The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 7, 9 January 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1868.

We learn by telegram that Madame Carandini and her party will arrive by the Phoebe about 6 o'clock, to-day, the Bteamer having left Picton at 9*30 this morning. The concert this eveniug will be very numerously attended, nearly all the reserved seats being already secured. The following additional returns of votes polled for the various candidates for the four, vacant Governorships of Nelson College" have been received since Tuesday last :■*■—•■• . . M- -■ 1 & g 'M i s 4 -?*> • fe g g "3 -A o g H cc B oa $g$ O Returns given... 412 382 .303 262 202 193 U. Moutere 2 5 5 5 0 1 Motupipi 4 4 6 5 2 5 Collingwood ... 0 2 2 2 2 0 418 393 316 274 206 199 The returns for Picton and Takaka are still to arrive. Upon enquiry at the Telegraph-office this morniDg, we find that our contemporary the Examiner is in error as regards its statement as to the non-arrival of the Mataura from Sydney, that steamer having arrived at Wellington at 1. 15. p.m. on the .6th. Her arrival there was notified to Nelson at 7. p.m. aud was, we understand, at once announced upon the shipping intelligence board iv the outer office of the Telegraph Department. We are informed however, that about noon on the following day the shipping form for the Gth and proceeding days was taken down for the purpose of supplying later information, and this fact accounts for the Mataura's arrival not having been published in this journal, as well as for the error into which our contemporary as fallen in this morning's issue.

We understand from a notice posted in ihe outer office of the Telegraph Department that communication is again suspended, but upon enquiry at the office, we are informed that communication will probably be resumed this evening.

We are happy to learn that this year's vintage is likely to prove a particularly good one. We Lave been informed "by Mr Peter Frank that the Nelson Vineyard is looking better than it has for several years past,, the grapes being quite healthy, and entirely inee from .blight. The General Government Gazette, published on the 31st uit., announces the appointment of the Secretary for Crown Lands, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Under-Secretary, the Assistant-Trea-surer, the Under-Secretary for Natiye

«;.* -?'.-;_'.*.

Affairs, the Director of tbe Geological Survey, and the Inspector of Public Schools, as a Central Board of Examiners uuder the Civii Service Act, 1866 ; aud of Captain Rough, J. Sharp, Esq., and the Inspector of Schools, as a Local Board for this town under the same Act.

A meeting of the members of the Nelson Cricket Club took place yesterday evening at the Trafalgar Hotel, W. Stavert, Esq., in the chair, at which it was resolved that overtures should be made to the Motueka Cricket Club, with a view to arranging a match to be played at that place on Wednesday week, the 22nd inst., provided that that date prove agreeable to the. members of the Motueka club, nnd also that arrangements can be made for the conveyance by steamer of the Nelson cricketers. The eleven representatives of the Nelson Club will be picked at a meeting to be held this evening for that purpose.

Our sporting readers will be gratified to perceive from an announcement in our advertising columns that auother 'paper hunt' will take place at Stoke on Saturday afternoon, which will, doubtless, attract as large a concourse of spectators, aud afford as much amusement as on the previous occasion.

Some fragments of a mass of rock of a reddish color, intermingled with green, have been submitted to our inspection as forming parts of a large meteoric stone which is alleged to have fallen on the road near the Black Horse, Wakapuaka, during the thunderstorm on Sunday last. The specimens in question certainly do not resemble any formation in that neighborhood, neither are they of the granular texture or greyish color which usually characterise meteoric stoves, aud we must leave tho question to h^olved by more competent judges. 1??fe The WestportfStar ofthe 4th announces that Mr Hacket, .the lessee of the Mount Rochfort coalfields, has gone to Melbourne for the purpose of forming a company to work the mines, an enterprise which would greatly enhance the importance of Westport, and put a large amount cf money in circulation. It is stated that he has obtained a number ot influential gentlemen in New Zealand as a Provisional Board of Directors, and the co-operation of some of the leading merchants in Melbourne. It is reported that the Hokitika police are prepared to produce evidence more than merely suspicious against the man Douglas, the mate of Carmichael, the uufortunate man whose remains were recently found at German Gully, Waimea. Douglas is under arrest.

The Westport Times of Tuesday last learns by the Tasnauiau Maid, which arrived from the Manukau ou the previous day, that the people of Auckland are jubilant over the prospects of the Thames Goldfields, and are ordering quartz crushing machines from Melbourne. Captain Souter states that there are from 6000 to 8000 people on the ground, and -that there were no signs of any alluvial diggings being discovered.

We learn from Westport that no efforts have yet been made to re-initiate the wharves ; indeed it would seem to be not of much use to put them up again on the same fragile plan as before. It is noticed as a curious fact that this last flood, which never attained anything like so high a level as that of December, has done infinitely more damage. It would seem as though the curreut has been diverted by some change over from the south side, and is vow directed with its full force against the north bank, the shore being completely undermined all along the river face, and threatening to cave in to a much farther depth back than it has yet done. The portion of Mr. Beauchamp's wharf which was left standing, has been examined, and was found to be very much damaged, but it is thought that by driving down a few additional piles and placing a number of supports on the western side, it will be made as strong and useful as it ever was.

It is stated that the Mokihinui district has not suffered much from the late floods. The river rose considerably, but fortunately did not overflow its banks. Many of the claims were swamped out, but work at many others was scarcely interrupted. Business there is reported to be very dull, and latterly a considerable number of people have gone elsewhere.

It appears that Mr Jeremiah Creed, of Charleston, has been fined £10 for giving an unstamped receipt, on the information of a certain Mr Alexander M'Carthy, who, a few days before, had been sentenced to

pay a five of £5 for assaulting Creed, and bound over to keep the peace for three months.

It seems that the police have discovered an illicit still in full working order among the rocks, a little way on the road betweeu Westport and Charleston, together with about four casks of liquor ready for working. The casks were at ouce broken, aud the remainder of the plant conveyed to town. There were no people on the premises at the time of the discovery, and the offenders are still at liberty.

The Dunedin Correspondent of the Grey River Argus thus sums up the results of the West Coast expedition latelysent out by the Otago Government, from which so much was expected: — The West Coast Expedition has returned, without being able to boast of very much success. However, the effort has not been altogether futile, for a good deal has been learned ofthe actual facts, of the case. No gold was discovered, but indications of of other miuerals were observed, which may become sources of wealth in future. Very little land was discovered of a nature fit for settlement; but if people cau live aud thrive among the deep sounds of Norway and the West Coast of Scotland, what is to hinder them from doing so ou the sounds of Otagd's west coriSt ? A track from Lake Wakatip to Martin's Bay is to be cut, and Mr Surveyor Wright has been dispatched for the purpose of making the survey.

Ou the motion of the Premier, another sum of £5000 lias been voted to make provision for. tho reception of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh iv Sydney.

The most prominent of the public works going on in Sydney at the present time are those decorative structures intended to give the city such a festive aspect as will in some degree make external appearances harmonise with the heartfelt jubilation with wliich H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh will i»e welcomed. Several triumphal arches, some of them on a large scale and exceedingly ornate in style, are being erected at the salient points of the streets through which the proce=Hon is to pass. A large pavilion, too, is being constructed in Hyde Park, to be used as a ball room. Thisbuilding will be sufficiently capacious to accomodate 5,000 atten dau ts.

A new Italian Opera Company, wlrch arrived from Lima per mail steamer Mataura, intend giving a series of operas iv Syduey. The prima dounais Signora Ida Vitali.

The late Governor of New South Wales, Sir John Young, who left Sydney on the 24th uit., for England, previous to his departure was entertained at dinuer by the members of the Australiau, Union, aud Victoria clubs.

Mr Thos. Lee, of Woodlands, Bathurst, N.S.W. has sheared his alpacas, with the following results as to ths weight of fleece: — One wether gave 1 libs., one ditto gave 91bs., two wethers gave each 7^ lbs., one ewe gave 3-Übs one ditto gave o|lbs., two owes gave each 41bs., one ram gavo Sfclbs.

Tbe London Correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, referring to the Pan-Angli-can Synod, says: — New Zealaud, as you know, is represented by the Metropolitan and the Bishop of Christchurch, aud both prelates have taken their turu of public preaching. Bishop Selwyn was one of the selected orators who helped to carry out a splendidly organised, series of services, which were held iv the Church of St. Lawrence, Jewry, in the city, thrice a day for the week prior to the Synod's meeting. A remarkable enthusiasm prevailed with respect to these services, and the habitantes in sicco withiu the city precincts were never before so auimated in the cause of the Church. Bishop Selwyn's sermon wns like that caunon invented for service in the American war (according to certaiu humorous historians), which was double-muzzled, loaded several times at both cuds, and then swung briskly on a pivot in the centre, a match being applied at the instant. This circular system of gunnery was declared to be very destructive, especially to the artillerymen, who declined a second trial. But the Bishop of New Zealand - has • plenty of courage. He poured forth his contempt for extreme High Church, Low Church, Broad Church, No Church, Dean Stanley, Colenso, and whomsoever and whatsoever is ultra in doctrine or practice. And the sermon was greatly admired.

On the lst of November last the provisions of the Metropolitan Traffic Act were

to take effect in London when coupled with the new Act on the dog duty, the law would assume a new phase. The police, nnder the- Traffic Act, may take possession of auy dog in the street not uuder control, aud detain the same until the expenses are paid. The police may require dogs to be muzzled. Where a dot* is 'apprehended' by the police, weariDg a collar, with au address, a letter is to be sent to the address. When a dog has been in the possession of the police for three days it may be sold or destroyed. An important addition has^ been made, to the effect that on complaint to a magistrate that a dog has bitten or attempted to bite any person, he may order it to be destroyed.

Josh Billings makes the following remarks appropriate to tiie season :— ' We are told that thare want enne thing made in vain. That is sum so, but I have thought the time spent in manufackturing musketoze must hey been wasted, if the musketoze want. How they ware put togetlier I never oould tell, and thare is one eommershall peculiarity abrait the muskeeter trade, aud that is, the supply always exceeds the demand, and yet the producsion is not diminished ; I kant understand tliis no how. They are born of poor but industrious parents, and are brought up under the auspices of some of our best families. They have also consummate courage ; I have knoivn a muskeeter to fite a man and' his wife awl night long, ancl draw tlie first blood. It is very easy to kill mustetoze— when you can ; but in striking them you are very apt to hit the exact place where they wuz. They are cheerful little cusses, singing as tliey toil.'