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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 371, 8 October 1868, Page 2

Inconsequence of our usual Charleston correspondence not reaching us yesterday, we are unable to give particulars of the banquet given to Mr Kynnersley, further than that attached to the complimentary testimonial presented to the late Commissioner, was a more substantial token, in the shape of a purse containing fifty sovereigns. Mr Kynnersley returned to Westport, by the coach, early on Wednesday morning.

Judging from the brief telegram received from our correspondent yesterday, and published in a second edition, and also from a private telegram from another correspondent, the news brought by the Suez mail, appears to be of the slightest and most meagre character, and for once, the intelligence brought via Panama, has quite cast into the shade that brought by the Suez route.

At a meeting of the Athenaeum Committee, the plans prepared by Mr Lowe for a building, were submitted to inspection. They consisted of a plan and elevation for a building of some size and pretension, and of elegant design, to contain a large lecture room, library, reading-room, committee-room, ante-room, lavatory, &c, &c, the whole forming in fact such a structure as would be suitable for all the purposes of an Athenaeum. A second plan was shown, which provided for the construction of a part only of one wing of the main building, the same to contain a library, measuring twelve feet by fourteen feet, and a readingroom fourteen feet square. It is this latter plan which the Committee have decided to adopt, and according to an advertisement which appears in another column, they have called for tenders for the construction of the building, the tenders to close on the 14th inst. It is possible the next Nelson boat may bring some explanation of the late order for the sudden stoppage of all public works. If it arises from a failure of funds in the Provincial Exchequer, the future prospects of North Westland for the remainder of the financial year will pi-esent anything but a cheerful aspect. One of the many things intended to be done by the Q-overnment during this recess was the purchase of the Nile bridge. Up to a recent date there was some excuse for this not being accomplished, inasmuch as the holders of the property were not in a position to give a clear title, but the question of disputed ownership being now settled, Government can buy out the present proprietors at any time if they have the money to do so, if not, our Charleston friends, and the public generally who use the bridge, will have to continue to pay the present heavy tolls.