REEFTON.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1009, 1 October 1872, Page 2

REEFTON.

(FROM OUR OIVJf CORRESPONDENT.) Friday last, the day fixed on for the Entertainment at Black's Point in aid of the funds of the Kcef'tou Hospital Committee, was all that the most fastidious could desire in the shape of weather. About 5 p.m. Mr M'Kev's waggon, which was chartered for the occasion by the Committee, drew up opposite Messrs Graves and Fleming's corner, and was speedily filled with about 30 ladies, who were kind enough to go up, the better to celebrate the occasion, and let the experienced imagine what their suffering must have been, as they were jolted along over the boulders, in the bed of the Inangahua, however their agony though no doubtacute, was only of short duration, and in due course Mr Gordon landed his precious freight in safety at their destination, Messers Ramsay Edwards and Co.'s store, whose whole property was, with the utmost generosity, placed at the disposal of their visitors. In one room a cold collation was spread out, in another tea was to be found, another contained a bar stocked witli (be usual liquors, the whole, together with the room in which the entertainment was held, being provided by the mostpmisworthy liberality of the above firm. The hall'itself was provided with stage, proscenium, brick scene, foot-lights, curtain, &c. and was mo<t tastefully decorated. This is probably the only occasion in which one firm presented such a large donation to a Hospital Committee. The entertainment itself was a.uiost decided success, and quite above the usual run of Amateur Concerts. Messrs Cook and Hearty were wonderfully successful in convulsing their audience, Messrs iVl'Key and Parry were in splendid voice, and Mrs Sirike and Misses M. Jones, and M. Burgess each sang a solo very effective Miss Jackson also sang a local song which much

amused the audience. Mr Broad presided, and Mr Neviu returned thanks on behalf of the Hospital Committee who expect to realise £7O after all expenses have been paid. It is a great pity that some properly qualified local candidate does not come forward to contest the election for Superintendent. By local candidate, I mean a candidate whose interests are identical with the prosperity of the South West Goldfields. There can be no shadow of a doubt but what such a gentleman would obtain the suffrages of this portion of of the Province before any Nelson man. If such a course were adopted there is reason to believe that much of the discontent at present so uninistakabely prevailing on the coast, would disappear. It occurred to some gentlemen here to forward a requisition to Mr Kynnersley, but the idea has been most reluctantly abandoned since the receipt of the news of that gentleman's still i continuing illness.

You have no doubt heard of the completion of the road from Beeftou to Christy's, and of the refusal of the Provincial Government to construct about seven chains of road required to connect with the main street. Some men were employed by Messrs M'Kee, Fletcher, and other waggoners, to clear away the bush on the proposed line, and on Saturday the town was canvassed for the necessary money. It seems as if the authorities in Nelson were determined not only to give us no roads, but to throw every obstacle in the way of those who are making them, and whose intercession on our behalf we are accustomrd to acknowledge almost as a miracle from the clouds, so unexpected was it.