AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, JULY 27, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 308, 27 July 1868, Page 2

AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. MONDAY, JULY 27, 1868.

In order to give the fullest English News to hand we omit our usual leading article, and a great deal of local matter.

Quite a rush has been got up from Otagd to the Fijis. The Lapwing was the last vessel despatched from there on which the correspondent of the Grey River Argus has the following :—" The Lapwing, cutter, sailed for Fiji on Monday. The rush for those islands still exists, though a good deal has been done by some of the papers to write it dewn. Nevertheless, the Lapwing- had a few passengers of both sexes. Amoivw her cargo was a press and the necessary plant for the production of a newsoaper, taken out by a Mr Johnson, formerly of Dunedin and late of Marlborough." The pioneer of printers in the Fijis above referred to, has only left this office about a month. He had a plant in Westport but preferred an engagement on the Westport Times office to keeping open an establishment. Duriug his stay here he was thoroughly respected by all who knew him, and we heartily wish him every success in his new venture. Mr F. J. Moss, formerly proprietor of the Otago Daily Mail, and subsequently a provincial political celebrity, has also gone in the same vessel. Possibly a partnership may be on the tapis. If such is the case, all we can say is, may it, prosper. We have great pleasure in informing our readers, and more particularly those who have visited the collection of animals exhibited for the last three days in the menagerie at Brent's store, that the lioness, (whose frightful roar has nightly terrified the juveniles who have been fortunate enough to obtain admission) has brought forth two healthy cubs, which there is no doubt, will prove a valuable addition to the collection, that is allowed to be finest in the Australian Colonies. For the last few days she has

been observed to become fierce aud intractable, and on entering the den on Saturday evening, Sighor Fernandez was compelled to apologise to the audience for bringing the performance to a close, and retired from the cage, to the relief of the spectators, who had watched with great anxiety the formidable attitude the animal had assumed. Some, however, of these present imagined it was merely a hoax, and that the Signor had retired through fright. Mr Fer-

nandez, who has travelled in every known part of the world, and even in countries where the traces of white men are seldom seen, and who has fought hand to hand with the fiercest denizens of the jungle and

forest m Africa, India, and America, can hardly suffer under an imputation of cowardice, and that the lioness was safely delivered on Saturday evening fully proves his experience and ability in such matters. It is an amusing sight to see the proud father keeping

watch at the entrance of the cage, growling ominously at tiie approach of : any stranger, and listening with com- - placency to the voices of his offspring ; in the adjacent den. We sincerely i hope that Signor Fernandez will be • able to rear them successfully, of which • « we have littfe doubt, if left in the <

hands of so vigilant a manager. The 1 exhibition will remain open for three l days longer, and we advise our readers 1 uot to lose this opportunity, for on Thursday next the menagerie leaves s Westport for Charleston, from whence i they will proceed to Hokitika. a

As wdl he seen by advertisement in mother columu, the so-called "West>ort Commission on Mr Kyiuierslev, vill commence this day at 12 o'clock.' we have before said, no possible ;ood can accrue to anybody from the nqiiiry. Mr Kynn era ley's own letter peaks for itself, and if a thousand h jets of foolscap were filled with evi-

dence no more could be said. On every ground we regret this tardy piece of humbug, and what good can eventuate from it, let the decision be what it may, would puzzle the wisest to tell. Like other shams and farces, however, it has to be gone through, and tbe sooner it is done with the better.