The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 133, 3 January 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1868.

The time for the election of the additional member for "Westport is fast approaching, but as yet, nobody has made any sign. 'Tis true various names have been mentioned, and various candidates have been speculated upon, but nothing definite has come of it. The only name that has come prominently before the public is that of the Hev. Mr M'Lean, who is a man of education and ability, but there is one drawback to him—he is a

Nelson man, and we do not wanfl Nelson men if we can find a local man, one who understands the wants of the district and is fully conversant with its requirements. We do not care for a brilliant debater, for his powers in that line would be lost upon the Nelson Provincial Council, but we want a practical man —a man with a fair amount of common sense, who will ask the reason why, and press before the Council the necessities of the district, and who will be fearless in the exposure of all abuses, and not likely to be drawn into cliquism. The wants of the Buller district are so multifarious that it would be a vain attempt to enumerate them, but to a practical man, who knows what he is about when the right moment arises, he will press the matter forward, not so much in flowers of rhetoric, but in the plain unanswerable ianguage of facts and common sense. "We have said before that those men are among us, and they only require to come forward, and they need not fear the result. "We do not want gentlemen to be elected at the last moment because we have nobody desirous ef the honor, for in such a case our representative, who might have no interest in the place, Avould do us more harm than good. It is not at all improbable but that a well-known merchant will come forward Avhose intimate acquaintance with the wants of the district and thorough business habits will render him not only a desirable candidate, but a useful member. The disposition on the part of Nelson gentlemen is to endeavor to render the wants of this district subsidiary to those of Nelson, where their greatest interests are at stake. This is but natural, and therefore our candidate should be one whose interests are the more immediately bound up with this district. What we require are local works, and the man who knows more about those wants and who will not be put down by " tall talk," is the man to represent the Buller District in the Provincial Council.

Charleston. —We are Borry to saythat we have not received our Charleston correspondent's letter on account of the heavy floods in the river; and we trust it will he looked over on this occasion, it being the first time since we combined the Charleston Argus with the Westport Times that the above has happened.

Hospital Retuens. —Number of inmates in the Hospital on the Ist of January, 7 ; taken in during the past month, 16 ; died, 2 ; sent to Nelson. 1; discharged, 14.

Christmas Spouts fob Children. —On New Year's Hay, about fifty children were conveyed, through the kindness of Messrs Alcorn and Woolfe, to the scene of the late Christmas Sports —the Maori Reserve. When they arrived there, the children set about enjoying themselves with a hearty good-will with balls, swings, &c, under the direction of Mr M'Leau. After they had enjoyed themselves in this manner for some time, they adjourned to Mr '.Morey's booth for refreshments. Sports were then resumed, and after a while, the Rev. Mr Harvey, the Rev. Mr Dickson, Messrs Frazer, Niel, and others addressed them ; and several hymns having been sung, the Rev. Mr Harvey complimented Mr Frazer ou the proficiency they had attained. Three cheers having been given for tho donors of the treat, the children separated, quite delighted with the little treat.

The "Weather. The weather throughout the day has been showery, with frequent gusts of wind. The river rose very high in consequence of the fresh, and much damage, has been done to the wharves, banks of the river, &c. There was a break in tho weather last night, and it seSmed as if it was inclined to clear up for a while. Lunar Rainbow.—A fine lunar rainbow was observed last night about nine o'clock, but it was only visible for a short time. Accident on Board the s.s. Kennedy.—The West Coast Times of the Ist inst says : —A sad accident happened on board the s.s. Kennedy, yesterday, to one of the seamen named Charles Grrimble, and has, we fear, been productive of serious injury to the poor fellow. It appears he was blacking the top of the smoke stack, and to reach his work stood upon the top rong of an insecurely fastened ladder, which, tilting from under him, he fell heavily upon the deck, striking his head with great force against the rail. He was picked up insensible, bleeding from both ears, and a messenger was immediately despatched by Captain Carey for Dr Dermott, who quickly attended, and having examined the suii'erer, recommended his removal to the hospital so soon as consciousaiess returned. He partially recovered, "and two hours later was taken to the hospital, but appeared unable to realise his condition, as he muttered

incoherently, and shortly after being admitted relapsed into a state of insensibility. Dr Dermott fears that the base of the skull is injured.