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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 60, 12 March 1868, Page 3

We are informed that the long expected report by Mr Balfour on the Nelson harbor will probably arrive here within the next few days. We may therefore anticipate that the various improvements to the wharves, &c, contemplated during the last session of the Provincial Council, and the further consideration of which was postponed until the arrival of Mr Balfour's Report, will now receive attention. We understand that the Government surveying steamer St. Kilda having nearly completed the various surveys on the,East Coast, on which she has been engaged for some time past, will shortly proceed to Cape Farewell with a view to make a complete survey of the approaches to the Sand Spit as well as a chart of the locality, the want of which has long been felt. This will probably be the last preliminary to the erection of the long talked of light on the Cape. A cricket match took place yesterday at Victory-square, between the Albert and Wood Clubs, the former being victorious. The Wood Club went in first, and made 46 runs, which, together with 58 scored in their second innings, made a total of 104. Tho Alberts in their first inning, made 46, and in their second. 71, thus securing the victory with 13 runs to spare. The bowling was very fair on both sides, but the batting of the Albert Club was far superior to that of their opponents, one of their players, Taverner, scoring 41. The fielding on the Wood side was hardly satisfactory, and showed a want of judicious and systematic arrangement, but it is only fair to add that their chance of success was much weakened by the absence of two of their best players. A friendly cricket, match took place yesterday afternoon between the second Eleven of Nelson College and an Eleven of the Bishop's School, in which the former were victorious in one innings. An entertainment, consisting of a selection of Temperance melodies, with an exhibition of the Magic Lantern, is announced for this eveniug at the Temperance Hall. As the entertainment is devised for the purpose of liquidating a debt upon the Nelson Band of Hope, we shall hope to see a numerous attendance in furtherance of so deserving an object. The conduct of one of the most distinguished members of the Wellington Bar, a native of the Emerald Isle, and who is not only an officer commanding one of the local Volunteer Corps, but also in the Government employ, seems to have given rise to very considerable comment in the Empire City, as evidencing the hold which Fenianism has taken upon the national mind even amongst those occupying the higher places in society. It is stated that on more than one occasion the gentleman to whom we have alluded, who is well kuown and liked in Nelson, publicly gave utterance to his strong proclivities in favor of the present 'bete noire' of English statesmen, and in one especial instance, at a public dinner, refused to drink the health of the Sovereign, if coupled, as it was — and as it seems to us unfairly and injudiciously — with a denunciation of his cherished partizans. It is stated that the matter will not rest here, but it may be hoped that the national feeling displayed by this somewhat too enthusiastic son of Erin will in future he tempered with discretion, and that any further unpleasantness in the affair will thus be avoided. A. circular has been addressed, by order of the officer commanding the district, stating that in consequence of the delay in the Prince's arrival in the colony, the competitive firing at Wellington for the Government prizes, is postponed until the 27th April.

The present civil sittings of the Supreme Court have been the means of introducing two valuable accessions to the ranks of the legal profession in this city. Mr William Pharazyn is a member of the English Bar, took a high degree at Cambridge, and has been practising with marked success in Wellington for some time past. We understand that Mr Pharazyn intends being present at each sitting of tbe Supreme Court in this city, and will thus revive the old English practice pursued by barristers at home, of ' travelling circuit. Mr Nelson, who has just been called to the bar of New Zealand, was entered at the Queen's Inn, Dublin, in 1858, and held the office of Under-sheriff of the County Down for some years. Mr Nelson came to this colony about two years ago, for the benefit of his health, and has now determined to remain in New Zealand. He conducted several cases, both criminal and civil, at the late sittings of the District Court at Blenheim with success. We may therefore be permitted to congratulate the bar on these additions to its members, and cannot doubt that the abilities of both gentlemen will find ample scope at our periodical assizes. To-day is the anniversary of the rescue by Captain Levy, (now of this city) of the Rev. T. S. Grace and his party from the hands of the Hau-haus, at Opotiki, in 1864. We regret to learn from Captain Levy, that, although three years have now elapsed since this took place, neither the advertised reward (£1000) offered by the Government, nor the compensation awarded the Special Commissioner, Captain Beckham, have as yet been paid to him. This is a matter which might fitly occupy the attention of some of our local representatives previous to the approaching session of the General Assembly. The heat both yesterday aud to-day has been very oppressive, the thermometer yesterday standing at liO in the sun, and 81 in the shade. We have only space to say that the cricket match between the Nelson and Wakefield Clubs resulted yesterday, after two days' play, in the victory of the latter, who scored 49 and 131 in their two innings, against the 74 and 62 made by the Nelsonians. The play on both sides was of a high character, but the Nelson team played to great disadvantage, owing to the disgraceful nature of the ground, to which their large number of byes is attributable, several balls in every over bounding from the pitch many feet over the head of the striker. In the second innings the bowlers were thus much tired and disheartened, and the result has already been told. We understand that the Volunteer Band will play this evening on the Church Hill at a quarter-past 6 o'clock. The Casale had been stormed about 1 o'clock, and a few minutes after a loud cheer of ' Vive la France ' rang from an opposite height, and the quick rattle of the Chassepot rifles told us that Polhes' brigade of Imperial troops had succeeded in outflanking the Garibaldians. The fire was a murderous one, the French soldiers firing twelve shots to the minute with their needle guns, used for the first time with deadly effect. The Garibaldians defended the place with desperate bravery, Garibaldi and his sons being in the thick of the battle. The outposts of the Zouaves and Swiss in the lower attack were engaged at the same time with the Garibaldian skirmishing parties, aud drove them back at the point of the bayonet up to the very walls of the village. Close to the gate of Meutana the combat raged furiously, and the loss was very heavy on both sides. A gallant young English volunteer in tfie Pope's army, Julian Watts Russell (grandson of Jesse Watts Russell, Esq., of Ham Hall, Derbyshire, and Biggin Grange, Oundle). fell in this attack, shot through the temple, and a Canadian gentleman, Mr Laroque, of Montreal, was wounded.

The Birmingham Athletic Club had a public display in the Town-hall there. During the preliminary trot round the hall, a young gentleman, named Plant, about 16 years of age, fell out of the ranks quite exhausted. He was carried into an adjoining room, where he soon died. If Greece and Rome are represented at the French Exhibition, might not their productions be appropriately ranged in 'class six?'