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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 312, 31 July 1868, Page 2

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday one drunkard was fined, and a man named Jackson was brought tip and remanded, charged with obtaining goods by false pretences from Messrs Fleming, Parry and Co, of Gladstonestreet. Dr Giles went to Addison's for the purpose of holding a Warden's Court. A Distillation Act has been introduced into the Assembly, which proposes to very materially reduce the duty on colonial made spirits, and make other concessions to colonial distillers. Amongst other matters in connection with it, it is proposed to admit Australian wines at greatly reduced rates, and as to the advisability of the latter proposition there can be scarcely two opinions. The Australian wines are sounder, more genuine, aud more wholesome, than nearly all that comes from other parts of.the world, and even the strictest teetotaller would scarcely object to this preference being shown. We regret to say that Mokihinui has gone from bad to worse, and may be

said to have reached pretty well its last stage. There are only, we hear, twenty inhabitants left in Mokihitvui proper, and about a hundred scattered about the district. The weekly mail service however is continued, and its utility may be guessed when there are conveyed on each journey, on an average four or five letters. Taking the outside estimate, as the service costs £3 per week, each letter costs the revenue twelve shillings, tolerably expensive postage to say the least of it. We understand that both the contractor and the postmaster, Mr Winslanley, are agreed as to the the desirability of

putting an end to the contract, but as the latter cannot do so without communicating with head-quarters at Wellington, and as Colonial, like English Circumlocution offices cannot return a plain answer to a plain question in less than three or six months, we may expect that the contract time will elapse before they formally agree to its being cancelled. A number of ladies and gentlemen, as announced, gave an amateur concert last evening at the Volunteer drill room in Gfladstone-street, for the purpose of raising funds to pay for the harmonium, recently purchased by q.he Church of England denomination in this town. The ladies were Mesdames Griles, Pitt, Bain, Berry, Carne, and Miss Grilmer : the gentlemen Messrs Winstanley, Pitt, Haskins, Munro, Parry and Berry, Under anycircumstancesamateura cannot, and should not be criticised,butif such a custom prevailed, those who took part last night could very well have submitted to the ordeal, and come out scathless, for the music

was of a high order, and the different pieces, whether solos, duets, or choruses were exceedingly well executed. Possibly a spice of rather more popular music would not have been amiss, but as it was the concert was a great success. A most amusing medley duet, the words of which were of local origin was sung by Mr and Mrs Berry, and was vociferously applauded. The room was very fairly filled and exceedingly well lighted, and is very suitable for similar entertainments.

The Gymnasium Club, to which wj referred a few days a jo, has been formed, and some twenty members have already joined it. It will bo in the drill room adjoining the Little Grey Hotel, and Mr Emanuel has already provided the different appliances. The opening night will be on Tuesday next.

The attendance at "Foley's menagerie lastevening was not so large as hitherto, the attractions presented by the 'concert, preventing many from paying this establishment a visit. The menagerie will only be exhibited to-day and to-morow, when it will proceed to Tlokitika, and those who have not yet visited it should notlo<e an opportunity that may never occur again in New 1 Zealand; * Apropos of the recent royal family, we may say that the mother is in excellent health, but enjoys exceedingly bad temper, and as she has no other to vent it on, she treats her husband in the most undignified manner, fairly driving him off if he attempts to approach the cubs. These now can be seen. They are about as larsje as a Newfoundland puppy of six weeks old, and scramble about the. cage, though as yet they are not very active of course. A. grand

christening ceremonial will take place to-morrow, we believe, and the cubs will then be taken out of the cage and handed round, so that those who wish to be able to say that they have nursed a lion will have a chance of really doing so. In addition to the other attractions some Albino mice arrived per Kennedy, and are exceedingly pretty little animals. The Kvnnerslcy Commission had a most favourable day of it at Addison's on Wednesday, as far as rose colored evidence went. Every wituess testified, if we are correctly informed, to the fearless and impartial manner in which Mr Kynnersley discharged his magisterial functions, whether they

meant as far as their special locality was concerned or not we did not understand. The commissioners went to Charleston yesterday, and _ will no doubt have no trouble in arriving at a decision of the most satisfactory nature As all the witneses are for the de-

fence, and none for the prosecution, surely the sooner proceedings are brought to a conclusion and the pending verdict of acquittal without a stain, &c. pronounced, the better Commissions are expensive luxuries when needed, when totallyurmeeessary their prolongation is waste of money. Yesterday two members of the Athenaeuin committee canvassed the town, and were exceedingly fortunate iu their exertions, a large number of subscribers being added to the list and the establishment of the institution itself being received most favourably. We do not know the actual number of present subscribers but it is enough to encourage the committee to active measures, and very shortly we may hope to see this very great addition to intellectual culture and amusement in full working order. Last night about 11 o'clock, the flue of the kitchen stove in O'Grady's hotel, Kennedy street, caught fire, and at one time threatened danger. Plenty of assistance was however to hand/ and no damage to the hotel or elsewhere was done A shocking suicide in Victoi'ia: — A shocking suicide was committed at Blackwood on the ISth inst. A miner named Tomkin, who had been doing remarkably well for some weeks past, indulged in a drinking bout, and whilst under the influence of delirium tremens cut his throat nearly from ear to ear. Death resulted almost immediately. The last dividend received by deceased amounted to £73 ; his share in the claim is estimated to be worth £6OO.