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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 303, 21 July 1868, Page 2

The business in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday was not of great importance. James Thompson and P. J. Bruen charged with drunkeness forfeited their bail through not appearing. John Seaton charged with fighting in the street was fined 40s. Henry Nelson, his opponent, was too much injured to be brought up, and his case necessarily stood over. One civil case concluded the sitting. In auother column a notice will be found calling upon parents to be more punctual in sending their children to the Government school. We are informed that they arrive at all times, and that, as a matter of course, disorganisation in the classes results. The hours are plainly set out, and it is only reasonable if parents expect their children to make progress that they should be in school at the times fixed.

In our evening contemporary we see the Harbor-master corrects some of out- statements in reference to Mr J. B. Clarke's late accident. All we can say is, that the facts, as narrated, were given us by Mr Clarke himself. Last night Mr A. J. Brown gave his Commemoration ball as announced, and a better got up or pleasanter festivity of the kind has not been given in Westport. The room was very tastefully decorated, an excellent band under the leadership of Mr Schmidt engaged, and a large number of persons enjoyed themselves heartily, The supper was

worth the money almost to look at, the terms of the announcement, promising every procurable delicacy, were literally fulfilled. Although far more expensive entertainments have been given, none have either in quality or quantity excelled, and but very few equalled the supper laid out on this occasion, and it reflected credit, equally on the liberality of the host and the culinary ability of the chef' de cuisine, Mr Sinclair. Altogether an exceedingly pleasant night was spent by all the guests, and the commemoration ball will long be remembered with satisfaction by those who were able to be present. It seems that Professor Halford, of Melbourne, in consequence of the late tragical death of Mr Drummond, has been led to make further investigations into the working of snake poison.' The " Sydney Morning Herald," in referring to this fact, developsa new and peculiar theory • —An interesting analogy is traced between the effects produced by serpent poison and cholera, md such a relation is established as cads the experimenter to consider both iue to the presence of a similiai* aninal poison. Heeven quotes Dr Cowan's lotion, as though inclining to it, and seems to think that the dried poison Vom the multitude of snakes that die md rot on the vast plains of India nay rise into the upper currents of the tir and be carried hither or thither, gaining access to the blood vessels of the ungs, where there is no thick cuticle o be pierced. When we reflect that vithin 10 minutes, an hour, two hours, eldom more than 12 or 15 hours, hale ad hearty men in Calcutta and Lonon have been seized, cramped, collaped, and dead, and that all have shown he same symptoms a* those which foiv.v saake bites, there is some reason 3 believe, at all events, in the similarly of the poison. As a whole the enuiry is one of the greatest interest, ad we are glad that Professor Halid intends to continue it. Having

made known what he has done, ho will have this advantage that henceforth be will have many companions by the way. _