The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 79, 3 April 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1868.

The Committee of the Nelson Agricultural Association have lately held several meetiugs with a view to make arraugements for an exhibition of the various products of the province. At one time the anticipated visit of H.E.H. the Duke of Edinburgh promised to afford an appropriate opportunity for joining with the other public bodies of the province in making such loyal displays as it was presumed would be gratifying to their illustrious visitor. For this reason, as the Duke's visit was likely to be a short one, it was intended to hold the Show during the Race week, as a suitable conclusion to the week's festivities. The recent news from Australia having rendered the realization of their original scheme almost hopeless, the Committee have determined on holding the Show on Friday the Ist of May. This date has been selected as being least likely to interfere with the duties of the Provincial Council, whose meeting, taking place a few days earlier, left too short a period to give sufficient notice. Circumstances having prevented the holding of the Annual Show last year, the ] Committee have availed themselves of the improved state of their funds to increase the prizes, both in number and amount, hoping thereby to obtain a response from the public in the form of an increased number of exhibits. The poultry department, which in an agricultural district would naturally be expected to take a prominent place in such an exhibition, has this year received especial attention, and a number of commodious pens, whereby the unfortunate '-candidates for honors' who arrive on the scene under the uncomfortable circumstances of close packing, or, even worse, tied by the legs, will be placed on an equality with their more fortunate brethren, as far as their personal comfort is concerned, it being intended that ail shall be equally accommodated with lodgings gratis. The prizes will thus be enabled to make their awards in strict accordance with the merits of the respective exhibits. We hope to see this department well represented. As the judges are vested with a discretionary power to recommend for prizes any exhibits not enumerated in. the prize list which they may deem worthy of notice, it may be reasonably anticipated that persons having anything likely to interest the public will not refuse to further the liberal intentions of the Committee. Some years back that indefatigable apiarian, Mr Biggs, added considerably to the attractions of the Show, by contributing a splendid exhibition ot of honey in the comb, and such a contribution would doubtless be again welcomed. It is needless to observe that there are many other objects worthy of exhibition, which the owners would do well to show on this occasion. Were the funds of the Association commensurate with the wishes of the Committee, they would doubtless be able to produce a much longer prize list, but restricted as its income is to a small vote of the Council, very sparingly supplemented by subscriptions, it requires the exercise of no slight financial management to do even so much as the Committee has in contemplation.

We regret to state that a fatal accident occurred on Tuesday last to a little child aged two years and a half, the daughter of Mr Edelsten, of Rhvaka. It appears that the parents had accompanied to the wharf a friend who was going on board the Emily, leaving their children at home. During their absence, the children went to play on the river bank, but after a while the elder ones returned home leaving the youngest behind them. On Mrs Edelsten's return from the Wharf, the child was immediately missed, and on search being made, was found lying in the water on the ford, quite dead. An inquest was held on the body on Wednesday last, when a verdict of ' Accidental Death ' was returned. We have been requested by the Rev. Father Garin to state that the new Girl's School at St. Mary's having now been completed, parents and others are invited to inspect the building and its interior arrangements, prior to the commencement of the school duties on Monday next. The Phoebe left Sydney at 5 p.m. on 26th March, and anchored off Hokitika at 5 p.m. on the 31st, in thick, rainy weather, i Transhipped passengers and cargo the I same eveniug, and left at 2.30 p.m., April 1, for Greymouth, arriving at 4.15, and transhipped passengers and cargo at once. Left Greymouth at 5.30 p.m., and arrived here at 3 p.m. yesterday. The concert ' for the million ' given last night by M. and Madame Simousen, must have completely illustrated the policy of offering to the public acceptance entertainments of a high class at moderate prices of admission. Not only was the Provincial Hall crowded with a most respectable and delighted audience, but the whole performance passed off with a success and general sense of enjoyment which was most gratifying, and the efforts of the various artistes met with the most enthusiastic appreciation, plaudits, encores, and bouquets being in abundance. This evening another cheap concert will be given> the programme being of very attractive character and including several novelties. This will positively be the last given by M. and Madame Simonsen in Nelson, as they leave by the Phoebe for Wellington. We may therefore expect to see another crowded audience. We find that telegraphic communication with all the Southern stations is suspended. Thanksgiving Services were held in all the churches at Hokitika on Sunday last for the providential escape of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh from assassination. The congregations both morning and evening were very large. Mr William Shaw, Mayor of Hokitika, has been appointed a Justice of the Peace for the colony. The Rev. Father M'Donough, in a letter to the West Coast Times of the Ist inst, says that the Right Rev. Bishop Viard has distinctly stated that he will not sanction the erection of a cross in memory of the Irishmen who suffered death at Manchester. A telegram in the West Coast Times states that an open air loyal demonstration took place on Tuesday last in Latimer Square, Christchurcb, at which about 5000 persons were present, the Chairman of the City Council taking the chair. The people were addressed by the Superintendent, the Resident Magistrate, C. C. BoweD, Esq., Mr Reeves, the Speaker, Mr Tancred, Mr R. H. Rhodes, the Provincial Treasurer, Mr Montgomery, the Hon. J. Hall, and Mr Ollivier. The enthusiasm was unbounded. Griffin, the late acting Gold Commissioner, has been found guilty at Rockhampton of the murder of the Escort Troopers. He was sentenced to death. The Judge was greatly affected. The { prisoner made a long rambling statement quite irrelevant to the case .