The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 80, 5 April 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1867.

We have to thank the officers of the Phoebe, for the following exchanges : — Southland Times, llth, 15th, 27th ult.; Wellington Evening Post, 6th and 7th ult.; Dunedin Evening Star, 21st to 26th ult. inclusive. Our thanks are also due to the officers of the Airedale, for Daily Southern Cross, 3rd inst.; New Zealand Herald, Ist inst; and Taranaki News, 4th inst. The Rev. Messrs. Kirk and Bunn left by the Airedale this morning, the former for Wellington and the latter for Southland. They will be succeeded here by the Rev. Messrs. Vickers and Crump, both of whom are ministers of long standing iu the Wesieyan connection. By the Airedale, Mr. Wilkie and daughter took their departure for England, via Panama. Several friends of these old Nelsou residents crowded the wharf when the vessel sailed, and wished them success in their future engagements. We understand that Mr. Wilkie 's object in visiting the fatherland is a commercial one, and that he may be expected to return by-and-bye to the colony he has so long adopted. Mr. Deck announces his intention of delivering a lecture on Prophecy, in the Temperance Hall, this evening. The lecture will be illustrated by diagrams, and, from the attention the lecturer has paid the subject, may be expected to interest the class of persons who like to hear expositions of sacred history. It appears that some doubt exists in the minds of the Reception Committee as to the precise date of the Governor's arrival. A telegram was received from the Colonial Secretary, to-day, by his Honor the Acting Superintendent, in which it is stated that, in all probabiltiy, his Excellency will leave Wellington on the 9th instant, as previously arranged, and visit Marlborough province before coming to Nelson. His stay in Marlborough will probably extend to two or three days, iu which case he would not arrive in Nelson until about the 14th or 15th instant. The telegram states that when the plans are settled, telegrams will be sent from time to time to the Nelson Provincial Government, to inform them at what time his Excellency may be expected here. It is unnecessary to add, that the Committee have made all the arrangements to carry out the resolutions arrived at, at the public meeting held on the 15th ultimo. Caroline Rankin was brought before the Resident Magistrate yesterday, and charged with vagrancy. She gave a somewhat unsatisfactory account of herself; but the Magistrate dismissed her with the understanding that if complained of again for a similar offence, he should enforce the provisions of the Yagrant Act. This morning Alexander Lindsay was fined lOs. and costs, for drunkenness. We are informed that an important prosecution under the Arms Act, 1860, will take place in the Resident Magistrate's Court, to-morrow. On looking at the Act we find that its provisions are very stringent, and persons who have been in the habit of violating them would do well to avoid it in future. Clause 9 provides — " No person shall act, or pretend to act as a dealer, without a license in the form B, in the said Schedule." Clause 10, provides — " Any person who shall offend against the foregoing provision, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour." Clause 62 states— -" Every person convicted of a

misdemeanor under this Act, shall be liable to imprisonment with or without hard labor, for any time not exceeding three years, and to a fine not exceeding £500, at the discretion of the judge." This clause gives tremendous power to the Magistrate before whom the complaint is made, and the trading public cannot be made too soon aware of the penal clauses of the Act generally. Professor Kohler made ample amends, last evening, for the delay in his performance, to which we referred some days ago. It is evident now that he has got fairly uuder weigh, he will not allow any performer to outstrip him iu the ambidextral course.. We are almost afraid to hint at the agency by which the professor performs his handywork. He has certainly means and appliances at command, that were not dreamt of in our philosophy. It would be tiresome to describe the marvellous ways in which cards transport themselves from piece to place ; money changes owners without their knowledge or consent; eatables and drinkables are manufactured from no apparent cause ; and the spectators are left in doubt as to whether they are dealing with a man, or some mysterious and troubled sprite, who has received a commission to leave the shades for a time, to revisit the glimpses of the moon and perplex the minds of the terrestrials. The professor's necromantic budget is inexhaustible, and his future seances cannot fail to command an admiring and delighted crowd. A fruit-seller in this town has shown us a letter from his correspondent at New Plymouth, to whom he had consigned some fruit, in which the latter complains that the pursers or providores of steamers come into the market, and offer cases of fruit os. per case less than he can afford to sell them. We know of no, remedy for this evil but to bear it. If a purser chose to turn merchant he has many advantages over the regular trader. Perhaps it would be well to make friends with the pursers, and give them a per centage on the profits. A contemporary publishes the election return from Collingwood, this morning, as follows : — Curtis 15, Barnicoat 3 ; thus raising Mr. Curtis's majority to 179. How our contemporary got the returns, except through that cute medium Professor Kohler, we cannot imagine, as they had not reached the Returning Officer this morning. In this case he is sharper than Mr. Sharp. The New Zealand Herald, April 3, says, the manager of the Bank of Auckland has absconded. It adds, we are authorised to state that arrangements are in progress under which four, of the banks carrying on business in this place, viz., the Union Bank of Australia, the Bank of New South Wales, the Bank of New Zealand, and the Bank of Australasia, will take over the business of the Bank of Auckland and discharge their liabilities. The Bank of Auckland will undertake no new business, but will be kept open until the transfer is complete. By an unlucky accident several paragraphs were inserted yesterday in our paper, without being read. We correct one or two inaccuracies. In the paragraph relating to the Harmonic Society's concert, the word "miscellaneous" in the last line is misprinted for " attractive." /The latter portion of the paragraph refer?ring to the Sisters of Charity should read thus: "It is stated that. £6oo will be the amount requisite to defray the expenses of the passage money, outfit, etc., of the sisters, and also to erect a suitable building for their reception on their arrival here (which will in all probability take place in about nine months' time), and there can be little doubt that the wellknown zeal of the Catholic body in the province will, without very great difficulty, Bupply this sum for so laudable a purpose."

A little episode- (says the Grey River Argus) has been related to us which is too good to be lost. A certain gentleman in this town notorious for his intense)'interest in local politics, and who once could • affix M.XC. to his name, sent a letter to the chairman of the Improvement Com- ; mittee on Tuesday afternoon. Anxious , to know the fate of his missive, and wishing only to trust his own ears in the - matter, he adopted the ingenious plan of • creeping under the floor of the committee room, hoping that the cracks in the boards would allow him to hear what took place. Whether his anxiety was relieved or not • we do not know, but it is said that, being discovered, he was dragged by the' heels from his hiding-place. Such ingenuity in the pursuit of knowledge under 'difficulties is seldom exercised, and the individual in question certainly deserves all the credit his performance entitles him to. We trust the committee will in future provide better accommodation for their pertinacious correspondent than that which he selected on the occasion referred to. The Marlborough Express of the 30th ult. states, a marriage Avas celebrated in Blenheim, on Thursday last, which excited unusual interest. Mr. A. M'Lauchlan, who has been in the employ of Messrs. N. Edwards and Co. for the last two years, was united to Miss Dick, of Blenheim. We may just place on record, that a greater display of bunting was exhibited on the occasion than was ever seen in the Wairau before, as "all the shipping in • port " — otherwise the Flacon — was decked out with many-colored flags, and some of the business establishments in the town were similarly decorated in honor of the occasion. Mr. Samuel Brown, of Wellington, has obtained the contract for the supply and delivery of 300 _tew poles along the line in next province, at 21s. 6d. per pole. Foley's well-known troupe of performers are giving a series of entertainments in Wellington. We (Independent) understand that Mr. Worsp, chief officer of the Claud Hamilton, will take command of the s.s. Airedale at Nelson, and exchange with Captain Kennedy of the s.s. Lord Ashley at Manukau. A man named George Campbell was sentenced at Wellington to four years' penal servitude for larceny and housebreaking, combined with stealing £245 and other property worth £10. Mr. Seager of Wellington has constructed a miniature screw steamship, which was launched a few days ago. It is said to be the first steamer entirely constructed in this colony. A shearing machine is said to have been invented in America, of which, however, we (Wellington Evening Post) have not yet seen a description ; and by the last mail from Melbourne, we observe that Mr. Richardson, of Tasmania is said to have made an implement for the same purpose. The cutting part of this latter is described as- v a knife, or knives, to revolve rapidly when at work over another set of knives which are stationary, forming, in fact, so many pairs of scissors. We do not know if the invention has been tried either in Tasmania or Victoria. It is said that measures for the organisation of a mounted armed constabulary force, the formation of which was first mooted in tbe last session of the Assembly, have reached so advanced a stage that the strength of the force has been determined upon, and a number of gentlemen recommended as officers by Major McDonnell. It is stated that the force will consist of 300 men, six troops of 50 each, and will be made up from tbe existing remnants of colonial forces and men formerly belonging to colonial corps. These troops will be posted in those parts of the Northern Island where their services are most likely to be required. The gentlemen who have been recommended by Major McDonnell for commissions are — Capt. Ross, of the Wanganui Rangers ; Capt. Newland, Patea Rangers; Cornet Kennik, Wanganui Cavalry ; Lieut. Gudgeon, Native Contingent; Lieut. Fortescue, Patea Rangers : Lieut. O'Callaghan, Wanganui Rangers; Ensign Newland, Wanganui Rangers ; Ensign Walker, Native Contingent ; Lieut. Fookes and Ensign • Glaog, Taranaki Military Settlers. — Independent. We (Wakatip Mail) learn from a private source that the measles is causing sad havoc among the younger portion of the community in Dunedin. Novel matches appear to be on the increase in New South Wales. A short time ago, a butcher dressed a hundred sheep .in six hours and 39 minutes.

The sum of £18 has been realised at a concert "given at Napier on behalf of Mr. Peet and family. A cricket match between eleven Napier players and eleven of the 12th Regiment was played on the 9th ult., and won by the military in one innings. At the sale at Meanee on the Bth ult., the whole of the rams and ewes were disposed of at from £3 to £4 10s. for threequarter Lincoln rams, and £2 10s. to £4 4s. for ewes. — Hawke's Bay Herald, 9th ult. The solemn and interesting ceremony of publicly dedicating Mr. W. Morley to the office and work of the Christian Ministry took place on the 20th ult., in the Wesleyan Church, High-street, Auckland, in the presence of a large congregation. We (Daily Southern Cross) have much pleasure in directing the attention of our readers to a magnificent sample of hops now on exhibition at our publishing office and grown during the present season in Freeman's Bay. We are unfortunately unable to publish the grower's name, owing to his having omitted to supply the information. Our own correspondent (Daily Southern Cross) writing from the Thames, furnishes particulars of a very narrow escape which Mr. Thorp, of that place, has experienced from being murdered by six of the Twelve Apostles, who have been paying a visit to that district. The rebels have since been ordered by Moauanui to leave the Thames district. The Tauranga Argus reports Major McDonnell having attacked the Hau-haus' pa at Rotorua, and captured it with much slaughter. Eight bodies were picked up. Not a scratch was received by the Major's force. Major- General Chute has returned to Auckland. Mr. M'Lean, Native Minister, Mr. Eichmond, and others are attending large native gatherings at Wairoa, to adjust land and other questions arising out of the war. At a public meeting held in Auckland, Mr. Williamson's candidature was discouraged. It was adjourned for a week. A pah at Rotorua has been taken by the Arawas, with slight loss on both sides. We (New Zealand Herald) have to chronicle another unfortunate victim to the fashion, happily now gradually dying out, of females wearing crinoline while employed indoors, and by which they are exposed to such imminent danger from coming in contact with fire, either while employed in culinary operations or in brushing past a stove or grate when the distended folds of their dresses are liable to come in contact with the flames, which, from the combustible nature of the materials, soon envelope the whole person. Reason, remonstrance, ridicule and dreadful examples have as yet failed to entirely convince the fair sex of the risks they run in persisting in wearing crinoline while engaged in household duties, and consequently ever and anon some unfortunate creature swells the list of those who have already suffered. The wreck of the Montmorency was sold at Napier for £350. We (Daily Southern Cross) understand that the castaway who excited some degree of sympathy on his arrival, after a month's residence on the Little Barrier Island without food or shelter, was "wanted" by the police, and was not the veritable Andrew Brown he represented himself to be. He has since been recognised as a deserter from H.M. 40th Regiment, named William Baker, who last rendered himself notorious by digging through the flooring of the guard-room at the Albert Barracks and making himself scarce. At a meeting of the Auckland Rifle Volunteers, Company No. 3, held on the 18th ult., the following propositions were entertained and carried, viz. : — " That the uniform consist of blue serge coat, serge trousers, and peak cap ;" also, "That the company parade on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings for skirmishing drill, &c, also for moonlight marches as opportunity offers." At the morning service held in St. Matthew's Church, Auckland, on the 17th ultimo, the sermon was preached by the Bishop of New Zealand. At the conclusion of the sermon his Lordship took N occasion to announce that he had personally taken upon himself the charge cf the parish, in consequence of the postponement of the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Jones. -.■*,■••■

A correspondent writing to the Hawkes Bay Herald raises a puzzling query in the following paragraph. He says the Wairoa Electoral District has but thirteen names on the Electoral Roll — one only resident in Wairoa, eight in Napier, one gone to Adelaide, and the other three resident in Petane, Kereru, and Ngawakatatara respectively. Supposing the one resident elector to propose a candidate, who will go to Wairoa to act as seconder ? The Provincial Auditor of Southland, in a statement of receipts and disbursements, which is published in the Gazette, reports : — Stripping the accounts of all mere technicalities, it may be stated that he actual receipts for the year amounted to £21,086 ss. lid. ; the actual expenditure, £23,514 10s. 6d.; the unauthorised expenditure, £7545 9s. lid.; and taking into account such assets only as are available, the total debt of the province at 31st December, 1865, exclusive of its proportion of the New Zealand Company's debt, amounted to £503,655 75.; at 30th June, 1866, £377,220 ss. 3d.; at 31st December, 1866, £368,337 14s. 2d.; and that the proportion of the debt extinguished during the six months ending June 3Gth was £126,435 2s. 9d.; six months ending 30th December, £888 lis. Id.; during the year 1866, £135,317 13s. lOd. The following Adelaide items are by latest arrivals : — Upon Kearney's confession, four innocent men, who had been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment each, have been liberated. — Judge Boothby has declared that the other judges have not been legally appointed, and warns all suitors against any proceedings sanctioned by them. — Bishop Shiel laid the foundation stone lately of a Catholic church in North Adelaide. There was an immense concourse present. — An important discovery of gold has been made in the neighborhood of Adelaide. Mr. Wenott, jeweller in Rund ell-street, has just purchased a parcel of gold, thirteen ounces in weight, which is stated to have been washed from dirt obtained near the surface on the side of one of the creeks at Gumeracha, distant only twenty-four miles from the city. It is creating much excitement.