The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 885, 9 November 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1871.

We are requested to correct the statement of our Koefton correspondent in respect to Mr Warden Giles having been washed from his horse in the Inangahua river on the return journey to Westport from Keefton. The horse he rode • was nearly carried down the river, but brought his rider out safely. Had Dr Giles been washed from his seat as reported, he would probably have been drowned. The annual sweep on the Melbourne Cup will be drawn at the Empire Hotel on Saturday evening. The meeting opened on Saturday last at Melbourne, but the Cup will be run for to-day. In the E. M. Court yesterday, Richard Smith, a seaman, charged with and disorderly conduct, was fined 10s, or in default 24 hours' imarisonment. Annie O'Dea and Stephen Butler appeared under arrest to answer the information of John Henderson, charging them with unlawfully assaulting and wounding. On the application of the police the prisoners were remanded, on the understanding that if prepared to proceed with the case in the interval it should be dealt with earlier. The circumstances in connection with the latter case are, we believe, that the informant early in the evening of Tuesday last entered the house kept by the woman O'Dea, situated on the Caledonian Track, about three and a half miles from Westport. Some dispute ensued, in which the prisoner Butler took part, and it is said to have finally resulted in the prisoner O'Dea attacking Henderson with a knife, wounding him severely in the face. The latter returned to town on Tuesday night, obtained medical aid, and gave information to the police, who arrested the prisoners the same night in the house of the woman O'Dea. The addition to the stamp duties is greater than our previous telegrams has led us to expect. Not only has the minimum sum been reduced to £2, for which a stamped receipt must be given, but the duty has been doubled, as also the duty on bank cheques. Thus the payment by cheque of a sum of £2 involves a duty expenditure of very nearly one per cent. It is exceedingly improbable, however, that the increase in the rate of duty will be accompanied by a corresponding increase of revenue, as cash will be often substituted for payments made by cheque. The result of three weeks' crushing of 336 tons of stone taken from the Perseverance Quartz Mine, Collingwood, was something less than twelve ounces of gold. The monthly meeting of the Westport Hospital Committee took place at the Court House on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs Bailio (chairman), Gilmer, Whyto, Fisher Graves, Powell, Humphrey, and Simpson. The previous minutes were read and eonfirmed. The Secretary reported having temporarily arranged with William Chambers for the supply of firewood at 28s per cord and coal at 40s per ton. It was proposed and carried that the arrrangoment be confirmed. A letter w.is read from Mr Lush, Addison's enclosing £7 7s 6d, the result of an entertainment givon by that gentleman and others in aid of the institution. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Lush and those associated with him. The Treasurer reported that the receipts from public subscriptions and maintenance money for the current year were £237 10s; that the sum of £IOO had been received from the Government; and that about iJ3OO was still due to meet subscriptions, which would bo insufficient to liquidate the cost of management to tho end of tho year. At present he had no funds at his disposal. Mr Humphrey proposed, Mr Powell seconded, and it was carried : "That the Treasurer be empowered to apply to the representative of the Government for the sum of £ 2OO, to be placed tj the credit of the Committee." Mr Fisher gave notice that at the next monthly meeting he would movo '• That in consequence of tho great falling off

in the amount of subscriptions received on behalf of the Hospital funds, and the small sum available to meet the current expenses, the salary of tho medical officer be reduced to .£250 per annum ; this sum to include the supply of medicines j that the services of the cook bo dispensed with, and that the house steward perform the cook's duties." Messrs Bailie, Fisher, and Simpson were appointed a sub-committee to act with the Athenceum sub-committee in getting up an amateur performance during the Christmas holidays on behalf of the funds of the Hospital. The medical officer's report showed that three patients had been admitted during the past month, one had been discharged, and there remained six in the Hospital. It was decided that Mr Sutton's membership had lapsed through his non-attendance, and that his seat should be filled at the next monthly meeting. Mr Jules Simon aud Mr J. K. Grant were nominated as candidates. Messrs Powell, Graves, and Fisher were appointed a Visiting Committee for the present month, and the meeting then adjourned. The schooner Ceres, from Melbourne, was towed in by the p.s. Dispatch yesterday afternoon. The two previous arrivals, the schooners Maid of Erin and the Mary Stewart, succeeded in crossing thebar without the assistance of a tug. It is fortunate for some of the consignees of tho cargo ex Ceres that her

arrival will just admit of flour, &c, being cleared previous to the revised tariff coming into force. The altered duties will operate on and after to-morrow. There is proof that Europeans are instigating the Natives to oppose the laying of the wire to the Thames. An enquiry is going on in Sydney respecting the collision of the barque A. H. Badger and the Nevada, but no result was arrived at. Captain Blethen has reserved his defence, giving bonds for £3OOO to return. The Right Rev. John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesia, the Rev. J. Atken, and a Native teacher, have been murdered at Nukapu, a small reef island in the Swallow Group. There is no doubt that the deed was caused by exisperation of the islanders in consequence of the visits of labor vessels, which are reported as kidnapping at the various islands, and sometimes taking the women.