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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 160, 4 February 1868, Page 2

The Weather. —The fine weather with which we have been favored for the last few days, has again given place to most severe wind and rain. The glass is falling rapidly, and whilst this is going to press there is every appearance of a continuance of the storm and its concomitant evils—freshes in the river and the consequent destruction of the banks. We hope that the petition resolved at a public meeting, held at Trimble's Hotel last night, will be the means of urging the Government to commence the Bank Protection Works at once, and so place the town in a less perilous position than it in at present.

A Foolhardy Act.—About noon yesterday great anxiety was felt for the safety of a man who was swimming in dangerous proximity to the break, and the Captain of the schooner Canterbury went off in his boat to pick him up, but before he got up with him he bad landed on the south spit. On enquiry we find that the man was a seaman belonging to one of the small craft in the Lagoon, who in a drunken fit had swam from the Lagoon down to the break on the north spit, had turned round again and eventually landed as before stated on the extreme end of the south spit, apparently none the worse for his long and foolhardy swim.

Price op Meat.—The butchers of Westport have raised the price of meat fifty per cent, on account of the scarcity of cattle ; but as the Ellen S. Page came in yesterday afternoon with a large supply on board, it is to be hoped that they will reduce it te its old price, more especially as times are at rather a low ebb on the Buller.

Mr Crate's Qualieactiox —We are requested by Mr Crate to state that his name appears on the Supplementary Roll just received, from Nelson, and which no doubt if it had been here before would have made a material difference in the number of votes polled for him.

The Simonsen Troupe. These accomplished artistes are expected to arrive in Westport about the latter end of next weei, when they wall give several concerts which will afford the inhabitants of Westport a treat, not often obtainable in this portion of Her Majesty's dominions.

Attempted Eoebeet. —We understand that an attempt at robbery was made in the neighbourhood of the tramway on Sunday evening. It appeared that the inhabitants of one of the tents had retired to rest and was startled by hearing a noise as if somebody was endeavouring to effect a forcible entrance into the tent. The inmates got up, when the would-be robbers made an hasty exit.

Criminal Sirrrjfos.—By reference to our advertising columns it will be seen that the criminal sittings for the District Court are postponed from Tuesday the 11th hist, to the 7th of April next.

The Duke op Edinburgh tn Nelson.—The Nelson Colonist of the 31st. ult says: —While numbers think that a visit of Prince Alfred to'Nalson would be productive of a considerable expenso that might be well spared to tho province, and be better applied to internal wants, others are of opinion that seeing his Royal Highness is to visit Auckland, Otago and Canterbury as well as Wellington, while no word is said in the programme to visit Nelson and therefore for Nelson to remain unvisited, and the inhabitants to passively to be contented with this, would he to show " to the world " that Nelson was only second or third rate, and felt herself so. We understand that a requisition is being got up to solicit the Superintendent to call a public meeting of the inhabitants, in order to consider the propriety of taking steps for the purpose of securing a visit of His Royal Highness to Nelson.

Sir George Bowen. —• A Nelson paper says : —The article which we recently reprinted from the Queensland Times as to the dis-esteein in which the new Governor of New Zealand was generally held in Queensland, appears to be by no means a solitary expression of opinion. Other newspapers contain articles to much the same effect as that which we have published, and although the Legislative Council passed a laudatory address, the Assembly appears to have given a very chilly farewell to .Sir George. The Dally Herald says : —" A second message to the Parliment extracted from it that response which the first notification of his departure failed to elicit. The Assembly indeed gave a sort of grudging testimonial, which the retiring Governor will hardly care about framing and glazing for the admiration of future subjects, more especially as the vote which sanctioned it was accompanied by speeches not of a very complimentary character." In a later article than that we have published, the Queensland Times speaks of their late Governor even more unfavourably than on the former occasion. We have no desire whatever to prejudge the question, on the contrary we sincerly wish Sir George may on his arrival here belie all that has been said against him, but we felt that the colonists ought not to be kept in ignorance of what has been said, aud we cannot avoice thinking that there must be some truth in opinions so generally ent( rt uned.

Handkerchief Fmhtatiox.—"We clip the following for the information of the uninitiated from the Auckland Weekly Herald of the 11th inst: —Sir, Every day we see young ladies flirting their handkerchiefs to young men on the street. I have been satisfied that these " flirtings" meant something, and, in exchange, find the following solution to the mystery, which I hope you will publish, that those living in ignorance may be thoroughly " booked up" and able to read the signs thus given: --Drawing across the lips—desirous of getting acquainted; drawing across the eyes—l am sorry dropping—we will be friends ; twisting _in both hands —indifference ; drawing across the cheek—l love you ; drawing through the hands—l hate you; left—no ; twisting in the left hand—l wish to get rid of you; twisting in the left hand—l love another; folding it—l wish to speak with you ; over the shoulder —follow me; opposite corners in both hands—wait for me ; placing on the right ear—l have a message for you; letting it remain on the eyes —you are cruel.—l am, &c, MtRTIE.