Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 181, 5 August 1867, Page 2

The homeward mail, via Panama, per the Wellington, closes to-morrow, afc 9 a.m. We have been requested to warn the public against au individual who has been prowling about Nelson for some days past, and who has attempted, with some success by means of intimidation, to obtain money and supplies of provisions at several houses in the city. The individual in question is a young and apparently ablebodied man, dressed as a digger, aud he commences his appeal by giving a piteous description of his sufferings from hunger and fatigue whilst travelling overland to Nelson irom the West, Coast, and concludes by entreating assistance in the shape of either money or food. In case of refusal, however, he assumes a very threaten iug demeanor, and in two or three cases which have been brought under our notice, where the male inmates of the house which he has patronised, have been absent from home, his demands have been satisfied, simply as a menus of putting an end to his importunities. We have no doubt that the police will 'ere loug make themselves acquainted with the present whereabouts of this "interesting stranger/' Our port this morning presented an unusually lively appearance, no less than 1 1 steamers being in harbor, including the following: — the Airedale, Phoebe, Claud Hamiltou, Wellington, Stormbird, William Miskin, Lyttelton, Kennedy, Murray, Lady Barkly, and Southland. The last mentioned vessel is a fine steamer, built by Messrs. Inglisand Co., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, 87 tons nominal, with disconnecting engines of 80 horse-power, aud fitted with all the latest improvements. She is Avell and neatly finished, and possesses accommodation Avhich is unsurpassed by any steamer of the same tonnage that Ave have ever had the pleasure of inspecting. Her power and accommodation make her a great acquisition to our West Coast fleet, and we wish her enterprising owners, Messrs Spence Brothers, every success in their speculation. Those of our readers who are interested in astronomical science wili thank us for informing them thafc this year a celestial phenomenon Avill occur which has only tAvice been recorded in history. On the 21st of this month the planet Jupiter will be seen completely unaccompanied by satellites for nearly tAvo hours. Three of them Avill be invisible on account of their passing simultaneously over Jupiter's disc, and the fourth will be immersed iu the shadow of the planet. Mr Holmes's motion in the Legislative Couucil on Tuesday last, for the appointment of a commiitee to consider the advisability of endowing scholarships to enable pupils of the leading schools in the colony to obtain a university education at home, or to establish one or more universities iu this colony, was carried, Dr Menzies seconding the motion. '■ On the secoud reading of the Increased Representation Bill on Tuesday night, Mr Reeves opposed giviug two additional members to Auckland, not so much as being unjust to other provinces, and especially to Canterbury, but because he disapproved of the distribution of seats being virtually lefc in the hands of" Government, and moved that the bill be read that day six months, recommending the Government, if his amendment was' carried, to bring in a bill simply to grant two additional members for Westland. The amendment, which was opposed by the Premier, was put aud lost;

but ou Mr Stafford moving thafc the bill be committed next day, Mr Moorehouse moved as an amendment that it be committed thafc day six months, which was carried by 28 to 21. On Wednesday evening the noise of the violent storm Avhich raged outside the House of Representatives making it evident that the voices of the members Avould be rendered almost inaudible, a "count out" Avas arranged, the House adjourned at once. The proceedings the same afternoou in the Legislative Council were impeded hy the same cause. The Advertiser states thafc a heavy gale sprung up, at Wellington, on Tuesday last, aud continued with unabated vigor till Thursday morning. Fortunately no great damage was doue in the town, but at the Hutt and other couutry districts the destruction to property has been considerable. The shipping sustained little or no damage, and only some one or tAvo of the vessels dragged their anchors, and these Avere speedily bronght up. The Westport Times says that the total amount of gold exported for the month of July was 75150z. ldvvt. lgr., of the declared value of £30,535 13s. Bd, the duty on which amounted to £939 9s 6d. The Westport Times states that an ingenious method of procuring power to launch vessels which have had the misfortune to get aground on auy of the sandy beaches on this coast, is now being used afc Brighton by those who are getting the Onehunga afloat ag-iin. The apparatus used for extracting stumps has been brought into play, consisting of a long lever bar, near the ends of which are three moveable shackles, some eight oiten inches apart. To the centre shackle the chaiu attached to a buried anchor is made fast, and to each of the others short chains, with claw hooks of a size to nip the links of the chains attached to the moveable cradle which rests on the ways. By moving this lever bar in one direction the centre shackle acts as the fulcrum ; one short chaiu is tightened, bringing the vessel several inches on her way and slacking the other and corresponding one. The other claw hook is then fastened on to a link, the motion of the bar reversed, aud with the same fulcrum a further progression is made. By ' this means as much as 18 inches in the minute has been accomplished, the ouly delay being in the time lost in shortening in the chain Avhich supports the purchase. The West Coast Times of the Ist; inst. says that the high tides which have prevailed during the last feAV days have made great encroachment on the beach, and as tide after tide rolled higher up, the inhabitants of the houses in the vicinity of Beach-street became filled Avith dismay, and were removing from that locality. In many cases the houses were also pulled down and shifted to a safer locality. The > extensive stables of Messrs Cobb & Co., . situated in the Empire right-of-way, are \ now a complete Avreck, and it is probable I they will have to be removed. On Sunday last, says the West Coast i Times, the new Church of England at 7 Greymouth, built from designs of W. S. 4 Armson, Esq., was opened for Diviue ' -| Service. It measures 52 by 26 feet, with ialls 13 feet high, with a chancel. Its ital cost, including all fittings aud paint, is been £480, of which £100 has yet to _ raised. The church has been built with view to enlargement, consisting noAv of nave, chancel, tAvo porches, and bellrret; and reflects much credit onthe immittee and those who have aided them the undertaking. That venerable institution, the shilliug ibbler, which has so long maintained its ound in Greymouth, appears doomed, its :ecutioner being Mr J. Johnstone, of the elbourne Hotel, who announces that future the prices at his establishment 11 be 6d. — Grey River Argus.

We learn from the Westport Times of the 2nd instant that a company has been formed, with a capital of £8000, for the purpose of working a coal-seam up the Buller. The prospectors, if we may so call them, are to have a certain interest, and have undertaken to accept current wages for working the mine. A tramway will be constructed to bring the mineral down, and will prove in many other respects useful to the public. There cannot be a doubt of the profitable nature of the undertaking, and Ave cordially wish the enterprising proprietors every success. There is great dismay amongst the gasfitters at Sydney, owing to the Melbourne authorities having been beforehand with thera, and purchased all the available gaspipes here for the purpose of illuminating Melbourne on the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh. At a meeting at Government House, Sydney, it was decided that the Government and the Corporation should cooperate in some general scheme for the welcoming of Prince Alfred, and that a public meetiuc of the citizens and all concerned should be held.

2928