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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 228, 24 April 1868, Page 3

Tho Morning JSTews, of Victoria, Vancouver's Island, in an editorial a short time ago, said : " This Colony, instead of steadily progressing in population and influence, is rapidly go i- ng to decay, and speeding on toward, bankruptcy with almost lightning rapidity." The editor then goes on to show that while the people in California pay only six cents, and the people of Oregon only four cents per head to their entire population for the support of the Executive Departments of their Government, the people of British Columbia pay six dollars and 40 cents, per head for the same object. He contrasts the several items of salaries of Executive offices, showing that while the Governor of California receives 7000dols, per annum, and the Governor of Oregon 2000dols, the Governor of British Columbia received 20,000dol« salary, besidesbeingprovided "witha residence,furnished in astyle becoming his position, out of the public revenue, which very materially adds to the costs which his distinguished services entail upon this already overburdened community." And in conclusion says —■" So long as the whole revenue of the country is absorbed in payment of official salaries, and interest on the public debt, a large portion of which has been contracted on works of an unproductive character, we cannot reasonably look for any change in our condition." FitionTFUL Accident at Tarasaki. —A frightful accident resulting in death, is published in the TaranaJci Herald. It occurred at the Melbourne Steam Saw-Mills :—" About eleven o'clock on Thursday morning the deceased, whose name was Charles Carnell, had taken off a belt that drives the circular saw, and on returning his foot slipped, when he fell on the saw, which was still in motion, and was fearfully lacerated. The wounds, we understand, were dreadful, the heart and lungs being literally torn from the unfortunate young man's body. His arms, one of which was broken, and thighs were cut likewise in several places. Dr O'Carrol, who was immediately sent for, rode out to the place at once, and rendered every assistance in his power, but the wounds were of such a nature that his patient gradually sank under the injuries he had sustained, and died yesterday morning about half-past eleven."

A Hobsr's Revenge.—The Salut Public of Lyons, relates an extraordinary punishment inflicted by a horse on its master for an act of brutality by the latter towards one of the animal's stable companions. A carrier named R , at no titne tender in his treatment of his four-footed servants, was returning a few nights back in a state of semi-intoxication from Mormant to Givors(Rhone). The man's natural barbarity was at this moment aggravated by the drink he had taken, and being dissatisfied with the efforts of one of his horses, a poor creature which, had almost served its time, he decided that the animal was no longer worth his feed, and resolved to put an end to it. For that purpose he tied the poor brute to a tree, and taking a massive lever used in moving heavy goods' he struck the animal several violent blows on the head until the unfortunate creatine sank to the ground insensible. The master, thinking the animal was dead, left it on the spot, intending to remove the carcase the next day. The horse, however, recovered its senses a short time after, and found its way home, and entered the courtyard at daybreak. Its arrival was welcomed by the neighing of its companions in the stable, which noise awakened the master, who was now, furious at having failed in his cruel purpose. He tied up the animal afresh, and commenced again to shower blows on its head. This act of brutality was conmitted in sight of two other horses in the stable, and at length young animal, became so frantic with rage that it broke its halter, and rushing on the man seized him in its jaws, and after shaking him violently threw him down and trampled on him with such fury that had "not the man's cries brought some persons to his aid the master would certainly been killed. As it is, he has suffered great injury from the attack.