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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 380, 19 October 1868, Page 2

A memorial originating from the Progress Committee, was carried about on Saturday evening for signature by the inhabitants. It is addressed to His Honor the Superintendent of the Province, and after setting forth the damage done by the late flood, and the dangerous encroachments which the river is hourly making upon the town, prays that the Grovernment will take immediate steps to avert further loss, by ordering the execution of sufficient protective works. It is intended to despatch the memorial to Nelson by first steamer, and in the meanwhile it lies in Mr Alcorn's store for further signature, so that any one who has not signed it will have an opportunity of doing so. A report was received in town on Saturday evening, to the effect that the paddle-box of a steamer had been picked up in "Woodpecker Bay, and that the steamer to which it belonged, supposed to be the Nelson, was bottom upwards. Finding that part of the rumour was to some extent confirmed, and knowing how many of our readers are interested, more or less, in the vessel supposed to be lost, we despatched, the same night, a gentleman from our office to Brighton, in order to get accurate information as to the truth or otherwise of the report. On his reaching Charleston yesterday morning, he found the same report in circulation there, embellished with a few additions, but the only foundation for it appeared to be the following telegram from Brighton, published in a Herald extra, on Saturday night:— " Portions of a wreck, as also the carcase of a bullock, have been washed upon the beach, south of Woodpecker Bay." The arrival of Mr Broad at Charleston saved our reporter from proceeding any further,

as through the courtesy of that gentleman ho was informed of the real facts. It appears that on tho first intelligence Mr Broad sent Constable Davidson to Hatter's Bay, and on his return tho latter reported that a bullock had been washed ashoro having a long rope attached, that it was warm when thrown up on the beach, but the diggers of the neighbourhood had left little besides the rope and horns having eaten the remainder. Some rough and sawn timber together with some plauks, appearing to be portions of a wharf were also washed ashore at the same place. . The appearance of a steamer's smoke in the far olf distance yesterday morning, caused quite a little excitement in VVestport, mildly reminding one of the probable feelings of the half-starved inhabitants of a beieagured city, at the sight of coming relief. Quite a cluster of binoculars and telescopes of a'l sizes were brought to bear upon the object, to determiue whether it was one of our long looked for coasters, or merely an ocean steamer. The former was fervently hoped, for she would certainly have cattle and sheep on board, and the town had been destitute of beef and mutton for days. A vast cloud of smoke however, kept persistently rising in advance of the steamer, and for a long time batted the eager gaze of the spectators on the beach. At last she was made out to be the Charles Edward, and the hungry ones were satisfied, at least in anticipation.

In our last issue, we gave an account of the wreck of the cutter Satellite on the beach between the Steeples and Char leston. The exact spot were she went on shore is three hundred yards this side of the Totara river. She has since become an utter wreck, and lies half buried, at the top of high water mark, close to the high sandbank. We understand she was insured for £3OO. A considerable quantity of potatoes, supposed to be part of the Satellite's cargo, was washed ashore on the beach north of the Culler on Saturday evening, and information being given at the camp, the property was taken charge of by the police. It appears the report as to a channel having been opened between the Lagoon and the ocean through the South Spit, was exaggerated. There was certainly a large spread of water at one time, connecting the two, but this was merely the overflowing of the Lagoon, and no actual channel was formed, the beach and Spit assuming their ordinary appearance when the flood subsided.

An announcement appears in our advertising -columns, postponing the Hospital Ball until Tuesday, the 3rd of November. This postponement is due partly to the unfavorable aspect of the weather, and partly to the fact of the building, in which the ball is to be held, not being sufficiently far advanced as to be available for the purpose by the time first advertised.