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Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1135, 23 December 1873, Page 2

Christmas being, according to printers' custom, a trade holiday, the next issue of the Westi-ori' Times will go to press tomorrow (Wednesday), and will be issued as usual on Friday. Casual advertisers will, ther afore, please send in their orders not later than 8 p.m. to-morrow. Christmas und Good Friday are the only holidays in the year that the press claim as a right, and we doubt not that our readers will willingly accord the usual privilege. A programme has been issued at Charleston for sports on the 20th and 27th instant, and offering prizes to the amount of £SB. The_ principal stipulation being three entries for each event or no prize. At the P.M. Court, held at Charleston on on the 18th instant, John Hogan and James Hickey were sentenced each to two months imprisonment in Westport jail, with hard labor, for having committed a cowardly and brutal assault on Joseph Drumgool, on the night of the Suporintendency election. There will be a general census of the Colony in the year 1874. The month in winch it will be taken is, however, not yet fixed, and is subject to the appointment of the Governor in Council. The Wellington Independentis responsible for the following :—" The vicissitudes of fortune are sometimes queer. Te Kooti throws by the shield of Mars for the tankard of Bacchus, preferring rum to gunpowder; TeTawhiao pours oat libations of laspberry wine to the God of Peace. So Mr James Duigan, erstwhile editor and proprietor of the Wanganui Chvonicle, is now devoting his literary genius to the brewing of beer." The-heavy rain falling last night is likely to make the running heavy on the Orawaiti Course, unless between now and Friday some good drying winds prevail, a contingency not likely to occur, if present weather indications are to be relied on. It is notified in our advertising columns that, according to customary religious observance, midnight mass will be celebrated on Christmas Eve at St Cannice's Church. To-morrow evening an amateur concert will be given at M'Enroe's Hotel, Addison's, in aid of the funds of the Westport District Hospital, and if then fine weather should prevail the Addisonians anticipate the pleasure of a visit from several of their Westport acquaintances. The entertainment promises to be a decided success. The Westport School ". broke up " for the Christmas holidays on Friday last. After the recess the usual examination will be held, and prizes distributed. The holidays will last five weeks. Mr Voriey is again to the fore in Palmerston street, and every fine day should see a crowd of visitors at his studio. He ha 3 brought his photographic skill to such perfection, and his every appliance is perfect in its kind, that failure in taking strikingpictures is never dreamt of. His patrons are all delighted. Another addition to the buildings in Falmerston street will be shortly commenced. Messrs Thompson, Smith, and Barkley having secured an eligible sife immediately above the new Empire Hotel, have arranged for the erection of new premises, to be completed by. the end of January next. The plans prepared show a roomy and well designed drapery store, with glass front and verandah, and loftyjfacade. The building, when completed, will be a prominent feature in Palmerston street. A gentle reinindeo, may not be out of place that the Bazaar in aid of the St John's Church Funds will be opened on Boxing.Day, and that the ladies who have consented to preside on the occasion are quite ready to receive contributions. The pack track to Giles and Caledonian has been obstructed for some days past by fallen trees, necessitating winding round about fcb rough soft ground where accidents are very likely to occur. The subject has been represented to the District Eoad Board, ani the obstructions will be at once removed. A suggestion has been made by a lady resident in Westport, worthy the attention of the Pace and Sports Committee, the more especially as it has reference to the comfort of lady visitors to to the course. It is this. At the last race meeting the service of the Westport Brass Band were secured, and the music considerably enlivened proceedings. But the band was stationed in. the frontseats of the Grand Stand, and lady visitors were compelled to endure the noise of drum and cymbals, and blatantitrumpets, in too close proximity. As distance lends enchantmont to the viow. so distance tends to harmony, and it is suggested that at the forthcoming races the members of the band may bo located at some little distance off, in a small stand to themselves j for their own convenience, and for tho more due appreciation of their efforts to please. Mr Wright, Government Lifo Assurance Agent is now in tho Charleston District but will return to Westport in a few days, and will again transact business with intending assurers.

The Nelson Evening Mail of the 18th instant, says : —A dinner, to which about fifty sat down was given last night to Mr O'Conor at M'Geo's hotel, the chair being taken by Mr C. L. Maclean. The visual loyal toasts having been disposed of, the chairman proposed the health of the guest of the evening, which was drunk with all tho honors, Mr O'Conor returning thanks in a lengthy and eloquent speech. Mr John Graham then proposed the health of the Superintendent and Executive Council, which was responded to by'Mr Burn. Tho next toast was that of the Committees of both candidates, proposed by Mr T. Harley, and responded to on behalf of Mr O'Conor's Committee by Mr C. Perceval, and for Mr Curtis's Committee by Mr J. Harley. The " Press," and several other toasts were proposed and drunk with mnsical honors, and tho meeting was enlivened by many capital song?. The dinner was an excellent one, being placed on the table in Mr M'Gee's well known style. The Eecfton Herald, of the 17th instant, reports that the reef in tho Golden Ledge claim has opened out to a width of 7 feet, and that shares at greatly advanced rates are eagerly sought for. The right to orect booths and stalls on the Charleston race-course realised under Mr Tom Dwan's manipulation, tho sum of j£43 10s, and the right for booths at the sports, to be held on tho 26th and 27th in.stant £l4 ss. Total ,£57 15s.

At the distribution of prizes at the Bishop's School, Nelson, "West Coast boys were recipients of well won honors. In the Upper form, F. V. Waters, of Greymouth, won the first prize in Holy Scripture, Latin, English, Geography and History. John Munro, of Westport, first prize in French and second prize in Latin* Hanwell Williams, of Greymouth, a special prize for general progress, and in the Lower form the prize for reading was won by W. Williams, of Greymouth.