Untitled

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 659, 17 May 1870, Page 2

For tho Queen's Birth-day we have a list of amusements already announced. First, may be noticed the Miners' Ball as being the great attraction of the evening and at which a numerous attendance is expected, as the proceeds are iutended for tho benefit of the Miners' League. During the evening will also be drawn, at tho Postoffice and Empire Hotels, two art unions of jewellery. We have already noticed Mr Brace's collection on view at his shop in Gladstone-street, and Mr Magner offers no less than forty prizes, on view at tho shop of Mr W. Bishop, the first prize beinqr valued at i>2B 10s or the winner may have the option of taking £25 in sovereigns. In the day time, a pigeon match will come off at the Orowaiti, where Mr Jones will provide guns and ammunition for those who may choose to enter the contest. The announced skittle match at Turner's new skittle alley on the same day will not bo unattractive to those from the terraces with whom a match is likely to be made up. Besides these, it is not improbable other amusements will be announced before this day week, which will be a general holiday. The list of objections to those claiming to have their names placed onjthe Electoral Roll for Wesfcland North has been published in the papers in the various districts, but as yet the publio are not made aware when the Revising Officer is likely to hold his Court to hear the claims of some of the applicants who have been objected to. It will be remembered that la3t year the lists from Westport and Charleston, through some mistake, were not received at all, by the officer appointed for that purpose. It is to be hoped, if the Court is to be held at Cobden only, for the convenience of the Revising Officer, that that gentleman may be informed from what districts the bulk of the claimants, as well as the objections made, have been received and also the large number so objected to, are entitled to know when they may have an opportunity of having thair case heard and returning the objections if they so desire. Report says that the Revising Officer will hold his sitting at Cobden on Monday next, but we ha,ve heard nothing authoritative on the matter.

Some one of our members in the Provincial Council, it is to be hoped, will call for a return of the sums total paid the various newspaper and printing offices in the Province for the past twelve months out of the West Coast vote. The return for the year previous showed an expenditure of <£39 per annum to each of the four printing offices on the Coast, while the handsome figures of £93S 8s 6d stood opposite the Examiner, It is a perfect farce passing large sums under the West Coast head for advertising and printing, either call the item " the Government Printer," or give the various offices an opportunity of tendering for the work.

At the ceremony of inaugurating the first Masonic Lodge at the Thames, and at the installation of officers connected therewith, we obseivo among others present, the name of Bro. Past Master Tyler, and Bro. George Somnor, the latter acted as one of the marshals on the occasion.

The Bank of New South Wales, Westport, shipped per Murray for Hokitika, on Saturday last, 10470zs 3dwts gold. Large masses of earth, forming portions of the river bank gave way on Sunday last, having been undermined by the action of the sea. The effect of the rough weather is especially noticeable on viewing the bank above the Bright-street wharf, there being barely room at present for a single dray to pass, and, when heavily laden, it is questionable whether the traffic can bo considered safe. Below the Bright street wharf much good has been afforded by driving in piles, and protecting the bank with slabs, to replace the works that had been previously erected by Messrs Eoche, Powell, and other property holders in that vicinity. Unless similar protective works are extended to the portion referred to dray traffic must very shortly bo suspended. The remains of John M'Kinley, who drowned himself during a fit of temporary insanity, were deposited in the cemetery on Saturday last, a number of friends and acquaintances of the deceased paying a last tribute of respect to his memory. The fumeral service was read over the gravo by the Rev. W. D, R. Lewis.

A party of miners, five in number, arrived on Thursday last at Westport, by way of Mokihinui from an unsuccessful visit to Wangapeka. The overland journey occupied a month all but two days owing to the party having prospected any likely ground they fell in with on the road, but with poorresult, as they only succeeded in obtaining sdwts 15grs gold. The European Mail, via San Francisco, is announced to leave Nelson on tho 3rd proximo.

One of the best defined lunar rainbows, it has ever fallen to out lot to witness, was visible in Westport. yesterday evening about seven o'clock. The arch was perfect and was plainly distinguishable for fully twenty minutes. By an Auckland Provincial Gazette, wo observo the appointment of Mr Alexander Bevoridgo' to bo pilot for tho Hokianga, Provinco of Auckland.

For the following announcement, a recently established London wenkly paper called Latest News is responsible:—" Tboso of our readera who are not in the secrets of the palace will certainly bo startled to hear that the cause of the frequent -risits of the Prince of Au-justenburg-Sonderburg to Windsor, will in a few weeks bo oxplained

to her Majesty's loyal subjects'in a manner calculated to cause them tho highest gratification, mid to withdraw our gracious Queen fron> tho privacy in wliich she has spent her widowhood." Tho story certainly requires much corroboration to make it the least credible. ■ »w

The waves which assailed the breakwater at Wick, in Scotlaii 4 during a late storm woro estimated by the residont engineer at 42 feet in height fpom hollow to crest. On striking tho breakwater they rose to sxxch a height as to pass in a solid mass of blue water as high as 25 to 30 feet above tho top of tho parapet, which is 21 feet above high water, while the spray rose to about 150 feet above tho parapet, and was carried by tho wind as far as tho old harbor, a distance of 1500 feet. Those gigantic rollers were observed to strike tho pier every seven or sometimes ten minutes, and these shocks wore continued without intermission for three days and three nights. A Mr Cook, a professional billiard-playor, is said to have worked'a revolution in the manufacture of billiard-tables. It is of no use to play with him, for ho can invariably pocket the red ball at the first stroke. Skill like that reduces billiards to a single stroke and it has, therefore, been decided at a conference of players,audi table-makers to put tho "spot" an inch*nearer to tho top cushion, reduce tue width of the pockets from 3.Vin to 3in., to square the comers, and increase the diameter of the balls to 2 1-lGin. Would it not have been simpler and easier to alter the rules, and forbid more than one " spot stroke" in succession?