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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 282, 26 June 1868, Page 2

Whenever the Masonic brethren do anything as a body, it is sure to be done well, for their appear to go on the principle of doing well or letting alone. The ball given by the Thistle Lodge has been no exception to the general rule, and was without exceptiou the most respectable and the best carried out ever held in Westport. The best music money could paocure, the most lavish aud yet most tasteful supper that could be set on a table, Avere provided and the room used,Mr Brent's large store, was covered with decorations of every description. The supper was supplied by Mr Trimble, and was as good as good could be, in fact, was worthy of being a Masonic supper, than which no higher praise could be accorded. The committee made every arrangement possible for the comfort and convenience of their fair guests, some of whom we might state came from Addison's, and altogether everything was as successful as the promoters could wish. Dancing commenced at 10 o'clock, and before midnight some fifty couple of pretty equally assorted sexes were present. Altogether the Masonic ball cannot have done other than gratify that body, and afforded pleasure to all who were present.

The man who was so seriously injured at Addison's yesterday, was of course taken to the hospital, and received all the care that Dr Cotterell and Dr Giles could bestow. We are happy to say that there is no immediate danger. The lower extremeties are paralysed, but there is every reason, to believe that this will pass off, and it is satisfactory to know that no fracture or dislocation has taken place. Last night we were shown two nuggets, one weighing 2oz. 13dwt. 4gr. the other loz. 14dwts. which were purchased by a well known townsman yesterday, the produce of the Lyell diggings. Our informant, who we believe iucapable of telling what was not true in the strictest sense, informed us that he has either purchased or agreed to purchase the balance held by the same party, comprising twenty sis others, and a large amount of fine gold. The heaviest nugget above referred to, is alleged to be the largest of this tidy little nest, and the lightest is the smallest. As soon as we have seen the whole, we shall be only too happy to give further details, but at present time content ourselves with stating facts, we are prepared to prove. "We are informed on absolutely reliable authority, that a new terrace has been opened at Dufty's Creek, about three miles this side Mokihinui. The sinking is from sixty to seventy feet, and the prospect from two to three dwts to the dish. We may however add that it is limited in extent, and probably by this time will be taken up by Mokihinui men.

A tunnel claim has been applied for by Nicholls and party, seven in all, next to the prospectors on Brunswick Terrace. In their application they say that they anticipate having to drive 1000 feet. This must prove the confidence they have in the ground, and the fact of Nicholls being a miner from his youth, first in Cornwall, then in Victoria, and latterly in New Zealand, would lead us to imagine that he would not be likely to waste time and money, was he not satisfied thoroughly that he would one day be richly rewarded. We need hardly say that we wish them all the success their most sanguine expectations point to. We have been shown a letter received by a well-known and old resident in this towt, from a friend at at the Eijis in which the latter strongly, urges him, if things are not going well here, to take a trip to the Eijis where fortune awaits him. The correspondent has a situation in the British Consulate, and naively confesses that it is a most agreeable position for he has nothing to do. He goes on to say that the laud can be bought from the natives for Is per acre, and from white speculators at 2s to 10s . He advises the Melbourne or Sydney route, and counsels the shipment of cheap calico, flash looking guns and muskets which must have " Brummagem " polish strong upon them, turkey red and white beads, provisions of various kinds, including tea, sugar, salt beef, and what is more necessary than all, a good whale boat with anchor chains, mast, sails, oars, &c. complete. The writer had been there two years,

and liked the place exceedingly. An exceedingly good matrimonial market is open for the fair sex there, for we are informed that though there are 800 white people there is not a marriageable female amongst them. On the occasion of the late Hospital meeting, Mr Neil made enquiries in reference to the disposal of a fund of some £S() that was collected about twelve months ago in aid of the Westport Hospital. Owing to being compelled to curtail the report on that occasion, and the late arrival of English news last night, the explanation has not appeared. We are reminded of this omission by a correspondent, aud in justice to Mr M'Dowell, the hon. secretary to the then Committee, now supply the omission. On Mr Neil putting his question Mr M'Dowell came forward and said that that time there was no regular Hospital, and Dr Rockstraw received various sums out of it for attending patients outside. Indeed he (Dr Rockstrow) received the greater portion of the money. He (x\fr M'Dowell) did not know how the balance, if any, had been expended, but he knew that several necessary articles for the Hospital had been purcha c ed by Mr A. Porter, the hon. treasurer, and he had not the slightest doubt that the whole of it could be accounted for satisfactorily. Mr Payne said that to his knowledge several sums had been paid to Dr Rockstrow, but that the latter charged the Government so much less, giving credit for the sums so received and thus accounting for them. The money had been paid away in small sums and no doubt the hon. treasurer could explain the matter. The money had been paid away for Hospital objects. The subject then dropped. A share in Messrs Evans and party's newly opened claim on Giles, or Brunswick Terrace was sold yesterday to Mr Robt Walker of German Terrace, for £IOO. The small schooner Sea Breeze has been secured by a well-known firm in Westport, in conjunction Avith some practical miners for an excursion, on what is really a prospecting tour. At the Custom House we find that the little craft is cleared outfor Nelson, but it is hardly necessary to say that such cannot be her destination. We are not at present in the secret, but hope that her crew will meet with the success they anticipate, and that the public may thereby share in their good luck.

By an advertisement in another column, our readers will be fully apprised as to the election of the new Hospital Committee. Nominations will be taken on Monday next at Addison's Caledonian and Westport, and thepoll will come oifon the following Saturday. The qualification for voting, is as laid down at the meeting, ten shillings, and for a committeeship one guinea subscription. Dr Giles proceeds to Nelson by the Charles Edward to-morrow we understand, but he has delegated Mr "Whiteford to act here during his absence.

At the Eesident Magistrate's Court yesterday, three drunkards paid the usual penalty of excess. The perjury case of Leach v. Jolliffe, arising out of an action at the District Court when the former recovered a verdict, was brought on but again postponed. Inspector Franklyn after an excursion in search of " potheen," manufactured in the neighbourhood of Charleston, in which he has succeeded in unearthing one plant, and fining another holder, of the proceeds, returned to Westport yesterday. The following extraordinary narrative is taken from the Tuapeka Times of the 13th inst—" A man named Edward Hensley, a miner, who has been known about Waipori for two and a-half years, was brought in from the ranges the other day by the Waipori police. When the police went to his hut (or cave, we should say) he was found cutting grass to make a bed of it. He had neither blankets nor bedding of any description, and the clothes he had on were all in tatters. The cave, which is situated in Long Gully, was surrounded with snow four feet deep, and is cut out of the embankment 4ft long by2ft high : it was necessary to crawl down to get in to it. No appearance of food was in Hensley's possession; and he said he had not eaten anything for some days. He was brought into Waipori on Sunday, where he was clothed, and his wants, in respect to food and necessary comforts supplied. It is singular that after being out in the frost and snow for such a length of time, he was not frostbitten, or in any way injured, but appeared quite happy and comfortable. As it was well known that Hensley was suffering from mental derangement, a charge of vagrancy was brought against him, in order that he might be cared for while the storm lasted. He was therefore broughtbeforetheMagistrate, and was remanded to Tuapeka for

further treatment as might seom advisable to tho Magistrate, who appeared to take a considerate view of his case. From all appearances, Honsley is quite harmless ; and it would only be a humane act to have him placed in some benevolent asylum during the severe winter months. He has no relatives in New Zealand, so we are informed, and the resnlt of his mining would not supply him with the necessaries of life, as he is quite unfit for labor. Had the police not found this man aud cared tor him. lie would certainly have perished from want and exposure; and they'displaycda degree of humanity in the discharge of their duty highly commendable to the force." The following caution, taken from the Westland Observer, will equally apply to Westport—A narrow escape from drowning took place m the Hokitika river on Monday, at about one o'clock. It appears that two liltlo boys, who had for some time been playing on the end of the wharf, became tired of their amusement, determined to get down into one of the boats moored at the landing stairs. The eldest of the two got down safely, and attempted to help the other after him. To do so more easily, he stood upon the gunwale of one of the boats, and as the boy he was helping jumped from the wharf the boat canted over, precipitating both into the water. Fortunately, a boatman heard the splash made by their fall and their outcries, and quickly coming to the rescue dragged them our, none the worse for their ducking. This should act as a warning to parents not to allow their children to play so dangerously near the river, for had the boatman not heard the cries of the two little fellows they would inevitably have been drowned. Referring to the expedition against the Natives at Patea, the Independent of the 10th says : —" Throughout yesterday Captain Page was busily engaged at Osgood's Hotel in enrolling men to serve in the Patea Expeditionary Porce. Any number of the </<;nus homo were obtainable, but the commandant, with an eye to business, picked out thirty of the most likely. The men have been enrolled for three months, at a pay of 3s 6d a day and rations. They are all fine fellows to look at, and doubtless will give a good account of the enemy. In addition to phisyeal advantages, Cap lain Page's recr nits—man v of whom have served before—are "imbued with a strong spirit of military ardour, so we shall doubtless bear of them within the next few months. Colonel M'Donneil commands the entire expeditionary force, and will leave for Wanganui in the Storm Bird to-morrow, Captain Page remaining here to take up in the Government steamer Sturt the men now sworn in."