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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 474, 6 March 1869, Page 2

A homely but exceedingly interesting lecture was given by the Bishop of Nelson on Thursday evening. It was given with the primary object of augmenting the fund which is at present being raised for the erection of an Episcopalian church at Westport. Although the weather was unfavourable to the same cause, the Masonic Hall, the use of which had been given for the occasion by Messrs Tonks and Hughes, was well-filled, and some had also taken tickets who were unable t> attend. "Artificial Stars " —a name applied, according to a Baconic conceit, to light-houses—formed the subject of the lecture, and, as treated by the Bishop, the subject was made a source of lively entertainment as well as of solid instruction or serious reflection. Statistics were so interspersed with anecdotes, and "wise saws" with " modern instances," as to suit the various taste 3 or temperaments of an audience promiscuously assembled, and by the aid of illustrative maps, diagrams, and models, the lecture was made doubly intelligible and interesting. Beginning with Pharos Island light-

house as the initiation of the institution of coast-lighting, a free historical sketch of the development of the system was given, including some interesting details of the building of the Eddystone and other remarkable works; and the audience were made acquainted also with the mode of applying many of the modern improvements, including the electric light, by which coast-lighting has been revolutionised. A summary of the moral suggestions of the subject, and the reading of Longfellow's well-known poem " The Lighthouse," concluded the lecture. At its conclusion, the thanks of the audience and those connected with the church were readily accorded, on the proposition of Messrs Pitt andWinstanley; and by the Bishop were proposed the thanks of all to the proprietors of the hall. The chair on the occasion was occupied by Dr Giles. We learn from Mr Winstanley that the proceeds of the lecture amounted to £l2 lis 6d. The expenses were £1 15s, leaving a balance of J6lO 16s Gd available for the Building Fund. There were 110 persons present. At the last meeting of the Hospital Committee, the Hon. Secretary, Mr Munro, drew attention to the fact that the accounts, so far as public subscriptions were concerned, was getting exhausted, and it would be necessary for the Committee to take steps to raise more money. The disbursements last month had been nearly .£IOO, and the amount at the Committee's credit would soon be nil, unless some fresh effort on behalf of the Hospital were made.

It was a general and a very natural impression that the letters for this district received by the Suez mail had been forwarded from Greymouth to "Westport on the last trip of the Kennedy. It appears, however, that they were taken on by the Kangitoto to Nelson, and there they lie. This, we suppose, is a first instalment of the improvements promised by making Greymouth or Hokitika the first port of call for the mail steamers. Mr H. A. Stratford, gold receiver at St. Bathans, has been appointed to a Wardenship in the North Island. The Hon. Treasurer to the Westport Hospital, Mr Harris, acknowledges a donation of £1 from the Bishop of Nelson. We believe that the Bishop of Nelson is to hold services at Charleston on Sunday, and will probably deliver a lecture during the week.

The river encroachment upon "Wharf-street has now extended so far that, at the upper corner of Kennedy street, it has been found necessary to close it as a thoroughfare for dray traffic. Some valuable property may thus be said to have a frontage only to the river, the street being impassable. At present all traffic from the vessels unloading at the upper wharves have to go by Moleswortli street before reaching the business parts of the town.

Dr Thorpe has been gazetted Health Officer in connection with the Board of Health at Westport. Of course the appointment is only an honorary one. At other ports it is now the practice to appoint either the Harbor Master or Boarding-Officer as Health Officer, as a more convenient arrangement, but it is to be hoped that the comparative convenience or inconvenience will not require to be often tested here. Dr Carr's phrenological and mesmeric seances have been well attended in Charleston, and are intended to be repeated on this and Monday evenings, after which he will return to Westport for a few days. We understand that Dr Carr has kindly offered to the Hospital Committee to give an evening's entertainment in aid of the funds of the hospital here some day nest week, before leaving the district. The hospital funds are much in need of some assistance, and we doubt not that the object as well as the entertainment itself will prove an attraction. Professor Parker, the swordsman, was charged at the Wangaratta Police Court, on the 11th ult., with having used disgusting language on the stage of the Koyal Victoria Hotel, on the preceding Friday evening. It appeared that when the audience expected the defendant to do some dexterous feats of arms, he came on the stage drunk, with a cigar in his hand, and said he must be excused from performing, as the stage was too small for the introduction of his sword feats. Strong disapproval had been expressed at this announcement. He afterwards behaved in a most extraordinary manner, and made use of the language complained of. He was fined £3 3s with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment.

The squatters in some parts of Victoria are having a bad time of it just now. In addition to the terrible drought, they have living plagues to contend with, as in some places the kangaroos, rendered desperate by hunger, have invaded the sheep pastures, and driven the Bheep away; while in others, grasshoppers in countless numbers have eaten every living thing, even to fruit trees. Cattle have died of starvation in hundreds.

An extraordinary occurrence is reported to have taken place lately at Geelong. Four young men, clerks in one of the banks, and members of highly respectable families, have been dismissed for gross acts of insubordination. It appears that the whole of them proceeded to the manager's room with the intention of horse-whipping him. The particulars of the scene have not transpired ; but the young men were peremptorily dismissed. The Rev. Mr Walsh will officiate to-mor-row morning in the Roman Catholic Church. The Westland County Chairman and Mr Lahman aro reported by the Qrey River Argus to have been successful in negotiating a loan for the County of £20,000 from the Bank of New Zealand—£ls,ooo down, and the balance when required. The public works have now a chance of being immediately put in hand. A diorama of scenes in the American war, and a panorama entitled " Paradise Lost," are being exhibited in Dunedin.

A novel method of washing gold is reported from the Spring Creek diggings in Victoria. "Water being very scarce, beer was had recourse to as a substitute, and a small bucketful of dirt was wasbed|Hi a tub of ale, the result beingan ounce and a half-of gold. In Dunedin, there lias ''been held a preliminary meeting of persons interested in stock farming, to take steps towards the formation of a boiling-down and meat-curing establishment. A boatman named George Blakely has been drowned in the Saltwater. He leaves a wife and family at North Shields, in England. Some time ago it was mentioned that a ton of quartz taken from the Moonlight reef had been sent to Melbourne to be thoroughly tested. The result is now said by the Grey River Argus to be loz 4dwt of gold, which is a very fair return when it is known that the stone was not picked. An application has been made to Mr Warden Dutton, on behalf of a company intending to work the reef, for an extended area, and a survivor has been sent up to Moonlight to examine thereof and report. The capital of the company is to be £20,000.