The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 349, 12 September 1868, Page 4

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1868.

In the Eesident Magistrate's Court yesterday, a woman named Eliza Burns, was charged with having stolen £4 from a miner named John Sweetman, in the Sportsman's Arms, Gladstone street. The evidence was by no means satisfactory, and the prisoner was discharged. 'I wo unimportant civil cases 'were heard, and this concluded all tho business. On enquiry from Dr Thorpe, we learn that Mr Bull, who is now in the hospital, suffering from the effects of an accident at the Caledonian Terrace, has not shown any symptoms of recovery. A flow of blood came from his head fur some time on Thursday. Yesterday he partook of some nourishment, but we regret to say that there are very slender hopes of his recovery. The man who comes from Mokihinui with a broken leg, appears to have suffered much from the unskilful way in which it was first treated. Dr Thorpe found it necessary yesterday to remove a portion of the bone, which protruded through the skin, audit will take some time before the patient is quite recovered. at present is quite full, but beyond those two cases mentl ion ea \ there are none of a very serious character

The following are the statements of the average amount of assets and liabilities, for the quarter ending in June, of the banks doing business in New Zealand, published in the " New Zealand Gazette: Bank of New Zealand, liabilities. £1,762,460; assets, £2,324,396. Union Bank of Australia, liabilities, £941,765; assets, £1,226,314. Bank of New South Wales, liabilities, 848,228; assets, £1,295,836. Bank of Australasia, liabilities, £156,460 ; assets, £397,649. Bank of Otago, liabilities, £157,770; assets, £429,547.

The Bord of Education in Victoria have just published their report garding the present condition of education in that Colony, from which it appears that the total population ofthe Colony amounts to 664,570 souls. In March ofthe current year there were 819 common schools, attended by 101,206 children. In addition to this number, there are 17,243 attending private schools, making a total number of childrenattending school of 119,149, or about 18 per cent, of the entire population. New Zealand flax is now being manufactured into rope in Australia ; and a ready sale, at four pence per pound, can also be obtained for the refuse, which is used for stuffing; mattresses and chairs.

The prospects of commercial speculation in Japan are not very bright, although it is not long since sanguine expectations were cheeished in regard to it, both in Melbourne, and Sydney. As a field of enter prise to the European it seems to be altogether a failure. The Argus lately published a letter from a gentleman well known in Melbourne, and now residing in Yokohama. It is dated the 11th June, and in the course of it he says :—-" There is so limited a field for European settlement in Japan that it would be both wise and kind advice were you to recommend the restless class to remain where they are. This a beautiful country for the tourist who has an eye for picturesque scenery, and who has leisure and money to spend ; but not for colonists to settle in. A few merchants can and do find profitable employment for their capital in selling European and American goods, and inpurchasing the staples of the country, silk and tea ; but beyond the treatyports, old and new, Oriental ignorance, jealousy, suspicion, and hostility seal up the land against foreign enterprise, skill, science, capital, and co-operation. There is a fussy and childish curiosity on the part of the Japanese which has quite misled the superficial writers on the country, who have indulged in anticipations of the future progress of the Japanese in civilisation, which, in my opinion, are destined never to be realised. In fact immobility is the characteristic, of all Eastern races '• and the Japaneses though they are inquiring and complimentary, and pleasing in their manners, exhibit no real disposition to improve or to profit by the foreigner' superior skill, save in the matter of firearms and \var-stealner3. These they purchase to place themselves in a

better position to cope with the foreigner in the event of war. Some disappointment has already been experienced by youug men from Australia seeking employment here, and to prevent further chargrin a few lines from your pen may be of service."