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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 744, 1 December 1870, Page 2

The annual meeting of tho members of the Masonic Lodge was held at the Masonic I Hall yesterday—St. Andrew's Day. There : was a large attendance of tho fraternity, and Pro. R.W.M. Broad from Charleston with several of his officers constituted the visiting brethren. Bro. Munro officiated as Installing Officer, and the following members were installed in their respective offices for the ensuing year:—Bros. EL D, Kerr, E.W.M; W. Pitt, D.M.; J. E. Denniston, S.M.; W. E. Veale, S.W.; E. S. Suisted, J.W.; V. Fama, S.D.; J. Simpson, J.D.; F. Courtney, I.G-.; E. Sinyrk, O.G. In the evening the brethren dined together at the Empire Hotel, where, with ample good cheer, a large attendance and innumerable toasts and songs, a most pleasant evening was spent. At the R.M. Court on Tuesday an information, laid by Maria Jennings against J. A. M. Turner was struck out, owing to the non-appearance of the informant. The information of Ann Connolly, praying that Joseph Spencer be bound over to keep'the peace, was heard. Ann Connolly stated in evidence that tho defendant had assaulted, beaten and kicked her; had threatened to knock her brains out, and that she was in bodily fear of him. She also stated that he had broken a window in her dwelling with stones, and had poured kerosene into the water-tank. The defendant gave evidence entirely contradictory of tho information. He said that he had never had any kerosene in his possession, as he never used it; that he lived within a few feet of tho informant who was continually abusinghim and others in the neighborhood. He admitted that, on one occasion of her coming into his hut, he had said that unless she wont about her business he would knock her head oif, but ho denied any assault. The informant produced some blood-stained garments, and enumerated several individuals who had witnessed the assault; none of whom were, however, forthcoming, and the case was dismissed. One civil case only was disposed of, Hall v. Duff, in which the claim was reduced to £& Is by his Worship, who stated that the plaintiff could not recover for refreshments, as the defendant did not board in the house. Judgment was given for the reduced amount and costs. Duff, who was evidently intoxicated, having interrupted the proceedings was ordered to be taken into custody, and at the rising of the Court was fined 20s with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. Yesterday, before the Bench of Justices Maria Jennings was charged with being drunk and escaping from custody. According to the evidence of Sergeant Kiely, the prisoner had escaped from the lock-up by surmounting an eight foot iron fence. Several previous convictions for drunkneness having been proved against the prisoner, she was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. Long, charged with drunkenness, was remanded for 24 hours for medical examination.

The fire-engine for the Westport Volunteer Brigade arrived per schooner Maid of Erin, and was landed yesterday. It has been temporarily stationed in an empty building in Avery Row. The lease of the Upper or Government Wharf was sold at auction, on Saturday last, on account of the Provincial Government, by Mr John Munro. Messrs M'Leod and Atkinson were the purchasers, at an annual rental of .£53.

The auction sale of the booths, two on each side of the grand stand, and a fruitstall took place at the Post Office Hotel, on Saturday last. The bidding was not animated, and the lot, exclusive of the grand stand, which had been already disposed of for .£53 3s, realised £4l 10s. Mr Kobertson acted as auctioneer.

Yesterday, being St. Andrew's Day, was observed as a holiday by all the banks in town.

We have- to thank Captain Cairns, of the schooner Maid of Erin, for late Melbourne papers. It is notified elsewhere that a call of 20s per share has been authorised by the provisional directors of the Excelsior Quartz Mining Co., payable on or before the 14th instant. An extraordinary meeting" of shareholders, to dect a permanent directory, will be held at the Empire Hotel, Westport, on the loth iust.

On Monday evening last the Charleston Literary Institute gave their last weekly reading of the season. There was a large attendance, and it must be no small satisfaction to those gentlemen, who have contributed so largely to the public amusement and instruction, that tbeir labors should have been so fully appreciated. The Kev. Mr White occupied the chair, and, after a few fitting remarks, introduced the Rev. Mr Flavell, who gave an able address. After a very entertaining programme, an epilogue, composed by Mr Percival Bear, wa3 received with much applause. The evening's entertainment gave the fullest satisfaction. The receipts at the door amounted to £4. A correspondent at Ross writes:—The Scandinavian Company have practically ceased operations. The ground will not pay. Two pounds per week were offered by the company as wages to the men, with a certain per centage, but as some difficulty arose a short, time ago with respect to the latter item, the men declined to accept a rate of wages which would leave them no profit on their labor. A man nared Chas. Wall has been seriously injured by a tree falling on him, and he now lies in the hospital in a very precarious state.

An entertainment is announced for Friday evening, at the Greyniouth Volunteer Hall, when the Amateur Dramatic Company intend producing a play specially written for the memhers by Mr F. P. Atkinson, entitled " The Mad Beauty." At a thinly attended meeting held at Greymouth, on Monday last, with respect to a road over the Saddle, it was decided that if the up-country districts raised .£2OO, Greymouth would endeavor to make up the remaining JB3OO. Mr Whitefoord stated that he had received a telegram from Mr Curtis to the eiTect that as soon as the public raised .£SOO, the road would be proceeded with.

An illicit still was seized by the Collector of Customs and Sub-Inspector Hickson at the New River, on the 23rd ult.

The following Westland electioneering items are from the *' Argus:"—We are informed that notwithstanding tho influ-entially-signed requisition, which was presented to Mr W. S. Smith to stand for the County Council, he has declined tho request. The candidates for Greymouth tiro now, Messrs Lahman, Guinness, Payne, and Kilgoiir. Tho names of Messrs Barrett, Scanlan, and ffialfe are mentioned as probable candidates in tho Okarito district for election to the County Council. At Boss, Mr Button and Mr Aylmer aro spoken of; at Kanieri, Mt Lcarmouth and Mr Robinson; at Wnimea, Messrs Clarke, Barff, Owen, Seddon, and llannonj in the Paroa Dis-

triet, Messrs Garreras and O'Connor. In Hoktika there is neither certainty nor probability either as to the number or names of the candidates. No one has yet declared himself.

Tho '* Echo" says that Mr Reynolds has at last come boldly forward and denounced the Financial Scheme of the Fox Ministry. Tho Law Society, through Messrs Haggitt and Howorth, of Dunediu, are opposing the admission of Mr Walter Taylor to practise at the bar, in consequence of his having done so before admission, The application has been postponed.

A fire tank has been constructed at the railway station, Christchurch. It is constructed of brick and cement, capable of holding about 18,000 gallons of water, and being so situated as to command the goods and carriage sheds. The tank is supplied by four two-inch artesian wells. An interesting fact came to our knowledge, says the "Southern Cross," which deserves to be placed onrecord. A bankrupt's estate, which has been for some time in process of winding- up, has actually j ielded a dividend, above all costs and charges, of twenty shillings in the pound. This is an event which occurs so rarely that it may be compared to the " white crane" of the Maori—only seen once within the lifetime of man.

The following machinery might be very advantageously set in motion for the purpose of reclaiming the victims of intemperance in other portions of the colony :—A person, in whom intoxication from the constant use of alcoholic beverages had become chronic, has, upon the petition of his friends, been brought defore Mr Justice Gresson, in Chambers, at Christchurch, and, after due examination and hearing the testimony of Drs Turnbull and Frankish, ordered to be detained in the Sunnyside Asylum for twelve months for curative treatment.

On the 2-ith insfe. the Provincial Coancil of Canterbury passed a resolution that two thousand five hundred pounds be spent in the purchase of Waste' Lands, as a honorarium in recognition of the service of Mr Moorhouse.

The Canterbury Council have voted a honorarium of £SOO to the widow of the late Mr Selfe, agent for the Colony. Several narrow escapes have occurred in the Thames mines from the effects of carbonic acid gas.

The charge of perjury against Mr Gleeson, of Moakier, has been withdrawn. The proceedings on both sides appear to have been very hasty. The number of lunatics confined in the various asylums and gaols in New Zealand is S6O. Of these it is alleged that 80 j)er cent, of the cases have been caused by intemperance.

The following telegram from Greymouth appeared in the " Hokitika Star" :—" Mr Warden Schaw was summoned as a witness in an appeal case at the District Court. Instead of appearing, he sent a letter to the Judge, which his Honor considered was a contempt of court, and he fined Mr Schaw £lO. His Honor ordered the appellants to take action against Mr Schaw to recover all costs of adjournment. The case of appeal was adjourned to the 6th of December."

An Otago paper, writing on the late coach accident at the Taieri, says :—ln Mr Mansfield's experience of nineteen years as coach proprietor, only two accidents -from the same cause have previously occurred. Mr Mansfield, no doubt, is most careful and anxious to avoid accidents ; but tK« truth is these fixles are not safe on any voad whatever, far less on a newly metalled Otago road. They were so considered in Scotland many years ago, and abandoned. After being worn for a short time they will get loose, and work off by the wrisjgle of the axle. It would surely be an" easy matter to have a pin, locked with leather, through the nut to keep it on. This would ensure safety, although not the same extent as some patents now in use—for example, in Collin's patent there is first put on a brass collar, which fits into a recess in the bush, then two nuts—the one turning to the right, the other to the left—then a pin through the end of the axle, locked with leather, With such precautions the coach and wheels might bo smashed to atoms, but no accident could ever occur through the latter coming off the axle.