The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 253, 29 December 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1866.

' The proprietors "of "the Nelson Evening Mail begs to inform the newspaper proprietors in the colony, with whom they have been in the habit of exchanging, that after the Ist January, 1867, files of the Mail will be forwarded to them regularly, per favor of the pursers of the various steamers that ! leave the Port of Nelson. The Mail proprietors .tmsfc that the parties with whom they have hitherto exchanged files -will approve of this arrangement, and forward copies of their journals in a similar manner. The two Nelson Lodges of Oddfellows will celebrate their anniversary on Tuesday next. In the morning a procession will take place, in which the Foresters will join; and in the evening the usual dinner will be given in the Oddfellows' Hall. The institution is a useful one, and it is to be desired that nothing will transpire to mar the success of the intituled celebration., i Whilst we are selfish enough to wish that Nelson will not go quite out of town, we cannot shut our I eyes to the fact that the goods and passsenger traffic to the Buller is greatly on the increase. Messrs Curtis announce the sailing of the Ahuriri on the 31st instant, and of the Stormbird for Grey and Hokitika on the same day. A good many Nelson people are knocking about just now, but no doubt when they have made their pile they will find their way back to the sleepy-hollow again. It is announced "that a number of sports .of. a very exciting nature will come off at Richmond on New Year's Day. On the same day a- picnic party will proceed to Rabbit Island. On tlie 2nd January the annual tea party and musical entertainment will take place at, the Waimea South Literary Institute. Of course little children, as well as those of a larger growth, ought to be amused at holiday times. If great strapping fellows find pleasure in racing in sacks aiid climbing greasy poles, it cannot be exDected that Sunday School children should be required to stop at home and pull wry faces. Consequently the managers ot the Bridge-street, Baptist Sunday School, . .aijtiounce an open air tea-meeting on New Year's ~i>ay, on which occasion no doubt the usual athletic sports will be had' recourse. to, as well- as the intellectual engagements indulged in which are usual at such tithes. "/'".'"' '*'/. - A. signal station 4ias been established on the South Beach, -Buller River, where, at the Flagstaff now b<*ing erected, the eame^ignals will "be 'used as at the Gr«y and Hokitika. A 'flagstaff has also been erected (»u. the North .Point, Constant Bay, Pakihi,' where :flte will 'be' shown -.—Red fl;ig,. at niasjheiid— boats .can, .enter ; blue flag, lialfmast— , low' water, wait 'for' tile ; 'white flag, entrance dang«yria_B; s'urf too heavy for jb'oatß. ' '.'.,'",

In the Resident Magistrate's Court^ to-day, R. K. Turner was* fined 30s and costs for allowing three' horses to wander in the streets. George Irwin complained against .James ', Smith* for assaulting him on Thursday week last. Complainant stated that havingfound his wood cut up on his ground up the Maitai, and having reason to believe that defendant was taking it away, he charged him with the offence, and forbade his, cutting any. more ; . on -this the defendant struck him on the forehead. Defendant called Edward Brandon, who swore that Irwin struck Smith first, and that he had taken the wood which he accused Smith of. taking. There was another ease in which Irwin claimed damages from Smith for having taken two loads of wood. The complainant could not prove to the satisfaction of tlie Bench that the defendant had taken the wood. Defendant called a witness, who stated that the boundary line between the property of the disputants was an imperfect one, and Smith said he- had taken two or three trees by mistake, but had offered, in the presence of Mr Austin the sur» veyor,, to restore two or three for every, one he had taken. The Magistrate said the case appeared to involve a question of title, which it was not competent for him to entertain. To prevent a breach of the peace however, he should require all the parties to enter into their own recognisances of £20 each, and another of £10 each, to keep the peace for six months. The cases were dismissed. We understand that Mr. Hudson, formerly of the firm of Warrer.ahd Hudson of this town, has taken a business at Wellington, where his prospects of success are said to be favorable. The mail for -Grey and Hokitika, per Stormbird, and for the Buller, per Ahuriri, closes on Monday, at 1 p.m. The Westport Times, in noticing, the advantages of the Buller as a port, observes a week ago the s.s. Ahuriri came in, and left without the slightest difficulty, and we, observe by the Nelson papers that she is again laid on. Captain Hall of the Egmont came in over the bar, in a whale-boat, and took soundings, which satisfied him that his vessel could with safety enter tlie river, and it is by no means improbable if passengers or cargo offer that he will bring the Egmont in on his next trip. At low water, in the bed of the river there is nowhere less than 12 feet of water. .£_ The Westport Times says: — The Government ' Buildings are fast approaching completion and will''' be ready for occupation in a few days. They consist of a Court-house, constables quarters, and lock-up. Although very neat and substantial the building is far to small for the requirements of this place, lhe contractor is Mr. G. 11. Stainer of Nelson, who has executed the work in a riiost effectual manner. The Southern Cross describes an amusing scene that took place in the Supreme Court recently: — An appeal from the decision of the Resident Magistrate at Taranaki was called on for argument. Mr. Gillies stated that he would have to ask for an adjournment, as, although he was retained in the matter, he could not say on which side he had to argue. Mr. Weston rose and stated that he was in a similar difficulty to that in which his learned friend found himself — he also was retained, but at that moment was not prepared to state for which of the parties; however, he would agree to Mr. Gillies' request. The learned judge, amid some laughter, in which he himself took part, adjourned the argument to the 9th of January. It is to be hoped that the learned counsel will know to whom to apply for their fees. The Independent cf the 25th regrets to have to notice the death of one of the Chinese who'came to Wellington in the Phcebe, en route for Dunedin. We believe Ah Chong was in good health till his arrival in kelson, where he caught cold after having taken a bath, and thinking to cure himself, took a large dose of opium. On* his arrival here, being very ill he was taken to the hospital, where, notwithstanding every care being shown him, he died yesterday. The M. News informs its readers that the annual match between the Volunteers of Picton and Blenheim is arranged to come off on the ground of the latter corps on the Ist January, 1867 — twelve champions on each side contending for victory. We (M. Press) hear that letters have been received from \V. L. VVrey, Esq., by last mail, in which he states that he has thorough confidence that he wiil be able to raise the necessary capital for the construction of the Picton and Blenheim railway. The parties to whom he has communicated this welcome information are members of his family resident in Nelson, from whom our informant had the particulars. The M. Express is informed that Mr Fyffe's station at the Kaikouras, as well as a portion .of the.Greenhills run, belonging to Messrs Keene, has been sold during the past to Messrs Bulleine, of Christchurch, who have already paid the purchase money. We believe Messrs Keeue purpose leaving for England early in the ensuing year. The St. Kilda. Captain Johnson, was to proceed on the 22nd from Napier to the Chatham Islands, with the last of the Hau-hau prisoners taken at Omarunui "and elsewhere — most, if not the whole, of whomjiaying been wounded in action. «L_Living in Hokitika is not dear. . In scores of places • the price of meals is posted outside; dinners, 2s. ('d. to 3s. 6d., other/meals Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. Board, in respectable hotels, from _3 to £4' per week. Drinks all 6d. each. Everything to both eat, drink, and wear to be had in j abundance; Vhitebait in any quantity. ..... „ ; ' The Canterbury Press observes that the driving at both ends cf the tunnel is and has for some time been through soft rock, allowing the work Jo be carried bii with great rapidity. Only 170 yards remain to be driven, so that unless the hard rock is agahvmet with. The shots at the; Lyttelton side are now, distinctly heard at the Hckthcote face, so distinctly indeed as' to occasion some surprise that, they ; lia\e not

..' . ——___— ————-ay been heard, before. This proves that there are no cavities nor any quicksand,- Vithiri the intervening space.; The tunnel will be opebed in April r ' The polite of Christchurch are now distinguished individually by letter and lumbers on their cap*, like those on the collars of the force in England. The Auckland Herald Bays : — Affidavits made by the gaoler of Mount Eden Stockade, of the escape Of , Frederick Plummer, in consequence of which tho trials in which that person is interested as principal and witness, are indefinitely postponed. A quantity of ammunition, it will be recollected, was found, which had been sold to Plummer by an artillery man named M'Leary who is out on bail. The inauguration of the Godley statute, which wa9 to have taken place at Christchurch oh the anniversary day of the foundation of the'- province, has been postponed, the pedestal being too small. , : The Australasian of Dec. 1, speaking of the advantages likely to accrue from an intercolonial conference for the adj ustment of duties, etc., says : — The die-' co very of the New Zealand gold-fields, and the consequent and sudden progress of that country, is a case in point. According to the narrow and .shortsighted view, Victoria ought to have been greatly alarmed at the starting up of a rival gold' country in the Australasian groupe, and which .immediately attracted an emigration from our shores. , What has been the result . Very material service, not injury. New markets have been opened for our enterprise and industry, the gaps made, in our population have speedily filled up, and we are reaping our share of the benefit rendered by [the gold mines of Westland and Otago in creating, settlements where, there was previously wilderness. And when we walk among the intercolonial exhibits noWjOn view in Melbourne, ; and consider the capabilities of these countries — tho tropical resources of. Queensland, the diversified mineral and vegetable treasures of New Zealand, West Australia, Tasmania, and the natural products and manufacturing scope of' their rnore advanced sisters — when we consider how fitted the various members of this family are to supply each other's wants, and how much more: conveniently they will be able, to do it than more distant countries, it "is humiliating to think that the* colonies should them-' selves:discourage such prospects. Let us hope that a wiser spirit now prevails, and that they, will -ceaß« to stand in their own light. -