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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1224, 30 October 1874, Page 2

We have to acknowledge tho receipt from the publisher of a copy of Archdeacon Stock's useful little manual "Astronomy of the Southern Hemisphere" and also a copy of a lecture delivered by the Arch-

deacon at the Provincial Hall Wellington on the " transit of Venus, and how to observe it." From the latter we shall make extmcts which will hardly fail to prove interesting. Mails per Kennedy will close at 10.30 a.m. to-day for Nelson and the north. We understand on good authority that some of the recent changes in the Warden's offices have been reviewed and again changed. Mr Earnest Kelling, who was so recently appointed to Eeefton, has been removed to Nelson, vice Mr Hodgson. Mr 11. Lucas, who had summary notice to quit, ha 3 returned to Keefton vice Mr Rolling, What is to be done with Mr Hodgson has not yet transpired. The second drawing of tickets in the Empire Swcp took place list evening, and the Committee will exercise every possible precaution to prevent any mischance to mar its successful issue. As a matter of course some misconception has arisen as to the balk made on Tuesday, and the owner of the ticket against which the horse Goldsborough was drawn, has protested against any furtherdrawing, but the whole arrangement rests in the hands of the Committee, and under the circumstances they appear to have done what was right and just in the interests of all parties. A ticket, for which one pound had been paid, and which ticket should have been put in the bag or box used with the others was found on the floor, either having accidentally dropped there or never having been drawn. The owner of that ticket of course had right to protest, and the Committee having previous to the commencement of the drawing declared that if any accident arose in the drawing, or its record, they would rectify it as they thought most right and expedient, decided that the drawing was null and void, and should bo commenced anew. The foregoing appeared in the Evening Star last night. The drawing was held as stated, but had not concluded at the hour of our going to press. Two casualty cases were admitted to the Hospital yesterday. One man suffering from a broken thigh bone, owing to an accident at VVeitzel's saw mill, and another from a bruised finger, occasioned in handling the railway material now being discharged from the Marion, For the present any dearth of fresh meat in Westport is stayed. The steamers Kennedy and St. Kilda having brought good supplies of beef and mutton. The selling prices are rising towards famine rates. Lurline. as we learn by the telegram of news from Melbourne, is regarded with considerable favor as a candidate for the Melbourne Cup. Her latest price was 100 to 8, hut her last gallops had so pleased the " Early-birds," " Augurs," and other sporting reporters who visit the Flemiugton training-course at the earliest dawn, that she was expected to become rather a warm favorite. We acknowledge with thanks the receipt from the Government printer of the remainder of the Statutes of New Zealand, passed during the last session of Parliament, and also the debates reported in Hansard. The challenge cup to be competed for at the forthcoming meeting of the Greyrnouth Horticultural Society has arrived from Melbourne. It is a very handsome silver epergne, the support being a native fern tree, beneath which the principal ornament is an emu. The only persons eligible to compete for this prize are amateur members of the Society, and it will be given to the one who succeeds in producing the best collection of vegetables three time 3. The discharge of railway material m the hold of the schooner Marion is proceeding as expeditiously as circumstances will permit, although the contractors for the job are not likely to make high wages. As traffic increases to the port possibly a wharf crane will be found a profltable'investment. We learn from the West Coast Times that the new Provincial seal arrived lately from Melbourne. The design is a very simple one, but, at the same, time, exceedingly appropriate. It consists of a fern tree, with five fronds, under which two kiwis are in the act of feeding. Around the upper edge are the words, " Province of AVestland," and at the lower the Latin quotation, " Et mea messis erit." The impression is clear and well defined. A four-inoh wire rope, intended for the suspension bridge over the Grey Eiver at Brunnertou, has been landed from the schooner Florence at Wellington, and also a large quantity of rails for the Bruuner line. The last flood at Greymouth and the erection of a new fence round the Courthouse there has spoiled the practice ground of the Greymouth Cricket Club. At a recent meeting it was resolved to ascertain if a temporary cricket ground could be got for this season ; also that the committee interview the Sports Committee in connection with calling a public meeting for the purpose of getting a permanent recreation ground for the Town of Greymouth.' The men employed on the Bowen and Okarito road, at the south end, have instituted a system well worthy of imitation. Every man, says the Koss Guardian, subscribes 2s Gd a week towards a prospecting fund, and thereby are enabled to keep three men out trying the country adjacent to the road. The party have been out about six weeks, and have met with very fair prospects. Messrs D. Maclean & Co., the well known auctioneers at Greymouth have been succeeded by Messrs Girdwood, Lahman and Co. Is or i 3 not a bank-note money ? was the question upon which the guilt or innocence of a prisoner hinged in a magistrate's court in Otago lately. The accused had obtained two notes and 20s in silver by means of a valueless cheque. Counsel for the defence contended that bank-notes were not money but valuable securities, and, as the accused was charged with having obtained money, he held that the information would have to be dismissed. The magistrate held the objection to be fatal, and discharged the accused, but without prejudice to a fresh information being laid against him. Tho Lyell Argus has been compelled to miss publication of one issue for want of paper. The Grey Kiver Argus is now printed by steam, tho engine of three horse-powor, on thepondulum principle, having been supplied by Messrs Roe and Sewell of Greymouth. Tho Eeefton Cricket Club has been resuscitated and the members resolve " That the yearly subscription be 10s, with a monthly subscription of 2s Gd; but in tho event of any member paying ,£1 in advance, such sum shall exempt him from further ! payment during that season." Eeferring to tho unmitigated twaddle sent by the Press Agency to their clients tho Grey Argus again complains of the want of discretion shown, and says, wo are favoured with an account of certain proceedings in tho Auckland Diocesan Synod, but wo fail to recognise anything in the

message of so much iraportanco as to warrant its being'flaslied from one end of the Colony to tho other. We suspect it is a matter of comparative indifference to most people whether "young clergymen" turn to the East or to the West, or perform any other vagaries. At any rate, we object to pay for telegrams of this sort. The Lvell Argus gives currency to a rumor that an extensive gold robbery lias taken place from a miner's hut on the banks of tho Maruia. As yet no information has been given the police. llij Honor Judge Harvey was a passenger from the South L>y the Charles Edward on Wednesday morning. He will hold Court at Westport on Monday next. The business will probably occupy two daya. Mr George Clark, armed with a memorial from residents in Westport, started on his mission to Nelson on Wednesday as plenipotentiary extraordinary to plead with the Waste Lands Board against the sale of sections now used as continuation of Lyttelton and Nelson streets. The Ross Guardian learns that private advices from Wellington state that the sentence of three years' imprisonment passed uponS. M. Spiers, late postmaster at Ross, for embezzlement, has been commuted to fifteen months. Tho Grey Eiyer Argus of tho 24th inst. is glad to learn that the difficulties in the waj of a settlement between the General Government , and the section-holders of Richmond Quay have been so far removed that only one or two of the sections remain in abeyance as regards the question of compensation, but Mr Johnstone expects to settle them in a few days. Tho Westland Register says:—Our "editorial sanctum being situated near the Drill Shed, we have had the pleasure of listening for hours to the promising performance of the Volunteer Cadets on their newly.purchased drums and fifes. We, as well as the drums, were much struck with the vigor of the drummers, but there was a sameness about the execution, and an absence of light and shade, which became wearisome. We would suggest Weld street as a capital place for the next rehearsal of the youthful band, as it is only fair to give our morning contemporary an opportunity of criticising the music. Another unpleasantness has occurred in the management of the Hokitika Hospital. The matiort' has resigned, the housesurgeon having charged her with permitting the convalscent male patients to visit the female wards. An enquiry has been made, which proceeding the West Coast Times remarks seemed remarkably like shutting tho stable door after tho steed has beeu stolen, but it may have the effect of bringing on another.