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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1026, 29 November 1872, Page 2

Mails for the Australian Colouies, via Melbourne, close at Greymouth at 4 p.m. and at Hokitika at 5 p.m. to-day. Telegrams should be sent from hence an hour or two earlier. Latest reports from Anderson's gives two ounces to the ton. as the lowest anticipated results, when the plates are cleared up. The next crushing will most probably be better still as the stone to be taken from the lower level exceeds in richness the present crushing, with which a lot of mullock and inferior stone was unavoidably intermixed. The runaway German Jerry escancd drowning. It appears now that he was actually in tho charge of constable Chichester for two or three hours, but contrived to get away and plunging into the stream, swam ashoro safely. He is still lurking about the river. Some individuals, from accident or design, set fire to the coarse herbage on the Pahikis towards Dcadman's Creek during the past week, and thereby jeopardised the the growing garden crops cultivated with so_ much care by claimholders in their leisure hours. Now that the country has become so dry and parched, a match carelessly thrown down by a passing way-farer may be productive of much mischief, aud those who light fires and do not take care to effectually extinguish them need introduction to the police. TheEeefton Exhibition Committee have received quarts specimens from Anderson's, Invincible, Caledonian, Victorian, North Star, Dnergetic, Golden Ledge, Wealth of Nations, El Dorado, Just in' Time, United Band of Hope; Thompson's, and tho International. The specimens have been exhibited at the Court House. It is reported that a new line of reef has been traced at Gaffney'a but definite particulars are wanting. A township has been surveyed at Boatmans, to be called George Town, about a mile and a half from the reefs, Messrs Brunn and Archer are already building a substantial accommodation house aud store thereon.

The opening entertainment at the Masonic Hall attracted a crowded audience on Wednesday evening. The rush at the door reminding one of old playgoing days. Ina very few minutes after'the Tnoneytakera had cleared for action the hall was closely packed with a crowd of sightseers, eagerly expectant to witness the performances of the Japanese. In the interval prior to the raising of the curtain, ample time was afforded for comment upon the appearance and structure of the Hall, and the general expression of opinion wa3 favorable. The Hall loses in comparison, aa regards loftiness and breadth, with the Theatre Royal, but as a compact, substantially built, and comfortable room for aolect asssmblics or concerts, and as a lodge room for society meetings, the Masonic will supply what wa3 previously a very obvious void. The scenery by Mr Thornton is not yet quite completed, but sufficient of the artist's handiwork was displayed to give a fair idea or t.ie general effect to be hereafter produced. The Japanese performances may be best described as approaching as near as may be the acme of aero batic° excellence. Some of the feats were not altogether dissimilar from those in which European ' professors' excel, but they wore performed with unerring dexterity and after an eccentric fashion peculiar alone to the children of the Sun. Their special feats with tubs were marvellous exhibitions of nerve and skill, and the juggling tricks included many that Haselmayer has yet to learn. The performing monkeys were a source of infinite amusement, not alone to the young folk, whoso brightly beaming faces peered out from every point of vantage, but to children of a larger growth. The programme of performances was judiciously varied by some comic singing by Mr Tom Margctts, who as an exponent of the particular music hall style now in vogue created a favorable impression. Last evening Mr Joe Small also made his appearance, and by his comicalities caused his friends and admirers in the front to be as irrepressibly hilarious as ever. It is pity that the laws for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or soma similar measure, is not made to extend to the punishment of thoughtless or selfish parents, who, rather than forego a little momentary gratification themselves, choose to recklessly imperil the lives of their helpless offspring. For many weeks past the whooping-cough has raged in Westport, and the little one 3 in every household have suffered terribly. The most stringent rule laid down by medical advisers has been to protect the sufferers from the night air, and yet in face of this, against nil common sense, or even the instinct of motherly duty, several women dared to take th( ir offspring to the Japanese performances. The audience was tortured and distressed, and the whole pleasure of the evening marred by witnessing young infants struggling in momentarily recurring paroxysms ct suffocation. Mothers, if they are worthy the name, guilty of such idiotic recklessness deserve to be pilloried Preparations are being made for an amateur dramatic performance in aid of the Hospital Funds on New Year's Eve. Mr B. Strachan has the spectacular piece entitled the ' Cuban Slave ' in active preparation and other novelties are also promised. The Church Concert Committees meet this evening at the Post Office Tlotel, to arrango programmes and other preliminaries. The ' Gazette ' issued announces the new telegraph charges in force from the Ist January, aa follows:—Press, first 25 words, 6d; every additional, or fraction, Gd; Sun-

days, double rates. Universal tariff: From any station to any station, first ten words. Is; additional five, or fraction of five, 6d, Sundays, double. Mr Shephard, of Nelson hap contradicted a telegram by Grevillo stating that he expressed his dissatisfaction with the present Ministry. He says quite the contrary is the fact. The Ahaura races are fired for the 20th and 21st February, Athletic sports will be held there at Christmas time.

A raid has been made among the sly grog sellers in the Hecfiton district. John Williams, of Fern Fla;, and Margaret Hoarse, and Aunio Quadri, of Black's Point, have been charged by the police, and others have received warning. Ihe two first paid a tine of £2O each ; the latter elected to take it out in gaol. The Eev. Mr Flavoll, of Charleston, will take permanent charge of the Eeefton district about the first week in January according to present arrangements.

A hairdresser named Marks was found lying dead in his bed at Boss on Saturday last. A postmortem examination showed strong traces of prussic acid in the stomach of the deceased.

Informations laid against Drs Barclay and Kvison, for breaches of the Medical Practitioner's Act, at the Resident Magistrate s Court Stafford were dismissed. A charge cf manslaughter against Dr Barclay, was also dismissed. In Christchurch, a few days ago, £2OO even was offered, but refused, that Mitt" ebb's Eevoke colt would boat Mr Eobinson's Papapa in next year's Derby. G-reymouth is displaying strong vitality in County Council elections. Five candidates are already in the Held namely, Messra E. B. Fox, W. M. Cooper, \V. S. Smith, 11. H. Lahman and Martin Kennedy, each of whom have signified their consent to take the chances of a contested election. In Hokitika, on the contrary electioneering matters are quiescent. It is rumored in Auckland that Mr Luckie is to edit the ' Southern Cross' Mr Browne (late of the Hokitika and Greymouth * Stars," has left the ' Cross ' and accepted the sub-editorship of the ' Herald.'

It may be remembered that a considerable 'rave_' was made some months since, on the occasion of Mr Ormond's circular to the Superintendents of the various provinces referring to the employment of Chinese on the railway works, and in Otago especially did the miners strongly object thereto. But Brogden and Co., know too well the value of cheap labor, and tractable employees to forego any probable advantage to themselves in deference to public opinion. A recent exchange says:—"Mr John Ah Tong, of Wellington, Mr Brogden's agent, arrived in Tuapeka last week: If is mission is to procure Chinese labor for the construction of the Clutha Railway. He offers 5s Gd per day for Chinese laborers, and 8s per day for skilled workmen. lie has up to the present time been pretty successful, havinoobtained about 200 Celestials. The number required by Mr Brogden is about 500.