The Westport Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 700, 20 August 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1870.

His Honor Mr Dudley Ward was a pas senger per Waipara yesterday on her passage to Groymouth. Mr Button left on Thursday, per Murray, for Hokitika. A public meeting of subscribers and members of the Charleston Fire Brigade was held on Thursday eveniDg, at Nahr's Empire Hotel, to receive the report of the Brigade, and for tho despatch of other business ; Mr Donne, M.P.C., in the chair. Owing to the paucity of attendance, some discussion ensued as to the desirability of postponing the meeting until some future day. It was ultimately resolved that the business for which the meeting had been convened should be proceeded with. The report and balance sheet of the committee was received and adopted. Subsequently the captain and lieutenant tendered their resignation, upon which it was resolved that a public meeting should be convened for Tuesday evening next, at the Casino do Venise, for the purpose of receiving the resignation of the officers of the Brigade, for the appointment of their successors, and the despatch of other business .connected with the Brigade.

The following ia tho return of H.M. Gaol, Westport, for tho week ended August 19, 1870: —There were confined on that date 14 males and 3 females undergoing hard labor sentences, 3 male debtors, 1 male imprisoned in default of bail, and 1 child destitute, belonging to a female prisoner. Five hard labor males had been received during the week, and three males and one female discharged during the samo period. There are two prisoners awaiting trial, making the total inmates 24.

Mr A. Reid, M.P.C., arrived from Nelson per Kennedy on Wednesday. Wo have also to note tho arrival of Mr J. Bickert.on Fisher, solicitor, who purposes practising his profession iu Westport. One of the heaviest specimens of the porcine species was slaughtered by Mr M'Farlane, butcher, on Wednesday last. As it hangs in tho shop the carcase measures eight feet from tho hoof to the snout, and its weight is equal to that of an average bullock—s33lb. The pig was bred by Mr Gilmer, of tho Post Office Hotel, Westport. Several fatal cases of diptheria have recently occurred in Christchurch and its vicinity. Wo notice by the Wanganui Herald, that the owners of tho steamers Wanganui and John Penn had arranged to work the above vessels jointly between Wanganui, Manu-' kau, and the West Coast. A telegram received on Thursday shows that this arrangement will not bo forthwith acted upon, as the s.s. John Penn will not run to the West Coast for at least a fortnight. Tho Otago escort arrived in Dunedin on the, 10th inst. with 7,540 ozs 5 dwts gold, but for the robery at Clyde, the month's escort would have amounted to 9,702 ozs 5 dwts.

Mr E. B. Cargill has been returned a member of the City Council, for South Ward, Dunedin, in tho room of Mr H. S. Fish.

An Athenaßum and reading room is about to be established at Riccarton, Otago. The old church has been purchased with that object. The retail prico for oats at Clyde and Cromwell, Otago, is stated to be 7s per bushel with a tendency to advance, while still higher prices are obtained at Cardrona and Bendigo reefs.

We learn from the Taranaki Herald that the township of Patea is rapidly progressing. Cpbb's coach runs twice weekly to and from Wanganui, and about three small vessels are generally trading there with timber and general merchandise. An Invercargill chemist has been fined 10s and costs for omitting to enter a sale of poison in a book kept for the purpose, as required by the Sale of Poisons Act. An action for libel has been brought by the Tahiti Cotton Company against the Auckland livening News. Mr Robertson, the delegate from Auckland to Sydney, returned by the Wonga Wonga. He succeeded in his mission, the Sydney Chamber of Commerce having recommended Mr Hall's contract, and tho Government of New South Wales having promised to propose a subsidy of £IO,OOO to the Legislature. If this proposal is not adopted, Mr Hall says he will accept the proposals made him from Melbourne.