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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1151, 17 February 1874, Page 2

Ckarles Edward close ab 10 a.m. this clay Tuesday, the 17th instant. Attention is called to the advertisement convening a public meeting at the Masonic Hall this evening to consider the desirability of erecting a monument to the late Mr T. A. S. TCynnorsloy, as a memorial of his connection witlrtho Nelson South-West Ooldfiolds. The chair will be taken by J. \V. Humphrey, Esq., Mayor, punctually at 8 p.m. His Honor Judge Harvey is expected to arrive by the Charles Edward to-day, and will hold Court at Charleston on the 20th instant.

There was a crowded congregation present on Sunday evening at the United Free Methodist Chapel in Wallabi street, the occasion being the preaching of a farewell sermon by the Kev. J. White, previous to bis departure for Napier. It must have been eminently gratifying to him, as also to the office-bearers of the Church to sec so many assemble to listen to his valedictory words. The reverend gentleman preached from the text, Acts of the Apostles, 20th chapter, 26th, 27th, and 32nd verses, and gave a concise though vigorous sketch of his clerical labors in Westport. Congratulatory in the main and hopeful, but yet tinged with regrets that adverse and varying circumstances had prevented more being accomplished. Last evening a few friends of the Rev. Mr White presented him with a purse of money, and the following flattering testimonial :—" To the Rev. Joseph White, Pastor of the Methodist Free Church, Westport.—Dear Sir,—We the undersigned beg you to accept this small tribute of our esteem and appreciation of the manner in which you have performed the arduous duties that have devolved upon you as pastor of the above church.—We feel that wo should bo remiss in our duty and ungrateful for the means of grac; afforded through your preaching did we

allow you to depart without this acknowledgment,—Trusting that Ho who has hitherto guided and directed you, will continue to bless yourself and family with happiness and prosperity is tho earnest heartfelt wish of (ho undesigned. (Here follow signatures.)

Another batch of 03 Chinamen went south by the Kennedy, the fore-deck of the vessel as she came in yesterday being thronged with Celestials bound for Greyinonth and Hokitika. She also brought several new arrivals from Europe, per ship Ocean Mail. Mr Bob. Whyte has completed the removal of his stock of clothing and dr;ipery from Lyttelton street, and has opened his now premises iu Palmeiston street where he makes a goodly show that should attract admiration and a host of custom.

In all probability the Borough Council will obtain a portion of the money resulting from the recent sale of town sections, and will thus be in a position to at once commence some of the needed town improvements. The Provincial Government should be liberal in apportionment of the money. It would bo perhaps too much to ask that the whole sum should be handed over, taking into account the weakness of the Provincial exchequer, but the greater share should fall to Westpoit, where its expen liture is most urgently needed. Messrs F, Rehborg & Co. are, with their a customed celerity, running up a new building at the corner of Palmerston and Nelson streets for Messrs Graves and Fleming. The new drapery store when completed will, judging f'om the framework already erected, form an imposing addition to the business premises fast springing up in that particular locality.

Coal is now olFered to masters of steam and sailing craft from the shoot of the Albion mine, Ngakawhau, for eight shillings per ton. At the meeting of the Westport District School Committee held on Friday evening last it was decidedjamong other incidental matters that applications should be invited for the office of assistant female teacher, in lieu of the present monitress ; that pipes and tank should be erected for supply of water to the school, and that a letter from the head teacher, having reference to the comparative rates of salary purposed to be paid the second and third teachers, should be referred to Mr Hodgson, the Inspector of schools, on his official visit to Westport in March next.

T B. Shapler, Esq., M.P.C., and Goldfields member, returned by the Kennedy from Nelson yesterday.

The New Zealand Gazette of the 12th instant notifies that bis Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint John Wilson Humphrey, Esq., J.P., to be a Visiting Justice of the Prison at Westport. The optic nerves of the conductor of the Buller News must have exercised a more than usually oblique influence when he notices " that the Times of yesterday morning had fallen into the same error" as he has done in stating the price of a section sold in Palmerston Street at £ll 10s, instead of £ 111 10s. The Times published in its list of prices given the correct figures, namely £lll. The Colonist says:—On Tuesday Mr Huddlestone, the indefatigable manager of acclimatisation matters in Nelson, took from the Maitai, from a pool just above Nile street Bridge, a trout nine pounds in weight. It is almost needless to say, it was placed before Mr Vogel at H.o TMihlin a:~ n-~ —-- ~-™;„cr ~„a many were the gustatory ejaculations with which its disappearance was accompanied. On Sunday last a little boy named Albert Benjamin, while fishing on the Hokitika wharf, fell into the water. The children who had been with him ran away instead of raising an alarm, and the boy floated for several minutes before he was observed by some men on board the Sea Bird. They immediately jumped ashore, and there being no ropes within reach, they threw to the drowning boy the end of a gutta percha hose which lay on the wharf. The child must by that time have been insensible, as although the hose reached him, he made no attempt to seize it, and almost immediately sunk.

Some parcels of Break-o'-Day and Monte Christo shares, lately in tho market, have been withdrawn. Interests in either claim having become valuable.

Tho coal heavers and other men employed in tho Brunnev mine have struck work because a reduction of sixpence petton has been made in their wages, and also because, as they assort, a dangerous system of working has been adopted, and an incompetent manager anpointcd. Messrs M'Carthy and Hughes, on behalf of the lessees, justify the reduction of wages as U. e only means in their power of lowering the price of coal, and thus increasing the trade of tho port.