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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 108, 10 May 1867, Page 3

The Wellington Advertiser of May 7 says : — There is little reason to doubt now tliat his Excellency the Governor has determcd to disregard the despatches from the Colonial Office and the instructions to General Chute, and to keep a regiment on his own responsibility. Northern journals have already apportioned the companies of this regiment to different towns, and Wellington is to have a couple, Auckland to have the head-quarters, and Napier, Taranaki, and Wanganui also detachments. We believe that the Colonial Government have fully determined not to pay for these troops, nor in any degree to recognise the mild demand of the Imperial Government that we should contribute £50,000 a year towards their maintenance, and this being so, we have no reason to complain if his Excellency has made up Lis mind that the Royal Irish shall enliven the streets of the chief towns in the North Island for a few years to come.

The Jarandki Herald of the 4th inst., in recording the shipment of the first barrel of petroleum, the produce of the

Alpha Well, gives an interesting sketch of the proceedings which have resulted ia what, it confidently anticipates, may be the commencement of a new and flourishing industry, which, if fully developed, may prove as great a source of wealth to this province especially, and to the colony generally, as the oil fields of America are to that country. Its probable thafc the petroleum oil may be found more useful as a lubricant for engines and machinery thafc as an illuminating agent. A barrel of ifc will be sent to Captain Benson, with a request thafc he wiil cause it to be tried in the Panama Company's vessels ; a barrel will also be sent to Sydney for trial tbere and at Melbourne. If it should be found to answer for the machinery of steam vessels, there will be no need afc prosent to look for other markets, although samoles will be forwarded to London

and Liverpool by the Panama steamer. The probable supply is another moot point which must be settled by practical experience, for bere again scientific men are at variance. Present appearances indicate that Dr. Gibbons is right in his opinion as opposed to Dr. Hector. He says that "the continued ebullition of gas and the bubbling of oil on the surface of the water, both at sea and iv the well, seems to me plainly to indicate that it is no mere deposit in fissures near the surface, but that there is a deeper source where, in all probability, the natural process is still going on." In the Alpha well an oil vein was struck at 170 feet, which is believed to be larger than the one being pumped at 80 feet, and ou Mikotahi a vein was struck in a cavity at 210 feet. This question however, must be settled by practical experience, and we hope that the Taranaki Company will be able to solve it satisfactorily as a reward for the energy and perseverance they have displayed in carrying out their works. The shipment of oil to Sydney and Melbourne will in all probability induce enquiries to be made about it by parties there who have ampler means at their command to develop the resources of Taranaki than are possessed by the inhabitants of the settlement themselves.

In the Grisons a fall of red snow, to the depth of three inches, has taken place. The fall lasted about two hours, and was succeeded by white to double that depth. The phenomenon is not uncommon, ond is due to the presence of a microscopic mushroom, the protococeus nivalus.