NELSON.

. + On Friday last a serious gun accident occurred to a young man, son of Mr C. Best, of Appleby, who was out rabbit shooting on his father's property with Mr 0. Monro, youngest son of Sir D. Monro, and other young gentlemen. Mr Best had turned a ferret into a rabbit hole, and was on his knees listening, when hearing a rabbit approaching, he signified the fact to Mr Monro, who stood about threo yards behind him. In bringing his gun to his shoulder to bo ready for the rabbit as it bolted out of the hole, Mr Monro's gun accidently went oft', and the charge struck the skirt of Mr Best's coat, and shot away the sleeve, a part of the charge entering his elbow. Surgical assistance was at once obtained, and several shots extracted from the wound, but the extent of the injury cannot yet be ascertained. An attempt is being made to form a company, with a small capital, for the purpose of obtaining a crushing machine for Wangapeka. This is an undertaking which we earnestly hope may prove successful, as uniil something of the kind is done the quality of the reefs in that district will never be fairly tested, and the present languishing and unsatisfactory state of affairs must continue to exist. The first symptoms of the approach of winter were visible on the morning of the 2nd instant, when a white frost was lying pretty thick on the ground. We understand that many cucumbers and such liko delicate plants presented a very blackened appearance in consequence. A herd of red deer is to be seen every evening about sunset near the reservoir, in Brook street Valley. We are informed that the reservoir keeper states that they come within 100 yards of his house, and that he has occasionally tjQ drive them off with his dogs. An inquest was hehJ on the fire at Bishopdale, when a verdict was returned to the effect that there was no evidence to show how it originated. We regret to learn that a fatal accident occurred recently to Catherine Win, a daughter of Mr John Win, of Waimea East, and grand-daughter of Mr Humphries, of Wilford Farm. The little girl, who was about twelve years of ago,, got on one of the horses at her grandfather's farm at dinner time to ride it to wate*, when the animal started off at a swinging trot, and in doing so threw the poor child, who must have fallen on her head, as on being picked up she complained of great pain in the crown of her head. Shortly after the accident occurred Bhe became unconscious, in which state she remained until half-past botch in the morning when Bhe expired.