The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 97, 27 April 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1867.

Yesterday afternoon, a deputation of gentlemen who have been interesting themselves for some time past, Avith a view to promote the construction of a blip or Dry Dock, waited by appoiutmout ou his Hqnor the Superintendent, in order to press forward the matter, wheu an animated discussion ensued. Mr. Curtis appeared to lean towards a Patent Slip, if such could be speedily procured, but at the same time declared himself unable to decide at present as to what was the preferable structure. Mr. Gibbous strongly advocated a floating dock. It is probable that nothing will be dove until Mr. Balfour, the Marine Engineer for the Colon}', whose services have been, placed at the disposal of the province by the General Government, on Mr. Barnicoat's application, has thoroughly surveyed the harbor. The nomination for the seat in the Provincial Council, rendered vacant by the election of Mr. Curtis to the Superiutendentship, will (ake place at the Provincial Hall, on Monday next, at noon. The only candidate who has declared his intention of soliciting the " sweet voices " of the electors is Mr. A. Pitt, whose address appears in our advertising columns, and whose return will, in all probability, be unopposed. The members of the Executive Council having, according to custom, placed their resignations in the hand of his Honor the Superintendent, we understand that the Provincial Secretary and Provincial Solicitor have been requested to retain their former official positions, whilst the resignations of the other three members of the Executive have been accepted. Rumor is busy with the names of the future holders of the vacant portfolios, and it has been stated pretty generally, but with what truth we cannot say, that Sir David Monro and Mr, W. Wells, M.H.R., have been solicited to take part in the new Cabinet. Yesterday evening a considerable nnmber of the friends of Mr. Jacob Batey, of Appleby, entertained him at a farewell dinner, at the Star and Garter Hotel,. Richmond. J. W. Barhicoat, Esq., Speaker of the Provincial Council, being in the chair. After the removal of the cloth, the usual loyal toasts were given, followed • by the toast of the evening, which was given in highly eulogistic terms from the chair, and most warmly received by the company present. The evening was spent most agreeably, and very cordial good wishes for the health and prosperity of Mr. and Mrs. Batey were expressed by all present. We need hardly add that the repast fully sustained Mr. Benfield's reputation as a caterer. We are authorised* to contradict the rumoured loss of the Murray steamer. It appears that she came in contact with the Huntress, when off 1 the Pakihis, by which her bows were stove in, and, but for the watertight condition of her compartments, she would in all probability have been lost. She Lheu pu£iu to the Buller, where she was lying when the Nelson left, and she will probably soon return to Nelson for repairs. We desire to correct a mistake which occurred in our report of the Wakapuaka Steeplechase. In the notice of the Galloway race, which was won by Mr. Helps's black pony Sam, beating Mr. A. S. Collins's chesnut pony Minna by two or three lengths, the winner was ridden by P. Martin, and not by M'Glasheu. We find, ou enquiry, that Mr. Thomas Stanton, to whose accident reference was made in our columns yesterday, had passed a comparatively easy uight, and that with the exception of the usual irritative fever, consequent on gun-shot wounds, his medical attendant, Mr. Cotterell, has confident hopes that the case may terminate favorably, though he enjoins the observance of the strictest quiet and freedom from excitement. It will be in the recollection of our readers that, at the time of the discovery of the Maungatapu murders, the Government gave orders that all boxes and other luggage arriving at this port from Australia should be searched on landing. This order was issued in consequence of information which had been received by the police, to the effect that a large quantity of firearms and other murderous in-

struments would be forwarded from Melbourne to the miscreant Sullivan, at Nelson, to be employed iv carrying out the nefarious projects of the horrible gang with which he was connected. It appears from a paragraph in the Christchurch Evening Mail o£ the ISth instant, that a box has been lying at the New Zealand Company's stores, Lyttelton, for some months past, addressed to "Thomas Sullivan," and that, not being claimed, directions had been given that it should be opened, when the contents were found to be revolvers, swords, and masks, which were handed over to the police. This statement first appeared in the Wellington Evening Jrost of the 13th instant, and, in consequence, enquiries were made at the Company's office at Lyttelton, and the Christchurch Evening Mail vouches for" its correctness. We are informed that the results of the Post Office Savings' Batik, established here hardly a month ago, are very satisfactory. A number of depositors are already on the books, and a considerable amount has been paid in. We may add that the inducements held out by these banks to the working classes especially are great. Not only is a higher rate of interest allowed, — 5 per cent, per aunum on sums under d 3200, 4 percent, on sums over £200, and in the same proportions for aay shorter time on every complete £l deposited, provided that no interest be allowed on more than £500 — but that interest commences on the first of the month immediately succeeding the one on which a deposit is made, aud the depositors have direct Government security for the prompt repayment of their money, which can be drawn at any time, and interest allowed. ]n the House of Commons on the 12th February, Mr. Adderley stated that there were at present 3000 British troops in New Zealand, but for the future only one regiment would be kept pei'manently there, towards the expense of which the colony was to contribute £50,000 per annum. In reference to this statement, we may remark that Mr. Adderley, or rather his successor Mr. Corry, will probably learn, ere long, that the colony has managed to do without even this solitary expensive luxury. The obituary for February contains the following names : — Earl Brownlow, the youthful inheritor of the great Bridgewater property ; the Earl of Camperdown ; the Countess of Devon ; the Dowager Countess of Jersey, granddaughter of Child the banker ; the Countess of Mayo ; Lady Charlotte Hetley, daughter of the late Earl of Norbury ; Viscountess Strathallan ; Lord Feversham ; Viscount Barrington ; Lord G-ray, of Gray ; Lady Castlemsiine j Sir John Shelley, Bart.; Sir William Miluer, Bart.; Lady Hervey Bathurst; Sir Arthur Magenis, G.C.8.; General Sir W. M. Wallace, Colonel 17th Lancers ; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. Bayly, KIL; Dr. Sutherland, the wellknown physician ; Mr. William Dargan, the Irish contractor and capitalist ; Mr. Henry Crab Hobinson, the friend of Lamb and Wordsworth ; Colonel Stepney, C.8. ; Mr. Walter Long, for many years M.P. for North Wilts ; and Sir George Smart, the veteran organist and composer. The New Zealand Advertiser says : — ■ The public will be glad to hear that Sir G. A. Arney, the Chief Justice of New Zealand, is enjoying good health in England. Writing to a friend, he says : — 'The weather here has been very severe. I found the cold all the better for me ; I grew daily stonger ; after a few hours' skating I was able to cut my outer edge,in figure 8, almost as neatly as I did twenty years ago.' Sir George may be expected to return to Auckland in June, 1868 We regret to find from the Grey River Argus that Mr. Commissioner Sale met with rather a serious accident on the 18th inst. He was returning to Hokitika on horseback, and whilst riding on the beach, his horse suddenly sank iv one of the treacherous quicksands, and Mr. Sale was pitched off, his head comiug in contact with a boulder, which caused a severe cut on the forehead. Mr. Sale was compelled to return to Greymouth, but he had so far I recovered from his injuries as to be able to leave again yesterday morning. The game of whist played at Sandringham and at Marlborough-house is " short " and pound points, but no money ever passes between the Prince of Wales and his oppouents ; all such matters are settled the following morning by one of the Prince's gentlemen-in-waiting, who keeps the score, and pays or receives, as the case may be. — Court Journal,