The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 801, 13 April 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1871.

Owing to some oversight, the agent of Greville's Telegram Company at Hokitika has failed to furnish us with the result of Monday and Tuesday's racing. It was pro posed to postpone the meeting until the arrival of his Excellency, but we understand that the original programme was adhered to. We are unable to give tho winners of the various events, but understand that XXX carried off the Ladies' Purse.

Mr Hodgson, Inspector of Schools, visited the Provincial School, Westport, yesterday. The number of pupils present was much below the average, owing, no doubt, to their scholastic duties having been interrupted by the Easter holidays, and, also, to the fact that yesterday the weather was extremely wet and inclement. There were only 64 children present, whereas the average daily attendance for the quarter, ended Mareh3l, was 85.

We have been favored with an approximate return of the number of the population resident at the Upper Buller, Lyell, and Inangahua Goldfields. The total population, nearly all of which are miners, is set down at 590.

As previously stated, the amateur entertainment given on Monday evening last was unusually successful, Mrs Pickering, Messrs Munro, Dunn, Marshall and Hamilton, of We3tport, took part in the performance, rendering a number of songs, duets and glees, in a highly effective manner. Mrs Pickering and Mrs Brown acted as accompanists and proved themselves accomplished musicians. Mr Greenwood, of Charleston, also gave several songs in a manner which elicited much applause. The readings by Dr Giles, Messrs Munro and Eeid were also very favorably rtceived. Mr Fernandez successfully maintaned his reputation as a step-dancer in a hornpipe, and a drawingroom seance in electro-biology, with Mr A. Hamilton as operator, completed the performance. Messrs Flavell and Soutfir, on behalf of the Church Committee, gratefully acknowledged the liberal manner in which the public had patronised the entertainment, and the company

dispersed shortly before midnight, delighted with the evening's amusement. The proceeds derived from the performance have resulted in a sum of about £4O being added to the building fund of St. John's Church.

The pie-nic in connection with the Sunday School children took place at White's gardens, South Spit, on Tuesday, and proved a very great success. The spot chosen for the day's entertainment was in every respect a delightful one, the weather was fine, and the day's recreation was not marred by mishap or accident. About eleven, a.m., the children having assembled to the number of about 120, at St. John's Church, marched in procession along Gladstone street, where they embarked on board two large cargo boats which had been secured together for the occasion, and which were then towed to the lagoon. A band of music was in attendance, and every provision had been made for the children's recreation and for the entertainment of the elders. The Rev. Mr Soutar, assisted by the Eev. Mr Flavell, of Charleston and the teacher 3of the school, took charge of the children, and entertained the numerous guests. Abundant provision had been made in the way of edibles; sports were also initiated, for which prizes were given. One game afforded great amusement: a number of paper bags containing prists were attached to a line at a height of about five feet from the ground, and the person anxious to secure one was armed with a pair of scissors, and blindfolded. The efforts then to advance to the Jine, without deviating, were highly amusing, and, when the opening of the bag revealed the character of the prize, which was generally most unsuitable to the winner, the fun became uproarious. Elsewhere there was dancing on the green, and other games. About five, p.m., the children reassembled, and returned to "Westport, after enjoying a day's most pleasant recreation, which was equally shared by the parents and other guests. The schooner Rose has been chartered by Messrs Bailie and Humphrey, to proceed to Brighton, with a cargo of general merchandie.

The annual meeting of the congregation of St. John's will take place to-morrow evening, when Wardens and Vestrymen will be appointed for the current year. The Rev. Thomas Flavell, of Charleston, will conduct the services at St. John's Church, Westport, on the morning and evening of Sunday next. A parcel of gold arrived by escort in Westport yesterday, from Charleston, consigned to the Union Bank of Australia. Mrs Deroux, who is one of the witnesses for the prosecution in the case of Regina v. Fallahee, charged with larceny, desired to excuse herself from attendance at the Supreme Court, Nelson, stating that her absence from home would be attended with more than ordinary inconvenience. His Worship said that it was possible that her evidence might be dispensed with. He would refer the matter to the Crown Prosecutor, and if such were the case, her husband would be released from his recognizances.

At the nomination at Wellington of Superintendent for the Province, on Friday last, four candidates were proposed, and a show of hands taken. The result was— Fitzherbert, 150; Anderson, 32; Finnimore, 17; Masters, 6. T'-»> -x-ao no pablio OXuneuienc on the occasion.

Joseph Alman, an applicant for final discharge at the District Court, Hokitika, on Thursday last, had his certificate suspended for twelve months, and, but that he had been in gaol, his Honor stated that the certificate would probably have been suspended for a longer period. It appeared that the bankrupt had given Louisson a bill of sale over all his property, present or acquired by him in the future, and had subsequently made large purchases in Melbourne without informing his creditors of the existence of such an instrument. On the arrival of the goods, Louisson had realised, and advanced Alman a further sum upon the goods. A telegram was received by the Harbor Master on Tuesday to place the lights on the flagstaff to enable the steamer Wallabi to cross the bar. Up to the present, however, there has been no announcement of her departure from Greymouth. Her detention has been due to the heavy sea. The s.s. Waipara was expected to arrive in Westport yesterday, but no telegram has been yet received annouLcing her departure from Hokitika. We learn from our southern papers that this steamer has recently undergone a thorough overhaul, including repairs to her boiler and propellers. Since writing the above we learn that this steamer will not call at Westport for some time.

A fire, resulting in the total destruction of a hut belonging to Harry Baulke and mates, took place at the Nine-mile Beach, on Saturday morning last.

From an Auckland paper, containing a digest of the news from Levuka, in the Fijis, we notice some well-known names from the West Coast, taking part in the formation of those social societies which are one of the guarantees of the social progress of a new settlement. At Levuka, the present capital of the Fiji group, a Rifle Volunteer Corps has been formed, over which Mr Fisher (of Fisher Bros.), late of Hokitika, has been elected captain, whilst Mr I. O'Donnell, formerly of Mawhera Quay, Ensign, and Dr Ryley, late Surgeon Superintendent of the Hospital, Hokitika, has been appointed medical attendent. We notice the name also of Mr Evans, formerly butcher of Greymouth, as resident at Levuka. A Masonic Lodge has been formed, in the brotherhood of which we find several gentlemen formerly of Greyniouth and Hokitika. In fact, Levuka appears to be making rapid advances—two churches are erected, a theatre is about being built, an amateur dramatic club has been formed, and other indications of social progress are going on, which the settlers in Fiji of three years back never dreamed of.

The Governor and suite were expected to arrive in Hokitika yesterday, making the journey overland from Christchurch. Confirmation of the report that Dr Livingstone is alive is furnished by the " Colombo Observer." That journal, under date 16th February, says :— ** "We are indebted to a Trincoinalie correspondent for the intelligence that H.M.S. Cossack, which has recently arrived from Zanzibar, brings the news that Livingstone is undoubtedly alive. Supplies had reached him, and he was said to be moving in the direction of Sir Samuel Baker, whom he was expected to meet." During 1869 there we 383 American vessels lost by shipwreck, fire, collision, or other disasters at sea, the vessels, exclusive of their cargo, being valued at 9,329,000 dollars. In 1868 there were lost 362 vessels, valued at 9,030,000 dollars. Practical jokes were practised pretty freely on, the Ist inst at Christchurch. The "Press " says that it was rumored one daring joker went beyond the license of the day and actually hoaxed the august City Council, sending them on a fruitless errand to the Club. _ As the tale runs, "each member of the City Council, received on

Saturday morning an official letter, informing him that His Excellency the Governor would be happy to see him at the Club, at 11 a.m. Punctual to the hour the City Council, clad in full dress, with spotless white kid gloves, attended at the Club only to find themselves hoaxed. By a fire at Cromwell, in Otago, a thousand pounds worth of oats was destroyed in fifteen minutes. It was the property of Mr Charles Hair. It is supposed that a fragment of bottle-glass must have become heated by the sun, and thus ignited the straw.

The enthusiasm of German residents at Ross has induced two of their compatriots to offer free banquets. Mr Webb, the agent for Nelson cloth, has just shipped to Wellington upwards of 500 yards, being a portion of the order given to Messrs Webley, by the General Government.

The " Daily News " correspondent furnishes the .following description of the caniinieres attached to the French Army. Your cantiniere is another type worth observing. She is usually a fat person in trousers. Her chignon has cost money, but she has got her money's worth. All cantinieres are blonde. They gird themselves in uniform, and wear a kepi, a sword bayonet, and a cigarette when in full dress. On the campagne, these latter equipments are exchanged for a big jack-knife and a short black pipe. Many a time have we admired our favourite actress in coat and trousers. I remember Miss Fanny Josephs, most bewilderingly symmetrical, as Lord Somebody in " Flying Scud." Whether it be the fault of the regimental tailor, or something with the lady's figure, or whether it be the want of footlights or the beaming enthusiasm of one's after dinner mood, or whatever the cause, the cantiniere does not at all remind a man of his admired actress. The lady is a very useful person no doubt, and her costume and accoutrements are all that military experience pronounces best; but the fact is undeniable, that any Prussian soldier might shoot down the regimental [housewife in all innocence, and go on his way without disquieting himself. The sum paid last year by |the provincial press of England for the mere transmission of telegraphic messages was over £30,000 ; and the highest sum paid by any single paper was paid by a Manchester journal. This was ,£4OO for the transmission of a message from Metz. It was from the correspondent of the " Manchester Guardian." An Australian Jockey Club, that of Wangaratta, has passed the following resolution, a copy of which has been forwarded to all owners of horses about to run at the ensuing meeting:—That each racehorse owner be informed by the secretary in writing that their horses will be disqualified if they put up at the premises of a publican who does not snbscribe £2 2s per annum to the club, also if their horses are shod at any blacksmith's shop, whose owner does not subscribe PA Is per annum to the funds of the club, they will be disqualified. An accommodation-house keeper at the River Cass, Canterbury, has been fined 40s for allowing Yankee Grab at his house. At Collingwood, Nelson Province, stocking weaving has been started tinder the direction of Mr Alexander Gibson, an old Nottingham weaver. .aji American farmer earnestly denounces the folly of those lazy farmers who pretend to believe that the Almighty intended that boggy lands should always remain in that condition. England, which is now like the Garden of Eden in fertility, was once a desolate swamp, affordiag insufficient food for a scanty population; but now, by means of a scientific system of drainage, its soil has been made rich and fertile, so that at" this time abundant food is produced for an immense population. Ihe whole island had been transformed by drainage. An important result of draining has been the polono-a-tion of human life. Formerly, the expectation of life of every child born in England was only fourteen years. Now, however, by the improvements in the conditions of life, it is thirty-two years. Once fever and ague were the main disease upon the island, and it has also been proved that there is an increase of the temperature of eight degrees upon drained lands. Here is a lesson and an encouragement for farmers here.

The skeleton of what is supposed to bo an extinct species of eagle has been found in Canterbury by Dr- Haast's assistant. Mr Fuller.

A census enumerator at Wellington, while collecting the papers, was encountered in one house by the "livid features and strangled body of the occupant." The occupant, a man named James Nash, had hanged himself.

Wo ("Argus") are given to understand that, speculating on the retirement of Mr Wilkie from the Nelson Provincial Council, a number of candidates are sounding the electors. The names we have heard mentioned are Mr E. A. Drury, Mr J. D. Pinkeiton, and Arthur Ellis. Nothing further has been heard of Mr Kynnersley's candidature. The quinquennial census of the United States was lately completed, and shows that the Union contains a population of 39,000,000, or about one-fourth more than the United Kingdom. It has increased 22 per cent, in the decade, and at the same rate will, in 1900 reach 75,000,000. Of these, about onetenth will be negroes, as they increase, notwithstanding tho war, nearly as fast as the whites. The largest State, New York, now numbers 4,370,000, or a million more than the six New England States, which collectively number only 3,482.000, or a fourth of the population of "The West," now above 12,000,000.