News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 127, 22 October 1868, Page 2

News of the Day.

Total Destruction of the Jetties at Westport. — A telegram received from Westport states that the whole of the jetties on the Buller, which had just cost the province upwards of £2,000, were carried away during the storm of Thursday night last. This is the more serious, happening nt a time wheu there are no funds available to repair the damage. Effects of toe Earthquake at Collingwood. — By the return of the Lady Barkly from Massacre Bay, we learn that at Collingwood the earthquake was more violent than afc any place we know of. Every chimney iv the town being either thrown down or injured. The Late Earthquake. — Two or three slight earth-tremors were felt early on Tuesday morning, but no shocks have been experienced since those already mentioned by us. A correspondent, writing from Waimea East, states that the shock which occurred early on Monday morning was fell; severely in that district, spilling the milk in some instances from the pans in dairies, but doing no damage. From Marlborough we learn the Bhock was felt about as violent in Blenheim and Pieton as here, but further south it was less violent, at the Cheviot Hills being only just perceptible. Theatre of Varieties — We were glad to see on Tuesday evening a well-filled house at the Odd Fellows' Hall, on the occasion of the benefit to Miss Annie Merton and Mr. J. Black. The first part of the performance consisted of well selected scenes from the Honeymoon, and as we expected, Mr. and Mrs. Newton as the DuJce and Juliana, and Mr. J. Black as Jacques, and afterwards as Lopez, gave a very pleasing entertainment. In the latter character, when Lopez calls upon the Duke and his wife in their humble dwelling to invite them to a rural dance, and partakes too freely of the hospitality offered him, the stages of intoxication passed through as his entertainer helps him to glass after glass of wive, was in its way the most finished piece of acting we have seen for a long time. In the musical interlude, we had from Mr. J. Black the " Laird o' Cockpen," capitally sung, the very old but genuine Irish song of " Captain Mulligan," and the Ballad Singers duet, with Miss Annie Merton ; and as encores, the Gipsy duet, a Scotch version of the "Ratcatcher's Daughter," and a capital Scotch story. Miss Annie Merton also sang, with great applause, "Barney O'Hea," and read " Mrs. Caudle's Lecture " on Caudle becoming a Mason, with considerable elfect. Mr. Newton contributed also to this part of the entertainment by reading Tennyson's famous "Charge of the Light Brigade," and singing a pleasing little ballad. The performance concluded with the Widow's Stratagem, and we may sny of the whole evening's entertainlnenfc that it was thoroughly enjoyed, if hearty and repeated laughter may be accepted as a token of pleasure. We observe that through a delay in the sailing of the steamer for Auckland, another porformance will be given this evening, to be for the benefit of Mr. Newton. Accident on the Beach Tramway. — On Monday, about midnight, Dr. Cotterell, in riding up the Beach-road, met with a painful accident iv crossing the trairway lately laid down between the Government wharf and the new bonding store. The rails, we are told, had not been protected by gravel, and in passing over them the horso tripped and fell heavily, throwing his rider to the ground with great violeuce. On recovering from the stunning blow he received on his head, Dr. Cotterell found he had dislocated his shoulder, and sustained several bruises. Constable Shaw, who was at hand, under Dr. Cofcterell's direction reduced the dislocation, and a cab being obtained, the unfortunate gentleman was conveyed home. We are glad to be able to say i>r. Colterell is now fast recovering. Drowning ix the Wairau.— A young man named Arthur Kinsey, son of a clergyman iv the West of England, who, together with his brother, emigrated to Nelson some ten years ago, was drowned in the Wairau Kiver, on Sunday last. The only particulars we have of the accident is, that on the day named, Kinsey left the Accommodation House near Manuka Island to cross the river for Birch Hill, carrying a rifle at his back, and that his horse was afterwards found riderless. Search was being made for the body, but no intelligence of its I having been found had reached Blenheim on Tuesday | morning.