Untitled

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 566, 12 October 1869, Page 2

A memorial to bo presented to the District Engineer, and praying that steps may be taken for the formation of a track from Deadman's Creek to Hatter's and Christmas Terraces, is being numerously signed in these localities. The work is otic which has been for months past, and will bo for years to come, much required. Mr George Cotterell, a gentleman residing in Nelson, was lately induced by his friends to give in public an entertainment such as he had, in part and in private, given to their delight and amusement. He contented to do so, and, though at first somewhat diffident, ho was suceessttd in producing an entertainment eminently satisfactory in its character. By his acting of a number of divt rsified characters, such as Mr Gourlay introduces into his entertainment, he pleased Ids audiences with a performance unusually clever. Mr Cotterell, we learn, is soon to visit Westport, and we believe we are justifie ! in bespeaking for him a friendly welcome on the occasion ot his first professional tour. If encouraged here, Mr Cotterell purposes visiting other parts of the West Coast. A fatal accident occurred in the Brunncr Coal Mine to a miner named Clarke, on Tuesday tut. That afternoon ho was in Greymouth, and left to take his night shift in the mine. While at work a quantity of coal fell in and buried him. His fellow-workmen set to work anil due; him out, but when found ho was dead, crushed to death. The deceased leaves a wife and live children. In the Upper Bidler and its tributaries, says tlie Nelson Examiner, about 300 men keep steadily at work, and are known to be doing well; in tlie Wangapeia and heigtiouring valleys several parties are profitably employed, and the district will be more extensively prospected this spring than it over lias yet been, a strong feeling prevailing that auriferous quartz reefs exists in the neighbourhood. From the opposite side of thcßay the return of gold for-the hands employed is very satisfactory; and an effort is about to be made to open the Anatoki, in the Upper Takaka—a' district known to bo rich in gold, but which, from the difficulty of reaching it. has hitherto been practically sealed against miners.

Among the passengers by the steamer Gothenburg, on her.last trip from Melbourne to Dunedin, were three young Chinese women —the first of their sex, according to the Tuupeka Prrxx, that have come to Ota<*o from the Flowery Lrmd. They were disguised in male attire, but a close observer could detect, in their voices and general demeanor, as well as in their petite appearance, uumistakeable evidences of their real sex. They arrived in Lawrence bv the coach on Tuesday last, leaving (heir fellow-pasre igeM of the sterner s a to come on by waggon from Dunedin. On the way up it became necessary, at a bad portion of the road, for the occupants of the coach to alight and proceed for some distance on foot but the fair Celestials, when left to their own resources, could only manage to locomote s'owly and with great difficulty, owing to the fact that, in common with all Chinese females, they possess feet mora remarkable for defirmity than for utility. We understand that all three of the ladies are married, and have come hither to join their husbands. The Dunedin Star is informed that there is no truth in the report going the round of the papers, that Mr Weldon has been appointed Commissioner of Police for Otago in place of Mr Branigan.

A fire, by which the bonded warehouse of Mr J. Koss, Invercargill, was destroyed, took place on Sunday week. The fire had gained so 6trong a hold before the Brigade arrived that they wero unable to do anything to stay its ravages, and were compelled to leave the building to its fate. The loss is estimated at several thousand pounds, which is only partially covered by insurance. At an inquest into the cause of the lire, held on Tuesday last, the jury returned an open verdict. Mr A. Kennedy, Sheep Inspector, Otago, has committed suicide. He had been ill mentally, and was walking with Dr Niven at Clyde, when he suddenly ran towards the Molyneux, jumped in, a:d was drowned. A pallant attempt to save him was made by Foote, Cobb and Co's agent.