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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 688, 23 July 1870, Page 2

A meeting of the Athenajum Committee was held at the Court House, on Thursday afternoon. Present—Dr Giles, Messrs Pitt, Powell, Whyte and liehl. The three vacancies on the Committee were filled up by the appointment of Messrs Bowman, Graves, and Dr Thorpe. It. was proposed that Mr Bowman be requested to act as honorary Secretary to the instituti n, in place of Mr Denniston resigned. Dr Giles mentioned that the sum of ,£ls Gs fid had been collected for the quarter ended Ist April, and £4 4s since that date; that the sum of £9O" Is 2d was now at the credit of the Athemeum account witU the Bank. The Biib-coinnjittee appointed for the selection and purchase of books and periodicals reported that the lists had been ordered throng Mr Murisoti, and were expected by the first vessel from Melbourne. A permanent Library Committee was appointed, consisting of Dr Giles, Mr Pitt, and the Secretary. Mr Whyte mentioned that the parliamentary debates of last session and the numbers of this session so far as were published had been received. The following accounts were passed. Librarian, quarter's salary, £1) 15s, do commission on collections, 8s ; Bull and Bond, £3 7s 6d ; W. Bishop, 6s; Otago Daily Times, XI 6s. It will be seen by advertisement that Mr E. J. O'Conor purposes addressing his constituents this evening at the. Empire Hotel. There was a clean police sheet at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday and only two unimportant civil cases were disposed of. Messrs Greville and Co., the agents for Renter and Co., are endeavoring to arrange with the Press throughout the Colony for the reception of telegrams. We learn by circular that arrangements will shortly be sufficiently advanced, to enable them to submit definite proposals for an economic and efficient interprovincial telegraphic agency. We are glad to notice that the Christy's purpose giving an entertainment in Westport on Monday evening next on their return from Charleston. In the Warden's Court, yesterday, several applications for mining leases were heard, and the granting of the same recommended by the Warden. Mr Kelling, clerk of the Court, Charleston, is a witness in the Southern Cross case, and left per Kennedy yesterday, to be present at the trial in Nelson on the Ist proximo. Dr Giles will, we understand, proceed to Nelson per steamer Murray on her return from Greymouth. The mail closes for the Lyell this day at noon. The ei-ection of a flagstaff at the north spit, near to Powell and Co.'s bonded warehouse, is being proceeded with. Its chief use will be to signal vessels in the offing when the state of the river will not admit of communi cation between Westport and the South Spit. In consequence of the Council having decided to dispense with the harbor crew, whose services will terminate on the 31st instant, the Department had entered into negotiation with Mr Pell, who holds the stone contract, for the purchase of the " Mary," hitherto used for clearing the river from sings. Mr Pell, however, declined to purchase, and we suppose she will bo shortly sold by auction, unless otherwise disposed of. Mr Wilkie addressed his constituents at the Ahaura on the 18th inst. He expressed an intention to resign, but was induced to reconsider his determination of depriving the district of his services as a representative in the Provincial Council. Two men, named John Brown and Henry Mueller, were capsized in a boat on Sunday last while crossing the Hokitika bar. Both men were drowned. The Grey Argus complains of the inconvenience entailed upon witnesses and others in consequence of the adjournment from day to day of the District. Court sitting, which ought to have taken place at Greymouth on Tuesday last. Judge Clarke refuses to act while the Commissioi of Inquiry into the working of the District Court of Westland North sits. Public meetings have been held in Ilokitika and Greymouth, at which resolutions were passed condemning the protective policy of the Government and the increased duties upon articles of general consumption. Mr C. R. D. Ward is reported by a Dunedin paper to have been re-appointed to the district judgeship at Wanganui. Tenders have been called for the erection of a Pesbyterian Church at Greymouth. A private letter received at the Thames from New Caledonia states that prospecting is being carried on in tie north-west part of the island by a West Coast miner named Parrington and his mates. A few specks have been obtained. The Theatre Royal at Grahamstown is for sale, with the bars, shops, offices, &c. It is intended to get up a company to carry out the graving dock at Auckland, as proposed by Mr Aiekon, C.E., with a capital of .£IOO,OOO, the greater portion of which sum it is proposed should be raised in England. Two mining accidents occurred at the Greenstone. On the 15th instant, John Rin. a native of the South Sea Islands, was killed at Maori Point by a boulder falling on him. On the following day John Bloyd had his leg broken by a quantity of earth sideling giving way while he was sluicing on the Duko of Edinburgh Terrace. He is now in Hokitika Hospital. The premises of Messers W. Cosgrave and Co., Hokitika, were recently purchased by Mr S. W. Alcorn for £560. Under the heading of "No Fiji for us," the Chicago Tribune condemns the project of tlie annexation of the Fiji Islands by the United States Government. J. Kilgour, Esq., Mayor of Greymouth, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Colony. The conversation at Holland House turned first on love, Tom Moore compared it to a potato, because "it shoots from the eyes." "or rather," exclaimed Byron, " because it becomes less by " paring." An ingenious farmer has found a way to induce crows to commit suicide. He strings several grains of corn on a horse-hair, causing a tickling sensation in the crow's throat. In his efforts to get it up, the crow invariably scratches his head off. A patent has been applied for.