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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 532, 20 July 1869, Page 2

Mr Ncill's entertainment drew a large attendance to the Empire Hall last night. After some not badly executed music upon the concertino,, which was deservedly encored, the chief performer recited the trial scene from "The Merchant of Venice." The language in this scene is so well able in itself to carry any reader successfully, that it is scarcely surprising that the reading was warmly received. Mr Neill exhibited an intelligent conception of the situation, although we think a little more care and a little less anxiety to affect a female voice would not have detracted from the excellence of Portia's speeches. The " Laborer's Complaint" was well delivered. It had a true Tom tloodish smack about it, and the sentiment was evidently appreciated. The scone from " King John," between Hubert and Arthur, was on the whole not badly rendered. Sir Neill, however, in this reading also, proved that he had better depend upon the natural powers of his voice than affect a tone which he can scarcely render with becoming effect. One of those pieces of , saltatory exercise which our American Cousins describe as " break-downs " followed. For those who admire the poetry of motion, this, no doubt, was interesting, and was, judging from the applause, much appreciated ; ourown taste, however, rather impelled us to consider a Yankee " break-down " and Shakespeare a little incongruous. The " Cloak Song " not bad in its way—accompanied by (what seems an institution in TVestport) a chorus from the " gentlemen on the back seats," brought the first part to a close. The exigencies of our position compelledus to leave the entertainment at an early hour. Bat when we say that Mr Neill very conscientiously recited the several parts he sustained, and that we hope to have another opportunity of hearing him, we believe we only anticipate the opinions of his audience. An apology is due to Mr Reuben Waite. We received from him, some days ago, a copy of "A Narrative of the Discovery of the "West Coast Goldfields," of which narrative he is the author. By the fault of some one—we shall not say that it was Mr "Waite himself—we made the mistake of supposing that the narrative had been pub-

lished, in the form we received it, some years ago. It appears, however, that it is only now "in the Press," and that the copy that we received is one of the first printed. The narrative is sufficiently interesting to justify a lengthy notice in our ncct.

The case of Bailie and Humphrey v. Cunningham and Nicholson, reported in our columns to-day, was a singular one in many respects. It furnishes a very pregnant illustration of the danger of persons in business affecting to settle intricate matters of compromise without being assured that their intentions are carried out in a legal and binding manner. We have no particular affection for the " gentlemen of the long robe," as the legal fraternity are commonly designated. In fact, we rather regard them as an evil. Granting, however, that they are a necessary evil, the moralwededucefromthe case is this : Creditors, don't make arrangements with defaulting debtors without first seeing yourselves secure. Debtors, don't compromise without seeing that your agreements, when carried out, will legally release you. Had some such care been observed in this case, both parties would have been spared much annoyance and a great deal of cost. A correspondent in one of our recent issues made inquiry as to when the Revising Officer was likely to visit the Nelson South-West Goldfields, or when the applicants for registration to whom objections were made, would be afforded an opportunity of substantiating their claims. Fortunately there were few objections made, and our correspondent's name, we observe, appears on the new roll. We understand, however, that a fatality attended the Registration Officer's regulations in reference to these districts, as that gentlemen held his Court at Greymouth, and the objection lists were forwarded to him to Christchurch. As the matter stands it is not likely that any claiming electoi will deem it so important as to appeal against the injustice done to him, but the Westport and Charleston districts arc surely sufficiently important to have warranted that officer acquainting the three dozen persons objected to, out of sis hundred electors, when and where his Courl was to be held, particularly as the lav allows and directs that such should bt done.

The members of the Amateur Dramatic Club met on Saturday evening, and at last have decided upon the pieces to be played for the benefit of the local Hospital. The selections made are the two-act drama *' The Porter's Knot," and the farce "Kick him out." Some rehearsals will be necessary prior to the announcement of the "cast," but we understand that arrangements will be completed to permit of the performance taking place in about ten days. We have received from the Government Printing Office, Wellington, a batch of statistical returns appertaining to the colony, among which are full statements of the receipts and expenditure of the several provinces, compiled from returns furnished by the Provincial Auditors, for the year ended ;!lst December last; also a return of the total liability of the Colony, as well as of the several Provinces, on account of existing loans. We have likewise received copies of despatches and papers relative to military operations in the Colony, and the copy of the report of a committee of the Canterbury Provincial Council, on the subject of a change in the system of appropriating the revenue and administering the affairs of that province. Accompanying these are various other papers on the general imports and gold productions at Shortland, correspondence relating to Mr M'Lean's agency on the East Coast, papers relative to the Panama service, and the prize essays on the subject of the settlement of the gold mining population in New Zealand. Tenders for the improvement of the road to Giles Terrace are advertised for.

A melancholyand fatal accident happened on Sunday week, on the north side of the Grey river, to a miner named Isaac Jones. The deceased was returning from Try Again terrace to Dry Gully, where he possessed a claim, and on his way, being the worse for liquor, he fell over the terrace about twelve feet, from the effects of which he died, on the way to Greymouth, where he was being carried to the hospital.