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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 437, 24 December 1868, Page 2

The township of Mohikinui is gradually being removed to Westport, piecemeal. The cutter Volunteer, which lay stranded on the beach there for a long time, has returned, "recuperated," and she has brought as cargo the wood and iron which composed some half-dozen stores there. She has also brought a large number of porter cvses filled with empty bottles, which were collected by an enterprising speculator in the deserted high -ways and by-ways of Mokihinui. The consignment is one sufficiently large to prove profitable, and it is in itself an interesting relic of the prosperity and " drouth " of Mohikinui in ancient times.

Cobb and Co. have brought over to the north side of the river one of their coaches and a team of horses which they intend to run between Westport and the Orawaiti during the time of the sports and races." Mr Munro held yesterday a salo of produce received by the Mary, from Melbourne, at which fair prices .were realised. New potatoes were sold at £lO 15s to .£ll per ton; onions, at 25s to 27s percwt.; geese,,l6s to 18s per pair. The City Hotel in Gladstone street was also sold by Mr Munro, yesterday, for £l2O to Mr E. Nichols,

The Gourlay Family, as already mentioned, renew their entertainment at the Masonic Hall, this evening, with a change of programme. Family tickets may be had at a reduced price. Mrs Braithwaite, of the Prince Alfred Hotel, has been the first to show an example to the hotel-keepers of Westport, at this "gay and festive" season, by decorating the exterior of her house ; and it is very neatly done, by the use of ferns, and a few garlands made of the blossom of the rata tree—a very pretty blossom, and the only apology forhclly that is obtainable. With the abundant supplies of fern, flax, and evergreen, and, with the rata tree and the "supple-jack" (convolvulus) in blosfom, there will be no excuse for owners of bars and ball-rooms if they do not give their premises an appearance befitting the season. Apparently no clue sufficient for conviction has been found to the robber of 300 ounces of amalgam from the hut of M'Geehan and party, at the Shamrock Lead. Yesterday Terence M'Donald, publican, who had been remanded for a week on the charge of stealing the gold, was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court, when Inspector Franklyn stated that he had not been able to obtain any further evidence, except what would simply corroborate the evidence which had been previously given. He did not think he had evidence to warrant the Magistrate in committing the prisoner for trial. M'Donald was, accordingly, discharged from custody. Some formidable snags have lately been brought down the river, and deposited in rather dangerous proximity to Beauchamp's wharf. They have not, however, yet done any damage to the structure, but their removal might be a wise precaution. The steamer John iPenn had on board yesterday ten recruits for the Armed Constabulary tthipped at Greymouth.

A Gazette of the 14th inst., notifies that Inspector Franklyn, of Westport, has been appointed *' to be a person to lay informations or prefer indictments under the Arms Act, 1860." We learn from Addison's that the creek known as Melbourne Creek overflowed its banks last week, and has done considerable damage to several claims in the third township. The late Detective Tuckwell was engaged by Capt. Stack, in Melbourne, so that objectionable recruits might not be engaged for New Zealand. One man w"i - offered himself was admitted into the sanctum, and to his surprise found that the presiding genius was not Captain Stack but Mr Detective Tuckwell, whom he had evidently had reason to remember. " Can you send me on board at once ?" was the question put by another volunteer to Captain Stack. The answer was in the negative. " What a pity," was the reply," for there's a fraud summons against me, and I may be nabbed before tomorrow." It is possible thatmany of Captain Stack's volunteers are in the same predicament.

A "days enjoyment" on Christmas Day is offered by Mr White of the Victoria gardens, on the south side of the river, where there are already " beautiful flowers and rural retreats," and where there is to be, for the occasion, a band of music. Mr Sheahan of the Nelson Hotel advertises that, for that day, he will suspend all indoor amusements.

In the Dunstan district, .£IOOO has this year been collected for racing purposes. It is said that Mr Prosser is to protest against Mr Sale's election, on the ground that he is a Government servant, as Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Manson and Co., are said to be leaving the Coast for Melbourne.

A hundred civil servants have been dismissed in Victoria, at a month's notice. The sale of booths at the Hokitika races realised £154.

There are understood to be three candidates for the Chairmanship of the Westland County Council—Mr Bonar, Mr Sale, and Mr Harrison. The Chairman has to be elected by the Council.

A New Zealand Distillery Company has been inaugurated in Wellington. Californian papers received at Auckland contain a report of a plot to assassinate President Johnston, but the news is not confirmed by the Panama mail. Miss Marion Dunn, in consequence of illhealth, has retired temporarily from the stage.

Miss Joey G-ougenheim, the well-known actress, has left Dunedin for Sydney, under engagement.

The Wellington Independent contains a letter from Mr Fitzgerald, extending to four columns, against the employment of English regular troops. Public opinion on the_ subject appears to be nearly evenly divided.

The Alhambra shipped at Hokitika twenty-nine recruits for the Armed Constabulary. A married woman in Collingwood, Melbourne, has attempted to commit suicide by drinking a large quantity of kerosene. Out of 800 trout ova received in Ofcago, 720 are now alive and swimming. Mr King, postmaster at Ballarat, has been committed for trial for embezzlement. His deficiencies amount to £745. In a match between the Victorian and Otago Volunteers, Victoria scored 479 points, and Otago 549 points, leaving Otago the winner by 70 points. A late item of news from the Jupiter Creek diggings, South Australia, is that a man can live there for six shillings a week if as much could be earned, but better wages can be made at haymaking. A saddler named Comooka, and a photographer named Eich, were lately found dead in bed at the Dunstan. An inquest was held on both of the bodies, and a verdict of death from apoplexy resulting from drink was returned in each case.

Some Chinamen have been apprehended in Otago for selling spurious gold. Snake-bite has been cured by Professor Halford, of the Melbourne University, by injecting liquid ammonia into a man's veins.

Madame Anna Bishop is shortly to visit New Zealand.