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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 127, 1 August 1866, Page 3

The men charged with the Maungatapu murders will be brought before the Resident Magistrate to-morrow, we learn, for the last time. It is expected that Sullivan's evidence will be taken, whether orally or by written statement, we have yet to learn. There would be a great advantage in a written statement, as the prisoner, when writing, would be more cool and collected than he can be expected to be when speaking in the dock in presence of his associates in crime. We think the laAv requires that the prisoner shall make his statement in the dock, and that it shall be taken down in writing by the Clerk of the Court. Probably Sullivan will be allowed to make a statement aud refresh his memory from his written notes. Tu the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, judgment was given for plaintiffs, with costs, in the following civil cases: — Hooper & Co. v. Abbott, £1 J 2s. 6d.; T. Snow v. Augarde, £9 9s. 2d.; .Buxton & Co. v. Karsten, £4 65. ; L. Haase v. TV. E. Cator, £1 1 8s. Bd.; Hooper & Co. v. T. Berry, 12s. 6d.; Adams & Kingdon v. A. Beau champ & J. M'Beth, £24 12s. 4d.; T. Field v. Phillips, £9 ls.

The Bruce Herald has the following in reference to the proposed tax on newspapers. : — We had very closely calculated the additional expenses which a second weekly issue would entail upon us, and had resolved, in a liberal spirit, to make our charge for subscriptions only a very little over what it now is, so as to place our readers in possession of the very important news which we may reasonably expect from all parts of the world, as speedily and as economically as possiblej; but the increased expense and inconvenience from this postage-rate has induced us to postpone publishing twice a week. This accounts for not appearing in our new form yesterday. With a view to the encouragement of the growth of barley for malting purposes, it appears that Messrs. Marshall and Copelaod of Dunedin have ordered some fine seed barley from Europe, which they propose distributing to farmers on liberal conditions, as well as giving a handsome prize for the finest sample produced at the next harvest. The Hokitika Times gives the following ecclesiastical intelligence: — The Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, the Right Rev. Dr. Harper, has been for some weeks past on a visit to the district, to promote the erection of an Episcopal Church and parsonage, and to make the necessary preparations for the reception of the Venerable Archdeacon Harper, who is expected to arrive in Westland, accompanied by one or more clergymen from home. A committee of the members of the Church of England has been appointed to j carry out those objects. In the meantime the Bishop has been officiating at the Supreme Court House, and visiting Greymouth, the Kanieri, and other districts. Measures are being taken at the Kanieri for the erection of a church, which promises from the plans that have been approved of, j to be a handsome and commodious edifice. The Right Rev. Dr Viard, Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, has also been on a visit, taking measures for the more complete organisation of the Catholic community for ecclesiastical purposes. The Rev. Mr. Gow of Christchurch, is officiating at the Fire Brigade Hall, where the members of the Prestbyterian body congregate. The Wesleyan services continue to be conducted as usual in the commodious church erected by that denomination. The members of the Hebrew persuasion are taking active measures for oi'ganis'mg a congregation, and building a handsome synagogue on the reserve for religious worship, granted to them by the Government. A novel rite Avas performed in the Hokitika River, at a spot opposite the Kauieri township. Four persons, of whom two were females, were publicly baptised by immersion. Steps are being taken for the erection of a Congregational Church. The New Zealand Herald gives the following incident of a case of swindling in Auckland, as furnished by an eye witness : — Not many nights since, at a very late hour, the landlord of an hotel some miles south of Auckland was rroused from his peaceful slumbers by a great noise and rapping at his door, and upon answering the summons was informed by two 'young gentlemen' that Doctor (a gentleman well known for his good position and high beariug in society, and ..much respected in the district), was taken suddenly ill, and required a bottle of brandy with every possible haste, as it was a case of life and death. The landlord, being a great friend of the dying doctor, at once despatched them with a bottle of Martell's P.8., saying it was 'all right.' Next day he met Doctor out walking, and upon making inquiries found out that he had not only been terribly hoaxed, but swindled out of the price of his brandy. We have files from Adelaide to the 13 th iust., but the news is unimportant. TheS. A. Advertiser of that date says : — There is at present a rather singular case in the Adelaide Hospital. We refer to a young woman who was sent out some months ago as a Government immigrant, and who is affected with hysterical fits. She has been two or three times in the hospital, and recently several needles have worked out of her body. She states that she never remembers swallowing any needles, nor having pricked her body with them. Dr. Peel, however, has

extracted four or five of the common sewing needles from her, and they bear the appearance of having been iu the flesh for a considerable time. A steamer, supposed to be the Lord Ashley, was signalled from the South as we were going to press.