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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 704, 30 August 1870, Page 2

A melancholy and fatal accident occurred near Caledonia Terrace yesterday, resulting in the death of a minor, named Joseph Pufflett, and the serious injury of his brother, Robert Pufflett. Prom what we can gather, there were three men in the claim, which is situate on a spur leading to Donovan's Creek, and within a short distance of Caledonia Terrace. The party were working by ground-sluicing, the two brothers being engaged at the face, while a third attended to the boxes some distance away. The deceased, when the accident occurred, had charge of the hose, and the elder with a shovel was easing down the face, when a large mass of earth gave way unexpectedly, completely buryiug the deceased, and covering the survivor to the throat. The third mate, owing to the position of the boxes, was not in view of the accident, which was fortunately witnessed by Peter Gray and another man, who immediately made for the scene, and who succeeded, after half an hour's labor, in extricating the surviving brother. Joseph Pufflett, when discovered, was found to be dead, and, but for the timely assistance, Robert must have met with a similar fate, one man, while the work of extrication proceeded, being fully engaged keeping him free from the debris that continued to fall. The survivor is very much crushed and bruised, and it was deemed expedient by Dr Thorpe, who was quickly in attendence, not to remove him. An inquest unon the deceased will be held at Hall's Hotel toWilliam Stratford, who had been remanded from Saturday, charged with assaulting his wife, Catherine Stratford, on the 26th instant, was again brought before the Bench yesterday. Evidence for the prosecution had already established the matter of complaint, and on the statement of the prisoner, declaring his ability to call rebutting evidence, the case was held over until Monday. Stratford failed, however, to produce any evidence, and he was fined 40s and costs, with the option of fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labor. The prisoner was further required to enter upon his own recognizance of £5O, and two sureties £25 each, to keep the peace for six months. There were no civil cases or other business disposed of. A woman named Margaret King, residing at the rear of the Royal Oak, expired on Sunday evening, after a short illness. The deceased had been leading an abandoned and dissipated life, and was attacked a few days ago with convulsive fits, from the effects of which she finally succumbed. Deceased was about 30 years of age, and recently resided in Charleston.

As notified elsewhere, Mr C. Brown, o'. Dunedin, has opened up a large stock of drapery, recently to hand per Kennedy and other arrivals, in premises newly erected in Gladstone-street.

_Mr George Cotterell's entertainments, given a year ago in the Masonic Hall, will be fresh in the recollection of the inhabitants of Westport as an entertainment excellent in itself, and superlatively excellent as compared with such entertainments a3 have been given in the locality during that interval. Mr Cotterell has this week returned to Westport, and he brings with him, not only a high reputation" gained before the more critical public of the larger towns in the Colony, but the ease in action on the stage, and the superior arts of the actor, which can only be acquired by experience. Mr Cotterell has also, out of his fertile imagination, created several new characters for representation, in every case admirable typifications or caricatures. Any one who has the capacity for the enjoyment of music and comedy wiil not regret visiting the Masonic Hall on the two evenings on which Mr Cotterell only appears. • A woman named Grutterman was recently brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court at Patea, charged with concealment of birth. Prisoner made a statement to the effect that, on recovering consciousness ■. after giving birth to the child, she enquired for it, and was told hy Mrs Connelly, the midwife, that "you will have enough to do to drag through the world without that." Mr 3 Connelly, who had been previously arrested and discharged, was again taken into custody. The Rev James Watkin, who is well acquainted with the Polynesian Islands, denounces the emigration to Fiji. His reasons are that there is no room for colonisation, that the chiefs there have no right to sell the land, and that results similar to those which have occurred in the North Island of New Zealand will follow the present influx of population to those islands. A very clever mechanical contrivance, for the purpose of cleaning, dyeing, blocking, and finishing felt and straw hats, has recently been patented by Messrs Parker and Co., of Little Bourke-street, Melbourne. It is rumoured that the Hon. John Hall, formerly Postmaster-General, will be appointed Governor of that portion of Westland south of Teremakau. A public ball is to be given in Wellington on the Ist proximo, at the Oddfellows' Hall, in honor of Commodore Lambert and officers of the ships of the Australian Squadron.

It is rumored that Mr Vogol has been asked by the electors of Wairarapa to represent them in the House of Eepresentatives.

Two boats, manned by Maori crews, left Kiverton a few days ago for a sealing cruise on the West Coast. They are to be followed shortly by three others, furnished with mining tools for the purpose of prospecting gold, should an opportunity occur for doing so. The Southland News reports that the Meat Preserving Company at Woodlands projiises to fulfil the expectation of its promoters. The annexation of Southland to Otago may be said to be an accomplished fact, the Dill having passed the Lower House, and being certain to pass the Upper.