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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 545, 21 August 1869, Page 2

The Bishop of Nelson signified his intention of cociing to Westport by the Charles Edward, which arrived here yesterday morning. Late on Friday evening a telegram was received from his Lordship stating his inability to leave Nelson. As the visit of the Bishop was for the purpose of consecrating the church, and that ceremony was to have taken place this afternoon, much disappointment has consequently been felt, besides the trouble and expense incurred in preparations for the consecration. His Lordship may be expected however at an early date. The Athenaeum Committee met yesterday. The Treasurer brought up his report which showed a credit balance of £32 0 2d. Dr. Giles stated that lie had been in communication with Mr Greenfield relative to the sum of £IOO which had been promised for the Westport Athenaeum, and that sum may be expected in two or three months from the Provincial Government. Messrs Harris, Whiteford, and O'Conor, were appointed a sub-committee to order new books, and about .£SO worth of new works may bo expected from Melbourne shortly. An emergency meeting of the Westport Hospital Committee was held on Thursday evening at the Court House, when nearly all the members were present. The object of the meeting was to elect a Treasurer in room of Mr Harris, resigned. The resignation of Mr Harris was read and received, and the thanks of the committee were recorded to that gentleman lor his services to the institution, while he retained the office of Treasurer. It was decided that the consideration of the appointment of a successor to Mr Harris to the should be allowed to stand over until next meeting, until which time the Secretary was requested to perform the duties of Treasurer.

A meeting of tho local Education Committee ia convened for this day, at two o'clock, at Mr Tyler's office. In our report of the Amateur Dramatic performance, in last issue, it seems we were in error in giving all the credit for the new scenery painting to Mr Green, as we are since informed it is chiefly to the brush and labor of Mr P. White, that tho club is indebted for those recent additions to their property. Mining on the Nordiern Ten-aces continues to be carried on with that perseverance for which these terraces have, since their opnning, been characterised. Burns and party are reported to have struck payable gold on Kochfort Terrace, and the opcuing of several claims adjoining will now be proceeded with. It is confidently expected that many more of the terraces in this direction will yet be prospected and be proved payable. Judging by the Marlborough papers, the feeling of the people in that district is very strong against annexation to Nelson. Public nieetingshavebeenheldinUlenheiniand rieton, and many strong 'speeches have been madedcnouncingjthc"attrociousproposition' of the Colonial Treasurer. The following extract from a letter, which appeared in tho Marlborough Express under the heading of " Annexation Forsooth," will give some idea of tho feeling thereupon the subject. "Through the length and breadth of the Province a howl of indignation has echoed from valley to valley ; never has the public mind been so much of one accord as in tho unanimous denunciation of the atrocious proposition of the Colonial Treasurer— tore-annex this Province to Nelson : tho sheep once rescued from the bloody fangs of the wolf, to be again returned to his merciless clutches ; the fly escaped from the spider, to be again entangled in the meshes of the blood-sucker. Tho Colonial Treasurer must have satisfied himself that the full width of the Straits lay between himself and those ho would outrage ere he made such a proposition. Before the peoplo of this province would submit to bo given away like a pair of old breeches, there would be a little revolution, and the Government must, be prepared to increase the Constabulary to put it down." The following resolution in reference to Goidfields Statistics was agreed to in tho House of Assembly on the 4th inst: —" That it is desirable that the Government should cause ta be laid upon the table of this House, during each session, a report embodying a general account of the present condition of the goldfieids of the Cc'ony, their advancement or otherwise during the proceeding year, and their probable pvospee s, together with particulars showing the average price of provisions during the year on each gold-

field, the rate of wages, estimated population, and such other information as would afford a comprehensive idea of the general condition of the mining interest in the Colony, and that his Excellency he requested to foi ward a copy of such report to Her Majesty's Secretary of for the Colonies. The velocipede mania has extended to Nelson, and every evening may be witnessed several of these machines, of local manufacture, being driven up and down TrefalgarBtreet. The Examiner says •. —Whether through some fault in the machines, or the inoxpertness of the veloeipedans, we have not as yet seen any that appeared an inviting means of locomotion, but probably a little more practice will give that proficiency in commanding the machine which we read of as acquired in other places. Two gentleman of Christ church have each designed an aquatic velocipede, which the Press states will presently be tested there. An alteration in the telegraph charges is now announced to take place on the Ist of Sepiember. The following uniform charge for telegrams transmitted on the New Zealand telegraph will then come in to force :—Ordinary telegrams from any station to any station —For the first 01 words 2s Gd. For every additional five words or fraction of five words Cd. Press telegrams will he charged as follows from and after the same date—For the first 10 words Is Cd. For every additional ten words or fraction of ten words 6d. The Wellington Independent says that, the inquest held on the late fire has failed to elicit the slightest evidence that would help to clear up the mystery that envelopes the cause. Child mnrder seems to be on the increase in Victoria. The police sheets teem now with details of bodies found, some of whom are d. scribed as still horn, others as having been bereft of life after birth. As yet the unnatural mothers who have recently perpetrated these cflences Lave escaped the law, despite the best efforts of the police to discover them.