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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 93, 21 April 1868, Page 2

It turns out, as was very generally surmised by those who were acquainted with the strict discipline which prevails on. board a British man of war, that the report with reference to a second attempt in Sydney to assassinate H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, was devoid of foundation in. truth. The Southern Cross gives the following version of the story : — It appears that a Sydney laborer, wishing to inspect the ' G-alatea,' borrowed the clothes of a bandsman of the regiment at present stationed at Sydney, and went ou board, but was immediately challenged, and taken into custody, by the officer doing

visions can be got over to them in the valley, it is impossible that the country can ever be satisfactorily tested or worked. The diggers to whom Mr Knight alludes in his letter brought down some specimens of the gold which tbey had obtained in the Keramea, which he describes as being 'really beautiful samples, aad superior .to the old Ovens gold.'

duty on deck. No weapons of any description were found upon him, and on being brought before tbe Water Police Magistrate next day, he was dismissed with a caution. The bandsman who had lent the clothes, however, was sentenced to 28 days' imprisonment. The Sydney Mail of the 28th remarks —The recovery of the Prince has been rapid, and it seems probable that no inconvenience will result from the wound. He will probably carry the bullet scar with him to his grave, but he will not be permanently disabled in any bone or muscle. All things considered, this is a wonderful escape, and one for which he as well as the colonists may rightly feel thankful.' At a meeting of ladies recently held at Melbourne, for the purpose of expressing indignation and sorrow at the attrocious crime recently perpetrated against the Duke of Edinburgh, and for the adoption of an address of sympathy to her Majesty; there were over 2000 fair <&es present.

The Argus says that Colonel Smith, of the Royal Artillery, now stationed in Melbourne, hai identified a photograph of the person who claims to be Sir Roger Tichbourn, as that of Cornet Roger Tichbourn, of the A troop of Royal Artillery, known as the chesnut troop. The portrait was taken at Wagga Wagga, when the claimant was in his bush dress. It was submitted to Colonel Smith with 24 others, and was immediately picked out by him, Colonel Smith having been (about 1852 or 1853) a lieutenant in the troop referred to. This seems very strong testimony to the bona fides of the Australian claimant.

A telegram from Brisbane to the Melbourne Argus on the Ist April says:— The Kolan diggings are a dead failure j 3000 people are unemployed.

The Australian is responsible for the following : — During the week a rumor has been prevalent that some three months since his Excellency the Governor endered his resignation to the Imperial authorities. This is not strictly correct ; but we believe that in a despatch forwarded about the time referred to, his Excellency, after pointing out the difficulties of the position, intimated that if the course he had deemed it right to take was disapproved of, or if it was considered that some other Governor would be better able to grapple with the crisis, he was perfectly willing to resign.

The Geelong Advertiser states that a number of persons of both sexes from that locality are about to visit the Fiji Islands. They will be accompanied by a medical man.

It is reported by telegram that a discovery of silver-ore on the surface has been made in the neighborhood of Smythesdale, and that a licence or lease for an extensive area of land to be used for mining purposes has been applied for.

A farewell tea meeting to the Rev. J. Wallis, who is about to retire from the Auckland Circuit, was held in the schoolroom of the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church, Auckland, on the 7th inst., and was well attended, a large number of persons being present from the several congregations belonging to the Wesleyan Methodist Churches in the Auckland Circuit. Th 6 chairman, the Rev. J. Buller, in presenting a resolution expressive of the high sense entertained by the Circuit of Mr Wallis's faithfulness as a Christian minister, and their earnest wishes for his future welfare, alluded to the fact that he had been engaged in the active work of the ministry for 35 years, and was now retiring at the age of 60 years with faculties unimpaired, and in the prospect and hope of many years of enjoyment and usefulness.

We have received a communication from Mr Alexander Kiiight, a well-known and experienced Australian miner, who states that several diggers have lately been in town from the Karamea, who report very favorably of the country, and describe it aa being not only most promising but also very extensive. One of them informed Mr Knight that in every place he tried, he had found gold, of a quality inferior to none in New Zealand. But the great drawback is the want of provisions. They state that if they could only get a bridle track cut over into the Valley, so as to secure a constant supply of provisions, all the rest would be easy. This once accomplished, a thousand diggers might go there at once and set to work but until provisions can be packed over the Ranges into the Valley, it is utterly useless to attempt working the goldfields there to profit. They state that it takes them on an average three days out of six to ' hump ' their provisions over, and then they can only scratch over the surface, but even at this kind of work they can make their pound per diem. They cannot 6ink, in order to test the richness or otherwise of the ground, nor have they been able to prospect any of the terraces for want of provisions, and they persist in affirming tbat unless pro-