The Westport Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1872.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1014, 18 October 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1872.

We have received the following telegram from the manager of the New Zealand I'ress Associations —"Thanks for correction re Little Wonder; enquiries prove that ih error was made by the Telegraphist." Forty-eight hours steady downpour of rain, a'flood in the river, a heavy sea rolling in with a stiff bveezj from the nor-west, and the tides making, have resulted as Übttal in another slice, of crumbling fore shore being washed away. Kennedy street presents diminished proportions, the Emerald Isle Hotel now enjoying in its turn the donbl fnl advantage of standing on a corner section rivorwards. In Gladstone street, the Post Office Hotel now stands in solitary grandeur, save that West's modest bakery still nestles closely by the lee side, the sea meanwhile making steady approach, until it has reached within thirty feet of the front entrance to the Hotel, and the surf at high tide occasionally splashes against the first floor windows. As one of the most prominent buildings in Westport, Goldfields, and the familiar house of call for travellers and sojourners of every degree and station, the dismantling of the Post Office Hotel will be regretted, but it's doom is scaled, and as a precautionary measure the sooner it is pulled down, while there is yet time to do so with care, the better for its owners. The removal of the camp buildings will be commenced in a few days, towards the new township, and as Messrs Gilmer Brothers have already cleared an eligible corner section in close contiguity to the Government reserve, it v ly be nro'iimcd that they intend to recvjet the Post Hotel thereon ; where, amidst new surroundings, it will doubtless flourish as of yore.

The Masonic Hall in Lyttelton street has now assum id the full proportions, and its imposing Corinthian front presents a striking feature in street architecture. The entire roofing of the Hall has been put on, and the workmen are now engaged in finishing the inside work. It is intended to line the building throughout with polished lining boards, finished off by a decorated coiling, to erect a stage at the e:id suitable for dramatic .and musical performances, to ventilate it thoroughly, to make the approaches' thereto dry, wide, and easy of access in all -weathers, and generally to do nil that is necessary to make the "Masonic" a favorite and central place of rendezvous on all public occasions. The Masonic Brotherhood and the Odd Fellows society will hoM their me- at the Hall, and also celebrate their annual festive gatherings As a ball room it is unequalled on the C 'ast: the area being 51 feet by Riving soone and verge enough t'er a multitu le of dancers

Complaints are made that the road to Tejitun fro u the Bidler landing is utterly n jglected and getting into sad repair, from t ie lack of any work thereon by surface men. Fiv • or s ; x hands employed jint now, micrlit do a great deal towards filling np holr-s, strengbening weak places, and generally putting in tbo proverbial stitch in time, but if the road is much lorger neglected, tin u'iimato expense of repain

will be something considerable. Carrier! and travellers generally, complain that while gangs of men are constantly employed on the ioad from Greyuuouth to Keefton, not a shilling is expen.led on this side. The ferry boat at the Ohika crossing, « few days since, slipped her moorings and was carried away down stream before the owner had any chance of stopping her sudden expedition. Passengers are now ferried across in the primitive punt that originally did fluty there; x>ending the building of a new boat. Orders have been given by the Provincial Government for the survey of site for the pier heads at the Ngahawhau river; to be built in accordance with the recommendations of Dr Hector and the Provincial Engineer. A party of three or four men have lately been prospecting the country between the Lyell and Inangab.ua districts and have succeaded in striking payable alluvial ground ou the head of Lara's Creek. They found rough nuggety gold, weighing to 4 dwts, but the sinking was very wet, and as the men ran short of provisions they were unable to do much, but they were at the Lyell a few days since for tucker and have gone out again.

The concert on Tuesday at Sheahan's Theatre ltoyal, passed off with the accustomed pecuniary success attending amateur entertainments in Westport. Despite threatening clouds and a premonitory drizzle, giving uninistakeable warning of a wet night, a large audience assembled, the boxes were closely packed, and the body of the hall comfortably thronged. Of the performance it is hardly necessary to soar into exuberant praise. The gentlemen who lent their assistance, did so with the ostensible purpose of giving Mr Crawford a benefit in return for hi 3 services to the Social Entertainment Committee, and their intention, so far, was commendable and a success ; but if their musical efforts did not achieve the standard of excellence which previous friendly heralding had led the more sanguine to anticipate, such may be attributed to the weather, the roads, the room, the iiir, the whooping cough, Nelson beer, cheap tobacco, Westland Shares, the riso in milk, indigestion, politics on the brain, whitebait surfeit, or to any thing rather than lack of confidence or ability. In fact the entertainment suited excellently well every purpose for which it was devised. The audience came prepared to be pleased; they praised everything, encored everything, were hilarious to a degree even at the most sentimental warbling, enjoyed intensly the many funniments of the scene, laughed consuinedly at the unrehearsed effects, applauded to the echo those who could sing and those who could not, enjoyed themselves amazingly, and then, unrepiningly wended their way homeward through mud, and rain, and gathering gloom, when all was over. What move need be placid on record.? The road men and others lately employed on the No 1 section of t*.e Inangabua Road, and who have hitherto been kept out of their wages, in consequence of the sudden absconding of the contractor, Mr W. Ferris. will in a few days, get their money ; as also the storekeepers who supplied him with stores and working material, action having bte i taken under the Contractors' Li in Act, authorising payment of the respective sums due, from moneys retained by the government. The amounts owing vary from .£3O to £4O, and to many of the men the delay in settlement has been a loss and deprivation. Under the provisions of the Sharebrokers Amendment Act, 1872, it is enacted that all fees for the issue of sharcbroker's licenses shall form part of the ordinary revenue of the province wherein puch licenses are issued.

A correspondent of the Wairarapa 'Standard , suggests as a motto for the paper *' Advance Wairarapa." In answer, the editor suggests a much more practical one, " Pay in Advance, Wairarapa."