The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBURARY 1, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 27, 1 February 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBURARY 1, 1868.

The requisition to the Superintendent, requesting him to convene a public meeting in reference to the anticipated visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Ediuburgh was yesterday presented to his Honor, who has appointed the meeting for Tuesday evening next st the Provincial Hall. •We understand from Mr* Cawood that be has determmed ou slabbing the shaft which he purposes sinkiug on Tuesday morning in the paddock on Mr Richardson's property on the Maitai. It appears that the color has been obtained in every dish of wash dirt which has been taken out of the ground at this spot, and Mr Cawood is very sanguine that far richer results will be obtainable at a greater depth. Several parties are also at work up the river, but we have not heard what success has atteuded their labors. We are glad to find that Mr Cawood has received some assistance from the public which will enable him to carry on operations for some days to come. One of the smartest earthquake shocks which has been experienced for sometime past in Nelson was felt this morning about five minutes before 8 o'clock. It was proceded by a slighter shock which, however, lasted for some seconds, and its effects were very generally felt throughout ihe city. The earthquake appeared to come from the N.E. It will be seen from an advertisement In another column that Mr Fletcher's Exhibition of objects of art, collected l>y him in London aud Paris, will be open for the last time this evening at the Institute from 7 till 9 o'clock. The general meeting of the No. 1 City Rifles took place yesterday evening at the Orderly Room, Captain M'Tavish in th6 chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read by the Secretary. Sergeant A. Elliott, were confirmed. The Secretary then read the balance sheet, .which showed the estimated income of the corps to be £17), inclusiveof the Capitation Grant, due last June, £132 10s., with £22 10s- for ihe uniforms of the band ; of subEcriptions due on the ls=t January, with fines, amounting to £34, with a balance of cash in hand of £12 2s. B<l., total £201 2s. Bd. From this must be deducted the present liabilities of the corps, amounting to £30, leaving a balance of £171. It was then proposed by Lieutenant Percy, aud seconded by Private Catley, that the balance sheet should be adopted, and carried unanimously. Captain M'Tavish then read a letter from the secretary of the band, which was referred to the band committee. Lieutenant Percy proposed, and Captain M'Tavish seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously, that the Secretary he directed to write to the Secretary of the Nelson Board of Works, thanking them in the name of the Company for the courtesy shown by the Board In allowing the use of Murphy-street as a target ground for the Volunteer Companies. A vote of thanks was given to Private Catley for the great exertions shown by him in preparing the new shooting ground, and a proposition by Private Hogg, which was seconded by Corporal Bond, that the members of the Company .^be provided with white trousers for summer wear; as soon as the funds at the disposal of the Company will admit, was, after some discussion, put to the meeting and carried. After passing a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. .

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board of Works took place yesterday even'ng at the office. Present: — Messrs Bentley, in the chair. R. Buru, Webb, D. Burns, Field aud Hooper. The report of the Finance Committee was read, which stated that the books ami accounts of the Board had been examined aod found to be cprrect, and recommended that the application of Mr Watts, the Collector of Rates and Inspector of Nuisances, for a fortnight's leave of absence, be granted on condition of his reducing the overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand previous to his departure. The report of the Public Works Committee on the ford at the Duu Mountain Company's bridge i» Manukastreet, was adopted. It was resolved that the Government be requested to grant the assistance of prison labor for the reduction and formation of Shelburue-street, and aiso that the Secretary be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for the widening of the road on the north and south sides of Saltwater Bridge. Applications from several individuals for permissiou to erect boot'is outside the Botanical Gardens at the Anniversary Fete on Monday next, were granted, conditionally upon the payment of a fee. A letter from Mr John sou, in reference to a culvert in *Col!in°r\vood-street, was referred to the Public Works Committee; applications from Mr Neill and others, to have the gorse cut down in Shelburne-street, aud from Mr Houghfon, for permission to erect a lamp and pole iu front of his house, were granted. Mr Connell'a letter, calling attentiou to the present condition of Halifax-street, east of Milton-street, was read, and the Secretary instructed to have a few loads of gravel laid there. A letter from Mr G. Bennett, was read, applying for a reduction of his assessment, was referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs R. Burn, D. Burns, and Webb, aud the Board then adjourned until Friday the 14th instant. We regret to hear that information yesterday reached Mr. Augarde, of the Turf Hotel, Stoke, that his eldest surviving son, who had for some time past been residing upon Mr. S. Carter's station, on the Clarence, had been found dead on the road between the Rainbow aud Tarndale. A very tragical story, connected with the cause of his death, is afloat, to which we purposely abstain from making any further allusion, until the arrival of more authentic information. Mr. Augarde left for the scene of the fatal disaster immediately on receipt of the intelligence. The preparation for the Foresters' Festival on Monday next are rapidly progressing, and the erection of the large booth, which measures 80 feet by 40, and is of such a compact and substantial character as to admit of its use on future occasions, will be completed this evening. The Volunteer B nd has been engaged for the occasion, and will be in attendance both during the day, and for the dancing in the evening, and everything, in fact, appears to have been done by the Committee to render the Fete second to none of its predecessors. We are told that the Wakefield Steeple Chase, which is to come off on the 24th instant, is likely to be a decided success, Several first- rate entries have been rmde, and it is plain that ihe city will have to look to its laurels. The ground has not yet been decided upon by the Stewards, but we understand that it will probably be from Forty Line up to Squire's Bank, a course of about three miles, and over country which will afford an opportunity of showing capital sport. On Thursday last a crop of oats lying in a field situated in the Wood, and belonging to Messrs. Harley, was suddeuly visited by myriads of black and green caterpillars, from an inch to an inch and half in length. Luckily the oats had i been cut, and were lying on the grouud ready to be carted away ; the caterpillars, therefore, disappointed of the fresh food, which they had expected to find, were fain to seek a more tempting repast from the beans and cabbages of the neighboring gardens, where they committed great havoc. Much inconvenience to the public is likely to arise at the departure of the Suez i Mail on Wednesday next, in consequence of the instructions lately issued by the Government to the various Postmasters of the Colony to regulate thrir office clocks by telegraphic or Wellington time. As Wellington lies a degree and a half east of this city, it is obvious that Wellington time must be 6 minutes in advance of that, kept at Ncleou, as it is 27 minutes in ad-

vance of lavercargill time, and very serious annoyance and disappointment must iuevitably accrue to persons posting their letters — aa is very generally the practice at such times — within the few last miuutes before the hour announced for the closing of the Mail, unless some means of obviating these consequences be adopted before Wednesday next by which the public may be advised of the difference between the Government and ordinary Nelson time. The distribution of the prizes awarded to the pupils of the Waimea West Village School at the annual examination by the Inspector of Schools, W. C. Hodgson, Esq., took place at a teaparty held on Monday eveniug the 27th January, at the Schoolroom, which had been task-fully decorated with flowers for the occasion. Mr E. Baigenl". M.P.R. presented the prizes, and the Rev. C. O. Mules also made an appropriate address to the children, who were regaled with tea, cake, and other refreshments. The proceedings, at which a considerable number of persons from the surrounding districts were present, were terminated by singing and dancing. Holloway's Pills. — Counsel and Comfort. — A disordered stomach throws the vl'ole system out of gear and renders us unfitted for both work mid amusement 1 A few doses of these purifying and strengthening Pills, taken according to their accompanying directions, will, however, speedily restore order and re-enable the stomach to digest its food without difficulty. These excellent Pills are suitable alike fur the peer and the peasant, the soldier and sailor, and particularly for home and foreign colonists, ilolloway's Pills are very useful in checking feveri.-h attacks, bilious complaints, and iufl'tmmarions. They have also made the most signal cures in casas of dropsy, and diseases of the kidneys, heart, and lungs, when the sufferers seemed past the reach of medicine. 213