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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 164, 16 July 1867, Page 2

We are gratified to learn that the accessibility of the Karamea gold-field is likely ere long to be put beyond a doubt by means of private enterprise. It has long been a matter of notoriety that a strong

impression has prevailed amongst the mining community on the West Coast as to the highly auriferous character of the Karamea valley, and a deputation has been sent to Nelson iv order to ascertain the best means of reaching that locality. These individuals have arranged with Mr Woodhouse (who, it will be remembered, formed one of the party who established the existence of Hough's Pass) to cut, at their owu expense, a track from the Baton to the Karamea across Hough's Pass, hnving obtained permission from the Superinteneent to levy a stated toll on all persons making use of this track, for the space of one year, in order to remunerate them for the outlay incurred. The work will be commenced immediately, and thus we shall, iv all probability, after all be indebted to the enterprise of private individuals for the development of this gold-field, and for the advantages which, it is allowed on all hands, may not unreasonably be expected to accrue to this community from tho opening up of this promising district.? New Zealand has not by any means been hitherto the land of armchair amusements. The-active life which our early colonists were forced to lead, left them little time, as there was indeed but little opportunity, for the enjoyment of merely intellectual pleasures, and the turf and the gun, in later days, have numbered among their votaries the mass of those whose means allowed them anything beyond the vicissitudes of labor and rest. And these active sports still keep their ground, but with a difference: — the sportsman of the present day has his evening as well as his morning to employ; conviviality is chastened, and music and rational amusement in its varied forms claim the hours formerly resigned to the pleasures of the bottle. A similar change has been wrought among those whose mornings are passed in the more sedentary pursuits of -commerce or study. The tradesman and artisan have partaken in the movement; and through every ciass of society, save perhaps the very lowest, a preference is manifested for intellectual recreation over mere animal refection. It is therefore our bounden duty as citizens, to further by all means in our power every movement which cau tend, even in the most remote degree, to foster and encourage this spirit, and we are cognizant of no proposal which is likely to conduce more immediately to this end, than that which has lately been placed before the public in connection with the erection of a fitting and appropriate building in this city for the purposes of a theatre and public rooms. It is evident that such a building would afford a commodious arena not ouly for' dramatic representations, which, under legitimate conditions, unquestionably tend to the refinement of the intellect, but also for the delivery of popular lectures, and the consequent communication of discoveries, the comparison of opinions, the combination of judgments, the conflict of wits, the natural action and reaction of minds, which exercise so invigorating and grateful an influence on our daily life. These and a thousand other considerations should combine to induce our citizens to support such a movement, not merely as a matter of profitable speculation to individuals, but as a probable means of promoting the improvement and rational eujoyment of the community at large, and for these reasons we trust that the attendance at the meeting to. be held this evening at the Bank Hotel, to receive the report of the Provisional Committee, will be as numerously attended, and the result as satisfactory, as we could wish it to be. The members for Motueka and Waimea South, Messrs. Parker and Baigent, left yesterday in the Otago for Wellington, in order to take part in the deliberations of the House of Representatives. Major Morse and Dr. Renvvick, members of the

Legislative Council, also took their departure for Wellington by the same steamer. It is understood that his Honor the Superintendent will leave Nelson on Sunday next, for the same destination, should the Provincial Council find it possible to pass the Estimates by that time, so that the Appropriation Act may he carried. We regret to state that the state of his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond's health is so unsatisfactory as to prevent his leaving in the Otago yesterday for Wellington, in order to be present at the opening of the Court of Appeal this week. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Jeremiah Mullins, George May, Peter M'Keggan, James Vickers, George M'Donald, Edward Denham, and Duncan M'Cauley, seamen belonging to the Island City, were charged with assaulting and resisting Wm. Clarke, while in the prosecution of his duty as constable, on Sunday evening last. It appeared from the evidence that the complainant was on duty on the evening referred to, about a quarter to nine, and heard a noise. On going up to the spot from whence it proceeded, he found the prisoners and some others. Mullins, May, and M'Donald were the worse for liquor, and using obscene language to some females who were passing at the time. On the complainant's expostulating with them, they refused to be quiet, and he then went with them towards the Pier Hotei, Mullins being in front of him, and shaking his fi?t in his face. Clarke then arrested him, and took him towards the lock-up. ■ The rest of the paTty then made a rush with the purpose of rescuing him, and got the constable down on the timber, wresting his baton from him. He recovered and closing with Mullins, got it back. Then, feeling that they were too mauy for him, he went into the lockup, aud took oft his great coat and shortly went out again. Mullins then came up and again made use of abusive and indecent language to the constable and to some females who v:cve The constable again arrested him, and had got him close to tbe lockup door, when the whole party came up, caught hold of him, and rescued Mullius. Mr. Garrard passing, Clarke called to him for assistance, but the prisoners were too many for them, and they were obliged to let them go, Clarke's coat being torn to pieces in the fray. The constable was unable to identify M'Cauley as one of the party. Clarke's evidence was fully corroborated by Mr. Garrard, and the prisoners Jeremiah Mullins and George May were fined £2 each aud costs, and to pay 50s for the policeman's coat and 7s for the lockup door ; Peter M'Keggan, James Vickers, G. M'Donald, and Edward Denham were each fined £1 and costs; and Duncan M'Cauley, not having been identified by either witness, was discharged. Mary Jane Smith, charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s and costs. A Select Committee of the Provincial Council sat this afternoon to decide upou tho rival claims of Timothy Linehatn and William Fox, as the discoverers of the Charleston goldfield. By a singular coincidence, by the last steamer from the West Coast intelligence reached us of the death by drowning, in crossing a river, of the first-named claimant. The Westport Times gives the following highly favorable report from Addison's Flat, Waite's Pakihi?, under date of July Ilth: — The claim I mentioned in my last, as having 19 feet of washdirt, on Tuesday last washed nearly a pennyweight to a shovel, not so- much as a shovel Avill hold, but as much washdirt as a handful,' for more of the black sand you cannot wash at one time and save the gold. I said the wash was 19. feet deep, but there is no

knowing to what depth the stuff may go, but if it goes no farther there is three or four years' work before the fortunate holders, who I learn are new chums. £200 was offered for a share in this claim and refused. In one part of the claim they struck the wash at two feet six inches from the surface ; at the end of the tail race you can see the wash from that depth to the bottom. A party of Scotchmen at the north end of the lead struck very good wash to-day, it is deep purple sand, with few stones. Adam Bay, in North Australia, has now been abandoned. It will be remembered that when Mr. M'Kinlay returned, Mr. Marton, who remained at the settlement with about 25 men, reported that "it would not be prudent to weaken this part of the expedition by attempting to explore or do any surveying, for we know very well there is no land within 100 miles of us worth surveying ; and to divide the small party, and attempt to do anything at such a distance from each other, might lead to serious consequences ; for I think it is generally believed amongst those I have with me, that even with the small augmentation of our party, we shall not be too strong for the native force that might possibly be brought against us when Mr. M'Kinlay's party aud the Beatrice are away." Upon this, the House of Assembly seemed to think that . it was time the whole party was fetched away. A resolution was passed accordingly, and now Adam Bay is deserted. The following incident, illustrative of the good qualities of the Sailor Prince who is shortly to visit these shores, appears in the English papers : — At Marseilles, as the steamer Dauphine, of the Compagnie des Transports Maritimes, was about to ieave the Port Napoleon for Bona, she was, by the violence of the mistral and the breaking of a cable, driven with great violence on the blocks of .stone on which thejetty of Arenc is built. Her bottom was broken in in one of the compartments, and water rushed iv. She fell on one side. The Duke of Edinburgh and the officers of H.M.S. Galatea, with a great number of men, immediately went on .board and reudered every assistance — the Prince not only giving, orders, but lending a hand to tha work to be done. Assistance also arrived from other quarters, and, the purdps b'eiug set to work, the vessel was saved. While a youug lady was talking about "psychological significance of dress," and maintaining that a person's character could to a considerable extent be inferred from his attire, a foppish youug man, wearing a blue coat aud brass buttons, inquired, with a supercilious air, what that kind of a coat indicated; to which the young lady instantly responded: "The blue is indicative of the wearer's feelings; the brass, of his manners." A lady scut her servant for a new velvet mantilla which was at her dressmaker's. "John," she said, "if it rains, take a coach ; I had rather pay the hack hire than have my mantilla wet." When man handed her the mantilla it was ruined, the paper which covered it being saturated with water. " Why, John," she said. "I told you to take a cab ifitraiued." "Sol did, mum; but sure you wouldn't Lave your footman a riding iuside. I got ou the box with the driver." A boy sweeping the crossing at Regent-circus, haviug prevented a lady being run over, touched his hat and solicited a reward.- The lady fumbled in her pocket and gave him a silver .coin, saying, " There's a fourpenny-bitfor you." She had uot gone far before the young urchin overtook her. "Begs parding, mem, but this is only a thripenny — don't , think I ought to be done out o'tother penny."