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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1160, 20 March 1874, Page 2

Persons desiring blank forms for registration of their names as electors can obtain them, as usual, gratuitously, at the office of this paper. Wo again remind intending electors that they must register their names during the current month. The total sum realised from the Juvenile Dramatic Performance was £2B, and the expenses amounted to about £l6—including, of course, the cost of theatrical dresses and paraphernalia which will come in for use in succeeding performances.

The slight fresh in the river earrys away more of the river bank, and even where the pegs have been driven at the termination of Addcrley street for tho railway survey there is very little holding ground. It has boon suggested that the protective works should be commenced at once and continued until the railway to tho Fair Down quarries is completed, the temporary means being a supply of stone brought down river by barges. Several thousands tons of stone are obtainable and at moderate price, and the work to bo thus done would form the foundation for the permanent stone facing of the protective works and also from a barrier resisting to some extent the continual cutting awoy of the river bank by every little fresh arising. The flood season is approaching and the sooner prompt preventive measures are adopted tl'c less tho risk will there be oE Wesfcport experiencing a repetition of the devastating losses of last winter.

We understand that Mi' Mackley, who formerly represented the G-rey Valley district in the Nelson Provincial Council, will bo a candidate for the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Frank Gninnes3, Esq., the lately appointed Eesidont Magistrate of Golden Bay. It will be noticed by advertisement that the Rev. 11. Taylor, the new pastor of th,< United Free Methodist Church has arrived and will hold services at the Church in WaUabi stroefc on Sunday next.

Tho Wallace arrived yesterday morning, but owing to tho heavy rain prevailing lias not yet discharged cargo. Sho leaves for south at It) p.m. this evening'.

Tenders aro called for supply of articles for uso in the gaol, Westport, during the year ending ;sist March, 1875. Such tenders being receivable up to 2 o'clock p.m. on Thursday the 26th instant. Tho supplies required include beef, bread, tea, sugar, salt, soap, washing-soda, candles, potatoes, oatmeal, kerosene, and firewood. Tenders are also called for supply of oats, bran, and chail" for Government> horses, Tho members of tho Charleston cricket club evidently mean receiving their Westport friends in correct style at the forthcoming match. On Saturday evening last Messrs Jones, Scott, and Smith wore appointed as "Tho Match Committee," and Messrs Walker, Home, and M'lnnes " The Reception Committee." Tho Club taking advantage of tho late visit of members of the Executive, applied for and obtained a grant of five acres as a " cricket reserve."

St. Patrick's Day passed o(F quietly at Charleston, there being nothing to mark the day as one of more than ordinary import save a procession of the members of the Charleston and Brighton Branches of the Hibernian Society through the township, and somo horse-racing on the Nine-mile Beach which failed to attract many of tho race-going residents. In the evening the Amateur Brass Band gavo an al fresco concert.

Tho Greymouth Mail says that a private enquiry into tho action of tho Custom House authorities in the recent suspension of some of their servants, has occupied tho attention of tho Resident Magistrates Court for some considerable time, and 'its conclusion is yet far distant. It is considered inadvisable to give particulars at present. A later date of the same paper says tho interminable Customs House enquiry like " a scotched snake slow drags its length along."

The trade motto of a trading firm at Charleston is, " Money returned if articles not approved of." Rather a risky bargain at times for the vendors, if they deal in eatable articles.

St. Patrick's day passed off very quietly in Westport, there being little "stir and few signs of holiday keeping. Mr Thoix.as Watson has been appointed legal manager of the Alpine Quartz Mining Company.

The Charles Edward took away south on her last trip a shoal of children. Five or six families, numbering many olive branches came down from Nelson en route for the south, and about another score of youngsters wore shipped with their parents at Westport. A branch of the National Bank will bo shortly opened at the Lyell. Mr Bayfeild, on behalf of the corporation, has purchased a freehold site at 50s per foot frontage, and plans have been prepared for a handsome and commodious building. The Inangahua Herald reports that the favorable indications of reef in the north face of the Fiery Cross tunnel continue, and that excellent stone is being raised. The Invincible Company started to crush at Anderson's battery a week ago, and the stone is said to be much superior to that of last crushing.

One of the public, who was present at a sitting of the Wesfcland Provincial Council OU2 evening Jast weet, stai.es that, two o£ the country members spoke in Committee collectively seventy-four times in the space of one hour and a half.

In the E.M. Court on Tuesday last the only civil base heard was Harrison v. Seymour, a small debt plaint of =£3, and wherein payment was given for plaintiff with costs.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court on "Wednesday morning Dr. Giles, R.M., gave judgment in two cases brought by the Inspector of Nuisances against J, Whelau and P. J. M'Kenna for breaches of the Municipal By-laws. Evidence had been heard on the previous day. Mr Fisher, as Borough Council Solicitor, appearing for plaintiff; and Mr Shapter for defendant, and judgment was deferred to consider various objections raised for the defence. Mr Sbaptcr's chief arguments being that the Municipal Act had not been complied with either in the adoption of the By-laws at a meeting specially convened for such purpose, nor in obtaining the sanction of the Superintendent thereto, nor in the after publication of such By-laws in the Provincial Government Gazette, as enjoined by the Amendment Act, 1872. His Worship held that these objections were fatal, and dismissed both complaints, with . costs to defendants. Thus virtually deciding that the Borough Council has no power to enforce compliance with any of the By-laws presumed to be adopted after much laborious discussion, until all the formalities required by the Act and Amendment Acts have been complied with. The Inspector of Nuisances should be granted a short leave of absence until the Borough Councillors, under convoy of their legal adviser, have squared yards for another and a fairer start on the path of public duty.

The Provincial Engineer " by order of the Provincial Government," has notified that all persons removing earth or gravel from the Government Reserve, Palmerston street, will bo prosecuted. This new regulation will to some extent disarrange the plans projected by the Borough Council for improving the main thoroughfare. Mr Jackson, the newly appointed "Auditor of District Eoad Board accounts," arrived in Wcstport per Wallace, and after inspecting the books of the Buller District Board, will go to Charleston, Ecefton, and the Grey Valley on similar duty. His work will not heavily tax his energy. In the Nelson Eosident Magistrate Court on Thursday last Lowther' Broad, E.M, delivered judgment as follows on the hearing o" a charge brought by the police against a female named Wardropo:— l have come to the conclusion that prostitutes arc not idle and disorderly persons within the meaning of this section, and that I ought not therefore to convict the defendant The law has not declared such a mode of life unlawful, and therefore I am inclined to think it has tacitly acknowledged the existence of an incurable evil by providing means to keep it in as decent bounds as possible. For instance, prostitutes misconducting themselves in public places may be fined and imprisoned, and occupiers of places of public resort permitting these women to assemble in their premises may be punished. Keepers of houses of ill-fame may also be iudictod ; but I do not know of any law which makes a prostitute, as such, a criminal. This '• Vagrant Act," under which the information is laid contains some of the provisions allude! to for the regulating as it wore, the conduct of these uiifortuuates, and if it had been iulended to include them under the category of " idle aud disorderly persons," I think the Act would have said so in express terms. To convict the,defendant under this section would then I think, bo exercising a power the Legislature never intended to <nvo Magistrates. I'or my part I should like to

see heavy penalties imposed upon persons who notoriously and deliberately let houses to this class of women. I cannot help thinking too that they might bo confined to special parts of the town on neighborhood, and bo under eoutant surveillance. It is only by some such regulations I think that we can hopo to save respectable people from gross annoyance, and prevent a serious depreciation iu the value of property contiguous to houses occupied by these persons.