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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 161, 10 September 1866, Page 2

We have to record the total loss of the schooner Three Sisters, from Dunedin, bound to the Grey River, West Coast, on Saturday the Bth inst., about 4 p.m., on the Arrow Rock, at the entrance of Nelson harbor. There wr.s a gale of wind blowing at the time with a very heavy sea. The flood-tide had just made aud the vessel was unable to keep ro windward, in consequence she was therefore compelled lo run for the entrance. She crossed the bar safely, but in rounding the point at the entrance her keel caught the ground and she was driven on the rocks. She was boarded by the pilot and every exertion made to get her off but without avail. Three boat loads of cargo was saved, and the crew who remained till the last on board, getting the cargo out, was compelled to land from her- as she rolled over off the rock on her broadside and filled. The crew was retained to attend on the vessel, aud after the tide had risen and the mast was carried away, the tide swept or rather rolled her over the reef and carried her up the harbor, where she grounded on the flat above the Government Wharf. The chief officer and all the crew watched the vessel till the proper time arrived for getting out the cargo that remained, which has beeu landed under the orders of the captain, and will be sold by auction to-morrow. It isuncertaiu whether the vessel is insured. Fortunately no lives were lost. The hull is damaged past repair, being literally ground up. Considerable credit is clue to the pilot and boats crews for their perseverance and attention. One boat load of goods was landed by Mr. Garrard's boat, which remained by the wreck and fol- ■ lowed her up to where she grounded; a small line was made fast from her to the wharf which carried away, as a matter of course, as

a cable would not hold a water-logged vessel in the strong tide that was runniug. The anchor and cable that dropped from her at the entrance has beeu fouud with cable broken. We understand that it is not sufficiently knowu that the Waimea River offers safe shelter and easy access under circumstances similar to those which occurred on Saturday; and hereby desire to call attention to the fact. A notice appears in another column of the application to register the West Wancanui Coal Mining Company. The names of a number of shareholders are given, who are not residents of this district, a proof that they have faith in the speculation in which the company have embarked. It is to be hoped that uo more time will be lost in testing the coal-bearing capabilities of this province, and that the efforts of this company will be rewarded by success. If the coal-fields of the province are one quarter so rich as they are represented to be by competent authorities, the following paragraph from a Wellington paper reads exceedingly strange : — We hear that bills of lading have reached Captaiu Benson, Geueral Manager of the Panama Company, for 2409 tons of Welsh coal. This enormous cargo left Cardiff for this port on the 16th June, and will be the largest ever seeu in these colonies. The H. B. Wright has already arrived with 800 tons from Cardiff. Such arrivals are amongst the first fruits of Wellington becoming the head quarters of this company, and we hope that the Superintendent will note this fact and urge on the construction of the patent slip. Iu the Resident Magistrate's Court, to-day, James Thorn was fined 10s. and costs for drunkenness. Michael Clarke, was charged with picking pockets, aud remanded till to-morrow. Mr. Justice Johnston arrived in Nelson last evening by the Phcebe. The vessel not having beeu signalled there was no one at the wharf to receive the Judge, nor was there a cab in waiting. His Honor had to walk half way to town before a cab met him. We think it desirable that a little more courtesy should be shown to the Judge when he arrives iu the town than has been shown hitherto. A public officer holding so influential a position is entitled to something like respect. Iu England the sheriff and the principal men of the district escort the Judge when he arrives in a town, and we see no reason why the sheriff and other public officers here should not observe, at least, a show of respect to an officer charged with the most responsible duties which can fall to the lot of man. It has been suggested that the police authorities would do well to exercise a little extra vigilance during the present week. The trials will most likely attract a number of disreputable characters from a distance, whose presence could be well dispensed with. Nearly all the police being required at the gaol and court-house, the outskirts of the town will be left comparatively unprotected. Already there are rumours of men being seen about with foreheads villanotisly low, whose scowl and prowling habits have put people on the watch. No doubt the chief of the police is prepared for the exceptional state of things, and -will by the employment of supernumeraries, take care that no harm happens in the outskirts from which the forebodings of ill have come. On the 6th inst. Mr. Curtis obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend "The Crown Lands (Nelson) Leasing Act, 1865." Iu moving for leave, the hon. member said that the bill had not got the sanction of the council, but he though that he and Mr. Parker, member for Motueka, represented the feelings of the council in the matter. On Thursday last, Mr. Vogel moved the second readiag of the Districts Boards Bill, whose object was to give the power to the provinces of creating municipalities without coming to the House with several bills. Mr. Parker and other members opposed the . second reading, and on the motion of Major Richardson the debate was adjourned till Monday. .On Thursday last, Mr. Reynolds brought forward his motion, "That it is desirable the arrival and departure of shipping should be

telegraphed and posted at the various telegraph stations, at least twice a-day." Mr. Hall said the Province of Otago would not be likely to receive any benefit from it, as the telegraph between Port Chalmers and Dunedin was in the hands of a private company, over which the Government had no control. He moved that the last five words of the motion be struck out. Mr. Vogel thought private companies could be arranged with, that the state of the weather should also be telegraphed, and that Hokitika should be connected by government telegraph with the rest of the colony, particularly as it received news only four and a half days old from Melbourne. The motiou was agreed to. The Wellington Fire Brigade have decided that alarm bell towers should be erected in different parts of the town, and already several have been erected. At Mr. Horner's monthly sale at Wellington, last week, 87 head of cattle fetched au average of £15 per head, and a lot of fair wethers were bought up at 19s. 6d. Horses were not iu demand. Common hacks fetched £11. The Crimiual Court will sit on Wednesday, when the men charged with the Maungatapu murders will be put upon their trial. i Mr. Hart, of Wellington, assisted by Mr. H. Adams will conduct the prosecution. Mr. Pitt, we understand will defend Levy. Kelly has written to the judge, requesting him to apppoint council to defend him. In all probability Mr. Pitt will be asked to discharge the difficult duty. Kelly intends to plead an alibi. A special and a common jury have been summoned. We hear that the prisoners will apply for a special jury, but the application cannot be made till an indictment has been found by the grand jury. Most likely a special "jury will try the case. If Burgess wishes to address the jury he will have to plead not guilty, notwithstanding the elaborate statement in which he has made a confession of his misdeeds. Mr. Vogel brought forward a question of privilege in the House of Representatives on Thursday in consequence of a spurious telegram having been sent from Dunedin to Mr. Reynolds, one of the members for that city. The telegram was to the following effect : — "Private meeting last evening. Either you or Dick should come down at once, Grant creating a party out of doors. Call another public meeting for Tuesday. Mason." Mr. James O'Neill has given notice that he will move in Committee of Ways and Means " That iu the opinion of this Committee any extra sums which may be required for public services ought to be taken out of territorial revenue in proportion of amount contributed by each province respectively." Mr. Beauchamp has given notice that it is desirable there should be increased taxation, and that such taxation should in the first instance take the form of an export duty on wool. Major-General Chute aud staff arrived at Wellington from Wanganui in the s.s. Wanganui on last Wednesday morning. The export of wool from the province of Canterbury for the year ended 30th June last, has increased from 20,384 bales, valued at £443,260, in 1865, to 22,123 bales, valued at £462,618, in 1566-; this is exclusive of 2888 bales wool, valued at £47,760, shipped from Timaru via Dunedin ; the total being 24,511 bales. At the same time, the yield of gold shows the astonishing increase of 308,108 ouucss, valued afc £1,203,446, over last year's export. Nelson gold shipped at Greymouth, reached 71,600 ounces. Although the Civil Service Bill was read a second time on Thursday, it is considered probable that it will advance no further this session. Captain J. Vine Hall, sen., is a passenger by the s.s. Rakaia en route to Europe. A singular occurrence is thus related by the Yass Courier: — ''Mr Thomas Colls, of the Commercial Hotel, has some fantail pigeons. One of his pure-bred Spanish hens laid nine eggs in the pigeon-box, aud, singular to relate, one of the pigeons hatched one of the eggs, aud brought forth a Spanish chicken."