West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1867.

West Coast Times, Issue 676, 23 November 1867, Page 2

West Coast Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1867.

This evening a performance takes place at tho Prince of Wales Opera House for the benefit of Mrs Pablo Fanque, the wife of the celebrated acrobat and tight-rope dancer, who with her three children is at present resident in Hokitika. Tho performances nre under the patrouago of His Worship the Mayor, and tho circumstances connected with this benefit are of sueli a nature as to appeal most forcibly to eveiy benevolent heart. Pablo Fanquo is at present the inmate of a hospital in Sydney, and in his failing health ho naturally desires once more to see his wife and children, but, alas ! neither ho nor she have the means to provide for their passage. He is destitute in New South Wales. She is destitute with her children in Hokitika. Under these circumstance a number of gentlemen havo determined to give Mrs Fanque a benefit in tho Prince of Wales Opera House, this evening. Tho professionals in town, both ladies and gentlemen, have volunteered their services, and several amnteurs. who have already made a successful debut on the boards, wi'l also appear on tho occasion. We trust this evening to see tho Opera House crowded to overflowing, the object of the entertainment is a noble one, and those who cannot attend might take tickets, remembering the words of an old but true book that " it is more blessed to givo than to receive." An afternoon exhibition of Wilson's Panorama, accompanied by appropriate music, will take place at the Prince of Wale 3 Opera House, this day. The entertainment is given this afternoon in order that children, and others not able to get out of an evening, may havo an opportunity of visiting this truly pleasing exhibition. An explanatory lecture will be delivered by Mr Joyce. It will bo seen by an advertisement in another column that the adjourned meeting of the Committee appointed to take the necessary step 3 for inducing a visit of H.R.H. the Duko of Edinburgh to Westland will be held at tho Golden Age Hotel, this evening. Horticulture seems to bo making rapid progress in and around Hokitika. Wo havo bofore U3 a splendid sample of greon pens grown by Mr David Wadeson, from seed sold by Mr A. Walker of Revell street. We may mention that Mr Walker has lately received a consignment of first-jlass South Australian wine which is equal in quality to many of the vintages of the Rhine. Wo observe that on fine evenings a number of young men assemble at the old Police Camp and play a quiet game of quoits. This is a very pleasant way of spending an evening, aud we wish tho quoit players every success j in their manly and healthful game. We understand that an Iron Foundry fitted with all the appliances for casting, as well as the necessary apparatus for an engineer's establishment on an extensivo scale will shortly be erected on Gibson's Quay. The "Grey River Avgus " understands that Mr Warden Schaw is to be removed from the Kanieri district, and as at present arranged Mi- Warden Price wiH take chargo of a'l the diggings North of tho Hokitika river, and that Mr Warden Aylmer w"'l do the same for the Southern diggings. Tho terrific squall of yesterday afternoon caused some damage to buildings in town, and placed several suburban residences in iinnionent jeopardy, by uprooting large trees in their vicinity. One of them fell within a foot or two of some diggers tents, and another j barely cleared the premises of Mr Prebble, in Fitzherbert street. Wo notice that tenders for valuating town properties have been caHed for by the Cor" poration, and must bo sont in sealed to tho office of tho 'Town Clerk, not later than Friday next, the 29th inst. The portions to form the groin that is to be laid down between Moffatt and Orr's rights ofway were finished yesterday according to contract, but to placo thorn iv position upon the beach was less easy to accomplish, and wo regret to say that an attempt to do so signally failed owing to tho surf which, even at low water, washed up in heavy rollers to tho face of tho bank. The outer pontoon was launched down towards its resting placo but barely halfway, and was there secured by ropes until the surf sufficiently subsidos to permit the com.pletion of tho work. "Mr Rochforfc, the District Engineer, and Mr Riekards, tho overseer, were on the beach directing tho workmen, who did all that men could do, to lay tho groin, but wero compelled to desist boforo the overpowering rush of water. The failure is much to bo regretted, as the oncroaohmont of the sea it very serious, Wo fear, however,

that the effect produced by one groin will be very trifling. There is no disguising the fact that to protect the beach a heavy outlay of money is unavoidable, and as we understand that the Government refused to sanction the necessary expenditure, whilst the Corporation has no funds for the construction of elaborate and costly worts, why the safety of the town depends iv a great measure upon the action that may bo taken by the citizens, who have no time to loose if they wish to preserve thair chief thoroughfare from destruction. We understand that a public meeting will be held to-night to discuss the question at the Golden Age Hotel. It is stated by the Melbourne " Argus" that, in view of the existing financial complications continuing, the Government are preparing printed forms, so as to allow the civil servants personally to sue the Queen for their salaries. ♦ Speaking of the new rush at the Bald Hill near Westport, the correspondent of the local journal says : — " I have visited this now field, and though I am longer in . giving you an account of it than I expected, I now furnish you with what little information I picked up, as also with my own private opinion of the stability of the rush. I may commence by saying that I am rather unfavorably impressed with the prospects and likely lasting of the field. I can see nothing to encourage many miners to come here, neither do I see anything to warrant any more storekeepers coming, although there certainly is Borne gold getting ; a few wages claims are all I can glean as having shown themselves. The sinking is from eiglit to twenty feet, the wash dirt varies from two inches to two feet, and the prospects not more thau one-half grain to one grain the shovel, if so much. The population I estimate to be about 400 on the ground, among whom are a few storekeepers from the Buller and Waite's Pakihi, who are watching anxiously the upshot of events, previous to pegging out their sections for their contemplated stores and hotels. The distance from Addison's Flat I should reckon to be about two miles, but there is no road at present" and the nearest and best way is up the Buller Eiver. A shorter road, I believe, might be made from Addison's Flat, and at no great expense, but whether- such will be worthy of the Government's attention is a matter too early to decide upon. As yet there are only a few claims bottomed ; and though I saw a prospect or two washed, I am of opinion that it will be no more than a wages diggings, and that on a small scale. There is plenty of country all around, however, and I think it would be absurd to hazard any definite opinion of what might be." Acclimatisation is proceeding famously in Victoria, and according to the following para graph, supplied by the Melbourne " Herald," the wilds of the Grampians promise to bo soon well stocked with game, infinitely superior to that whicli is indigenous to the country. The " Herald" says :— " Testimony as to the presence of the axis deer in the neighborhood of the Grampians is furnished by a waggoner who passed through to Ararat last week. According to this authority, while encamped at a place which ho describes as " near Ledcourt," and while searching for one of the horses of his team which had strayed away for a considerable distance, he was startled by seeing ' a flock of the biggest goats he ever looked at' galloping along the side of the range. They went so quickly that he was unable io distinguish anything concerning them, except their size, which he describes as assimilating to tho proportions of calves. These were followed by a couple of kangaroos chased by dogs. The man watched them for a distance of halfa-mile, and describes the ' run' as one of the best scenes he over witnessed ; tho ' big goats' left the kangaroo and dogs far behind, and ultimately turned up a ravine before being lost to sight. Theso goats it is thought must be the axis deer lately turned out by Mr Wilson, of Longerenong, some of which it is reported have been Been in tho neighborhood of the Grampians." Tho Melbourne " is answerable for tho following :— " The goWfielda of British Columbia appear to have proved less perma. nent than was at one time hoped. "We observo that so rapid has been tho decay of New Westminister, the capitr! of the pror-'nee, that the Bank of British Columbia withdrew its agency in July last." The Melbourno "Age," of the sth inst.» says : — " That in tho Equity Court yesterday, part of the business transacted was the hearing of exceptions taken agaiiißt the Muster's report with reference to tho disposal of moneys collected for the relief of sufferers through the war in Now Zealand. It appears that a sum of £2394 2s 2d stiH remains on hand /Undistributed, the subscriptions collected having very largely exceeded the just claims through losses in the war. The Master has reported upon a number of claims sent in, that not one of them is deserving 'of recognition, and he recommends that the money should be divided among the principal charitable institutions of Melbourne. Tho exceptions to his report were taken by counsel for the claimants, some of whom presented the most extraordinary damands for compensation, on the grounds of loss of husbands, fathers, brothors, sons, horses, cattle, or crops. His Honor r. • served judgment, but ho will no doubt concrwith the Master's finding." The " Argus" of tho 6th instant, Bays : — " The settling on the Melbourne races took place yesterday, in the afternoon, at the Horse Bazaar, and in the evening at tho Albion Turf Subscription-rooms. The book-makers were at their posts to answer all inquiries, but there were no complaints of absenteeism on the part of backers of horses. The New South Wales lo3ing accounts wore not so well represented a 9 those with a balance on tho winning side, but it is no new thing to find a more powerful alacrity to secure (by telegram) a representative to receivo than to discover one to do the part of paying. The principal winners were Mr DeMestre, Mr John Tait, Mr C. B. Fisher, and tho visitors from Sydney. It was stated that over L 3,580 was paid over in stakcß alono, Mr DoMestre being the principal receiver, the Melbourne Cup and the Queen's plate reaching to about L 1,250, besides tho two actual pieces of plato. There was some betting on future oveuts. 100 to 40 was offered on tho field for tho Victorian Derby on tho Ist January j Fireworks was nominally first favorite, 100 to 30 'was offered against Sour Grapes, and 100 to 20 against Little Fish or Gloncoe. In tho Port Phillip Stakes, 100 to 80 against Fishook, 50 to 20 was offered against Tho Barb, 300 to 100 would have beeh taken. Tho bookmakers have made their price 5 to 1 (ottered in hundreds) on the field for tho Grand National Stoepleohaso j but no actual transactions on this event came under notice."

The " Melbourne Herald," of tho 29th ult., relates the following snake stories — the first from Kilmore, the second from Majorca: — "On Monday, the sun being pretty hot, a singular encounter was observed between a wattle bird and a black snake. While walking near the Dry Creek, the informant's attention was attracted by seeing one of those birds apparently in great pain, fluttering its wings, and showing unmistakeable signs that it was unable to employ them for their ordinary use_ On coming nearer,- the informant noticed a snake within a few yards of the b?"d, which by this time was involuntarily drawing nearer and nearer, its feai'3 apparently increasing, until it was unable to stand, and yet it was approaching the wily serpent. By this time, and almost when the poor bird was within the fangs of the snake, the gentleman dealt the latter such a blow with a largo slick, as not only made it givo up what was otherwise doubtless its prey, but also its own existence. The snake was about six feet in length, and although about a minute was spent in dispatching it, the bird was unable to rally from its fright, and allowed itself to be taken up by its protector, who gave it liberty in a few minutes' time, as soon as it was able to fly away. — On Monday evening, a few boys were amusing themselves near Wright's paddock, Majorca, when one of them stooped to pick up a piece of bark near a log, when he was surprised to find it was a large snake he held in his hand. He quickly let go and retreated ; not bo the snake, who put himself in a fighting attitude, with glaring eyes and upraised head. While looking at the boy who took him up, another lad went quickly behind the log, hit the snake with a sapling, and disabled it. When measured it wa3 5 feet 7 inches in length, and as thick as a [ man's wrist. The Maitland " Merouiy " of the 29th ult. gives the following account of a remarkable surgical operation : — About a fortnight ago a surgical operation was performed in West Maitland by Dr ftiorson, of the firm of Messrs Mackenzie and Morson. Mrs South, a resident on the Allyn river, Upper Paterson district, had, we understand, been suffering for seventeen years from disease of the elbow joint, which latterly, had becomo so stiffened by inflammatory action as to be immovable, rendering the arm useless, and causing great pain. On consulting Drs Mackenzie and Morson, they, after making carefi? 1 examination of the elbow, recommended tho excision of the joint as the only course of action to relievo the patient from her acute sufferings, and give the chance of a useful, although somewhat shortened limb. The patient having been placed under the influence of chloroform, Dr Morson operated, assisted by Dr Mackenzie and Dr Wright. An incision of seven inches was made at the elbow; the parts wero dissected with tho greatest care and about three inches was sawn off the bone of tho upper and lower arm ; in short, those of the bones forming the joint were cut out, as the joint was found to be completely destroyed. Sinco the operation the patient has been progressing most satisfactorily, and within eight days after tho operation was able to walk about with tho wound completely healed. It is confidently expectod that the arm will not only be flexible at the elbow, but be a most useful lhnb, so flexible as to admit of use in sewing, waiting, and so forth, aud strong enough for raising moderate weights. This operation, of late years, wo learn, was introduced and greatly improved upon by the celebrated Scotch surgeon, Professor Syme, of Edinburgh, to whom Dr. Morson was an assistant, and we believe has only once befoi'o been performed in this colony by another surgeon. Whilst upon this subject, we have much pleasure in recording the thorough recovery of a patient at the Maitland Hospital, upon a peculiarly cMffieult and delicate operation for rupture was performed by Dr. Mackenzie, assisted by the medical staff, under considerble risk, but with complete success, as the operation was the means of not only saving the patient's life, but blbo of radically curing the ruptvo. The " Geelong Register " relates that " a curious circumstance occiu -ed du-ing the passage of the barque India through Bass's Straits. On Wednesday, when off Cape Patterson, immense clouds of moths filled the air, and myriads of the insects u'ighted on the vesßel, penetrating into the cabins aud every open place. Even when tho barque was moored alongside the Yarra street wharf there were numbers lyhig on her decks, and somo flying about qo ; te lively in the cabins. The moths' wings are like very dork velvet, and when closed the length of the insect is about one inoh." A vessel off tho coast of New South Walo3, a week or two ago, passed through a similar cloud of moths, the wiud blowing on shore at the time.