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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 341, 3 September 1868, Page 2

We learn by the Penn that no blame is attachable to Captain Praucis for the loss of the Taranaki, and that he has been honorably acquitted by the commission of enquiry. It is intended, should the John Penn receive sufficient inducement, to proceed to Auckland direct Without calling at Nelson. We are, through the courtesy of Mr Gillon, purser of the John Penn, furnished with Auckland files to the 19th ultimo, which we will extract from tomorrow.

The Athenaeum is progressing slowly but surely. The Committee have now about»a hundred pounds in hand, andthey have already made application for a proportion of the sum voted, during the last session of the Provincial Council, for Public Libraries on the "West Coast. Mr Lowe, the District Engineer, has prepared plana for the building, which will be erected behind the Court House, and adjoining the Custom House. The Committee have already selected £SO worth of books, and the order if not sent will be forwarded forthwith. The Rev. W. Harvey proceeds to Nelson by the first boat, and when there will plead the cause of the institution with the Government. Altogether the Athenaeum is progressing as rapidly as could be expected, and in another month or two will no doubt be open to the public. Yesterday a little boy of Mr Qeorge Somner's had a very narrow escape from drowning. It appears that the little fellow, who is about five years of age, was playing near the breakers in the vicinity of the public school, when either through the push of a playmate, or through a slip of his own, he fell within the reach of the sea and was at once carried out. He was thrown twice on the beach, and again drawn back, and had come in again when a little boy, son of Sergeant "Williams, caught hold of a school bag that was round his neck, and by that means saved him returning a third time. Before the sea came up again he was placed in safety, but as may be readily imagined was greatly prostrated by the dangerous ordeal he had gone through. He was taken home at once, and, we are glad to say, perfectly recovered in a few hours. At the same time this should prove a warning to parents, for

for excepting by the merest accident, this poor little fellow's life would have been sacrificed.

The news brought by the John Penn, from Auckland, is most encouraging as far as the future prospects of the Thames district go. New reefs have been opened, and it is said that the natives are willing on certain terms, to throw open a large district that con-1 tains alluvial diggings to diggers in J , the district. As may be readily imagined, house property in Auckland ! has taken a great start, and proprietors now ask about twice as much as they did a month or so aj*o. Mr Corcoran of the Hibernian hotel, thanks to the sagacity of bis better half, is said to be realising a fortune, as ho has got a first-class hotel on very moderate terms, in the very best busiuess position in Auckland.

The Wallabi is expected to arrive from Wanganui to-morrow, and will bring a carefully selected cargo of live stock, including fat cattle, sheep and pigs, in addition to a quantity of produce in the shape of potatoes, oats, &c.

The schooner Waterman, Captain Moore, (late of the Alma) left Melbourne on the night of tho 22nd ult., arrived off ;Hokitika on Monday evening, where she spoke the bar-bound fleet, anchored off the steeples on Tuesday evening. The Lioness took her in tow yesterday morning, when the hawser parted in the beak, there was a very heavy sea running at the time. Captain Moore immediately hoisted his jib and cast his ship's head off shore, set all his square canvass and soon had his ship out of any danger. She now is lying anchored in the roadstead, and will be towed in by this morning's tide. She brings a general cargo, and reports fine weather during the voyage. The steamer John Penn left Auckland on Wednesday last at four o'clock p.m., and arrived at Nelson at 10 a.m. on Friday. She experienced a strong head wind all the way. Left Nelson on Monday at 10 a.m. ; owing to a strong head wind she took shelter between Totoranui and Motueka, and left there on Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. She remained at anchor off the Sand Spit until one a.m. yesterday morning, and arrived off the bar at 3 p.m. She brings 40 head of cattle, about 10 tons general cargo, and six passengers. As will be seen by a report in another column, the tender of Mr Geo. Somner was last night accept ed for the erection of the new Westport hospital, the amount being £197. We are obliged to hold over the report of yesterday's Warden's Court. Telegraph communication is expected to be perfected to- lay, and all arrangements are made in readiuess. As yet of course no official announcement could be made, but we believe that during the current week the telegraph will be opened to the public. There are now over a hundred children at the Westport public school and that any one master could possibly do justice to sucb a flock is ridiculous to imagine. Mr Philips, the present master is completely overtasked, and is actually compelled to neglect the children under his care. We know cases where parents have removed their children in consequence, and surely it should be the duty of the local committee to enquire into the matter, with a view to remedy it if possible. We believe that the Westport schooll shows the largest attendance but one in the province, and yet one teacher is supposed to do all the work here, whilst two or more are provided where the work is lighter.