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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 412, 25 November 1868, Page 2

The institutions and the architecture of West-port have received an addition by the erection of an Athenseum. This new building occupies a sufficiently central and convenient, though comparatively secluded, situation in Kennedy street, immediately behind the Police Depot. It is not a building of magnificent proportions, and, as only part of the design has been completed, the " chief entrance" appears rather meanly situated, but there are two snug and well-lighted rooms to be used as a library and reading-room ; and, when open, as it will be soon, the institution is likely to be found a comfortable retreat of an evening, especially for young bachelors whose intellects are calculated to suffer by too close a study of Ovid, under the inspiring influences of Swiss cigars and shandy-gaff. The weather has been extremely " broken" and unseasonable during the past few days. On Sunday there was a a stiff southerly gale, the cause of a regular sand-storm, and of some damage to slightly fabricated chimneys and exposed plates of glass. Yesterday there was a rapid succession of bitter squalls and showers from the same direction, and south of Cape Foulwind there must be a very heavy sea on the coast. So far as appears from the telegrams, the John Penn and Waipara must still be barbound in Hokitika, and, although the Charles Edward is announced as having left JMelson on Monday afternoon, it is improbable that she has ventured further on her passage than Totaranui or some other equally convenient shelter. We hare not yet seen the Gazette containing the announcement, but we understand that it is the case that Dr. Thorpe has been gazetted a Justice of the Peace.

We lately had a brief comparative statement of duties collected at Westport and at Nelson. The precise figures for the quarter ending September 30, were: —Nelson imports, £7893 ; exports, £270; total, £8163. Westport—imports, £7100; exports, £4285; total, £11,385. Excess in favor of Westport, £3222 for the quarter. Of course, it is well understood that a large proportion of the duty collected at Nelson is paid upon goods consumed in the Westport district, so that the real difference in favor of Westport is greater than even the figures represent. The bakers in Charleston have notified to the public that, in consequence of the recent rise in the price of flour, they have, raised the price of the four-pound loaf from one shilling to one shilling and threepence.

Two cases are to be heard at the Warden's Court to-day. The parties are Richard Nichols v. Henry Mole and others, for illegally holding too much ground at Giles Terrace, and Edward Aber v. John Hayden, for neglecting and refusing to put the complainant in possession of a claim purchased by him. The following are the applications to be heard :—A. L. Niven and party, a washing site at Hatter's Terrace ; D. Bayliss and party, a washing site, Ballarat Terrace ; David Keve and party, a tunnel at Excelsior Terrace ; R. Nichols and party, a tunnel at Giles Terrace; D. Bayliss, a dam at Ballarat Creek, Hindmarsh and party, a head race (6 heads) at Deadman's, William Brachen and party, a tail race at Deadman's ; Thomas Cox and party, a head race at Hatter's ; William Beilly, George White, David E.eve, David Allen, and Isaac Isaacs, head races. The Charleston Herald, in speaking of the Christinas Sports likely to be held there and in Westport, says:—" The Sports Committee in Charleston must use every exertion to bring their labors to a successful issue. At Westport, we find they have already collected £l2l, which will no doubt he considerably augmented ere the holidays commence; and unless the Committee obtain the funds to successfully vie with the latter, we shall find a large proportion of our mining population will spend their holidays in Westport in preference to Charleston."

The Bev. Mr Taylor, who has recently achieved such an unpleasant notoriety in Melbourne, is said to be on the point ot proceeding to Tasmania, and ultimately to England. The doors of the Melbourne Treasury were recently ornamented with three golden balls during the night. The trick was not discovered till eight o'clock in the morning, when a policeman on duty at once removed the dazzling insignia.

A terrestial paradise for teetotallers is said to exist in the Mount Gambier District, in South Australia, where there is not a single licensed public-house to be found. It is not stated, however, how many unlicensed houses there are.

In one booth, at the late National Show at Ballarat, there were no fewer than 7540 nobblers served in one day over the bar.

A Chinese newspaper called Fi Pao has been established in Melbourne.

Three ladies have been prosecuted at Sandhurst by the Attorney-General for raffling articles at a bazaar. They have, however, been acquitted. £400,000 is paid away annually by the Australian colonies for imported hops.