The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 45, 23 February 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1867.

This morning, Thomas Norton was brought before the Resident Magistrate, on remand, and charged with stealing money from G. J. Baker. The prisoner called Stephen Taylor, barman of the Pier Hotel, Hugh Cottier, aud H. Wilkins, to show that he was possessed of money on Thursday and Tuesday last. He also cross-examined Baker and the lodger, who gave evidence against him. After listening to the evidence his Worship said he feared the case would fail if he sent it to the jury. The money was not identified, aud there was no chance of its being identified. The prosecutor could not swear to what bank the notes belonged. It would be unwise, therefore in him to send the case before the Grand Jury, who would be sure not to find a true bill. Prisoner was therefore discharged, although the case was a very suspicious one. A little more evidence would have turned the scale against him. He had better look out, however, as the eyes of the police were upon him. The prisoner wished to address the bench, but was told the least said in his case, the soonest mended. Francis Porcelli was informed against by G. J. Baker, for haviug iu his possesson, on the 16th inst., a quautity of oysters, contrary to the provisions of the Oyster Fisheries Act, which inflicts a fine of £20 on auy person who shall, during the months of November, December, January, February, and March, catch oysters, dredge for them or their brood, sell them or have them iu his possession. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr. H. Pitt. G. J. Baker said he saw defendant's man on Saturday last, bring some oysters into his shop, in a basket, and challenged him with carrying oysters. Porcelli had been in the habit of constantly selling oysters sub rosa. He did uot see them offered for sale, and was not actuated by malice iu laying the information. John Chelli, the servant referred to, admitted having brought some oysters from the boat on the day in questiou, but affirmed thathe was requested by his employer to overhaul the oyster bed, and that he brought back fifty or sixty bad ones. It was customary to examine the oyster bed, at low tides, and take away the bad oysters, lest they should spoil the good ones. Leonard Porcelli gave evidence to the same effect, sayiug he saw the dead oysters examined, and would bring them to the Court if he were allowed to do so. Mr. H. Pitt submitted that the defendant had not taken the oysters, within the meaning of the Act. It was absurd to suppose that the peual clause applied to dead oysters, the reference being to living oysters or their brood. The Magistrate said he did not intend to enforce the penalty which was optional with him iu the present instance, but it was necessary to stop the dredging for oysters, which was carried on iu all the seas, in spite of the prohibitory clauses of the Act, and would end in destroying all the good oyster beds, if the Act were not enforced. As to the argument that the man brought back dead oysters only, if Mr. Pitt believed it he could not, nor would it be easy to get any man in his senses to believe it, he thought. He should fine the defendant £1 only, seeing this was the first information uuder the Act. He hoped however, the conviction would prove a lesson to all oyster dealers not to sell them or have them in their possession during the months of November, December, January, February, and March.

To the officers of the steamer Nelson, which arrived to-day, we are indebted for a copy of the Grey River Argus of the 21st, and the Westport Times of the 20th. From the former we extract the following news : — The Gothenburg left Melbourne on the 12th, and reached Hokitika ou the 18th and the Grey on the 19th, leaving it for Melbourne on the 21st. Professor La Griff died in the hospital, of congestion of the brain, on Saturday last, after six days' illness. The Lord Ashley took with her 3245 ozs. 13 dwts. 12 grs. of gold, shipped by the Bank of New Zealand. Mr. E. Clarke, the newly appointed District Judge, has arrived by the Gothenburg. There are about 1000 miners in the Haast district. The country around Jackson's Bay is being tested. A quantity of sand on the Teremakau river has been found to contain platinum intermixed with copper pyrites. During the the month of January 230 sheep, 35 cattle, and 30 pigs were slaughtered at Greymouth. There is a

large amount of sickness in the town, chiefly fever, diarrhsea, and dysentery, most of which are traceable to the filthy state of the place. The large importation of fruit and the excessive use of it may have something to do with the prevalent diseases. A Hokitika paper says but for the prevalence ofthe smart sea breeze, the town would speedily become a huge pest house aud the population be decimated by the most fearful and dreaded visitant of modern times — Asiatic cholera.

Post-offices have now been established at Brighton, St. Kilda, and Pakihi. Mails will be made up for these places by every opportunity via Buller River.

The firing for the General Government district prizes is announced to rake place at Wakapuaka, 12th March ; City, 13th March; Waimea-west, Mth March.

The Wai mea- south anniversary fete is appointed to be held in Mr. Baigent's paddock, on the 28th inst.

A New Zealand Gazette contains the following notice from the Commissioner of Customs : — " It is hereby notified that rewards, varying in amouut from £5 to £50, will be given for such information as may lead to the detection and conviction of persons engaged in illicit distillation. The rewards will vary in amount in*-* proportion to the importance of the seizure, will be payable upon conviction being obtained, and will be in addition to the proportion of the fine or of the proceeds of the seizure which by law is to be paid to the person affording the information. Information may be given to any collector of customs, or officer of police, throughout the colony. The name of the person giving the information will not be divulged, except with his own consent."

The Okarita Times of the 16th, congratulates its readers on the flow of population to the south. Okarita being situated about halfway between Hokitika and the Ilaast Hi ver, is sure to benefit by the new rush. The Government are urged to make roads round the bluffs situated between Bruce Bay and the Haast, which would throw open 40 iniles of an untried beach, which would probably be worked by the miners who would pass to and fro. An Improvement Committee is endeavouring to get the bluffs made passable, and the Warden has recommended it. It is said that £1000 would pay for the making of the 40 miles of road round the bluffs, and "relieve the miners of the necessity of parting with their hard earnings to steamboat companies who charge such exorbitant fares."

Moonlight Gully (says the Grey River Argus) has on several occasions produced heavy nuggets, but the finest specimen we have seen is one now in the possession of Messrs. Broadbent, weighing 21 ozs. 3 dwts. 12 grs., and about the size and thickness of the palm of a man's hand. The finders sold at the same time 70 ozs. of coarse nuggety gold from the same locality.

We (Grey River Argus) are credibly informed that emissaries ofthe Fenian organisation are on the West Coast collecting funds, and that large sums have been subscribed by the Irish miners. We are assured also that there is an agency in Hokitika, through which channel men willing to serve in the Fenian " army " are sent passage free to Ireland via Melbourne. We learn from the West Coast Times that the first instalment of Chinese, 14 in number, has arrived at Hokitika from Sydney, in the schooner Atlantic ; and their presence caused quite an excitement, the wharf being lined by a large crowd of persons, who shouted and yelled vociferously, and so frightened the unfortunate celestials that they dived under hatches, and notwithstanding the most affectionate invitations on the part of the "Westland "barbarians," persistently kept out of sight, and postponed their landing until an opportunity of doing so unobserved should present itself. It is mentioned in the Melbourne papers that the appointment ofthe District Judge for Westland has been conferred upon Mr. Edward Clarke, formerly Assistant Crown Prosecutor in Melbourne. Whilst we (Grey River Argus) are bound to suppose that Mr. Clarke is in every respect a fitting person for the office, we cannot help thinking it unwise ofthe Government to shut out the profession in New Zealand from offices of this kind. We are quite sure that a suitable Judge could have been selected from the ranks of the profession in this colony, and it seems to us to convey a tacit slur on the New Zealand lawyers that we should have to go to a neighbouring colony for our judges.

From Melbourne papers to hand per Gothenburg, brought ou by the Nelson, we learn that the robbery of £800,000 worth of bills, from the Oriental Bank, was committed by a clerk named Dickson, who says he took the documents out of spite. The papers had previously been recovered by the police who were informed of their whereabouts. Dickson has not been prosecuted. It is said that an official made an arrangement with the bank, by whicli he should be insured against proceedings and receive £1000 reward. The reward not haviug been paid he has commenced an actiou for the recovery of it. The ships Jason, Parramatta, and Australian sailed from Sydney, within a few hours of each otlier for London. Judge Boothby insists on taking precedence at the Adelaide criminal sittings, and curious complications are expected to result. The news by the English mail is considered favorable to the continuance of wheat shipments from Adelaide.

Mr. Dodson, brewer Nelson, has, we ("Marlborough Express) Jearu, purchased the piece of land adjoining Mr. Smith's Auction Mart of all nations, from the Proviucial Government, and iutends building a first-class city botel. Plans have beeu forwarded to Mr. Dodson's firm at Nelson for iheir approval by Mr. B. Smith aud Mr. Toxward. The cost of the building is estimated at £1,500. The total amount of gold exported from Greymouth up to the end of January was 317,970 ounces; of this 91,285 ounces were exported from August 16 to December 30, 1865 ; 214,099 ounces during the year 1866; aud 12.556 ounces last month.