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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 197, 22 October 1866, Page 2

The Temperance Hall is at length completed. It is the most imposing building that has risen on the site of the late fire. It is 70 feet long, 30 , feet wide, and .20 feet high. The external wood is kauri, aud the internal lining of white piue. It cost £650, and was built by Mr. Henry, from a design of his own, in six weeks from the time of taking the contract, and a fortnight withiu the time specified in it. The room contains a gallery which will prove a useful addition when the room is crowded. Under the gallery are a committee room, and a room with the appliances needed to furnish accommodation for tea parties. The hall will probably be called largely into requisition for public meetings, for which the charge will be two guineas per night, including light.' The buildiug is erected in very creditable style, and is complimentary to the public spirit of the temperance body, as well as to the contractor. Yesterday, the Rev. Mr. Biss, who has occupied the Odd-fellows' Hall, on Sunday evenings, since the late fire, resumed his ministrations in the new Temperance Hall, and preached to a large congregation. The erection of so fine a building, will probably give a stimulus to the temperance . cause, and lead to the delivery of lectures and the adoption of other means calculated to disseminate the principles of the body. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, today, William Hardy and George Barlow, were each fined 10s. and costs, for drunkenness. The Nelson arrived safely at Hokitika yesterday, and the Tararua sailed from the Bluff, yesterday. It will be seen from advertisement in another column, that Mr. Hamilton has postponed his lecture on the casts of the Maungatapu murderers. At the last meetiug of the Fire Brigade, the members resolved to purchase a firebell, and requested the captain to look out for one. A good bell will cost about £25, and it does not appear very clear where Mr. Knight is to get the money from. In fact he has been sent on a wild goose chase, to be requested to look for a firebell without having been supplied with the funds necessary to purchase it. If the Provincial Government, the Board of Works, and the six lusurancs Offices in the town, would divide the amount between them, they would do a very proper thing, and a bell would soon be got. The members wish the bell to be fixed at the Government Buildings, because the engine is there, aud the police are always on the alert there. If the bell is fixed there the town will have the advantage of two bells, that at the west end of Bridge-street being very useful in its place. Too much noise cannot be made when a fire occurs. We (Dunedin Evening Star) learn that a gentleman, Mr. Evans, the representative of the well-known firm of Messrs. Johnstone, Cooper, and Co., chancery and bankruptcy accountants in London, has arrived in Dunedin to superintend the winding up of the affairs of the Commercial Bank of New Zealand. One of those graceful tributes which are not altogether an empty reward for bravery, was paid by the House of Representatives to Commodore Wiseman aud the officers and men of Her Majesty's navy who have served in New Zealand. A vote of thanks by the Parliament of a country is alway considered

;to be one of the highest honors that can be -conferred, upon any individual, and we doubt not Hijhtti'tne gallant Commodore on quitting our shores; will think no worse of New Zealand md its -.polonists when he takes with him the thanks. of their representatives for the services he has done. A reward of £500 is about to be offered by the inhabitants of Okarita for the discovery of an inland gold-field within a radius of twenty miles of the township. Subscriptions for more than the amount. have already ■been promised. By the "District Courts' Extension of Jurisdiction Act," passed this session, and recently assented to by his Excellency, a plaintiff may bring his action for auy claim •or debt not exceeding £200, either in the 1 Supreme. Court or District Court. This Act must, however, be brought into operation by -*a proclamation' of the Governor. The long projected scheme for the formation of a tramway between Hokitika and Greymouth, is likely to be forthwith commenced. Commodore Maguire has succeeded Sir W. Wiseman 'in command of the Australasian squadron. The Auckland Herald describes a new power machine for flax dressing, constructed by Messrs. Frazer aud Tinue, which is said .to be .a great success. The new Gold-fields Bill does not seem to give much satisfaction in Otago. According to the Dunstan correspondent of the Daily Times, tho miners would prefer that the Provincial Government should have the £l for miners' rights, and make roads, than have their income limited, and consequently diminish public works. The present population of the Okarita district, extending from the Wanganui River to Bruce Bay, is estimated to be not more <£hau 1,500. Another mining company has been registered in the Kanieri district, under the name <of the Commissioner's Flat Gold Mining Co. Mrs. Mumford, has been performing at Hokitika, for several weeks past, with great applause. ' On the 2nd inst., the dead body of a man was found upon the South Spit of the Grey River. The man was a sailor named Henry "Owens, a native of Virginia. On the 3rd inst. a miner named Thomas "Prest, narrowly escaped a dreadful death, •through the caving in of a shaft at the Waimea diggings . The Escort, which arrived at Dunedin on "the 6th instant, brought down 5,1270z. sdwt. of gold. The Okarita times says : — Simeon Raphael, alitas Jemmy Raphael, an individual wellknown in Dunedin and Christchurch. has been brought up before the Resident Magistrate at Oamaru on a charge of fraudulent insolvency at Christchurch. The Okarita Times says: — At the Three Mile Beach several parties have lately found profitable employment by simply washing the surface sand, or the layers of black sand which are so near the surface as to be procurable more by skimming than digging. The Auckland papers contain accounts of a disastrous fire in East-street, Newton. A great deal of valuable property has been destroyed. At his levee, held in Dublin, on the 20th August, Cardinal Cullen said, his holiness had, in determining to promote him to the Roman purple, intended a compliment to Ireland on account of her former and later struggles for the faith. The spirit of revolution was triumphant in every quarter : it had destroyed the power of all the Catholic States. Austria was the last of them, and she had been completely ruined and destroyed. They sought the overthrow of the Pope and the plunder even of the small spot he still holds in Italy. His holiness was now reduced to a state of wretchedness, and probably he would have to abandon Rome and leave it to the mercy of Italy. Within six months very probably, added the cardinal, the crisis will come on, and the Pope, having no other State, does not know where to turn his steps. But though they took from him everything he would never consent to compromise one matter pf principle..