BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

West Coast Times, Issue 594, 20 August 1867, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

( FBOM OUB OWN" COBBESPONDENT.)

Chkisxchurch, Monday, 12.20 p.m.

Arrived — the Phoebe and the Taranaki from the South, with the English mail on board ; and the Otago from the North.

Auckland dates to hand to the 11th

Tho Goldfields at the Thames are a failure. Out of 000 persons on the ground, only about 60 are working.

The best prospect obtained has been one pennyweight to the load. The sinking is deep, with lots of water.

The summary of English news brought to the Bluff by the Kangitoto, on Saturday, was immediately telegraphed to us by our correspondent, and received by us early in the afternoon. We declined to issue it in a special edition of the West Coast Times, in compliance with the policy we recently announced of not interfering with the legitimate functions of an evening newspaper, so long as its conductors did their duty to tho public who support them. As our evening contemporary states that several errors crept into the English news as published by him, and as he may possibly be desirous of correcting them, we shall be happy to afford him the assistance of own own copy of the message to enable him to do so, if he will make application to us.

A serious accident, happily unattended with fatal consequence, but resulting in injury to a lady, took place yesterday on the Kauieri Tramway. About three o'clock in the afternoon, as a carriage was coming down the tramway into town, and when near Manuel's, a large tree suddenly fell across the carriage, smashing it to pieces. The horse and the driver escaped unhurt, but the only passenger, Mrs M'Konzic, received a cut above the eyes, and was bruised about several parts of the body. She was at once conveyed to her own residence, and a messenger from the company despatched to town for Dr Dermott, who, on hurrying to the Hokitika Terminus, found a special carriage waiting to convey him to Mrs M'Kenzio's house. He found her suffering from the shock to the' system, but ho does not anticipate that any serious consequences will result from the accident.

Last Tuesday, Mr Thompson, carriagedriver on the Kanieri Tramway, picked up on the line near the house which is building for Mr Abbott, a purse containing LlO2 10s, which he immediately took to Mr Smith, the company's manager. Mr Smith retained it for a fow days, thinking thai enquiry would be made concerning it ; but as no claimant appeared, he advertised the purse in our columns. Yesterday, Mr Hartuctt called on Mr Smith, and on his accurately describing the purse and its contents, they were at once handed to him. Mr Hartnett thereupon presented the driver with LlO. We may mention that this is not the fir3t occasion on which Mr Thompson has made valuable "finds," and restoring them to their respective owners.

A report was prevalent in town yesterday afternoon that John Smith, who was taken to the Hospital on Tuesday, suffering from a fracture of the skull, consequent on his being struck with an axe on the head by Griffith Jones, had died from the injuries received. After dae inquiries, wo can trace the report to no authentic source — on the contrary, we are informed that, although the patient is still in a precarious state, reasonable hopes nre entertained of his recovery.

A meeting of the Council of the Westland Separation League was held last evening at the Empire Hotel, the Tiee-President in the chair. Mr Barff gave a report of his visit to Ross, where he held a crowded public meeting, at which resolutions in favor of Separation were unanimously passed, and a local committee appointed to co-operate with the Council of the League. A letter was received from Mr Osborne, resigning his seat in the Council. A letter, which ajipcnrs in another column, was received from other gentlemen. It was finally arranged that Messrs Barff and Shaw Bhould visit Greymouth on Wednesday, and Ruthcrglcn on Thursday, as a deputation from the League.

Despite thp very unfavorable weather — for it rained in torrents — there was a good house nt the City Theatre last evening, when Mr and Mrs W. O'Neil again appeared for a short season prior to their departure for Dunedin. Tho pieces selected were " The Irish Emigrant," and " Delicate Ground." In the former, Mr O'Neil, who played the character of O'Bryan to perfection, was ably supported by Mr F. Towers as Tom Bobliuk ; Mi" Inglos, as Granite ; and Mr S. Wolfe, as Henry Travoi-s. Mrs O'Neil played Polly Bobliuk with a great archness ; and Miss Buckingham made a capital Grimgriskiu. Iv " Dclicato Ground," Mr Frank Towers played the part of Citizen Sangfroid most effectively ; Miss Buckingham acting as Pauline, and Mr Wolfe as Alphonse. The manager of the City Theatre, Mr Ingles, deserves the support of the public fov tho efforts he is making for their amusement, aud we believe that tbose efforts will not bo allowed to pass over unappreciated. To-night, Mr and Mrs O'Neil will again appear.

The " Grey Argus," of Saturday last, supplies the following paragraph : — The city of Nelson hns again been visited by a serious fire, which has destroyed a large amount of property. It commenced on Wednesday morning in the. store and dwelling of Mr Askew, in Bridge street. Immediate efforts were made to extinguish it, but the fire spread so rapidly, that the inmates had barely time to cscnpe with their lives. Speedidly tho extensive stores of Wilkie and Co. took fire, and were quickly destroyed ; a large quantity of the stock was, however, removed in safety. The drapery shop of Mr Hyam Davis next fell a victim to tho flames, and after that came Mr Hornby's auction mart, both buildings and their contents being destroyed. Two small houses were also burnt. The progress of the fire was stopped at about 8 o'clock, after raging for two hours. Tho total estimated damage is L 13,000, of which LIO.OOO is covered by insurance.

To Bad Boys. — See what your end may be. A papor in a scientific magazine has tliis awful heading — " Skelotou of the Purplo Urchin." Take warning and be good, and avoid tho jam cupboard. — " Punch."