The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1868. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 91, 18 April 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1868. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington, April 18, - 1.10 p.m. The Omeo brings Melbourne dates up to the Ilth instant. The Prince sailed homewards on the 6th, from Sydney. He suggested that the fate of O'Farrell should be left to the Queen's decision, but the Government have determined upon his execution, which will take place on the 21st instant. No Ministry has yet been formed in Victoria. Mr. Riddell ha3 relinquished the attempt ; Mr. Sladen was sent for by the Governor, but declined the task: The Geelong cloth mills are producing lOfjO yards weekly. In the Maribyrnong lottery for Mr Fisher's stud, Sayne & Co. drew Fishhook, and the colt Julius fell to Mr J. G. Smith, of Dunedin. There is a rise in flour at Melbourne. £21 15s. is now asked. Diggers are returning in great numbers from Queensland; and the reported rushes are considered swindles. The Government of New South Wales offer £250 reward for convictious under the Treason Felony Act.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before J. Poynter Esq. R.M., W. Shephard, and H. Williams, Esqs. J.J.P, John Laing was charged with having on the 14th inst. committed a violent assault on Mr Charles Hill, of the Survey Office. The defendant admitted the assault, but pleaded provocation, and the case was adjourned until Monday next to enable the complainant to produce witnesses. Isaac Harvey was charged under the Impounding Ordinance with rescuing cattle alleged to be trespassing on land belonging to the Maoris at Wakapuaka, and after very conflicting evidence had been heard, the defendant was adjudged to pay a fine of £1 10s. and costs. Two appeals against the Water Rate assessment by Messrs W. Wilkie and Gorrie were heard, and the rate in the former case was reduced from £200 to £175, whilst in the latter, the original rate, £75, was maintained. A distressing accident occurred this morning to one of the workmen engaged on the excavations for the new hotel in process of erection for Mr T. Field, at the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy-streets. It appears that the unfortunate man, whose name is Thomas Marris, was raising a large stone, which accidentally canted over, wedging the fingers of his left hand beneath it, two of which were so nearly separated from the hand, as to render amputation a work of supererogation. We would remind our readers that the ground for booths, &c, at the races, will be let by Mr D. Moore, at his store, on Monday, at 12 o'clock. The amended Licencing Act gives the Resident Magistrate power to grant permission to holders ©f publicans' licenses to sell liquors on the raeecourne, and it is stated that such permission may be obtained on application by ialy €pjalifie4- persons.

It is stated that the Provincial Government have terminated the lease of the Grey coal mine. The lease was granted to a Ballarat company, about two years since, upon certain conditious. These conditions are said to have been violated in several ways, but the Government were reluctant to interfere as long as there was any prospect of the mine being worked properly; but as the work is being carried on in a way to seriously injure the mine, the authorities have decided on terminating the lease. The Nelson Government Gazette notifies that a sitting of the Supreme Court will be held ou the lst of May next, Tor the purpose of hearing appeals, under 'The Appeals from Sentences Act, 1867.' All cases stated must be transmitted to the Registrar, J. Shaip, Esq., Nelsou. The Gazette also contains declarations of insolvency, by Thomas William Melville, hotelkeeper, of Westport ; by William Nahr, hotelkeeper, of Charleston, and by Henry Lamb Kennedy, also an hotelkeeper of the lastmentioned place. As we have already stated, a Confirmation will take place to-morrow, Low Sunday, at Christchurch. The service will commence at 3 p.m. The Wanganui Evening Herald of the 16th gives the following account of the discovery of gold in the Waitotara River: — The excitement in towa last night aud to-day has been very great, over the discovery of some gold in the Waitotara River. It appears that Mr W. F. Russell and Captain Shuttleworth had been tryiDg a little private prospecting a few daya since, when they came upon what appeared to be gold. A small courier's bag was filled with the clay, aud brought into town. It was taken to Mr Myers, watchmaker and jeweller, who tested it and found it the genuine thing. It is quite visible to the naked eye, and if there be much of the stuff, as we are informed there is, there is not the slightest doubt of it being payable. Captain Shuttleworth is expected this evening, with more of the clay, and we shall be better ablo to state what the prospects are likely to be. The exodus from here has already commenced, and a number of men with picks, shovels, and cooking apparatus started today for the Waitotara. There is no further news from the prospecting party at Parakino, but a missive from them is hourly expected. The Oddfellows' Hall, on Thursday night, the occasion of the farewell performance of the Nathan Troupe, was crowded to excess, every available part of the room being occupied, and the reception accorded to the several performers, especially, we need hardly add, to Little Marion, was most enthusiastic and gratifying. We believe that the Company left last night by the Phoebe for Wellington, and we are happy to think that they will carry with thera to California such pleasant memories of the reception which they met with on each occasion of their visits to Nelson. A correspondent calls attention to the present state of the road on the hills between Nelson and Stoke. He reminds us that at the last sitting of the Provincial Council a sum of £1000 was voted towards the lowering of these hills, and enquires why this has not been carried out? Our readers may remember that some short time since we alluded to the sudden and mysterious dismissal of Mr Weaver from his office of Superintendent of Telegraphs, to which he had only just been appointed. The New Zealand Herald has the following in reference to this subject : — Mr Weaver was subpoenaed as a witness in the celebrated wharf case at Wellington. Iu the morning he attended the Court, but in the evening when he was called upon as a witness he was not to be found. He was fined f 100 by the Judge for contempt of Court. He never reported himself to the Government, and nothing was seen or heard of him for several days. Considerable anxiety was felt on his account, as he had disappeared so suddenly and mysteriously. The police were set to work, and he was, on the evening of Friday the 13th inst., found by the Post-master-General, in a lodging, confined to his bed and very ill. Mr Hall called upon him for an explanation. This he furnished, but it appears the Government did not consider it satisfactory, and his appointment was cancelled. A Fenian meeting took place on Thursday the 9th inst., at Charleston, which was very numerously attended, for the purpose of taking steps to revive the New Zealand Celt newspaper, and to provide

for the defence of the State prisoners now in confinement at Hokitika. The meeting as might be expected, was not of the most orderly character, all the speakers attributing the late unfortunate events to the fact that the local press of Hokitika being under the coutrolof the Mayor, Mr Shaw, that geutleman was employing his two journals to further his own political advancement, and that the whole affair might 6imply be epitomised as West Coast Times and Leader v. Celt. The sum of £48 was subscribed iu the room towards a fund, two-thirds of which goes towards procuring counsel for the defence of the Fenian prisoners at Hokitika, and the remaining one-third will be placed iu the Uuion Bank to the credit of the New Zealand Celt newspaper. Ono of the witnesses examined before the Pokaikai Commission — a Maori dame — gives a most deplorable character of one Mr Grey Spencer, an individual somewhat too well known in Nelson and Wellington. This is what she says: — I know a Mr Spencer; he was present at Pokaikai as a private iu the Native Contingent; he behaved in a very extraordinary manner, consider him to have been drunk ou that occasion; saw no other in the force- the worse for liquor ; saw the native chief Aparauiko there ; when Aperhama, the native chief killed at Pokaikai, was lying dead on the grouud, Aperaniko testified great delight, put his hand upon Colonel McDonnell's shoulder, and said, Tou Ika, Tou Ika — (your fish) ; had an opportunity of knowing Mr Speocer's habits and general character during the time he has been in the force ; he was not of sober habits, aod he is the greatest liar I ever met. The shooting for the Champion Prizes is to take place at the Hutt on Monday the 27th iust. The WeUington Independent of the Ilth suggests that steps should at once be taken to give a hearty welcome to the Volunteers who are about to visit Wellington for the Colonial Wimbledon. A Dunedin telegram iu the Independent of the 16th instant says that Mr Bessemeres, the publisher of the Dunedin Evening News, has beeu committed for trial, for an alleged malicious and defamatory libel published in that journal. The information was laid by Mr Reeves, cordial manufacturer, and Mr Murphy, the proprietor of the Shamrock Hotel, who allege that in an article on Fenianism published in the News, they are referred to as Fenians. The party of Japaueese Jugglers, whose extraordinary performances have excited so much wonder in Europe as well as in Victoria and New South Wales, have arrived at Christchurch, and purpose visiting Nelson during their sojourn in this colony. The Grey River Argus states that it is rumored in Christchurch that Mr Moorhouse would resign the* Superintendency in a few days. Private affairs are said to be the reason for this step. The following account of a Wesleyan Ordination Service at Auckland, is taken from the Weekly News, April 1 1 : — On Wednesday evening, an ordination service was held in the Wesleyan Church, Pitt-street, when the Rev. G. S. Harper was set apart to the full exercise of the duties of the Christian ministry. The ministers presiding were the Rev. J. Buller, Rev. J. Wallis. Rev. J. Warren, Rev. J. Whewell,Rev. J. Hobbs. The proceedings were opened by religious exercises, conducted by Mr. Buller. Mr. Harper then stated the circumstances which had led him to wish to devote himself to the work of the ministry. * "The form and manner of ordaining candidates for the Wesleyan Methodist ministry ' was then read by the Rev. J. Warren and the Rev. J. Wallis, the former reading the first part, and the latter the charge, and putting the questions laid down to be asked of the candidate, After the singing of an appropriate hymn, the ministers laid their hands on the head of the candidate, the Rev. J. Buller pronouncing the prayer given in the service. The Sacrament was then administered to Mr. Harper and several others. The Rev. J. Buller then delivered an address to the candidate, after which the proceedings terminated. Mr. Harper is to supply the place of Mr. Wallis, who has been placed on the supernumery list ; and a candidate is expected shortly from England who will occupy the position hitherto held by Mr. Harper. A Sydney telegram states that his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh laid the foundation stone of the new Town Hall, Sydney, on the 4th inst, in the presence of her Majesty's Ministers, his Worship the Mayor, alderman and city councillors, and some hundreds of the most respectable citizens. In the; afternoon, H.R.H. went to the University and was present at the commemoration ceremony. He afterwards went to Randwiek, and witnessed the Civil and Military races which took place there that afternoon. H.R.H. was moving 'about freely, and appeared to be in his usual health and spirits. About £8000 has been subscribed towards the Alfred Hospital. Mr Aspinall and Mr Pavey are making strenuous exertions to obtain a commutation of O'Farrell's sentence. The attention of the Government has been called in the Assembly to the advisability of terminating the Panama contract. The Galatea sails positively on Tuesday the 7th and will

proceed via Cape Horn with the utmost despatch, and if more coals are required, will call at Ascension. A farewell luncheon was to be given to the Prince at Government House at noon on Monday, to which the principal old colonists had been invited. The date of O'Farrell's execution was not fixed, and the Executive were to meet on Monday to consider his case. The following gossip appears in the Castlemaine Daily News : — The Prince has expressed himself quite satisfied that O'Farrell is in no way connected with New South Wales. He says also that he prefers Sydney to any part of this continent, for he has been able to go about without less restraint here than elsewhere. It is not a little amusing to hear how he and the Earl and Conntess of Belmore have given the Sydney 'upper ten ' the go-by. A story is told of a Mrs B , a lady who occupies the top step of the ladder of society in Sydney. Mrsß called on the Countess the day after she landed, and was received by Lady B. en dishabille— that is to say, in a cotton drees. The Countess informed Mra B that she was not yet prepared to receive visitors. Nothing daunted, Mrs B informed Lady Belmore that as she (Mrs B ) had been a great friend of Lady Youug's, she desired to make her ladyship acquainted with 'proper' people in Sydney. Upon another occasion the Countess, when called upon by an officious lady visitor, begged to be excused, for she was busy in the nursery. After this you may imagine that the Countess is regarded as a very common personage indeed, and 1 should not be surprised to find that our aristocracy cut her ladyship's acquaintance entirely. The Customhouse officer at Albury N.S.W. has been suspended for alleged Fenianism. Au old colonist has forwarded through the Acting- Governor of South Australia, a gold watch and chain to Mr Vial, who was instrumental in saving the life of the Prince at Sydney, and it is proposed to raise a subscription for Mr Vial. Mr Blake, lately teller of the Commercial Bank at Forbes, N.S.W., has been committed for embezzling £2500 of the bank's moneys.

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