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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 186, 5 March 1868, Page 2

Tiie Coubt-House. Every one who has attended the Court-House of our town can bear testimony to the inconvenience occasioned by the noise of people walking to fro' the Court, and the almost total inability of most persons to hear the proceedings, from this cause. We are happy to state that a carpet is about to be laid throughout the floor of the building, so that for the future, we may look forward to the noise of footsteps being permanently stopped. Death at Matakataki.—The Inspector of Police has despatched a cohstable up the river to obtain any particulars respecting the body of a man found drowned at the Flax Falls. We reported the body as being found on the banks of the Matakataki, but it was some distance nearer Westport than that river, and about twelve miles this side of the Lyell. Resident Magistbate's Court.— The Resident Magistrate will hold a court at Addison's Flat this day, consequently there will be no sitting of there will be no sitting of the court at Westport.

Stephenson's Assembly Rooms.— We beg to remind the subscribers to the Assembly, that to-night is fixed for the weekly ball. Last week no one hardly attended. The institution is a step in the right direction, and we trust that to-night will make up for the past, and be the means of establishing a regular weekly reunion of the tradesmen and others of the Buller.

The Minstrels.—lt will be seen by advertisement that Mr Eastwood's Company of Minstrels will give an entertainment at Skelly and M'Groldrick's Australasian Hotel. The company comprises Messrs Peel and Coghlan, the two greatest dancers in New Zealand, the well-known Johnny Lockyer, and Mr Eastwood, who will deliver a burlesque history of England. Altogether, a better entertainment has never been offeren to the inhabitants of Addison's.

Resident Magistrate's Court.— No cases were heard yesterday morning in the Resident Magistrate's Court; but Dr Giles, the warden, was occupied a short time with two or three mining applications. Telegraphic Communication for Westport.—We soon shall have one of our greatest wants satisfied, as the contract for cutting telegraph poles will soon be out, and immediate action will be taken ; we need not point out the manifold advantages to Westport, that almost instant communication with the other provinces will give, but we hope soon to chronicle the completion of this necessary work. The Nelson Coal Company.—The Grey River Argus says :—The Nelson Coal Company have at last set about in earnest to make the long talked of railway from the mine to Cobden. By the last mail from Melbourne, the manager, Mr Simpson, received a .draft for £IOOO to defray the preliminary expenses of laying out the line, and a like sum every month will be placed at his disposal until the line is completed. Gbeat Eire at Adelaide.—A telegram from Adelaide, dated Feb. 8, states : —" D. and W. Murray's store, formerly Levi and Co.'s old stores, were almost totally destroyed by fire this morning, The stock is stated to

have been over .£OO,OOO. The actual loss not yet known, nor is the origin of the fire. It is insured in the Adelaide Marine and Fire Insurance Company for £5500 ; Liverpool and London for £5000; Imperial, £SOOO ; London and Lancashire for £0000; Alliance for £3000; Australasian for £SOOO ; Derwent and Tamar, £3000." At the inquest a verdict was returned that it was accidental.

Proposed Pbogbamme op the Duke op Edinburgh's Visit.—The Wellington Independent of 22nd, contains a report of a meeting of the Wellington .Reception Committee, from which, as appears from some remarks of his Honor Judge Johnston, the programme as now proposed includes a visit to Nelson. As the fulfilment of this programme would require sixty days, while his Royal Highness will be only thirty-five days in the Colony, it is very unlikely that the programme will be carried out; and indeed, Judge Johnston, says, the whole might be altered. The following is what the Judge said on the subject:—" The proposed programme was almost identical with one sketched out by the late Governor. The Prince was recommended to remain from ten to twelve days in the Auckland province, would then pay a visit to Sir George Grey at Kawau; stay there for a couple of days, and proceed to Tauranga, from whence he would be taken up the country. His Royal Highness's stay at Tauranga would be from three to six days, and on leaviug it, probably the Galatea, or whatever vessel he was on board of, would call at White Island on his way to Napier, where he would remain for one day, and then come on to Wellington, In this Province he would remain from ten to twelve days, and during that time would go up to Wanganui and a '' short distance up the Wanganui River, returning to Wellington to embark for Nelson and the West Coast; and from there going on to the Provinces of Canterbury in Otago, in which latter Province he would remain from three to nine days. This was the programme sent to his Royal Highness, but the Napier and West Coast portions were to be considered, and even the whole might be altered by circumstances. The only objection to it was that it occupied about sixty days, and that when his Excellency saw the Prince the other day in Sydney, his Royal Highness informed him that it was his intention to remain about five weeks in this Colony." A letter has reached his Honor the Superintendent from the Reception Committee, intimating that his Excellency the G-overnor would recommend his Royal Highness to visit Nelson.

Another Earthquake at St Thomas.—The Colonist of the 28th ult., says : —A private letter from England informs us that another severe earthquake was reported as having occurred at the Island of St. Thomas, on December 6th. The shock is said to have been almost as violent as that which took place in November. There had been various shocks up to the 6th, and subsequently. "We do not observe this corroborated by the news by the way of Panama, which has West Indian intelligence to 12th December. The news by Panama does not mention a heavy shock like this, but, giving dates from St Thomas to 9th December, it says:— "ITp to December 7th, the number of shocks felt was five hundred. Divers are busily engaged raising the cargo of the British steamer Columbia, sunk in the gale of October 26th. They bring up daily about 200 packages of merchandise. Business continues now. and the failures have ceased. Rents, however, are enormous.»