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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 172, 18 February 1868, Page 2

We und tsi and that a gentleman connected with this office, and for many years connected with the Melbourne press, has received the appointment of correspondent for the leading papers of ooth Melbourne and Sydney. Bal Masque.—Last evening a bal masque which was well attended, was given at Hamilton's Apollo Music Hall. Some of the finest dresses worn on any occasion yet seen were on this occasion, and the dancing was kept up with spirit till a late hour. The Nathan Troupe.—lt will be seen by an advertisement in another column that this talented 'troupe are about to pay us another visit, and will make their re-appearance at Stephenson's Assembly Rooms on Wednesday evening next. The clever little Marion will appear in some of her most admired impersonations. We recommend all to pay them a visit as it will be sometime ere they will visit this place again.

Stephenson's Assembly Booms.— We need scarcely remind our readers that these rooms will be opened this evening. For elegance and convenience, they have not their equal on the West Coast, and as it is tie intention of the proprietor to keep them stiictly select, the most fastidious need not be deterred from attending them.

The Simonsens.—Another opportunity wiil be afforded of hearing these t;le ited musicians, as in obedience to the wishes of their numerous admirers they will give several coucerts, commeno'ng on Monday evening next.

'■ Serve them Bight." Three bulb e'e-drivers were fined £5 each, or in d.-fault, to got) gaol for a month, the other day at Goulburn, itfew South Wales, for causing a bush fire by care-lei-saess. It was shown that the fire had on on run, burned 15,000 acres of grass, five miles of fencing, 1590 rails, 1000 posts, and two sheep-station huts; and it was still buruing when the case tvas heard.

Soiree at the Protestant Church, Charleston.—This evening the first half-yearly Soiree of the above Church will be held in the Church, where ad Iresses will be delivered interspersed with recitations and singing. The Late Floods on the East Co\st.—AHokitika paper of yesterday says : —Our usual files of Christchurch papers arrived per coach on Saturday, and their contents fully confirm the sad news we before received concerning the late gale—its attendant floods, and their disastrous fatal results throughout the length and breadth of the East Coast. The destruction of property has been something enormous, but far worse than this, many valuable lives have been sacrificed by sea and land. According to the rough and of necessity imperfect returns, we have compiled from various sources it appears that thirty-four persons have perished, viz., ten in Shag Valley, . Otago; nine through the washing, away of the blacksmith's shop and houses adjacent atTotara,Oamaru; nine at Temuka, Canterbury; four at the wreck of the Star of Tasmania, Oamaru; one at the wreck of the Challenge, Le Ben Bay; and one washed overboard from the ketch Emerald. We hope this is all, but we fear there are more behind, as communication betwen the main towns and the country districts was only verv partially restored, and therefore no reliable news had been received from far away places which, however, it was known could not have eocaped the flood. i

How the Customs are Defrauded. —The New Zealand Herald of Jan. 27th, a lys :—" On Saturday night last an incident occurred which may serve to throw some li'dit on the way in which the oracle is worked. A man went into the Scotia Hotel and offered a keg of rum for sale. The 1 indlady, without intending to purchase it, proceeded to examine the cask, and was about to draw the spile at one end of it when the vendor hastily stopped her, an I with some excuse or other, turned the cask end for end. Feminine) curiosity was at once aroused by the proceeding, and though a small portion of the rum, of anything but inferior quality, was drawn from the end selected by the man, the landlady insisted on trying the other. This was effected without much difficulty, the fellow being in a hopeless state of intoxication, probably having partaken too freely of the contents at the right end, "What was the astonishment of the landlady on trying the other end of the cask, to find that it contained only water. The cask had been ingeniously div de I into two pa ts so as to contain about one fourth spirits, the remaining space being filled with water; of course the landlady refused to euter into so very one-si led a bargain. Subsequently both the fellow and his keg f. It into the hands of the police, and the latter now lies iti the lock-up open to inspection by the curious.