The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 523, 29 June 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1869.

We regret that, in our notice of the Masonic dinner of Thursday, we made some mistakes. Mr Franklyn and Mr Winstanley were referred to as if they were members of the craft. There is certainly an apology due somewhere for this mistake, but wo are at a loss to know whether it is due to the lodge or to the gentlemen who wjre misnamed " brethren." We were so far correct, because both are Oddfellows, but we wore wrong in our instinctive conclusion that they were Masons. We sincerely trust that such a mistake will not occur again. We have also to regret doing Mr Denniston a grievous injustice. We have discovered that, in reporting some admirable remarks of his, " our reporter " has made it appear as if Mr Denniston had spoken ungrammatically. One of his sentences is commenced in the singular number, and concludes hi the plural. Of course everybody in Westpor t knows that Mr Denniston's scholastic experience would enable him to avoid such an outrage upon the English language. "Our reporter," who discovered the mistake, although too late for correction, has saved himself from ignominious and sudden dismissal by giving us his written assurance that such an offence will " not occur again." Sub rosa, we have told him that Mr Denniston is a blood relation of Lennie and Lindley Murray, and it is well for him that ho implicitly believes whatever he is told. In the Eesident Magistrate's Court, on Saturday, John Council was brought up, on remand, charged with wilfully indecent exposure. He called two witnesses who proved that on the Bth of June, which was the date mentioned in the charge against him, he was at the Caledonian Terrace, and not in Wcstport, where the offence was alleged to have been committed. Another and a similar charge was brought against him, the date of the offence being the 24th of Juno. It was explained in evidence, by Sergt. Keiley, who conducted the case, and by Constable Neville, that information of this second offence had not been given until after the hearing of the first charge on Friday. The offence was distinctly proved by the married woman and her daughter who had been the unwilling witnesses of the outrage, and the Magistrate, after stating that the conduct of the prisoner, who had been previously convicted, was such as to entitle him to no leniency, sentenced him to 12 months' hard labor, as " a rogue and a vagabond." Yesterday, in the same Court, a person named Smith was fined .£2 for indecent exposure, under very different circumstances. In the case of Anderson v. Dewdnoy, for being on premises " without lawful excuse," ib was intimated that the complainant declined to prosecute. In common parlance, it was understood that the parties had " made it up." Some of our local hotel-keepers appear to have what is very commonly wanted on the West Coast—" faith in the district." Mr Joues, who has got what is generally recognised as the " pile claim " of the Duller, but what is more generally known as the Orawaiti Dridgo Hotel, has lately extended the dimension of his house, and is effecting other improvements, apparently "regardless of expense." We have not been paid for advertising the fact, but it is also the case that he has purchased a boat of great capacity, and of very probable utility to picnic parties and Cockney sportsman visiting the "upper waters" of the Orawaiti. Wo hope that auy parties who engage it will be more successful as sportsmen than a Mr E. H. Bullen and a friend of his who went out shooting a few days ago, and who returned assets nil. In town several hotel-keepers are lengthening their borders and strengthening their stakes. Messrs Tonks and Hughes have added a comfortable commercial room to the Empire Hotel. Messrs Gilmer Brothers have supplemented the accommodation of their house by constructing some "snuggeries." And the proprietor of the Theatre Royal, Mr Trimble, has made a " new front," and a new bar to his premises. If there are any other hotel-keepers who have effected similar improvements, and are not noticed, wo have no doubt that the proprietors of the local journal will be happy to notice them at so much per line. A gold-bearing quart;! reef is reported to have been discovered at Malvern Hills, in Canterbury. Fifty diggers arc on their way to the ground. Its payable character is considen I doubtful.

Two Auckland tradesman, Mr Lewisson, tobacconist, and Mr Houghton, ojster salesman havo been each fined £~> and costs, for keeping their shops open on Sunday.