Local Intelligence.

Fiee Engine. — By the William Alfred, from Sydney, an excellent fire-engine has been received by the agents of the Liverpool and London Fire Insurance Company, and will, no doubt, prove of great service in case of a fire happening in town.

The Govbenment Buildings. — We understand that the Committee have now definitely fixed upon a design for the new Government offices. The style is omamentflcL Elizabethan. Several designs were submitted by Mr. M. Bury to the Committee for approval ; amongst the number was one of a very handsome structure, which we should like to see erected ; but as the cost would considerably exceed that of any of the others, the Committee decided not to adopt it. The design chosen will be an ornament to the town, although the building is worthy of a better site. We understand, that, aa soon as the working plans are completed, tenders will be invited for the erection of the buildings. The Town Impbovejient Rate.— Yesterday was the time appointed for hearing and deciding on appeals against the town assessment ; but on this occasion only three appeals were taken into Court, wliich speaks well for the general fairness of the assessment. Some few appeals were, we believe, settled out of Court, and of the three above mentioned, one was reduced by an amount of £30; the valuation of another was reduced on account of an error in the quantity of land assessed ; and the assessment in the remaining case was affirmed.

Sububban Noeth.— -The joads in this district are at last being put into something like repair, an improvement which has been long needed. The £500 voted under the Debenture Act will greatly assist in effecting this desirable object ; and the Country Roads Board of the district have levied a rate of one penny in the pound, although we find that the rate has not yet (as required by the 31st clause of the Country Roads Act) been published in the newspapers. On a racenfc ride to the Happy Valley, we observed with pleasure that, in place of the previously dangerous and difficult ford by which the saw-mill river was crossed, there has been erected an excellent and substantial cart bridge, which is a great credit to those •who assisted in its erection. We call attention to this bridge, because we learn that it was erected by the neighbouring settlers at their own expense. It was a necessary undertaking; they could get no assistance from the Government ; so they set to work themselves, and soon accomplished their object : an example that might be followed by settlers in other districts with equal advantage. Nemon G-oid. — The nugget of gold from Rocky River (the finding of which we lately noticed) was sent over by the steamer, on Wednesday evening, to Mr. J). Moore, who has become the purchaser of it. It is a splendid piece of gold, weighing Bozs. 14dwts. perfectly free from quartz ; and from its appearance, it may be fairly presumed that some more of the same family will be discovered near the spot whence it was

obtained. Indeed, now that the diggings are again beginning to attract population, we should not be surprised if called on shortly to chronicle the finding of much larger nuggets. A good deal of gold has come over to Nelson during the last fortnight, and the accounts from the diggings are very encouraging.

The Dun Mountain Railway Bill. —We omitted to mention the circumstance at the time, and we find that now even the fact is not generally known, that on the receipt of her Majesty's assent to the Waste Lands Act passed in the last session of the General Assembly, the Dun Mountain Railway Act, as passed by the Nelson Provincial Council, will become law. So that there are still hopes of the iron rails and other materials, which now quietly repose in the Company's store on the beach, being more usefully employed. Hope Sunday School — The sixth anniversary of the Hope Sunday School was held on Wednesday, the 17th instant. The day was exceedingly fine, and there was a large attendance. After both children and adults had partaken of an excellent tea, a public meeting was held, which was presided over by the Rev. D. Dolamore. The report which follows was read by Mr. Packer, the superintendent of the school, and was very satisfactory. Several of the children recited portions of Scripture and pieces of poetry ; and during the. evening, the meeting was addressed by various speakers on the subject of Sabbath-school teaching. The number in attendance was so large that many were unable to obtain admittanco into the school-room : — " Report. — In presenting the sixth annual report of the Hope Sabbath School, the committee feel grateful to Almighty G-od for his goodness in continuing and prospering the means of grace in their Sabbath school. In obedience to the Divine injunction — 'In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand ' — they have persevered with their labours, and, they believe, not without success. The children generally give great attention to the truths brought before them ; and instances are not wanting in which the gospel has been accepted as the guiding star of life. The committee have tried an experiment during the past year, by rewarding the children with tickets for early and punctual attendance, and the result of the experiment is all that could be desired ; nearly the whole of the children being in the receipt of tickets each returning Sunday. A certain number of thoso tickets entitles the holder to a book. A large number of books suitable for the purpose have just been received from England. The average attendance of children is 46 ; number of teachers, 7. The Theatre. — The performance of Don Caesar de Bazan at this temple of amusement, on Wednesday evening, attracted the attendance of a large number of persons, who, we believe, were highly pleased with the entertainment. Indeed, so well were the various parts sustained that the interest in the piece did not appear to Hog for a moment — a very good criterion of the performance. The part of the designing Don Jose was well rendered by Mr. Bertram, while Mr. Cox played the rollicking, easy-minded Don Caesar to the life. The part of Maritana was sustained by Mrs. Cox with great skill; and Mrs. Clinton's rendering of the Countess de Rotondo was exceedingly clever, and quite a gem in its way. Mr. Clinton, as the King, looked and acted the character well. The songs of Lazarillo and the Captain of the Ghtard were given in capital style ; and altogether the piece was one of the most successful that has been played in Nelson. The farce of The Captain is not A-Miss followed, and had the effect of all good farces when well played — that of creating shouts of laughter and sending the audience home in a good humour with themselves and everybody else.