TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 230, 1 October 1867, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington, Oct. 1, 9-34 p.m. The Speaker of the House of Representatives last night read a telegram from Greymouth, stating that the inhabitants of the Grey district did not sign the petition from Hokitika, praying that Westland should be constituted a separate province, but, on the contrary, that they had declared their unanimous desire to be annexed to Nelson, and had already forwarded a petition on the subject to that effect. Mr Macandrew's motion to the effect that it is expedient that all steam postal subsidies be discontinued on the expiration of the existing contracts, was lost. We are glad to be able to state that a telegram was received yesterday from Wellington, stating that the Panama Company had consented to allow the Claud Hamilton to return to Nelson with the Panama Mails. She may therefore be expected here to-morrow. The telegram also stated that the Claud would not call again at this port unless the pilotage dues were lowered. We observe frora the official reports furnished to the Provincial Government that the number of births which had taken place in this Province during the year ending on the 31st December, 1866, was 417, whilst the number of deaths during the same period was 139, leaving a majority of 278 births over the.;\deaths, a fact which says much for the g|neral salubrity of the province. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday last^ Thomas Windover and Esther Windover, his wife, were charged with being drunk on Friday night at the Port. Both prisoners denied the charge, which was^however abundantly proved by the police, and the male offender was fined £1 and costs, and his wife 10s and costs. —George Fuller, of Suburban North, was fined 10s and costs for allowing a horse to be at large. — On Monday, William M'Lean was charged, on the information of Captain J. Vine Hall, with travelling ftom Hokitika to Nelson on board the Claud Hamilton, without paying his fare and with intent to avoid payment of it. It appeared that the prisoner had paid £2, the fare from Hokitika to Nelson being £4. The Magistrate postponed judgment

for an hour, in order to enable the prisoner to find means to pay the balance and costs; and this was eventually done by some diggers present in theCourfc, who subscribed £2 9s, and he was then liberated. We have authority for stating that his Excellency Sir George Grey has intimated his intention to advise H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to visit Nelson j and as it is understood that the Prince's movements in the various colonies will be mainly influenced by the recommendations of, the different Governors, there would seem to be every probability that, after all, Nelson may be honored by a royal visit. We hear that Bishop Suter will probably hold a 'friendly reception' on Friday next at the Provincial Hall, but that due notice will be given of the exact date. An advertisement in another column announces that the brethren of the NeUon and Howard Lodges of the Order of Oddfellows purpose offering a complimentary supper to the Hall Committee and to their Treasurer, P. P. G. M. Williams, at the London Tavern, on Thursday eveniug next. On this occasion a valuable gold watch and chain will be presented to Mr Jenuings, in recognition of the valuable services he has rendered to the Howard Lodge, this gratifying tribute of respect being, we understand, intended more especially to meet their sense of his successful exertions in freeing the Oddfellows' Hall from debt. During the late sittings in banco at Hokitika, Mr Justice Richmond remarked 'that some of the members of the Assembly were going in for the concentration of the judicial power of the colony. There waB no doubt the Bench and the Bar in New Zealand would never rank as high without such concentration as was adopted in other colonies; but, on the other hand, the present system was a great convenience, and gave great facilities for the transaction of business. The proposition of course had no reference whatever to the trial of issue of fact, whether of a civil or criminal character, but referred solely to sittings in. banco/ The West Coast Times presume?, from these words, that, should this proposal be adopted, the Judges would go on circuit periodically, as in England. The West Coast Times notes with satisfaction that the teachings of adversity have not been entirely thrown away upon the diggers, who, influenced by a commendable caution, have yet made no move in the direction of the so-called North Island goldfields, being apparently contented to wait patiently for further and more reliable intelligence than that which has lately reached them. The Bruce was laid on at Hokitika for the Manukau, but so few were the applications for tickets, that her destination was ohangedfor Westport and Mokihinui. The Grey River Argus asserts that in a few weeks the whole distance between Westport and Nelson will be able to be travelled on horseback, as there are now only a few rock-cutting 3 to finish so as to open the whole road. The Grey River Argus gives the following description of a very dexterous capture made by the police on the West Coast: — A man named Sheedy, a miner, arrived in Greymouth on September 21st, from the Bulier, armed with a warrant issued by Mr Commissioner Kynnereley, for the apprehension of his mate, one Dunn, who had 'skedaddled' from Westport on board the Bruce with the sum of £150 in his possession, which had been entrusted to him for safe keeping. The Bruce, however, did not; in this instance call at Greymouth, but proceeded on to Hokitika. The police were communicated with, and a telegram was forwarded by Inspector James at 2 p.m., giving a full description of the wanted man, and at

half-past 3 a reply wasjreceived announcing his capture by the police at Hokitika. The story is that the prisoner, who was one of a party of four, was intrusted with the money while the rest went out prospecting; but when his mates had gone he resolved to ' bone the sugar* aud proceed to Melbourne. Somehow or other timely intelligence was given to his mates, and the result is as stated.