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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 522, 26 June 1869, Page 2

The Stafford Ministry have at last been ousted, by a much larger majority than could have been expected; and our latest telegram states that Mr Fox and his party, however they may bo constituted, are to reign in then - stead. In this locality, -we may accept it as certain that, for this session, Separation is shelved, and, while not forgetting the purpose of the petition, we think it would be well if Westport would now turn its attention from great matters to small, and consider the subject of its erection into a Municipality. The general effect of the change upon the country it is difficult to estimate until the result of Mr Fox's promised formation of a Ministry be known.

St. John's Day, as one of the regular Masonic festivals, was celebrated in Westport by the members of the Thistle Lodge meeting in Brother Gilmer's Post-0 ffice Hotel, and dining together, along with a number of Masonic and non-Masonic guests who gladly availed themselves of the honor of invitation. The dinner was laid in the large room of the hotel, which had been judiciously fitted up for the comfort and convenience of the party, and which had also been specially and tastefully decorated for the occasion. It is scarcely necessary to say that, so far aa the host was concerned, or his assistants in the kitchen and the cellar, all was done that could possibly be done to make the contents of the table, in reality and in appearance, wqrthy of the house and the. party. The dinner itself was super-excellent. The wine 3, although including " Number 2," were all A 1. The party numbered upwards of forty, of whom a-considerable minority were guests. The chair was taken by Bro. Tyler, B.W.M. and Bro. Pitt, Treasurer, officiated as viccchairmrm. The visitors or guests were represented by the presence of Bro. Eva,, P.M., Hiram Ledgo, Duncdin, and Dr Giles, on the right and loft side of the chairman, respectively, and by Bro. Broad, of the Kilwinning Lodge, Charleston, and Mr F. Harris, to the right and left of the vice-chair. Officers of the Lodge occupied positions at other parts of the table ; among others Bro. J. H. Harrison, J.D., who was on the eve of ceasing his membership in the Lodge, having since left Westport. Masonic manners were, of course, dispensed with hi the presence of " strangers," except with regard to the purely Masonic toasts. The first of these toasts were proposed by the Chairman: —" The Queen and Craft;" "The Three Grand Masters of Scotland, Ireland, and England;" and "The Provincial Grand Master." The chaplain, the Ecv. Bro. Harvey, proposed "Sister Lodges," coupled with the name of Bro. Broad, who, in responding, referred to the coincidence of the occasion being the twentieth anniversary of his initiation as a Mason. The Vice-Chairman proposed the "Army, Navy, and Volunteers." For the Army Bro. Franklyn responded, and Mr Denuiston responded for the Volunteers, to whose importance, as the sole support of the Colony at the present time, ho referred in eulogistic terms. "When the narrative of the campaigns of New Zealand came to be written, it would be found that much, in connection with the defence and the honor of our country, was due to Volunteers, fighting under very great difficulties." As to the " distinguished body " with which he was connected—the Westport Eifle Volunteers—it had never, since his connection with it, been "called into the field," but he hoped that " notwithstanding their inglorious inactivity, they would not be found wanting when called upon. At present the difficulty was to find them at all." Whereupon there was what the reporters usually put in this form—(Laughter.) To the toast of " Our guests," proposed by the Vice-Chairman,Bro. Eva happily responded, Dr Giles proposed the toast of the " Press." He referred, in a very humorous speech, to his present, but possibly not permanent, ignorance of the manners and customs of Masonry. With the subject of the toast he claimed to have some better acquaintance, and he delicately referred to the difficulties of maintaining a fair and independent spirit in the Press of small communities, and to the satisfaction which must exist when these difficulties were as far as possible met. Mr A. Eeid began what might have been a very satisfactory response, had he not, at a very early stage of his remarks, made an ignominious "break-down." He excused himself by stating that, " among his professional brethren, he had always enjoyed the reputation of being the best muff speaker they had ever heard." The Vice-Chainnan proposed the health of Bro. Harrison, who was on the eve of leaving for Auckland. They had served together as

brother officers, as Masons and Volunteers, and a better fellow than Brother Harrison no one could wish to meet. Bro. Harrison, responding, expressed his regret at leaving Westport, and the pleasurable recollections he had of the society of many friends and acquaintances during his stay here. MiBroad, with excellent humor, proposed " The Ladies," and the toast was responded to by Mr Andrews of Charleston, and afterwards, in deference to a unanimous call, by Bro. Denniston, whose professed ignorance of the subject did not prevent him from making a happy response. " The Thistle Lodge," and "the health of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman" followed, proposed by Bro. Era, and the party concluded at an exceedingly exemplary hour by the Chairman proposing the health of '■' The Host," whom he complimented highly, and certainly not undeservedly, on the manner in which the arrangements entrusted to him had been carried out. Of course, the parting did not take place until the songs had been supplemented by "Auld Lang Syne," led by Bros. M'Laren and Barrio, and the National Anthem, led by Bro. Winstanley. A deputation, representing a large number of miners on Giles and Eochfort Terraces, waited upon the Warden yesterday, to present a memorial asking for a surveyor to survey the levels and dip of the supposed lead on these terraces. The Warden expressed himself favourable to the object of the miners, and promised to consult the District Surveyor. We shall notice the matter more fully in our next.

The Bank of New Zealand shipped yesterday per Bruce toliokitika 22230zs 12dwts 19gi-3 of gold, and the Bank of New South Wales 2-1G20Z3 17dwts for the same destination.

Service wil be held at the Catholic Church, at nine o'clock to-morrow morning.

Mr Curtis lias addressed to the Nelson Examiner a lengthy letter in reply to the recent letters of Mr Bamicoat, Mr Gibbs, and others, defending' his conduct in animadverting upon the Council, and explaining his action with regard to reductions in the public expenditure. Both Sir Bavuicoat and Mr D. M. Luckie reply to Mr Curtis at some length. We have not space at present to make the few quotations which may be apposite to the affairs of the West Coast.

There has been a rush recently to the Blue Spur, in the neighbourhood of Hokitika, but it has turned out a " duffer " and has disappointed many. The Eev. Mr Scrimgeour has been suspended from officiating as the minister of St Andrew's Church, by the Otago Presbytery. His congregation, by whom he is much liked, demur to the decision, and purpose to keep the charge open until the six months are ended.

His Excellency the Governor has returned to Wellington. A velocipede of the now description has been introduced in the streets of Wellington.

The stable of Mr Henry Redwood, at Waimea West, with a quantity of hay, and fifty hags of barley, has been destroyed by fire. The valuable horse Manuka was in the adjoining stable. Two men have been apprehended as concerned in the recent stieking-up case near Greymo'cith.

Teetotallers, no doubt, will be gratified to learn that their cause is finding favor with some of the leading public men of this Colony; as a Minister existent, in the person of Colonel Haultain, and a Minister expectant, in the person of Mr Fox, are both Presidenis of Total Abstinence Societies. In Hskitika the movement seems to be fast gaining ground.

A party of gentlemen in Nelson, says the Examiner, are interesting themselves to raise the small sum cf £3O, to send out a body of four men to explore the country at the head waters of tbe Pelorus and Wairoa, and back towards the mountain known as the Devil's Arm-Chair, which overlooks the Wairau. Several of the streams which flow from these ranges are known to be auriferous.