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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 241, 9 May 1868, Page 2

Anumberofsteamersare expected today, and some may have arrived before this meets our readers eyes. They are the Nelson for Nelson, from the south; the Wanganui, from Wanganui; the Beautiful Star, from Wanganui; the Bruce, from Hokitika; and just possibly the Murray, from Wanganui. To. morrow the Kennedy, from Nelson ; and the Wallabi, from Hokitika, may be looked for. Last night the more advanced of the volunteers made, what might be termed their maiden march in public, under the command of Lieutenant Harrison. Considering the short time they have been drilled, they acquitted themselves very creditably, and the Westport corps bids fair to be, what one of their officer's declared his highest ambition, the crack volunteers of the coast. As will be seen by advertisement in another column, the services of a schoolmaster for Westport are invited by the Education Committee at a salary of not less than £l5O per annum with a house. There will be, no doubt, a long list of applicants. We do not know whether Mr Fraser will apply, but we hope, if he does, his past labors in the cause of education in this town will not be forgotten, and that after having worked hard so long, almost without reward, he will meet with such consideration as he is fairly entitled to. This evening, at seven o'clock, the Gift Auction sale will take place at Mr Munro's auction rooms, in Moles-worth-street, that gentleman officiating as auctioneer. It is in aid of the Parsonage Liquidation Fund, and an immense number of articles of every description, thanks to the energy of the ladies who took the matter up and the liberality of the public, have been collected together, and will be sold literally without any reserve. From the number, and indeed value of the heterogeneous stock thus collected,

there can be little doubt that the whole or at least a very large proportion of the debt will be wiped off by to-night's receipts. After this is done we hope that steps will be taken towards the erection of a place of worship. The Roman Catholics in Westport put the church up first and left the priest's house over; the Episcopalians have built the parsonage but let the church wait. "We sincerely trust that so wealthy a denomination will not long be without the latter. The ball and supper given by Mr Emauuel, of the Little Grey Hotel, on the occasion of opening the addition to his establishment was a great success, and a large number, both of the fair aad the sterner sex were present. The music was all that could bo desired, the room excellently adapted for the purpose, and very tastefully decorated, and the supper profuse and excellent. Everything passed off most successfully, and the ball may, without question, be set down as the best that has been given for sometime past in Westport.