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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 219, 18 September 1867, Page 2

The Rangitoto, with the European mail via Suez, arrived at the Bluff shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. We understand that the mails for Nelson will be brought on by the Phoebe on Monday next, the 23rd instant.

By the arrival of the Nelson yesterday evening, we were placed ia possession of

the latest intelligence from the Mokihinui. The Grey River Argus of Saturday has the following with reference to this goldfield : — ' The diggings — or rather, the alleged diggings, for they are not yet an established fact— -are already much overrushed, and great numbers of miners are returning. The accounts are so far conflicting that by some persons the goldfield is characterised as a 'duffer/' whilst others think that there is room for a few hundred men. The general tone of the report is, however, unsatisfactory, and there is no doubt that at present there is no inducement held out to miners to go there.'. The truth appears to be that the rush which took place to the Mokihinui was too great for the capabilities of the goldfield, and that though many are still doing well, the majority have been unable to find room. It is stated that there is good ground higher up the river, which would amply repay washing.

We learn from Captain Doile, of the Stormbird that the Otago,, which left this : port on Sunday last, on approaching the;, wharf at Wellington about 7 o'clock therjsame evening, ran into the outer eni o| vc. the wharf, going about ten feetinto the sclid, and breaking jmd displacing the h on. -, and wood work of that structure. The

I damage done is roughly estimated at about £5000. The Wellington papers of Monday stated that the damage would not exceed £2000, but a survey was to take place yesterday, and the correct amount, which probably lies between the two sums mentioned, will then be ar rived at. It seems that there are no lights on the outer end of the wharf, and it is to this circumstance that the accident is attributable. The Otago received no injury whatever. According to the Westport Times about 200 holes have bottomed at Waite's Pakihi, and it is stated that about 13 or 14 are on gold. A sitting of the Supreme Court was to commence on Monday last at Hokitika, Mr Justice Richmond having arrived by the Phoebe on Thursday last. The Grey River Argus states, on the authority of a gentleman just returned from Melbourne, that on the 6th instant the unusual phenomenon of a fall of snow was witnessed in that city. The West Coast Times states that on Friday, the 6th instant, two men, whilst walking on the beach on the south side of the Chesterfield track, picked up a boot containing the bones of the foot of a human being. They took the boot to the nearest police station, and reported the circumstances under which it was found. The boot, which is for the left foot, i3 a light Wellington, and not of the kind ! usually worn by diggers. Inside it was a woollen sock, and the bones within the sock seemed as if they had parted from the leg at the ancle joint. They were much decomposed, and appeared to have been in the water for some months. These remains probably belonged either to some unfortunate person who was drowned whilst endeavoring to cross a river, and whose body was washed out to sea, or to some one who has met his death by drowning by falling overboard from one 'of the vessels trading to one of the ports on the West Coast. <The British Minister in Mexico worked \ earnestly to induce the Liberal Govern- | ment to spare the life of Maximilian, but I all his efforts were futile. The Prussian I Minister made a last but effectual appeal to President Jaurez, on the very day of executions, saying : — " In the name of humanity and of honor, I conjure you to order that the lives of the prisoners be not I taken, and I again repeat that lam certain : i that my Sovereign, his Majesty the King I of Prussia, and all the crowned heads of I Europe, united by ties of blood to the I Prince prisoner — his brother, the Emperor | of Austria, his cousin the Queen of the I British dominions, his brother-in-law the I King of the Belgians, and also his cousins I the Queen of Spain and the Kings of I Italy and Sweden — will readily agree to I give all the security that may be required i or desired that none of the prisoners shall i. tread Mexican soil." I A writer, describing one of the engagei ments in the late American war, gives the following interesting item : — In this battle we lost the brave Captain Smith. A cannon ball took off his head. His last i words were, ' Bury me on the spot where I fell.' The restoration of the choir of Worcester Cathedral will, it is thought, be a work of two years or more. Meanwhile, a terai porary organ is to be erected in the nave : where the services are now conducted. I ' What is the chief use of bread ?' asked I an examiner at a school exhibition, ' The I chief use of bread,* answered the urchin, apparently astonished at the simplicity of the inquiry, "is to spread butter and treacle on.'