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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 205, 31 October 1866, Page 2

The jury, in giving their verdict, on Monday iu the case of the uufortunate Mrs. Rowley, drew the attention of the Board of Works, to the fact that the lamp on Colling-wood-bridge was not lighted that evening. It does not follow that had the lamp been lighted, a woman in an intoxicated state, would not have walked into the river ; but as the lamp on the bridge is in a line with the road, the deceased had to travel to reach the bridge, the presumption is iu favor of the supposition, that a lamp would have guided the unfortunate woman, especially as she must have been well acquainted with the road to the bridge. Not only was the lamp absent from Collingwoodbridge, on Sunday night, but the whole town was in darkness in conseqnence of the lighting season having ended. This was the more painfully felt on Sunday night, as from the incessant rain the darkness was extreme, and in all parts of the town and suburbs many persons met w; th accidents from an inability to see where they were going. It appears that the lamps are lighted during eight months of the year, and that the town is without them the remaining four. There is no remedy we are told for this state of things without extending the lighting contract to the whole year. This would involve au additional expense, which the- Board are unwilling to incur. The town" is most wretchedly lighted at the best of times, and we think a larger sum should be expended in this most important improvement on which not the comfort only, but in some cases the lives of the public depend. In reply to this the Board say that they now find gi*eat difficulty in collecting the penny rate from a class of persons who plead poverty, and that the difficulty would be increased if the rate were made heavier, which must be the case if a greater expense be incurred in the lighting of the lamps. The subject is an important one; it will, no doubt, receive due attention from the Board at their next sitting. It 18 a repetition of the old story of value received. If the town is to be well lighted, the people must make up their minds to pay, for it. The following cases were heard by the Resident Magistrate, this morning: —Oswald, v. Champney, claim £1 Bs., board and lodging, judgment for plaintiff, for 103. and costs ; M'Caw v. Myers, claim. 16s. rent, judgmeut for plaintiff, for amount and

costs ; Lipscombe v. Fish, claim £2 Bs. for washings judgment for plaintiff for £1 Bs. and costs";: Baly v. Skeet, claim £l 19s. goods sold and, delivered, judgment for plaintiff, for amount with costs ; : Pike v. Wise, the further hearing of this case was postponed till Friday. A member of the Nelson Provincial Council has just informed us that his Honor the Superintendent has summoned the members to meet on the 13th November. The Claud Hamilton arrived at Wellington at 2 a.m. this day. Telegraphic communication is now established with all the stations. The Hokitika evening Star states that Mr Audley, the chief clerk at the Hokitika Post Office who was recently committed for trial on a charge of stealiug money letters, was in receipt of the munificent salary of £3 10s per week! How in the world the Government can expect a person holding .such a situation to maintain his position in a gold fields town with anything like respectability, ou such a miserable salary, is beyond our comprehension. An excellent sample of coal has been obtained about seven miles north of the Grey cropping out from the cliff. Some bags of it were recently tried, aud the quality of the coal was found to be quite equal, if not superior, to that of the mine up the river. It is, however not supposed that the seam is of any great extent, the position of the strata indicating rather a superficial deposit in that particular locality. We learn from the local paper that the Nelson Coal Compauy have been much more active in their operations lately, aud as a good stock of coal has been accumulated on the wharf, there are hopes that the vexatious delays experienced by vessels waiting for cargo will now be obviated. The coal now being won at the mine is superior to that previously obtained, the seam being harder and the coal not so liable to crumble. Some time ago (says the Argus) it was arranged between the Governments of Nelson and Canterbury that a commissioner should be appointed by each to settle the i question of the proportion of customs revenue and gold duty of the Grej District which each Government is entitled to receive. Mr Warden Ivynnersley was duly authorised by the Nelson Government to act, but up to the present time the Canterbury authorities have neglected to appoint any one to act with him. The residents in Cobden says the Argus have set a laudable example i.a having taken steps to establish a school. A considerable sum of money has been raised by subscription, and it is expected that fully £100 will j be obtained from this source for the purpose of erecting a suitable building. It is believed that the Government will on application consent to provide a teacher for the school. It is high time that a similar movement was commenced in Greymouth. The G. R. Argus thinks the duty on imported timber imposed by the new Customs Act should have the effect of stimulating the colonial timber trade. In spite of the abundance of timber of the very best kind which New Zealand ciui boast of, a large quantity of American aud Baltic timber has been imported, its sale being due to a very trifling difference of price. Now, however, the importations of all but woods for furniture purposes, may be considered as having been prohibited. The West Coast ought to benefit by the demand for colonial timber, as some of the very best descriptions grow to very great perfection on this side the ranges, particularly in the Grey district. Splendid pine, with a diameter of sound wood of from six. feet to ten feet are quite common, while the supply of timber generally is virtually inexhaustible. We learn from the Dunstan Times that the Manuherikia river, near the crossing place to Blacks, will be turned from its course in a very short space of time. A large company has set to work cutting a new channel for it, at the lower side of Lee's arable land, and the dam will not require more than a fortnight or three weeks to construct. The river-bed is known to be auriferous, and the undertaking is likely to be of considerable profit to all concerned.

The Lyttelton Times thus concludes a recent leading article: — -At the present moment the trade of the province is seriously depressed, and people ask one another where it is to end. Let the public shake off their apathy and realise the fact that they are suffering from the extravagant act of a Government which draws one third of its revenue from taxing U3, and returns a sum quite insufficient to maintain those departments of Government delegated to us for support. Another tax is now imposed upon the people, and the pressure of the Stamp Duties will soon be felt far and wide. We hope that it will act as a warning before it is too late. We hope that Canterbury will rouse itself and join with Otago in protesting against these merciless exactions. The General Government is riding on the shoulders of the Middle Island, and has got as firm and persistent a seat as the old man had upon Sitibad the Sailor. If expenses increase and debts accumulate as rapidly as they have done during the past three years, we shall be choked unless we can get rid of our incumbrance. If we ever hope for or mean to see prosperous days again, we must unite in forcing economy and retrenchment upon the Government, or we must decline further responsibility and separate while there is still something left. The W. C. Times has received very favorable and reliable intelligence from a new workings opened within the last few days, between the Waimea and Kapitia Creeks, from which it infers that another of those rich patches so peculiar to the coast line has been struck. Platinum has been found to exist in considerable quantities amongst the iron sand on the sea coast of Southland, and in which sand also gold is obtained. Platinum, in its pure state, is worth 34s per ounce ; but this containing, as it does, 12 to 14 per cent, of iron, is valued at 27s 2d, not deducting cost of manufacturing it into a pure form, which wi\i reduce its value to about 21s an ounce. Dr. Hector, in a report on the discovery, gives the foregoing particulars.