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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 352, 16 September 1868, Page 2

"We hear that the success of the Oddfellows ball has inspired some of the lovers of dancing in the town with an idea of getting up another, for the benefit of the Westport Hospital, and that steps will be taken at once to carry this out. We hope such may be the case, for amusement will thereby be afforded, and the cause of charity forwarded thereby A number of persons are about the town waiting for the first steamer for the north, and whatever boat gets off first will have a pretty full complement" of passengers. The John Penn has been away now nine days, and should be showing up. The Charles Edward and Beautiful Star, are both laid on, and will, we understand be despatched shortly after arrival.

Truly balls are Retting the order of the day, for as will be seen by advertisement, the Addisonianshave resolved upon a ball for the benefit of the "Westport hospital, and it will be held at tfee Dan O'Connel Hotel on Monday next, the 21st inat. A Btrong list of stewards has been obtained, andjthere is every prospect of the funds of the hospital deriving substantial aid, and tbe gnosts great enjoyment.

A meeting of the Kynnersley Memorial Committee was appointed for Monday night last, but owing to a Masonic, and other meetings occurring the same night, it was postponed. It is the intention of the committee, we understand, to hold public meetings on the Coast very shortly, in connection with the subject, and the chief object in calling the meeting was to make suitable arrangements. The wharf protection works are, we are glad to say, going on at a great deal faster rate, and what with the Mary bringing across shingle, and the tramway sand, the gap between the piling and the bank is being fast filled up, and there seems some hope that the work will stand.

As soon as Mr Lowe returns from the South, we believe a track to Giles terrace will be laid out and completed forthwith. If such is the case, it will be a great advantage to a large body of men, and the proved auriferous nature of the terrace, would fully justify such an outlay on the part of the Government.

Our Hokitika friends are in a considerable dilemma for not a boat can get out or in, and recent arrivals off the port have to proceed to Greymouth to land passengers and cargo. Unless either very hot weather to melt the snow, or heavy rain falls to cause a fresh, this unfortunate condition of affairs may last some time. The Commander of the Imperial war steamer Dorade has arrived in Wellington. It is understood that he is commissioned by the French Government to negotiate with the New Zealand Government and Captain Benson, about the Panama steamers calling at Tahiti, or a branch line to that colony. The selection of a French Consul at Wellington is also said to be part of our naval visitor's mission. The Dorade has been in Auckland for some two months past. If some people grumble at the pull upon their pocket made by the institution of the telegraphic system, others benefit in more ways than one by that useful means of communication. In Blenheim, it appears, times being rather " hard," as the expression goes, a Mr. Budge has taken advantage of a telegraph post to constitute it into a gate post, upon which the gate leading into his dwelling house hinges.

The papers laid on the table of the House of Representatives relative to the escape from the Chathams, contains some curious facts. The plans were laid with such skill that Captain Thomas, according to the report, could hardly have offered anything like an effectual resistance. Instead of thirtyone stand of arms there was froty-nine stand of arms taken away, and £SOO in cash, and as much flour, sugar, and tobacco as they choose to remove from the Rifleman. Besides these we learn that they robbed all the houses on the beach with the exception of that of an old lady who hid a bag of sovereigns (300) in a tea kettle while boiling over the fire. The number of prisoners escaped were 163 men, 63 womenj and 71 children, being 298 souk. The quantity of ammunition taken was 4,584 rounds. Three pounds of powder were taken from private stores. The following enclosures are printed in Maori and English : —To the upholders of the law. To the council of the big house. My friends, seek for deliverance forus, Ihaveseenthatyouarerightsince we began our Karakia. My friends, be strong in seeking out the hidden thing that is to save us (alluding to a riddle that he had given them). Enough. Eor it is on account of weakness that we have beeu forsaken (i.e., because you have not taken up the new religion with zeal). But now has come forth the direction (revelation) of the Son and His Father. Oh people, he strong! Soon shall appear a vessel for us. If the St Kilda is not given to us by God, there will be some other vessel. That is it, the vessel, then will be my time. Oh people, be strong ! Ist. If a word (revealed) comes forth hereafter, let it be implicitly obeyed. 2nd. To be cautious about the work on board the steamer. If any one turns aside (from obeying the prophet's order), it is death for him. If he adheres to God (obeys), his safety is there.

Under the heading " Cannibalism," an Adelaide contemporary gives the following: "An individual in, Williamstown (in South Australia)a bearing the outward semblance to - t man, but having evidently a large pro portion of the hog in his compositio e recently undertook to eat two juvenil relations in the shape of sucking pigs> for a wager of £l. The little grunters weighed before being cooked ten and ahalf pounds and the old hog demolished them in an hour and twenty minutes, being ten minutes within the stipulated time, fairly cleaning the bones. As they were fat and rather rich, our hero found it necessary to take a great deal

of vinegar towards the closa of his meal, and we are informed, used a bottle full. As for other fluid, we understand he drank only a single nobbier of brandy. He soon after was seized with pain, and continued ill for some hcurs. We are informed that he offered, after having succeeded so admirably with this gastronomic feat, to devour a whole kangaroo dog for a wager of £5. "We should recommend this individual to secure a passage as soon as possible for the Cannibal Islands.

Extra police have been sent down to Brighton, but more are needed there, we are informed. Sergeant Walsh who his had charge of that station for some time, went down to Greymouth yesterday and will be stationed in the Grey district in future.

On Saturday afternoon last, a meeting of the Athenaeum Committee was hell but all the business done was to approve of a list of books to be furnished to the institution.

Referring to our West Coast members a correspondent of the Colonist says :—Mr. Gallagher, of the West Coast, is becoming more judicious, and he is not satisfied with the proposals for Nelson, but his in experience lays him open to Ministerial trickery, which I dare say he would resent if he only saw its sly action. I have heard it said that that zealous whip, Mr. Haughton, carefully " shepherds " him. Mr. Barff, one of the Westland members, is a strong Ministerial ; Mr. Harrison is dubious, —he is hesitating ; but if he wishes to gain popularity founded on justice and sound principle, and to deserve the Chairmanship of the Westland Council, to which he aspires, and I believe will attain, —he will cast in his lot with those who are represented by Mr Fox.

The Colonists correspondent is evidentally not in love with the Maori representation system, He says: — " But the grand humbug of the House, the disgrace to the legislation of the last year, is the Maori contingent. Mr Russell is a half-cast, and I believe cannot speak Maori, and was sensible enough to propose the other day that the Maori might be represented by Europeans. Ministers, no doubt for a very good reason, opposed this and the motion was lost. I shall here tell you an incident that I witnessed yesterday. I was walking along the street with a member of the House, when " General " Mete Kingi came out of a clothing shop, where he had been getting attired in a blue coat and vest with brass buttons. He said he had seen me in Wakatu, and shook hands with myself and my companion, pointing in childish glee to his new coat and waistcoat. After some palaver, and shivering of the hands in Maori fashion, with a stamp on the ground, he said to the gentleman who accompanied me, " Makee me the lend five heren." "Ka hore the money , I have not a shilling in my pocket," was the reply. What then did this General do, —this chief of the noble native race,this one of four of the aborigines whose votes are given to make laws which shall bind a quarter of a million Europeans? In the open street he proceeded to feel the pockets of the gentleman, outside and in! Indownrigh astonishment,lejaculated," And "this " is the material to which Mr Stafford is indebted for the majorities, this, and Gaol Commissioners, aud grateful friends!" Heaven help the country where such things are possible, and where you find Ministers first lending themselves to the creation of the ignorant and contemptible kind of legislator and then using him as the means of mis-governing the country and upsetting its constitution. 1 saw the same Mete Kingi, last night sneak up to the Government bench two or three times, and address the Native Minister in exactly the same abject-like manner as he employed when asking for ss. Whether or not he was trying to negotiate a loan I do not know, nor whether he got in or not.