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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 274, 17 June 1868, Page 2

In yesterday's issue we stated that we did not know what had been done in the Athenaeum question, but since then we have received information that shows the delay to have been occasioned by the Government, and not by the committee. It seems that the hon. sec, Mr Whiteford, wrote to the Provincial Secretary, on the 16th of May, asking for information as to the assistance the Q-overnment would give, on the public subscribing proportionately, but to that letter, up to the present time, the 17th of June, no reply has been vouchsafed. By the same post, the secretarv also wrote to Mr J. V. Smith, our member, who promptly and in a business-like manner promised to do all in his power. On the 4th of June, Mr Whiteford again wrote to the Provincial Secretary, reiterating the statement that £ll7, in private subscriptions, was promised, and asking definitely for £l5O, out of the money placed on the Supplementally Estimates for these purposes. That is now a fortnight ago, but the oracle is still silent, and till it speaks tho committee cau go no further. It gives us great pleasure to make this explanation, and thus be enabled to place the blame of delay on the right shoulders.

A perioral inspection of the Westport Volunteers will be held to-morrow afternoon by Captain Stack, adjutant of the district, and it is to bo hoped that every one in Westport who has undertaken to shoulder the rille will show lip on the occasion. It has been represented to us that a large number of volunteers, who hold situations, cannot be present without the special leave of their employers, and that unless this is obtained, fully one half of those on the roll will bo necessarily absent. On such an occasion as this, especially as the inspection will not last more than a couple of hours at the very outside, surely -all employers, for the credit of the corps, will allow their assistants to be present, oven if it necessitated the temporary closing of their places of business. The loss will be but small, and inspections are like angels' visits, few and far between] We commend the matter to their favorable consideration.

The s.s. Wallabi will sail positively on Saturday next for the Auckland Goldfields, and we believe she will take a full complement of passengers. There is already a great number booked, so her sailing is a certainty. As a comfortable sea boat she cannot be surpassed on the coast, and the owners will deal liberally with passengers who travel by her. The Lord Bishop of Nelson arrived in Westport from Charleston yesterday, and will, we understand, stay with the Rev. W. Harvey during the term of his visit.- His Lordship held services in Charleston on Sunday last, and on Monday, at a meeting in aid of the erection of an Episcopalian place of worship, delivered an eloquent address, a report of which will be found in our Charleston columns. We are not aware what his movements in Westport will be, but it is to be hoped that his powerful aid maybe iuvokedfor thepurpose of assisting in the same good work here. It is quite time that the church of England met in their own building, and we are sure that if an appeal is made, there are sufficient earnest and sincere members of this denomination in the district to come forward liberally and erect a building worthy of such a cause. The parsonage is now clear of debt, and no doubt his Lordship's attention will be directed to the Church before he leaves us. There is at last, we are happy to say, the prospect of a Municipality, or at least, of a meeting to consider the question, when no doubt its desirability will be affirmed. A few influential people in the town are ready to support the institution heartily, and others will bring it forward, so we have some hope at last of a Municipality becoming a fact in Westport.