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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 405, 17 November 1868, Page 2

We imdcrstand that there is in course of preparation a petition to the Gorernor for the proclamation of Westport as a Municipality. With the increasing feeling which prevails in favor of a Municipality, and with the circumstances which have lately arisen to thoroughly establish that feeling, wo have little doubt that the petition will be signed by*numbers sufficient to secure its object, and to obtain for Westport what is so much required—the means to the end of local self-govern-ment.

The weather has been bitterly cold for the last twenty-four hours, and the hills behind Westport are more thickly snowclad than they have been seen at any time tnis season. By this snow-fall the chances of an early and serious flood in the river arc greatly increased. An unusual rise iu the temperature, such as occurs with north-easterly winds, is almost certain to bo followed by a large no\y ; of water iu the Duller, and for this tKe condition of things at Westport is anything but favorable. The extent of the snow-fall upcountry is somewhat indicated by the fact that, in the temperature of the river, as tested by Captain Leech, there has been a difference of seven degrees since Saturday.

The Christmas Sports Committee arc requested to meet to-day at twelve o'clock, at the Albion Hotel, for the purpose of commencing their canvass for subscriptions. Several additional subscriptions of liberal amount are promised, and one or two more gentlemen have expressed '.heir willingness to act on the Committee, which cannot be too numerous, as the duties in connection with the various sports are manifold. From the spirit already displayed in this matter, and the amounts subscribed and promised, an attractive programme, in the shape of land and aquatic sports, as well as good prizes for a day's horse-racing, should be forthcoming on or about Boxing Day. Mining news from the Brighton district for the past few weeks has been very unimportant. On the new ground recently rushed, there are still from fifty to sixty miners at work, but no new discoveries have been made, and half that number are not on payable gold. There are one or two parties prospecting on the south side of the river, but as yet without any payable result. On the older terraces —Welshman's, Dublin, Belfast, and Daylesford—work goes on in the same steady manner, without any increase or much decrease of population. The township of Brighton presents an unusually dull appearance, and business, if such a word is at all applicable to Brighton, is at its dullest stage. The Amateur performance of last evening, which took place at the Theatre Eoyal for. the benefit of the widow and children of the late Major Von Tempsky, went off uncommonly well, considering that the performers were all local amateurs, and that the majority of them appeared for the first time before a public audience. In consequence of the lateness of the hour at which the comedy was concluded, we must withhold our notice of the performance, and of the merits of the performers, uutil next issue.

After the unsatisfactory reply from Mr Blackett on the question of the Whan protection and the improbability of any immediate expenditure of the public revenue thereon, the private enterprise displayed yesterday, by Mr Eoache, Mr Hughston, and a few others, who hold properties adjoining the river bank, in filling up or strengthening that portion of the embankment where the bend of the river, is most dangerous, is highly commendable. It will doubtless tend a little, however little, to the staying of further injury until such time as some

body, with the power and means, will bo compelled to effect something more sub-1 slantial. Daring yesterday, about a dozen men were engaged filling up thi s particularly awkward bead with bags of sand, fascines, and shinglo ; and for tho sake of the property-holders in the neighborhood, it is to be hoped that the work, slight us it is, will avert any further damage from tho wash of the sea, if it I cannot prevent the encroachments of a flood.

The District Court sits to-day nt eleven o'clock. The Magistrate's Court will sit at ten, and adjourn to the "Commissioner's room," if the business should extend past eleven. The following circumstances tire said to be the foundation of the marvellous story of Fenian conspiracy told by Mr Parkes, of the New South "Wales Government: — A certain individual gave information to the Government, some time before the arrival of Prince Alfred, that his Royal Highness would most likely be attacked by an assassin, but his statement was deemed unworthy of notice. Finding that no attention was paid to it he wrote to his Eoyal Highness, after the infamous attack was made, stating that he had written to the Government without effect. This led to a reply from Lord Belmore, and the informer, in consequence, had an interview with Mr Parkes, no doubt in the expectation of some substantial reward from the Government. This mysterious person is described in the same journal as one of the common Irish informers, who made themselves conspicuous in the davs of the young Ireland party. Since that time, he has been moving about in colonial society, with results well-known to the detectives of Sj'dney. At the meeting of the Westland County Council, last week, the Chairman, Mr Bonar, spoke hopefully of the financial condition of the County, the receipts of revenue for the last quarter having been £37,780, as against £38,025 as estimated. The expenditure during the same period was within £59 of the sum estimated. We learn fi'otn Nelson that the master of the schooner Fancy, which was recently wrecked at D'Urville Island, and whose name was William Falloon, leaves a wife and three children, who are now residing in that city.

After, the first of December a new scale of fees is to be charged in all Kesident Magistrates' Courts.

It is stated by the Nelson Mail that in addition to the reductions which have lately been effected in the staff of the Provincial Engineer's Department in Nelson, a considerable decrease in the Police Department both there and on the West Coast has been resolved upon, which will produce a saving on the Estimates voted last session for salaries at the rate of £3OOO per annum.