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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 366, 2 October 1868, Page 2

We regret to learn an accident has befallen Captain and Adjutant Stack, who recently passed through here on his way to Hokitika. It appears that when stepping on board the Charles Edward at Greymouth, by some mischance, he severely sprained his ancle, and was obliged to lay up. Dr Dertnott is attending him, and it is expected he will be able to resume his duties in about a week. are glad to see Mr Harvey back again in Westport. The reverend gentleman, accompanied by Mrs Harvey, returned yesterday from Nel3on by the steamer, John Penn, and on Sunday next he will hold divine service as usual in the Court house, in the morning at eleven, and in the evening at seven o'clock.

A tuiuer named, we believe, Henry G-regg, was brought down to the hospital yesterday, severely injured by a quantity of earth falling upon him in a drive. The poor man's spine is injured, and he is partially paralysed, and altogether the injuries he has sustained are of a most serious nature. There are no less than four surgical cases just now in the ward, all more or less of a grave character, and it will be of great benefit to all connected with the hospital, when the new building is completed, and ready for the reception of patients. The John Penn has made a very quick passage from Nelson to Manukau and back, making the run in 82 hours from wharf to wharf, out of which she was detained over 20 hours at Manukau. The sub-committee appointed by the j Hospital Committee on "Wednesday 3vening,to carry out the arrangements br the forthcoming ball iu aid of

the Hospital funds, have not allowed the grass to grow under their their feet. _ They held a meeting yesterdaymorning, when certain preliminarybusiness was got through, and it was decided to call for tenders for printing and advertising, and to add to the number of the committee, several gentlemen, whose names were mentioned. The same afternoon another meeting was held, there being present Mr Tyler in the chair, and Messrs O'Oonor, Munson, Watson, Reid, Humphries, Bain, and Somner. The chairman having first explained what had been done at the morning's meeting, two tenrers for printing, &c. were opened, one from the "Star" office, offering to do the advertising gratis, and the job work at half price, the other from the Times, office, offering to do the advertising required, and print 300 tickets free of charge. It was decided to accept the latter offer. The date- of the ball was fixed for Thursday Bth October, and the following sub-committee's were formed to carry out the details of arrangements.—Refreshment Committee —Messrs O'Conor, Smyth, and Hughes ; Musical Committee—Messrs Tyler, Reid, and Munson ; Decoration Committee—Messrs Somner, Bain, and Watson. The price of tickets was fixed at one guinea, to include solid refreshments ; ladies by invitation. The following extraordinary escape of a child from death is recorded in a late Hokitika paper :—" We have to record a narrow escape from a frightful death. On Saturday evening last a boy aged thirteen years of age was playing with the windlass rope of a shaft, and while doing so he swung himself forward over the mouth of the hole, into which he fell headlong. The rope not being properly fastened aid out, and the boy was precipitated to the bottom of the shaft, which sixty-three feet in depth. Observing the sudden disappearance of the boy, a number of miners who were about proceeded t-j the shaft, and one of them went down and brought the boy up. Singular to state beyond a very slight scalp wound no injuries were sustained by the poor little fellow, but as might naturally be imagined he was much shaken, and nearly dead with fright. There were two feet of water at the bottom of the hole, and had not the men so quickly detected the disappearance of the httle fellow he would have been drouned, for when he was found he was lying on his side.