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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 300, 19 December 1867, Page 2

The steamer Omeo, from Melbourne, arrived at the Bluff at 1 p.m. to-day. Up to tire time of her leaving Port Phillip Heads there was no sign of the English Mail having arrived at Adelaide. An inquest -was held at the Courthouse yesterday afternoon, before the Coroner, Dr Squires, and a jury, of which Mr James Hopper was foreman, to enquire into the origin of the fire which occurred in Selwyn-place pa Saturday last. Two witnesses were "examined, who stated that

they had seen smoke issuing from the roof of Mrs Taylor's house,, and John Graham deposed to having entered the house, hearing that it was on fire, and ou mounting the stairs, to his having found a lighted vesta match, half burnt, on the top stair. The bed and bedstead and also the calico ceiling, in one of the front rooms upstairs was then burning. Caroline Pike, residing with Mrs Taylor, stated that on the alarm being given she went upstairs, and fouml the ceiliug of the front bedroom and sittiugroom leadiug into it, in flames, but saw no lighted match as described by the witness Graham. No one had slept in the bedroom, and there was no fire iv or near it. and no one had even been up the stairs since 9 o'clock that morning, neither was there any fiie in any part of the house at that time. The oven, which was at the back of the house, had been heated for baking at 10 oclock that morning. The. window of the bedroom was shut, because the blacks aud flakes of burnt shaviugs from M'Conkey's furnace made the room very dirty. Mr Joseph Webb also deposed to having entered the house, and discovered the ceiling of the bedroom and the whole of the top of the bed in flames. He had narrowly watched M'Conkey's chimney, and never saw it emit a live spark. Mr Merrington also stated that on passing Mrs Taylor's house at 9 o'clock oa the morning of the fire, he had seen a large . quantity of half-burnt chips and charcoal lying on the footway, which bad been carried there from M'Conkey's chimney. The jury then returned a verdict to the effect tluit there was no evidence before them as to the origin of the fire, and the inquest was brought to a termination at about 5 o'clock. The warrant for the execution of the unhappy prisoner, Robert Wilson, arrived by the Egmont this afternoon, and we conclude the last dread sentence of the lawwill be carried out to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. It would appear from a letter published iv the Examiner this morning that by the Supreme Court Act of 1860, it is euacted that the execution shall be carried out within three days from the Sheriff's receipt of an iutimation that the Governor will not interfere to prevent the completion of the sentence, and this period was altered to seven days by the Amendment Act of 1866. The question, of course, arises, whether the telegram received last week by the Sheriff was an ' intimation' of the nature alluded to in the Act, or whether the seven days' notice required 'should nol, after all, date from the arrival of the warrant. But we trust that, as no good can arise from the extension of the unhappy man's career on earth, his fate being now irrevocably sealed, the suspense — probably worse than a thousand deaths — to which he has already been subjected by official mismanagement may not be further prolonged. The nomination of six or seven caudidates to fill the four vacancies at the Board of Governors of Nelson College takes place to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, at the Courthouse. Should a poll be demanded, as is most probable, the election will take place on the 3rd of January. The distribution of prizes at the annual examination of the pupils of Nelson College takes place this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Eight Rev. Bishop Suter has promised to address the pupils, and a large number of their relatives and friends are expected to be present. The meeting convened by his Honor the Superintendent, for the purpose of agreeing to a farewell address to be presented by the Nelson colonists- to his Excellency Sir George Grey, takes place this evening, at the Provincial-hall, at half-past 7 oclock. We are informed that it is intended that a meeting shall be held at the Mitre-hotel, Bridge-street, on Monday night, at -which a considerable number of diggers, who have lately visited the Karamea, will take part, with a view to elicit their views as to the most effective mode of opening up that district with the least possible delay, and to place them fairly before the public. An erratum occurred in Mr Hough's letter which appeared in our issue of yesterday, aiid which he requests us to correct. The Otira-gorge, to which he alludes, is situated in Canterbury, not in Otago. The Westport Times publishes the following as the latest news from Mokihiuui: —'A gentleman has kindly given us the following information that came from Mokihinui by Cobb & Co.'s coach. He states that a shaft was bottomed on the flat at the back of the township of Mokihiuui, and-a dish of the washdirtgave a prospect

of 7 grains of gold. He also states that a great number of claims were immediately taken, up, and if the. present fine weather continues, a great number of the. shafts will be botf.omed.and the ground properly tried. We hope it may turn out well, as it will give a large number of miuersemplo3'mei]t, and also a fresh impetus to business, which unfortunately is at the present time much required iv the district of Mokihinui.' Madame CarandiniV benefit and fifth concert took place lust evening, at the Pro-vincial-hall, and was well attended. The programme was a peculiarly attractive one, iucludiug two operatic selections — from Donizetti's Lucia and Elisir d' Amore — both suug in glorious style by Madame Caraudini and Mr Sherwin, who had sufficiently recovered from the effects of his accident to appear; 'Home, sweet home, 1 'Molly Ashore,' and Comin' thro' the rye,' three of the fair beneficiaire's most popular and effective ballads, very rapturously received by the audienc°; the lovely harmonised version of the Irish melody 'Oft in the stilly night,' and the even more exquisite trio by Curschman, 'Ti prego, Madre pia,' which was eucored, with several songs and duets, both vocal and instrumental, by the Misses Carandini, all of which were executed with their accustomed taste and skill, and most heartily appreciated by the audience, several being redemanded. The concert to be given tomorrow evening- will be the last of the series, as Madame Carandini and her family leave for Wellington on Saturday, and will be for the benefit of the Misses Carandiui. We may therefore confidently ■expect that the numerous friends and admirers that these very charming ladies have made for themselves in Nelson, not only by their high artistic merits, but also " by their ladylike aud amiable demeanor, will muster round them on this occasion in strong phalanx. As a very general, and certainly very reasonable idea seems to prevail to the effect that the Misses Carandini had received their musical edu cation in Italy, we maj r state, as a fact, that neither Madame Carandini nor her daughters have ever quitted Australian soil. Madame Carandini is indebted for her acknowledged position as the prirna donna of these colonies to the late Madame Sara Flower, the celebrated contralto, who resided for very many years in Sydney, and who had previously studied at the Eoyal Academy and in Italy, where she appeared on the operatic styge with marked success, and notably to the late Mr Laveu, who accompanied Catherine Hayes — so gifted and so early lost — to Australia, and whom we are justified in styling the most accomplished musician who has yet visited the Autipodes. Miss Rosina Caraudini received her instructions in vocalisation solely from her talented mother, as did also Miss Fannie Carandini, though we understand that she has latterly been a pupil of Signor Castelli, in Melbourne. They are, therefore, to all intents aud purposes, colonial artistes, and this fact ouly causes us to regard their marvellous proficiency in musical science with still greater admiration. The Wellington Independent says — 'It is said that Sir George Bowen, who, it will be remember, upon receiving official notification of his appointment to the governorship of New Zealand, communicated his intention of arriving in Wellington about the middle of this mouth, has put off the date of his departure from Australia, and will leave Sydney by the January Panama steamer. Should he do so, Sir George Bowen will reach Wellington about the same time as Sir George Grey, who proposes sailing for Europe on the Bth prox. We have, however, got so accustomed to erratic movements ou the part of Governors that we should feel in no way . surprised were this conjunction of two Sir George? not to occur.' The steamer Phcebe left Grafton-wharf, Sydney, at 15 minutes to 1 p.m. on the 12th instant. Cleared the Heads at 25 minutes to 2 o'clock. For the first two days experienced light easterly winds with a confused sea; after which had light southwest and south-east winds. Fine clear weather the whole passage. Arrived off Hokitika 6 a.m. on the 17th, after a pleasant passage of 4 days 16 hours; landed and embarked passengers and cargo. Left Hokitika at 3.15 the same day; arrived at Greymouth at 5 o'clock, and left at quarter-past 7, after transhipping passengers, cargo, and mail. Arrived in Nelson 4.30 p.m. yesterday, 6 days 2 hours from the time of leaving Sydney. The Royal Exchange left Newcastle on the 6th instant, and arrived, here on Tuesday, after a passage of 1 1 days. Experienced strong n.n.e. vriDds for 8 days, then variable winds until her. arrival here. . She brought a cargo of coals for this port. It is not often that vessels bound from Australia to Nelson, or the northemNew Zealand ports, strike the coast so high up as Hokitika, and therefore, when a barque and a brig were sighted

on Saturday morning, about 10 miles north, their identity was excusably confounded with that of the Glencoe, from Newcastle, and either the Valliaat or JEsperanza, ironi Melbourne. Early on tide the tug Challenge cast off mooiings,. and: hasteued to secure the prizes, similar action being taken by the Dispatch at Greymouth, where the strangers must have been easily distinguishable! Tne tugs, however went upon a bootless errand, as both barque and brig proved to be from Newcastle, bound to Nelson, their names being tho Leonidas and the Drover. They reported having been driven so far south by a continuance of light east and north-east winds.— West Coast Times, December 16. The Hokitika Evening Star of the 14th insfc publishes the following important telegram,, received from Christchurch on that day: — A telegram was received at Auclcla'nd from Alexandra (Waikato) on the 6th instant. Six delegates from the King had just arrived, brining overtures of peace. The country will be opened directly. — The whole of the Auckland Provincial Government officials have received notice to quit by the end of the year. — The General Government have impounded the custom's revenues to pay dividends on loans. — Sir George Grey arrived at Auckland on the 7th instant, from Kawau. — A public meeting was held on the same day. An address was drawn up but disapproved of as being too bombastic. Meeting was a very excited one. Ultimately adjourned to 9th, after having appointed committee to amend address. — The address has since been amended and adopted. Holloway's Ointment and Pills. — High and low, old and j oung, rich and poor, have availed themselves of Holloway's remedies, and have in gratitude testified to the success which ha 9 followed the employment of them. Few maladies can befal mankind which do not admit of alleviation, relief, or cure, by these healing, soothing, and purifying preparations. The action of Uintment and Pills is wholesome in the highest degree, and never can be harmful in either external or internal ailments. Holloway's remedies cure sores, ulcers, sprains, bruises, diptheria, che«t complaints, digestive disarrangements, and bilious disorders. In influenza, bronchitis, hoarseness, coughs, shortness of breath, and palpitation of the heart, this Ointment should be well rubbed upon the throat and chest every night and morning. 3960