NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 763, 29 February 1860, Page 5

NELSON.

[From a Correspondent.] February 21,1860. The result of the trial for libel, to which I alluded in my last communication, was that after an able speech in his own defence, Mr. Saunders was found guilty, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, besides a fine of £150. The harsh language made use of by the Judge in pronouncing sentence assisted in no small degree to enlist sym° pathy • for the prisoner. Meetings were held in various districts, and a memorial, signed by 1070 persons of all classes, has been forwarded to his Excellency the Governor, praying for a remission of part of the term of imprisonment. Harvest operations are now drawing to a close here. Altogether the season has been most propitious ; and, as if to meet the wishes of all, no sooner was the corn stacked than the much-desired r-iin poured down, making the pasture land quite green again. The farmers are now busy thrashing out, and most of them seem disposed to realise on their crop 3at once, and not to risk the chance of higher prices later in the season. •■ i ' We have had a slight 'kick-up' amongst the X , men ' and * observe that the same move is on the board in other provinces. It seems that we flave amongst us foreign and other medical men l ° 4 \V Q not reg'lsfcei'ed th.eir diplomas at the Resiwent Magistrate's office, and, strange to say, some fit the . unregistered' are in much repute, and have, a large practice. Malicious people say that some otthe re»istared' are jealous at thisj— and hence we squabble. Letters and leading articles have appeared on this subject in the newspapers; and it is said that an attempt will be made to induce the pera Assembly to bring in force the' English Act, by which foreigners,.unless possessing jsntish diplomas, would be disqualified from practising then- profession. But' such an injustice will, wrely, never be allowed in a colony.

Our iong-talked-of Rifle Corps has. at length assumed signs of animation. ■'• A company has been formed; officers nominated for tho ap-i proval of tho Governor; and the next vessel from! Auckland will probably bring commissions and. rifles. To show tho high opinion in;which .the; legal profession is held here, 1 may mention that! twomembers of it have been chosen officers, but; both have already seen sorvice with the King:ofj Spain; or somebody else; both have also shown the; Nelson folks that they can use other arguments; than wordy ones. : Two deaths from drunkenness have occurred: since my last. One was Charles Mousley, a B.A. of Oxford, educated for the Church, and a man. of high connection in England. He had long. 'been; addicted to drunken habits, and one Sunday morning, while suffering from delirium tremehs, he deliberately rushed into the river and was drowned; in a couple of minutes! The second case was that; of Mr. S. Harris, who lately came out as surgeon; of the ship Golconda. Both during the passage. and since his arrival he was continually drinking; and having also been seized with the' dunkards' fit,' he was taken to the hospital, where he died the next day/ # '• • These cases'have induced some talk of an endeavour to revive the use of the stocks for the punishment, of drunkards ; but this would be progressing backwards; besides, it would not meet such cases. Certainly, however, something is needed to check an evil that is evidently increasing. A Mr.'John Kerr, junior, farmer "and butcher, of the Waimea West, has been committed for trial for stealing some sheep, the property of Mr. C. Elliott. No great news from the Gold Fields, although the little bags of 40 and 50 ounces come over by every steamer; I hear of one man who has made his £1000 at the diggings, during two or three years of steady labour, and he is now looking out for a sheepriun. ' ' The Dun Mountain Mine prospects look more healthy, and the Directors are purchasing more land in the vicinity. '.".*• . ;

Our Provincial Council meets on the 27th March.