LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[fbom oub own coeeespondent.] Nelson, March 8, 7.25 p.m. One hundred and fifty miners have arrived by the Kangatira from the Thames on their way to the Wakamarina. It is reported that two hundred more are coming in the John Perm. The diggers will be disap pointed, as there are no good grounds for such a rush. Camp Mountain Creek is over rushed. Many of the new arrivals go on to the West Coast. Wellington, March 8, 7.10 p.m. The time for sending in tenders for Government House is postponed until the 20fch inst. Besides a boiling down company at Wairarapa, others are being started at Wanganui and Rangitikei. Colonel McDonnell's services will probably be retained at Waikato, where he now is on a visit. The Her. Mr Ward delivered an impressive and manly funeral sermon on the late Mr Whiteley last night, taking his text from Acts, 20 eh. 24 v.

The Pbincb's Visit.—-A public meeting of the inhabitants of the province, convened by his Honor the Superintendent, will be held in the Town Hall this evening, at seven o'clock, for the purpose of discussing what measures should be adopted in reference to the Prince's visit. It seems to be the universal wish that his Royal Highness should be invited to visit Canterbury, and the series of formal resolutions which has been prepared will no doubt he carried by acclamation; and will merely serve as a peg upon which to hang a discussion about the best mode of receiving the Prince. It is desired, however, that as many sections of the population as possible should be represented at the meeting; and, in furtherance of this, a special train has been laid on for the convenience of the Lyttelton people,! which will leave Christchurch at ten p.m. ! The resolutions referred to are these :— i (1 ) That this meeting learns with great satisfaction that his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh will shortly visit the colony of New Zealand, and desires to express its gratification that an opportunity will be afforded to the people of this province to testify their loyalty to her Majesty the Queen, by welcoming his Royal Highness amongst them. (2) That his Honor the Superintendent be desired to forward the foregoing resolution to his Excellency the Governor, with a request that he will communicate the substance of it to his Royal Highness, and that his Honor be further requested to express on the part of the people of Canterbury tho pleasure which they will have in again seeing his Excellency among them on the occasion Jof the visit *of his Royal Highness. (3) That the cordial co-operation of the several districts and towns of tho province should bo invited to secure a fitting reception of his Royal Highness during his visit, and that with this view the following gentlemen be requested to form a general committee to make the necessary ments. Accident. —On Tuesday night last, Captain Crawford, of Timaru, while driving across the Opihi river, was thrown out of tho trap, and the wheel of it passed over his forehead, h> flicting a severe wound. Stjddbn Death.—Mrs Evans, who hae been housekeeper at the Club for the last four or five years, was found dead in her room a little before cix o'clock yesterday evening. The causa of her sudden decease is as yet unknown. Caution to Votebs.—We are requested to caution claimants for votes in Lyttelton—or elsewhere—and ad visa them to see that their printed forms are correct, as Dγ Donald, the Returning Officer, has decided that the forms issued by the " Lyttelton Times " office are but waste paper. The Matoe of Hokitika.—Mr Evan Prosser, Mayor of Hokitika, left Lyttelton yesterday by the steamer Gothenburg, en route for the capital of Westland. We are informed that Mr Prosser will shortly resign his mayoralty, as having taken a large wholesale drug business in JDunedinfit ia hie intention to reside in that city*

Akaroa Horticultural Society.—This society held its second show of the season on Wednesday last, in the Town Hall, Akaroa. It was but moderately successful tho attendance being very poor. Coincidence—Should the Duke of Edinburgh arrive at Sydney on the 12th instant, as intended, he will reach there on the anniversary of the day when the outrage was committed on his Royal Highness at Cloutarf. Theatre Royal.—The musical and Terpsichorinn entertainment given by Messrs Black and Taylor at the Theatre Royal last evening went off very successfully, and we were glad to perceive that a largo audience were prfsent on the occasion. Mr Black is a capital Scottish vocalist, entering fully into the spirit of the son's he renders, whilst his dialect being true to nature adds greatly to tho effect of his vocal efforts, and moreover he introduces a spice of humour which increases their piquancy. Mr Taylor, on the contrary, is more for broad burlesque, and at the same time is a good delineator of negro character. His skating song and dance were however the most decided hit he made ; the evolutions he executed on the rolling skates being very graceful, and his imitation of a boy learning to skate most deservedly drew forth tho loud plaudits of the house. Canterbury Rifle Association. —A meeting of the Council of this Association was held last evening at White's Commercial Hotel. Present —Messrs Simmons (chairman), Bishop, Alport, Barnes, Wolfe, Rule, Bird, Cuff, Pavitt, and Hawkes. Mr Alport said that he had not yet received a reply from the Government in answer to an application for a new rifle range on the Sandhills, but he had been informed that the matter had been referred to Lieut.-Colonel Packe. That gentleman had told him that he had been several times over the ground, but still wanted a little further time for consideration before he sent in his report. The Council then proceeded to make arrangements for the forthcoming Easter meeting, and it was resolved that a committee be appointed, consisting of Captain Simmons, Lieut Pavitt, and the Secretary (Mr Alport), to draw up the necessary programme and report at a special meeting to be held on Monday next. The necessary instructions having been given to the Committee, the Council adjourned until Monday evening next. Meetings of Creditors. —A meeting of the creditors of Mr D. Davis, of Lyttelton, was held at noon yesterday, in Messrs Garrick and Cowlishcw's offices. There were present —Mr Gilchrist, on behalf of the Bank of New South Wales; Mr Beauford, for Matheson's Agency ; Mr L. E. Nathan j Mr W. Willcocks, of Lyttelton j Mr Harley for Miles and Co ; Mr W. H. Hargreaves ; Mr Biddulph, on behalf of Blythe, Harbottle and Co, of Melbourne; Mr Aarons, who represented the principal Melbourne and Dunedin creditors; and Mr J. E. Graham, the provisional trustee. Mr Biddulph was voted to the chair, and read to the meeting a balance sheet and statement of accounts furnished by tho bankrupt. This showed the liabilities to be £29,376 19a 4_d, and the assets £21,112 Is 2d, leaving a deficiency of £8264 l Q s Hd. Mr Davis was asked several questions by Mr Aarons, as to how his present position was brought about; but his answers not being considered satisfactory, Mr Aarons ultimately moved that Mr Davis should be requested to assign his estate under the Act. This motion waß seconded by Mr Hargreaves. Mr J. O. Gilchrist moved as an amendment that Mr Davis be requested to sequestrate his estate for the benefit of his creditors. This was seconded by Mr Harley, but, after a brief discussion, it was resolved to adjourn the meeting until Thursday next, in order to afford the bankrupt an opportunity of making fuller explanations. Madame Anna Bishop.—This lady and Mr Lascelles were at last advices in Melbourne, being on the eve of visiting Tasmania. Literary.—Mr Dickens has given up the editorship of " All the Year Round," retiring in favor of hi l ) son. Marquis of Bute.—The Marquis of Bute has, says the " Westminister Gazette," been just formally received into the Catholic Church by Monsignor Capei at Nice. Coroners. —A circular has been issued from the Judicial Branch of the Colonial Secretary's office, intimating that coroners are by the Bth section of the Coroners Act, 1867, authorised to sit with other justices, and to discharge the general duties of Justices of the Peace. Tokomaibiro Races.—This meeting will j be held at Tokomairiro on the 24th and 25th instant, when the following events will be decided —First day—Maiden Plate ; 30 soys ; 1_- miles. District Handicap ; 70 soys ; I_miles. Hack Race; 10 soys ; 1 mile. Handicap Trotting Race ;30 soys; 3 miles. Publicans' Purse; 50 soys; 2-_- miles. Second day—Handicap Hurdle Race ; 30 soys ; 1 mile heats. Flying Handicap; 40 soys ; 1 mile. Selling Race; 30 soys; 1_- miles. Tokomairiro Handicap; 100 soys ; 2 miles. Consolation Handicap ; 15 soys ; 1$ miles. Preserving and Boiling Down.—The " Timaru Herald" says that a number of gentlemen interested in obtaining a market for the surplus stock of the Timaru district met at the Royal Hotel on Thursday afternoon, at th© invitation of Mr Sheath, to hear from him a statement of his views on the advisability of commencing near to Timaru the business of preserving meat for export to England, as well as a boiling-down establishment. The gentlemen present were Messrs W. K. Macdonald, G. B. Parker, Perring, Luxmoore, Matson, and H. J. LeCren. Mr Sheath explained the object he had in asking these gentlemen together, but as the meeting was a preliminary one, and private, we are unable to give a full report of the proceedings. Tho matter was talked over at some length, but nothing definite determined on.