The 2nd advert has prices for emigration to New Zealand, in case someone in the particulars.... ........................................................................... WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER APRIL 25, 1851 ADVERTISEMENTS EMIGRATION TO AMERICA FROM PENZANCE The well known good first-class coppered Barque "MARQUIS OF CHANDOS" of Penzance, CHARLES COLENSO, Master, 700 tons burthen, will, wind and weather permitting, leave Penzance direct for New York the 30th day of April positive. This vessel affords good accommodation or a few cabin passengers, has excellent height between decks, and superior accommodations for steerage passengers, and offers a most desirable opportunity for families and others emigrating to the United States. The master having been many years trading to America, has always received the highest testimonials for his kind attention and care to the passengers during the voyage. For terms of passage and other particulars apply to MR. W. D. MATHEWS, penzance, Dated April 2, 1851 .................. FOR PORT LYTTLETON, CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT With liberty to land passengers and goods at the undermentioned ports in New Zealand, the first-class passenger ships, "LADY NUGENT," 688 tons register, for Canterbury, Nelson, and New Plymouth, to sail on the 28th of May; "DUKE of PORTLAND," 533 tons register, for Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland, to sail on the 28th of May, lying in the East India Docks, chartered and provisioned by the Canterbury Association. Rates of Passage: Chief Cabin, a whole Cabin between Decks GBP42; second Cabin, GBP25; Steerage, GBP 16; Children under fourteen, one-half. Each Ship carries an experienced Surgeon. For Freight, Passage, or further information, apply to J. STAYNER, 110 Fenchurch-street; FILBY and Co., 157 Fenchurch-street; or to FREDERICK YOUNG, Manager of Shipping for the Canterbury Association, 74 Cornhill. Dated April 23, 1851 .......................... NEW FAMILY NEWSPAPER On Saturday, 19th of April, 1851, was published No. 1, Price Threepence, of THE PIONEER, and Weekly Record of Movements; a Stamped Liberal Newspaper of Physical, Moral, Social, and Political Progress. Its columns will be devoted to the Illustration and Advocacy of ALL PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENTS, including the Temperance, Dietetic, Medical, and Spelling Reformations. ........................ THE FLORA DAY This Annual Festival will be celebrated as usual on the 8th of May. There will be a BALL at the ANGEL INN STEWARDS: Sir R. R. VYVYAN, Bart., M.P. C. W. POPHAM, Esq. GLYNN GRYLLS, Esq. FREDERICK HILL, Esq. Dancing to commence at Nine o'clock precisely. Helston, April 22nd, 1851 ................................................................................. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE ELECTIONS OF PARISH OFFICERS -On Easter Monday, Mr. BLIGHT, of Tregantle, and Mr. HILL, of Torpoint, were elected churchwardens, and Mr. JOHN WHEELER, of Torpoint, chapel-warden of that place. After the meeting, the parishioners assembled at the Ring of Bells, Antony, and partook of a very excellent dinner, the Rev. J. F. KITSON, vicar of the parish, presiding. The utmost cordiality and good feeling were manifested throughout. -At the vestry of the parishioners of Landrake, on Monday, Messrs. BLAKE and O'DOGHERTY were nominated churchwardens by the vestry; the incumbent declining to name any churchwardens. -The election for Madron and Penzance, for the year ensuing, took place in the parish church on Easter Monday, Mr. SAMUEL YORK was nominated by the vicar, church, and chapel warden of Penzance, and Mr. SAMUEL HIGGS, sidesman. For the parish Mr. SAMUEL PHILLIPS was proposed by Mr. HICHENS and seconded by Mr. JOHN PENGELLY, to serve the office of churchwarden, and was unanimously re-elected. The meeting afterwards adjourned to the parish vestry-room, to inspect the churchwarden's accounts, when all the items were severally allowed. MR. DAWSON'S EASTER ENTERTAINMENTS - There was a good attendance on Monday lst, at Mr. Dawson's first entertainment in the Easter week at the Assembly-room, Truro. A great deal of amusement was created by witnessing the performances of "The Wedding Day" and the "King's Gardener"; and the rest of the evening was very agreeably passed with songs and dancing, and Shaksperian tableaux. FALMOUTH BURIAL GROUND The walls and chapels of the new burial ground at Hangman hill, near the Swanpool, are about to be immediately erected, at an estimated cost of GBP 700. About one acre and a half of the ground will be left unconsecrated, and separated by a dwarf wall with iron railings, where dissenters from the Church of England may bury with their accustomed rites. PENZANCE MESMERIC INSTITUTION On Monday evening, Mr. BOWMAN gave an interesting lecture on mesmerism, in the Public Hall, Prine's Street, which was well filled, there being several of the medical profession amongst the audience. Mr. S. PIDWELL occupied the chair. After the lecture, statements were made of curative effects produced on patients by MR. LATHROPE, of Penzance, and experiments were also made before the audience. PENZANCE INSTITUTE A scientific and instructive lecture on "Electricity" was delivered in the Public Hall, Prince's Street, on Tuesday evening last, by Mr. S. PIDWELL. NATURAL PHENOMENON IN CORNWALL In the parish of Saint Austell there is a singular phenomenon, which seems to have mightily puzzled the wits of the good neighbourhood, and in earlier times would certainly have given rise to some legend of Robin Goodfellow, or of hidden treasures. In the present day folk having grown wiser, or less imaginative, are contented to wonder at what they cannot comprehend. The phenomenon in question is the appearance of a light near the turnpike road at Hill Head, about three-quarters of a mile west of the town. In the summer it is not often visible, dry weather being most probably incompatible with the causes of the meteor; but in the winter, and more particularly in the months of November and December scarcely a dark night passes in which it may not be seen. Its appearance is that of a small flame, of a yellowish hue, and for the most part stationary; even when moving, it wanders very little from its usual spot, but alternately rises and descends over the same place. As it has existed from time immemorial, it has at length become so familiar to the people of the vicinity as to excite no attention, but at one period many attempts were made to discover its cause and nature, though without success. On approaching the spot where, according to previous observation, it should be, the flame invariably became invisible to the inquirer, even while remaining perfectly luminous to those who watched it at a distance. A level was then taken during its appearance by which the curious were guided in their researches, and still the phenomenon was pronounced to be as great a mystery as ever. There can be little doubt, however, notwithstanding its stationary character, that it was neither more nor less that a will-o'-the-wisp, and produced by the same causes, even though the soil was not actually marshy. - The Book of the Months. PORT OF FALMOUTH There is again a large fleet of merchant vessels in the Harbour. On Friday last, twenty-five vessels arrived, seventeen of which were foreigners. On Easter Sunday the flags of thirteen foreign nations were flying in the Harbour. On Good Friday some of the foreign vessels crossed their yards, lowered away their main gaff, and hoisted their colours half mast high as token of mourning. FINE COW The fine cow lately shown at Bodmin fair, by MR. STEPHENS of Hengar, was killed last week by MESSRS. BATE and BASTARD of Camelford. The weight was 8 cwt. 2 qrs. 23 lbs., and it was considered by all who saw it as the best beef ever shown in that market. DEATH OF MR. JOHN STEPHENS OF ADELAIDE The Adelaide papers bring intelligence of the death of MR. JOHN STEPHENS, proprietor of the South Australian Register. Mr. Stephens, we believe, was in the 47th year of his age; the nature of his disease is not mentioned. He was second son of the Rev. JOHN STEPHENS, Wesleyan minister, and younger brother of the REV. JOSEPH RAYNER STEPHENS, of Ashton. In Adelaide, he was much respected for his intelligence, probity, and incessant activity, in following out his own convictions of what tended to the public good. He was mainly instrumental in bringing to light the horrible treatment to which female emigrants to Adelaide were in some instances subjected by the captains and surgeons of ships. Mr. Stephens formerly carried on the printing business at St. Agnes, and subsequently at Truro. HELSTON PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY On Monday last the members of this society held their first annual meeting at the Seven Stars Hotel, and after the transaction of the general business, the appointment of new officers, &c., they retired to the large dining-room, where about forty sat down to a most excellent dinner, consisting of delicacies of the season, the surgeon of the Institution, MR. ROSKRUGE, presiding. The guests were so much pleased with the entertainment provided by MR. HOOKER, whose efficiency is so well known, and contributed on this occasion so much to their comfort, that they unanimously resolved to make him a present in addition to his regular charges. After having enjoyed the many good things, and drank many loyal and appropriate toasts, between which were sung some concerted pieces by several of the old glee singers in their accustomed style of excellence, the company separated at an early hour, after mutually congratulating each other on having spent a most agreeable and harmonious day. PENZANCE GUILDHALL At the sittings of the borough Magistrates on Monday last, JOHN CARTER, of the parish of Madron, roper, was charged with having on the 12th instant, assaulted THOMAS WILDGOOSE, a lad of the same parish. It appeared from the evidence adduced, that the complainant had entered the defendant's ropery, on the day in question, and thrown a large piece of the rind of a Norway pine on a rope then in course of making, thereby causing the breaking of the rope and putting the defendant to much additional labour and expense. The defendant was very much provoked at the occurrence, and seized and beat the complainant. Fined 5s. and the expenses. -SALLY PHILLIPS, of Penzance, a single woman, was convicted of a charge of allowing prostitutes to assemble in her house, and was committed to the borough goal[sic] for one month, with hard labour. -RICHARD WHITE and WILLIAM BENNETTS, builders, of Penzance, summoned their apprentice RICHARD TALLACK, on a charge of running away and leaving his work, but ultimately consented to withdraw the summons on his promise of good behavior for the future. -JAMES VINE, beerseller, was fined 15s. 6d. for keeping his house open at improper hours. There were one or two other trifling cases. CORONER'S INQUESTS The following inquests have been held before Mr. HAMLEY, county coroner: On the 16th instant, on JOHN RETALLACK, an infant, at Luxulyan, about four months old. He had been a weakly child, was as well as usual on the preceding night, but on the mother waking in the morning, she found him dead in her arms. Verdict, "died from natural causes." -On the 15th instant, on SAMPSON PARSONS, a farmer, at Jacobstow. He had been at the Methodist Chapel on that day, and went to bed in perfect health. In about five minutes after he had been in bed his wife heard him making an extraordinary noise. She called her son from an adjoining room, but he was dead before he came. Verdict, Visitation of God. - On the 19th instant, on the body of RICHARD PENDRAY, at Bodmin. He had been out for a walk, and on coming home and sitting in a chair, his family saw there was something the matter with him, and got him into bed, but he died almost immediately. Verdict, visitation of God. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH - REGINA v. GARLAND Sittings in Banco, Before Lord Campbell, and Justices Pattison, Wightman, and Erle In the case of Regina v. Garland, Mr. CROWDER, Q.C., moved for a rule for a new trial, upon the ground that evidence had been improperly received. The indictment was for a public nuisance, and charged the defendant with burning crude arsenic, and that certain noisome and unwholesome smells did thence arise, so that the air was thereby corrupted and infected. The indictment was tried before Mr. Baron MARTIN, at the last assizes for the county of Cornwall, when the verdict was given for the Crown. Lord Campbell said he was of opinion that the evidence had been property admitted, to show the quality of the air which was alleged to have been corrupted by noisome and unwholesome smells. The other Judges expressing similar opinions, the rule was refused. Julia Mosman, OPC for St.Austell,Charlestown, and Treverbyn Website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell W. Briton newspaper transcripts at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad Please visit the OPC website at http://cornwall-opc.org