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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 170, 15 February 1868, Page 2

Donations to the Hospital.--Dr Rockstrow, surgeon to the Hospital, reports having received a parcel of old linen from an anonymous friend. It is to be hoped that this example will be followed, as linen is much required from the nature of the cases generally to be treated. The Nathan Troupe.—This talented troupe had a well-filled house last evening, and from the manner in which the audience testified their approbation, their exertions seemed to be appreciated. Tonight there will be an entire change of performance. The Simonsens.—ln consequence of the non-arrival of the steamer from Nelson, the first performance of these talented artistes is unavoidably postponed till Wednesday next the 19 th inst, on which occasion Madame Simonsen will perform in character the celebrated scena d'Entrada, from the first act of Bellini's opera " La Somnambula," and the Miserere scene from " II Trovatore." They will also make their first appearance in Charleston on the following day. The Queensland Diggings.—The Maryborough Ghromcle says: It appears that matters still wear the same flourishing aspect on (xympie goldfield

that they maintained from the very first. The most unlikely places are found to turn up rich finds of the precious metal. It is stated that a nugget of thirty-eight ounces was turned up at White's Gully on Thursday or Friday last. It is estimated that only about twenty per cent, of the miners eugaged are really unsuccessful—an unexampled small proportion, it must be admitted, on any field. On jbhe other hand, the state of the township as regards heat and dust defies description, and, if rain does not fall soon, a severe loss will be sustained by storekeepers from the unavoidable depreciation of their stocks by clouds of finely pulverised soil. Remabkable Case of Incexdiaeism.—The details of a remarkable case of incendiarism at Marlborough are given in the Marlborough Express : It seems that on Saturday week Mr Frederick Williams found it necessary to punish a boy in his employ named Ward, whereupon the young rascal deliberately went into the house, and having procured a box of matches applied the light to one of the stacks of grain, which had only that day been thatched, and in a few minutes the whole of this year's harvest, comprising four stacks, was utterly destroyed, to the value of between £4OO and £SOO. The boy decamped, but was afterwards caught, when he confessed his guilt, and was to some extent pardoned by his master. His guardian came to Mr Williams' house on Thursday, and after his departure the boy was locked up in a room. Immediately afterwards the house was discovered to be on fire in a passage upon which the room in which the boy was locked up opened. A little girl in the house unfastened the room and set the boy at liberty. The latter immediately disappeared in the manuka scrub, and has not been heard of since. The house was destroyed, with everything in it, save a sewing-machine. It is doubtful whether or not the second fire owes its origin to the lad.