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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 408, 20 November 1868, Page 2

The amateurs who took part in the performance on Monday evening last, are desirous of forming a Dramatic Club, and for that purpose had a meeting last evening, which resulted more satisfactorily than many former meetings of a similar kind, many having expressed their wish to join. The nett proceeds of the last entertainment was nearly £2O, which has been devoted to the good object intended. The last being so successful, it is very probable we shall have the curtain soon again raised for some similar charity.

A memorial to the Central Board of Education is in coarse of signature in town, praying for a subsidy as allowed by the Education Amendment Act, for the erection of a school-house or for the payment of a school-master in connection with the Catholic body. The'population on the northern diggings towards Mohikinui and the Karamea continues very limited, though the few who are still remaining are reported as earning fair wages. A parcel of gold from the Karamea, of about twenty ounces, was sold in town yesterday, but of how many weeks' work this was the result,we hare not been able to ascertain. Mohikinui township, which, twelve months ago, presented a busy scene, is now reduced to one store, a hotel, and a butcher's shop.

The celebrated Garrett is once more in the hands of the police. When sent out of Otago by Mr St. John Eranigan, he returned from Melbourne " a martyr," was introduced to employment, went to chapel regularly, and was received as "treformed." Last week he was found on the premises of Mr Allen, seedsman, opening drawers, and provided with a complete set of skeleton keys. Captain Francis, late of the s.s. Taranaki has been appointed manager of a good claim on the Thames.

In his charge to the Grand Jury, at the opening of the Supreme Court at Nelson, Mr Justice Kichmond referred to the unhappy events which had so lately occurred in the North Island, and said that whilst the lives of children and the honor of women were not safe, he could not congratulate the colony on any progress which it might have made in minor details of refinement and civilisation. He paid a high compliment to the province of Nelson, which, he said, had always distinguished herself by her wideness of sympathy, which she would doubtless manifest at the proper moment on the present occasion. The Custom-House at Wellington was lately broken into, but no booty was found. The Wairarapa Lake Hotel, in the Province of Wellington, has been totally destroyed by fire. An old Maori named Joseph has been burned to death at Collingwood, by his whare catching fire.

Mr J. T. Peacock has been elected M.H.R. for Lyttelton, in place of Mr M'Farlane, deceased.