Local Intelligence.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

At a special meeting of the Chamber, held on Friday afternoon, the following resolutions were passed unanimously, the subject under discussion appearing to excite much interest, and the attendance of members being unusually large. Proposed by Mr. Levien, seconded by Mr. O. Curtis : —

" 1. That this Chamber is fully impressed, from the reliable information they have obtained, and the quantity of gold that has already* been 'raised, that there is a valuable, extensive, and available gold-field in the Massacre Bay district." Proposed by Mr. O. Curtis, seconded by Mr. W. Wilson: —

"2. That it is the conviction of this Chamber that the average earnings of diggers working upon the gold-fields of this province have been, and are, equal to (hose of any other gold-field yet discovered ; and that, had reasonable facilities been afforded to diggers, there would now be a considerable population engaged upon them, with profit to themselves and to the colony, m place of the 300 or 400 men now at work." Proposed by Captain Hays, seconded by Mr. Sis'CLATE : —

" 3. That a deputation, consisting of the Chairman, the Secretary, and the mover, be requested to unit upon the Superintendent to point out the urgent importance of taking active measures, without further loss of time, to renclci' the gold-fields more available to the diggers, by cutting tracks to enable stores to be taken to the various localities which have been found to yield gold in paying quantities." Proposed by Mr. Sixclaih, seconded by Mr. Beit : —

"4. That a copy of Hie foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the Superintendent, and that he be requested to appoint an early day for the deputation to wait upon him.'' ProposeJ by Mr. H. E. Curtis, seconded by Mr. D. Moore :—: —

"5. That it shall be part of the instructions to the deputation to impress upon the Government the desirability of investing some person in whom they place confidence with power to open out tracks to new digging ground, as it may be discovered, without the necessity of previous reference to the Local Government."

The Baeque Caitii/La. — A few daya since we visited the »bove-named vessel, which has now been lying so long in this harbour, and feel pleasure in bearing testimony to her improved appearance since | she cast anchor after her protracted voyage from England. It will be remembered that shortly after her arrival a survey was held upon her, and various repairs were recommended. These have been effected under the superintendence of Captain Pritchard, the commander of tho vessel, and we find by a report recently made by the surveyors, that "the repairs recommended have been done satisfactorily, and that the vessel is now in a fit condition to carry a dry and perishable cargo to any part of the world." It is said that the Camilla is likely to be taken up for the conveyance of the first portion of tho ensuing clip of wool from Port Underwood to England, and for such a , freight the vessel seems admirably adapted. Accident. — A rather singular yet unfortunate accident occurred in town on Thursday afternoon Mrs. Ru9s, the wife of a farmer living at Waimea West, was walking along the lower end of Bridgestreet with a child in her arms, and while watching her husband's team of bullocks coming from the river, she stepped from the slightly raised pathway on to the road, and fell, the sudden jerk causing a fracture of her leg in two places. Dr. Renwick was promptly on the spot, and after the bone had beeu set, the poor woman was conveyed to her home in a cart. A Public Nuisance.— Repeated complaints have reached us respecting the great annoyance caused by the employment of entire horses for stud purposes iv public open spaces in the town. We trust that the attention of the polioe department will not need to be again called to so gross an outrage of public decency. Spring Geove. — On Saturday evening last, a lecture, in connection with tho Mechanics' Institution, was delivered at the Baptist Chapel, Spring Grove, by Dr. Monro. The subject of the lecture was " Tho Atmosphere," and the chapel was pretty well filled with an attentive audience, who must have derived both pleasure and profit from the information thus conveyed to them. A hearty vote of thanks was given to Dr. Monro at the close of the lecture.

The New Judge, — We take the following paragraph from the Wellington Independent of Saturday last: — "His Honour Mr. Justice Johnston arrived in the Robert Small on Wednesday last. Wo have not heard when he will assume his official duties, but he will probably not do so until Mr. Gre3son's return from Canterbury." Nelson Liteeary Institution. — We aro glad to find that the committee of this Institution have at last decided on taking steps fov the erection of a larger building, and that it is proposed to lower the rate of subscription, and thus extend the advantages of the Institution. Certainly, when it is remembered that the foundation of this institution was one of the first acts of the earliest settlers, it is quite evident that it has not kept pace -with the progress otherwise made by the province.

The Chieftain. — This fine vessel was towed into harbour in capital style by the Tasmanian Maid on Thursday morning. The Chieftain is a commodious, if not a very fast vessel ; and though ahe must hare been built some sixteen or seventeen years, and consequently iii the comfortable old-fashioned style, she appears yet to be perfectly sound. We were courteously shown over the vessel by Captain M'Lean, and were much pleased with the clean and trim appearance of everything on board. Some of the passengers (both cuddy and lore cabin) with whom we conversed, spoke in high terms of the Captain and

of the general degree of comfort experienced throughout a very protracted passage. The mate is in custody for drunkenness and for assaulting the Captain.

The Dog Nuisance Act. —This Act is now in full operation, and we are glad to find that the police have been so active in seizing unticketted doge. A description of the dogs seized is exhibited at the Police office, and at the front window of the Trafalgar Hotel, for public information ; and all that are not claimed within forty-eight hours are destroyed.

A Tow.v Clock. — Mr. G. Coate3, of Trafalgarstreet, has just imported by the Chieftain an excellent eight-day striking clock, with a copper dial five. feet in diameter. The clock, we believe, has been constructed by a celebrated London maker, and would, if fixed in some conspicuous place, say for instance, the front of the church steeple, make an excellent town-clock. "We understand that n committee is to be formed for the purpose of collecting subscriptions for the purchase of this clock, which, will be sold for £100, including the fixing of it. Ova Dry Dock. — The Captain of the Wonga Wonga has again taken advantage of our natural dry dock, and has put the steamer on the bank for the purpose of having her hull cleaned. This special advantage of our harbour was no doubt taken into consideration by the General Government when Nelson was made the central port for the vessels of the Eoyal New Zealand Mail Company ; and if the Oliver Lang had met with her disaster a little nearer to our harhour, she might probably have been easily repaired and made fit for sea, instead of having to be run ashore to save her from sinking.