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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 988, 19 July 1872, Page 2

The petition praying for the establishment, of a Municipality in Westport has been acknowledged by the Premier, and as soon as some few technical points of infor mation are embodied In the document it will be presented to the Governor for consideration. The Bank of New South Wales building is now being shifted into Molesworth street, and will " fall in line " again between the 'Time3' office and Mr Fal.a's store. The opening of the new United Methodist free Church has been delayed until the 28th instant, in consequence of the inclement weather delaying the completion of the contractors' work. It is notified that Services will be held on next Sunday in the Little Grey hotel. The United Methodists are extending their influence throughout the Goldfields. The Rev. Mr Pendray from Christchurch has been appointed to take charge of tho Eeefton circuit, and is now on his way to his new field of labor.

The contract for tho formation of another portiou of Pahnorston street and Kintoul street has been taken, at tho price of LIO per chain, the work to be completed within two months. As usual, when tenders are called for public works, tho oilers vary considerably, and in this instance the tenders ranged from LIO to L2O. At a recent sitting of the Warden's Court, at Reef ton, tho Warden had occasion to give a very decided expression of opinion in reference to an application by Crampton and others in connection with a lease, No. 4 south, Anderson's; otherwise known asthe Perseverance Company. Amongst tho names of the applicants he noticed that of Mr T, A S. Kynnersley. Ho had received a communication from that gentleman which showed that his name had been attached to that application entirely without his consent or authority. Crampton replied that the insertion of Mr Kynnersley's name was a mistake. His Worship perfectly concurre i that it was a mistake. Mr Kynnersley bore a reputation without stain or blemish, and without referring to tho motive that had impelled tho party to attach Mr Kynnersley's name to the application, he could only say that Mr Crampton had made a mistake in his man. The lea=e would certainly not be recommended under the circumstances.

The performances of tho Comedy and Burlesque Company, at Sheahan's Assembly Hall, have proved sufficiently attractive to draw good houses during the week, despite the wretched state of the streets, and the almost incessant rain prevailing. On each evening, the programme presented has comprised a novelty and variety sufficient to satisfiy the most exacting patrons of the drama; and on Wednesday and Thursday special performances were given. Miss Jennie Nye took a benefit on Wednesday night, and a most attractive bill of fare was presented ; comprising ' The day after the Wedding, ' Catching a Governor,' and the burlesque ' Ching, Chang Fou,' in all of which the fair henejiciare sustained leading parts, and looked, acted, sang, and danced most charmingly. Signor Donato also won immense applause in his characteristic dances, and Little Amy, as usual, came in for her share. There was also a special attraction in the performance of a scoao from Othello, tho jealous Moor being personated by our wellknown local amateur, Mr B. Straehan, and lago Hading au able representative in Mr Woolfe. The scene was most creditably performed, and Mr Straehan, by his intelligent conception of a most difficult character, won much genuine applause; albeit there wa3 in his personation a tinge of mannerism, which detracted somewhat from its perfect success. Mr Wolfe's lago compares very favorably with that of many tragedians whose names stand high on the scroll of histrionic fame. Abandoning strict and forniil stage tradition, and without " overstepping the modesty of nature," ho gives a vigorous, but withal judicious, interpretation of the poet's fancy, which never fails to prove effective. On Thursday the performance wa3 for the benefit of tho Wojtport Hospital, and another attractive programme was issued, comprising ' Poor Pillboddy,' the 'Othello' scene, Byron's sparkling burlesque of ' Little Don Giovanni,' dancing, by Donato, and, as a special feature, singing by amateurs, wherein, we are informed, Mr W. Roberts' local song ' Not for Joseph,' took immensely, and the whole affair went off with much eclat. Wind and weather permitting, the company of comedians will leave by the Wallace this evening for Nelson; whore, doubtless, they will create, individually and collectively, as favorable au impression as they have here. The heavy downpour of rain, which, commencing on Sunday night, continued with but slight intermission until Wednesday mid-day, caused a considerable fresh in the river, and, a3 an inevitable consequence, the river and tide combined, washed away another slice of doomed Gladstone street, necessitating the removal of more buildings. Mailer's Boot store on the one side of the street, and the old Boatmans Arms on the other side, are now the corner houses. At the foot of Kennedy street the river has also made further encroachment, and the wharf is so insecure that the flooring has been removed for safety, and the heavier timbers will be lifted a3 quickly as practicable.

In the Nelson Appropriation Act there is provision made for the office of Inspector of Leaseg at the Inangahua. The salary voted is L3OO, and the duties of any such officer as may be appointed, include, with questionable propriety, the rendering of clerical assistance in the Warden's office at Eeefton. In Auckland the appointment of Inspector of Leases is one of some importance, and his powers, as denned by special Act, are considerable, being parallel to and similar with those of a Warden, In this instance the duties of the officer to bo appointed are not as yet defined, but it was the understanding in the Council, when the vote was agreed to, that the inspectorship was to include supervision both of mining and agricultural leases an apparently wise arrangement which, it is to be hoped, will be carried out. The ' Thames Advertiser ' says that the bed of coal which it is proposed to work by means of an English company, on the laud purchased from Gillies by Messrs Preece and G-rahum, at Wharekawa, on the opposite sido of the Frith of Thames, bids fair to become very valuable. Mr Graham and Mr Lowe (engineer), are at present en the ground, the latter being about to survey and lay the levels for a tramway to the beach, from which the coal bed is only distant some ten miles. About "three weeks ago a party of four men were started to work to sink a shaft. They proceeded to a depth of twenty feet, cutting through a splendid seam of coal ten feet thick. They also drove a distance of 30 feet along the seam, and the coal taken out appears to be of excellent quality. They have now about thirty tons of lump coal, besides a quantity of slack, but owing to the wretched state of the track, they have been unable to get it down to the beach, in order to ship it to the Thames. Mr M. Cassius, in a letter to the ' West Coast Times,' confirms the rumor that he has offered to contribute L2OO towards LIOOO as a reward fund for the discovery of a payable gold-bearing quartz reef country in the County of Westland, south of the Teremakau. He writes:—" The fact of the matter is, that although I have made the offer spontaneously and hardly expecting it to be made public, I would willingly contribute LaOO towards a reward fund for the above object, provided LSOO be subscribed by the public, as an encouragement to prospecting parties; and I take this opportunity of repeating my offer, which is to remain binding on me to the Ist January next. I have been induced to offer the alo re explanation in order to prevent being suspectod of making a mere boast, and in the hope that my offer may induce my neighbors and others to come forward, and possibly, thus hasten the tracing of the Inangahua line of reefs, south of the Teremakau." The Dunedin Mayoralty is likely to be keenly contested. Messrs Fish, Barnes,

and Dunean are candidates. Fish received a requisition with 3G5 signatures. An irate correspondent to tho Grey 'Arpjna! complains that lie sent a written application to thy 'Resident Magistrate's Court for permission to give a ball, in commemoration of tho anniversary of the American Independence) but his letter was not, recognised until he paid the sum of 4s, which, he says, they too'.c from him and immediately refused his application on the score that he was not an American. An official telegram in the ' Wellington Independent - intimates that Mr Friberg, one of the amateur Imnvigiatkm Agents, who were sent home in Latches some months ugo, is returning to Napier in the Hod.ig. The Swedish Legislature has pas Jed an enactment requiring every emigration agent to deposit LSOOO, to be forfeited should tho hopes held out to tho emigrants not be fulfilled. This will put a stojqjer upon the Scandinavian immigration at any rate for some time. We learn that Mr Dees, one of Messrs Brogden's engineers, with several other members of their staff, have arrived in Picton, preparatory to the commencement of the works for the Kail way.—' Exrjress.' A meat preserving company is to be started in Wanganui. The ' Southern Cross' states that wifebeating in very common in Auckland. There was a very heavy storm at Graham - stown, Thames, on July 2nd, and two vessels male a clean breach over the wharf: About a chain of the sea wall near the Kuranui Battery was washed away, stopping tho tram traffic.