Untitled

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 573, 28 October 1869, Page 2

The weather has been exceedingly broken since Sunday last. First it blew from northwest ; then from south-west; and then it rained with the emphasis of a ilood. The weather programme has for the present concluded with something so desperately " muggy " that existence—but, at any rate, exertion—is almost intolerable. On Tuesday an unusually heavy surf broke on the shore, and shipping traffic was interrupted. The s.s. Murray, however, ventured out at midnight, and proceeded south. The s.s. Beautiful Star remains in port for a favorable opportunity to got out, or to be towed out by the Kennedy, when she will sail for Nelson, to remain there for the arrival of her screw-shaft. On the beach in front of the township, the sea continues to encroach. Sinco Saturday, tho houses of Messrs Robertson and Reid, and of Captain Leech, have been removed by carpenters, and the sections iipon which they stoodhave been removed by the sea. Ilighwater mark now runs close to the gable of Mr Tyler's houses, having intruded for a breadth of four sections, and tho early removal of Mr Tyler's property will soon be found necessary. As the sea has, in this encroachment, removed an area of ground considerably higher than, the level of tho ground to the landward, it is probable that, on the occasion of high tides or storms, it will now advance at a much more rapid rate than hitherto, and it may eventually come in dangerous proximity to those parts of the town where house property is most abundant and valuable. The Committee appointed at the public meeting on Monday evening last, with the object of gaining information on the forthcoming election, for the better guidance of the electors, met at tho Empire Hotel on Tuesday, and decided, by* a majority, that some gentleman should be despatched to Nelson, to ascertain, if possible, more reliable informal ion than had yet reached the West Coast. It was also carried that Mr Simpson should be requested to accompany Mr Neale on the mission, but we understand that Mr Simpson has since stated his inability to do so. At tho Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Elizabeth Fry, a persistent offender against order and decency', was charged with obsenee language in a public place. She had only been a few weeks out of gaol when she committed the offence. Her excuse was that she had been struck by a man who has an affinity for her degraded society, except when she is in gaol. The Magistrate did not sustain the excuse, and. congratulating the community upon the fact that such offences against decency were now severely punishable, sentenced her to three months' hard labor. Wheu she goes to gaol, she is usually accompanied by two children, who would otherwise be outcasts. Mr Cotterell, whose entertainment of Monday evening we have already noticed, did not repeat his performance in Westport, but wo understand that he intends to return hither from Charleston, when he will probably give a second representation of his humorous characters. We had expected to be by this time in receipt of farther particulars from the reefing district of Wangapeka, which is now the source of some excitement in Nelson, but our expectations have not been fulfilled in consequence of telegraphic communication being interrupted. The Nelson Examiner, referring to some statements made by Mr Gibbs in the course of his addresses.to the electors,says : —"ln justice to Mr Curtis, as well as to ourselves, we assure Mr Gibbs that the gentleman he names has no property in the Examiner, nor does he in any way influence its opinions. The real as well aa ostensible editor has his name affixed to the imprint." We notice that a House Surgeon is wanted for the Nelson Hospital.

The Great North Lead Hotel, Gladstone street, was sold on Tuesday, by Mr Munro, auctioneer, for £llO. Mr Andrew Bonguehni was the purchaser. German Terrace, which is so great in " merry meetings," contemplates shortly entertaining itself and the contiguous terraces by holding an amateur concert. With the talent that that terrace possesses, a better thing could not be done—for a worthy object.