LOCAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 1, 5 March 1866, Page 3

LOCAL NEWS.

, — Jl NELSON INSTITUTE EXHIBITION. A very praiseworthy, and we hope successful attempt has been made, by the Committee of this Institute, to get up an Exhibition of paintings, and objects of general interest, in aid of the funds of the Institute. The invitation to the public to contribute on this occasion, seems to have been pretty generally responded to, if we are to judge from the very interesting collection -which has been brought together in so short a time. The Exhibition has been open to the public for a few day only, during which time it has been visited by a considerable number of person s^principally strangers ; all of whom have expressed themselves much gratified by the intellectual treat which has been prepared for them. Considering the smallness of the population from whom the exhibits came, it must be admitted, that in number, variety, and interest, they do credit to the district. It is not our intention to attempt any description of the collection to which we refer, our object being simply to recommend all who have not seen it to lose no time in doing so, as we understand the period during which the Exhibition will be open to the public is limited to a 'few days more. The principal inhabitants of Nelson have shown their sympathy with the interests of the Institute, by placing at the disposal of the committee a very interesting collection of oil and water color paintings, lithographs, and engravings. There is really a very good show of these, and the value of the exhibits themselves, combined with the important object sought by the Exhibition, should cause the room to be thronged by a grateful and admiring crowd. The Exhibition will also be found to contain numerous specimens of articles of local industry, and manufactures from native products, as well as illustrations of mechanical ingenuity that will amply repay the investigation of the curious. Of miscellaneous articles of interest there is no end. The antiquarian will find ample scope for the indulgence of his favorite propensities, and the individual who is a searcher of " Auld nick-nackets, Busty aim caps and jinglin jackets, And parrich-pats and auld saut-buckets, Before the flood." will admit that it has seldom been his lot to witness a • more curious omnium gatherum than that to which his attention is now directed. As conveying an instructive lesson on objects, we should imagine that the teachers of the town would consider it their duty to avail themselves of this exhibition, to, draw the attention of their youthful charge* to the many useful lessons that may be derived from the numerous interesting objects presented to their view. The specimens of mineralogy point to the undeveloped resources of the province. .The beautiful objects carved out of native woods show hW rich New Zealand . ■ I ■■»*■ ■ ■■■•

is in timber, adapted to,«rnamental aswell,as£, useful purposes. The native war ImplemlnW will serve to point a moral in reference to the doomed extinction of the warlike -race who have wielded them on many a well-fought field. The ingenious models will not fail to illustrate the triumphs which science is destined to achieve over natural difficulties. And the whole. Exhibition, however limited ' in extent, or slender in resources as j contrasted with|fchose of more wealthy communities, will add another proof to those already existing, of the energy, and perseverance of the New Zealand colonists, and tend to an indulgence of the hope that greater success and prosperity than they have yet known, are in store for them. « Motueka Election. — The election of a member to represent this district in the General Assembly, took place on Tuesday last and resulted in the return of Mr. Parker by a majority of 12 over his opponent, the total numbers being 135 and 123 respectively. The contest was generally in favor of Mr. Parker, as may be seen by a glance at the number of votes recorded at the different polling places : — Parker. Dutton. Motueka ... SI ... ' 31 Biwaka ... ... 26 ... 15 Lower Moutere ... 13 ... 26 Upper Moutere ... 10 ... 12 / Waimea West ... 46 ... 29 I ' Total .... 135 123 Majority for Parker 12. Mr. Parker thus bad a majority at every place with the exception of Lower Moutere, where Mr. Dutton headed him by 13, and Motueka, where the numbers were equal. Introduction of Female Servants. — A meeting of the ladies who are interested in this subject was held at Mrs. Flood's Labor Mart, Bridge-street, on Friday last. There was a good attendance, and a general desire manifested to co-operate with Mrs. Flood in her undertaking. The following resolutions were passed : Ist. " That considering the scarcity of labor in Nelson, it is desirable to assist Mrs, Flood to bring domestics from Sydney here, by subscription." . And 2nd. " That a subscription list, be at once opened to carry out the object of the first resolution." Mrs. Flood thanked the ladies, for the assistance they proposed' to render her, in carrying out her object and hoped she would be able to bring over a number of competent female servants of good character, who would give satisfaction to their employers. A Singular Coincidence. — A resident of this town has in his garden an apple tree with fruit nearly ripe, fwhich is also at the same time in blossom for a second crop. In the same garden there is another tree, from which the fruit has just been gathered, which is again covered with blossoms. Runaway Sailors. — Considerable difficulty is felt just now by the captains of vessels trading to this port, in preventing the men from deserting them when their services are most needed. Several sailors have been brought tip and fined by the Eesident Magistrate lately, for absenting themselves from their ships without license. Every disposition has been shown by the local bench to support the captains of the vessels, and the latter will only have to thank themselves if by their inconsistency and misplaced lenity they neutralise the efforts of the magistrate and police. For instance, the police are much disgusted, to-day, with the conduct of the Captain of the ' Dona Anita,' who, after instructing them to arrest his runaway sailors, takes the first opportunity that presents itself to get them discharged from custody. The Eesident Magistrate too, gave the captain a bit of his mind, for his inconsistent conduct. The result of such vacillation on the part of captains of vessels, will be that the police will be slow to act on future occasions, and that the captains will have to hunt up the sailors themselves. Persons should not be hasty in setting the law in motion, but once having done so £>n sufficient grounds, they cannot with impunity trifle with the officers i ; whose duty it is to administer it. | Jackson's BAY.^We understand there is- ! every prospect of this place proving to be a payable pro Id-field. Over a hundred diggers

have lately gone there from Hokitika with sufficient stores to last them , a considerable time ; so no doubt the district wiil now»sSe thoroughly tested, and its capabilities soon made known. . ■"<■'-■■■ , Coroner'^lnqubst. — On Saturday an Inquest was held by the Coroner W.~W. Squires, Esq., on the body of an infant child, the daughter of David and Mary Whiting, in Brook-street. It appeared from the evidence, that on Thursday last, the mother of the child was engaged at the hop-gardens, the child being with her in the care of a nurse girl. Shortly after returning home the child was taken ill with convulsions, and the mother put its feet in hot water. Next morning the symptoms becamervvorse and about noon the child died, before the medical man who had been sent for, could make his appearance. It , was thought! that the child might have eaten some injurious substance, but this did not appear to be the case as it was never out of safe custody, and when-sick brought up nothing but milk. The jury found that death resulted from natural causes-. Special Excursion to Motueka. — This morning, a great number of citizens availed themselves of the special trip by the steamer 'Kennedy' to Motueka. Long before the time announced for sailing, the offices of Messrs. Edwards and Co. were surrounded by an anxious crowd of nearly two hundred persons of both sexes, who appeared bent on a day's amusement. The low price charged, five shillings including refreshments, was, we doubt not the secret of the excitement that prevailed. "We hope to hear that such trips are becoming frequent. It is too much to suppose that the 'Kennedy' will be often employed in such excursions ; but there is no doubt that the time has arrived when it will pay a small vessel to perform this trip, at least twice or thrice a- week. This would be a slight improvement on the present roundabout pilgrimage to Motueka by the coach, however excellent its arrangements may be.