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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 220, 19 November 1866, Page 3

In the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day John Westrop was fined 205., and Thomas Smith, 10s. aud costs, for drunkenness. A case, Beck_.nn v. Beckmann, claim £50, was referred to Mr. Sharp for arbitration. A case, Kelling v. Edwards and Co., claim £100 value of a case and contents not delivered in London according to contract, was adjourned till W ednesday, 21st inst. Levieaand Co. v. W. Rowlands, claim £34 16s. lid., judgment for plaintiff for £29 18s. lid.

Messrs. Southberg & Co., of Shippers' Reef, Otago, have crushed their first lot of stone, The result gave 555 ozs. from 338 tons of quartz. The reef is looking well.

By the papers received from the Lyttelton, we (E. Post) learn that the- coal in the Nelson and Grey mines is superior to that previously obtained, the seam being harder, and the coal not so liable to crumble.

The Bishop of New Zealand is expected to arrive in Nelson next week, in order to preside at the Synod, in the absence of the Bishop of the diocese.

The land laws of the province of Marlborough are not expensive ones apparently, as they are worked at very little cost. The land revenue of Marlborough for the month of August is 19s. Id., and the expenditure of the department for the same period, £213 13s. 9d.

The Auckland Weekly News thus speaks of the Waikato settlements : — Everybody now knows that our Waikato settlements are useless so far as being what they were originally intended for, a defence on the frontier. But they are worse than that; they have been converted, by the policy of the General Government, into temptations of at-

tack. Those of the men left are scattered about the country, off pay, and would have little heart to fight, and in some of the stations are large quantities of ammunition, which would be splendid prizes in case of a sudden and successful attack.

The Wellington Evening Post of the 16th, says : — The government steamer Sturt, Captain Fairchild, from Wauganui, arrived in harbor this afternoon, having on board Commodore Maguire, and the troop of the Defence Force, which left here recently under Captain Leatham. We understand that it was his Excellency the Governor's intention to have returned by this opportunity, but that he changed his mind at the last minute. The war is said to be over, or at least suspended for a season, as the rebels have left the district and have made no sign. The men of the Defence Force who have returned, are about to be disbanded, as they refuse to serve any longer on the conditions held out by the Government, which simply were that they may be struck off pay at any moment, or as soon as Major M'Donnell did not require them. Considering that the terms of enlistment distinctly stated that their service was limited to this province, and as no inducements were held out in order to make the Front attractive the men took a common-sense view of their precarious position, and have been sent back to Wellington at their own request, in order to be discharged. It is a pity that the financial condition of the colony is not such as to warrant the Government in making really reasonable concessions in order to contiuue the services ot a highly efficient and well-drilled body of men.

The session of the Otago Provincial Council opened on the 6th instant. On the Bth an amendment moved to the reply to the address by Mr. Dillon Bell was carried, aud on the 10th the Government resigned. Mr. Bell was sent for but declined to form an Executive. He gave no recommendation. Mr. E. B. Cargill was subsequently sent for, but he declined also. On the 12th Mr. Bell appealed to the Government to resume the conduct of business ; but the Treasurer would say nothing, and an adjournment was agreed to. Ultimately, Mr. John Cargill was sent for, aud the matter placed in his hands. Mr. J. Cargill could not form a government, so Mr. Yogel has been sent for.

Mr. Carlton, who held the office of Provincial Secretary of Auckland under two Superintendents, Mr. R. Graham aud Mr, Whitaker, has resigned his appointment.

From the following paragraph, which, we find in the London Evening Standard of the 25th inst., we learn that transportation is still to be kept up in the mother country as a means of punishing convicts : — The Corunna, sailing vessel, of 2000 tons burthen, has been taken up by the Government for the removal of 250 convicts to a small island in the Pacific, which has been selected as a penal settlement. She is now shipping her provisions, &c, at the victualling establishment, Deptford, and is fitted out in a very excellent manner — especially with regard to the sanitary arrangements.

The Evening Mail says several passengers have taken their passages from Lyttelton for the Chatham Islands in the Despatch. Amongst them we notice the name of Captain Anderson, who formerly commanded het vessel, but who, we understand, intends settling with his family on the Chathams.