments. The beach is cut away to the centre of Palmerston-street where it intersects Gladstone-street; nearly the entire site, upon which stood Emanuel's Little Grey Hotel has been washed away, and the premises adjoining belonging to Mr Cass are entirely undermined, rendering necessary the substititvirion of long piles for the old ones. The site of the main building of the Nelson Hotel is intact, but all the outhouses, kitchen, fencing, &c, have disappeared. The loss to all parties concerned is very serious, and to Mr Emanuel it is exceptionally severe, his entire property being all but totally destroyed. The American Bowling Saloon had only been added to the hotel a few months back at a cost of £2OO. We understand that Mr Emanuel purposes re-building at the corner of Palmerston and Wallabi streets. Mr Hay, who occupied one of the shops belonging to Mr Cass, has removed to a portion of the premises formerly occupied by the "Times" newspaper office. Mr Steel continues in occupation of the Buller Hotel, adjoining the Nelson Hotel. The population at Bedmond's Gully has increased to eighty-five. Every party is on gold, but the ground is not of any unusual richness. The lowest yield per man is £2, and the highest to £9, per week. . Ann Connolly, charged with obscene and abusive language, was brought before the E.M. Court, Westport, on Saturday, and, the offence having been proved, she was fined 40s or, in default, a month's imprisonment %vith hard labour. The information was laid by Mr John Bafferty, to whom the thanks of the community are certainly due for undertaking the task of bringing the conduct of so dissolute a character under the notice of the authorities. "We understand that a circular has been issued from the Colonial Secretary's Office to the Besident Magistrates, Wardens, and Chairmen of Petty Sessions throughout the Colony, advising them that in future they will be expected to make audits at sbort intervals, of the accounts of the Clerks of the various Courts over which they preside. The road from Westport to Addison's is now almost impassable—in several places the culverts having broken down and landslips having taken place, leaving holes in the road several feet deep: Owing to the flooded state of the rivers, the Inangahua mailman was unable to proceed on Saturday last. He will probably be detained until Wednesday. There are said to have been some successful forgeries of scrip in Auckland lately. One offender, against whom several charges have been brought, has been apprehended, and was partly examined at the Police Court on Thursday last. Another case is spoken of as having occurred about three weeks ago, when, as it is stated, a mine manager forged the signature of a well-known merchant, and afterwards sold no less than £I7OO worth of scrip bearing the forged name. Mr Hutcheson, coal merchant, of Dunedin, recently insolvent, has had his certificate suspended for twelve months. Bedwood's four, as also Rutherford's brand, is quoted at £lB per ton. The " Victorian in London," writing to the Melbourne " Age" says:—" If the New Zealand producers would only dress their flax properly, it would assuredly become an important article of commerce here. But it is very roughly sent out at present" Owing to the increasing trade on Lake Wakatip (Otago), orders have been given to build two steamers to run upon it. One boat is to be a screw steamer of 79 tons measurement, 84ft. long, 13ft. beum, and 6ft. 6in. deep. The other is to be a paddle boat, and of a much larger size than the screw. I

Speaking of telegraphio communication being established between England and Australia by the end of the year, the " Launoeston Examiner" says:—" In a letter received by Mr W. Warren, the superintendent of the lasmanian and Victorian Submarine Telegraph at Georgetown, the writer says :—' The charge on telegrams from England to Australia is not yet decided ; but I think it will be about £ 9 idr a message of twenty words.*" The Southland Meat Preserving Company are said to be despatching daily, for shipment at the Bluff, 15 tons of meat, tallow, and hides.