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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 354, 18 September 1868, Page 2

It is arranged that Mr. Kyunersley's resignation shall take effect from the 30th of this month, and we understand it is definitely settled that no one will be appointed as his successor, but that the office of Commissioner shall after that date cease to exist. Mr. Kynnersley may be expected to arrive in Westport about the 24, inst. The usual weekly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held on Wednesday evening, when there were present, Messrs Tyler, (chair) Munson, Bailie, Daly, Smyth, M'Farlane, and Dr Giles. The plan proposed of electing sub-committees in out-districts was reported to be impracticable, and a notice of motion was tabled by Mr Bailie, for an alteration in the Rules J. Regulations in euoa a way aa to allow the Committee to appoint subcommittees where necessary. In reference to the printed rules and regulations, it was resolved that all subscribers should be entitled to copies gratuitously, and that they should be sold at Is each to non-subscribers. The Visiting Committee reported that there were now seven patients in the hospital. Two had been admitted during the week and four discharged Some discussion took place about compelling patients possessed of means to pay for their accommodation, but the disposal of the question was postponed till the next meeting. In reply to aa enquiry from Dr Thorpe, the committee resolved that he T*as not called upon to supply medicine to others than those who received an order from the Government, or who received the doctor's advice at the hospital. Mr Munro gave notice that he would move at thenext meeting—"That out-door patients should receive gratuitous medicine and advice, upon a day and hour to be fixed by the resident surgeon. A solitary Bacchanalian was the only offender yesterday, against the statutes made and provided, and as he did not appear when called on, his bail was forfeited. There was no other business of any descriptionintheßesidentMagis trate's Court.

Some private letters are to hand from the Thames, which speak despairingly of the general prospects of that goldfields. Labour is as cheap there and in Auckland as before the rush, and there is not work for hundreds who are eagerly seeking it at any wages, however low. The people are looking forward to the "Waikato country being opened up, and if the Maoris refuse to open it to miners, or it turns out a failure when opened, the greatest misery and distress must inevitably ensue. Crowds are rushing to these diggings from all quarters, and every steamer is loaded. A return rush may safely be looked for in a week or two, for the payable ground is not sufficient to support a tithe of the present population. The want of lights at the wharves when steamers arrive at night is continually felt, and on Wednesday evening when several came in at once, it was particularly so. If early provison is not made in this respect, there will certainly be a serious accident, and perhaps; when some limbs are broken, attention will be drawn to the matter. The cost of a lamp at each wharf would be but a trifle, and the accommodation to those who have

business on board boats would be great. Mr. Price, whose skill as a photographer is well known, has again arrived in Westport and has temporarily re established himself at his old quarters next to the Post-office Hotel. He will remain a fortnight and during that time will be prepared to take carte de visiles or execute any work in the profession for those who may favour his establishment with a call.

The art of printing is taught at the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, Christchurch and the officer'in charge says that three, cures have already been worked by it. This is encouraging to members of the profession. An occasional correspondent of the " Lyttelton Times after giving a very long description of affairs in British Columbia, concludes by saying:— Let me add one word of advice to your readers, and that is, on no account to leave Australia or New Zealand for California. Nothing is open for them in either place. When I last saw San Prancisco it was estimated that over 90,00 men were lying out of work. Misery and vice were rampant. Yet hundreds more were pouring in daily, and why ? Simply because a strong opposition line of steamers has been put on against the Pacific S.S. Co from New York, via Panama. For several months the fares have been reduced, and now a passage can be obtained from 20 or 25 dollars steerage, and a saloon passage can be obtained for from 40 to 80 dollars. Out of this the companies have to pay 25 dollars for the fare by the train across the isthmus of Panama ; so, really, they are carrying passengers a voyage of three weeks for less than the bare cost of two hours and a half run in a railway train. Tn April lastit was expected that the fares would be still further reduced. Every steamer was bringing over from New York, hundreds of the very worst class of the genus "loafer" of that place. Things are desperately bad there, so they rush at the cheap fares across to California, w'icre they find things worse. Waged are higheT but no work to be obtained, and the necessaries of life are, of course far higher than in the Eastern States. The Pacific Railway Company employs thousands of Chinamen on their works, thereby doing away with the necessity of employing expensive and independent labour. Looking at all these facts, and, having for ten months carefully, and in a thoroughly unprejudiced manner, examined personally the Eastern States of the Pacific from the Golden Gate to British Columbia, I must unhesitatingly assert that Australia and New Zealand hold forth better inducements than either of these countries in every way. If those who may now be making up their minds to leave for California, could only have had my experience, and seen the passengers from Australia who have landed there, and the disappointments they have met with, I think many of them would be found wavering, and the sMps from Sydney for San Francisco would leave with fewer passengers any more coals.

A case of stabbing, says the " Daily Times," of a serious nature, occured on board the barque Bengal, at Port Chalmers, on Saturday. During the afternoon, three of the seamen, named McCarthy, Murray, and Brent, had some words—McCarthy challenging the others to fight ; Brett declined until after tea, and the men continued their work, Tea over, a squabble ensued, and Brett pushed M'Carthy down the hold. M'Carthy, on coming on deck, squared at Murray, and using bad language to him, Murray closed with him, drew a sheath knife, and stabbed M'Carthy over the back—the knife, entering between the ribs below the right shoulder, and penetrating the right lung. Medical aid was at once sent for, and Dr Drysdale went on boaod, sewed and bandaged the wound. On Saturday night, M'Carthy was considered dangerous, and it was considered advisable to take his dying declaration ; but yesterday the bleeding had stopped, and the only danger was that of inflamation setting in. Information having been given to the police, Sergeant Mallard arrested Murray, and conveyed him to the lock-up. Oq being taken into custody, Murray admitted having stabbed M'Carthy in a quarrel and that he had thrown the knife overboard. Murray will be brought up at the B. M. Court to-day, when no doubt, the ease will be remanded, M'Carthy and Murray were previously good friends.

Melbourne is fertile in mechanical contrivances. One of the latest is in the shape of locomotive engine ; it comprises an oven for baking purposes, with a furnace underneath supplied with coke, and a steam boiler surmounted with a vessel for the reception of the prepared article. It is

six and a half foet long, two and a half feet wide, and three and a half foet high, exclusive of the chimney, which is about 3 feet feet higher. A safetyvalve prevents all danger of the boiler bursting. The machine cost £6O, and is strictly a colonial production. Colored lamps ornament each side, while one is suspended to the'ehimuey, An alarm-whistle is sounded to give notice of its approach. The purpose to which fthis ingenious structure is devoted is the supply of potatoes and saveloys,: all hot' ! The fate of poor Harnett, murdered by the Hauhaus at the Chathams, is thus detailed in the evideuce given at the inquest on his body : —Robert Hardy deposed that he was standing at the end of the room, smoking and talking, and the deceased was arranging some papers on his chest. A prisoner of. the name of Tikoti gave the BignalmTkttack in Maori and the prisoners then m.de a rush at the policemen. At the first alarm Harnett sprung up, but three of them seized him ; he pushed one away, upon which a prisoner named Taminami Tikitiki struck him twice across the face with his tomahawk. The first wound was across his eyes and nose and was a mortal wound, about 4 inches long and 4 inches deep. The second wound was inflicted a little lower down. He fell dead without a groan. Can positively swear to Tamihami Tikitiki, having worked with him formerly.— The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of wilful murder against Tamihami Tikitiki.

The Christchurch Evening Mail has been shown the specification, with engravings attached, of a valuable invention patented in England by Mr Richard Taylor, of Dunedin, and Mr Poulson, his English partner in the venture. It consists of an ingenious device for preventing boats or vessels especially fore-and-aft-rigged ones, from capsizing in heavy or sudden soualls. This is effected by means of a bar, fired to the deck by a fuceum or pivot, and ao arranged that the sail, shifting the lee end so, presses the opposite end down on the weather side of the deck, thus keeping the vessel upright instead of leaning over. This invention, we are informed, has been tried successfully, both in yachts and in government vessels at home, and is particularlyifluitable for our coasters. Many an accident would be prevented by its adoption ; aud the whole apparatus is easy of construction, and not costly. We trust the proprietors may be able to evhibit the working of it in some boat or small vessel, so as to display its advantages to the owners and masters of sailing crafts of all sizes. " The people in attendance at the 1 ite Circuit Court, including the Chief Justice and the gentlemen of the long robe," says the " Ararat Advertiser " Victoria, " were,completely nonplussed by the volubility of a woman's tongue. When it was found that repeated requests to the witness to confine herself to the case upon which she was giving evidence but added to her determination to ' finish * as she called it, Sir William Stawell advised that she be permitted to exhaust herself, which she accordingly set about doing, and rapidly accomplished, amidst the laughter of the court. After flopping a courtesy of thanks to his lordship, she said ' you see your Lordship, I'm a very respectable woman, .and have come into a property which I hav'nt got yet, but would have had my right long since only for nefarious people keeping me out of it,' ' But my good woman,' from the Crown prosecutor, Fm not your good woman. (Laughter.) Well, your lordship, as I was saying, I'm kept out of my property; and a member of Parliament followed me to Ballarat from Melbourne which I'm intimate with (roars of laughter) ; his name is -Look here, you (this to a policeman who was whispering to the Crown prosecutor) * none of your whispering there, or I'll write to Captain Standish about you. Oh, you may look surprised, but I know him. (Roars of laughter.) I'm a respectable woman, and won't be put upon." The old lady left the box very slowly, and very slowly walked to the body of the court amidst general bilence, when she suddenly turned round and flopped another curtsey to his Honor, which his Honor most politely acknowledged.