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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 167, 17 July 1868, Page 2

As there is no positive certainty of any steamer leaving this port for Wellington in time for the departure of the Suez Mail from Wellington ou the sth of next month, persons desirous of writing via Suez and Marseilles, will do well to avail themselves of the opportunity offered by the Alhambra, the mail by which steamer closes at 5 p.m. to-morrow. As intelligence has reached Nelson by telegram that the Alhambra may be expected to arrive here to-morrow, the only opportunity which remains for the transmission of the Suez Mail, is by the Otago on Friday next, and as the Panama Mail, is due on that day at Wellington, it is more than probable that she may be delayed, in order to bring on the Nelson portion. We may add that we notice from the Time Table for August that the next Panama Mail will leave Nelson on the 6th proxo. An absurd canard was in circulation this morning, to the effect that a telegram had been last night received by the Government from his Honor the Superintendent at Wellington, enjoining the discontinuance of auy public works now in progress in this province. We need hardly state that this report is wholly without foundation, and but for the fact that it had gained considerable currency, .we should not have taken the trouble to contradict so ridiculous a fabrication. In reference to some remarks which appeared in this morning's Colonist, we learn, on enquiry, that no delay has ever occurred in the payment of any Savings Bank deposits at the Nelson Post Office. Funds were sent by telegraph from Wellington, to meet the requirements of the department, and if any delay at all occurred in the payment of money orders, it could have been but for a few hours. It is quite possible, however, that in post offices out of the reach of telegraphic communication with Weiiington, such shortcomings may have unavoidably arisen. His Honor Mr Justice Richmond sat in banco to-day, when decisions were given in the following cases : — Trimble v. the New Zealand Insurance Company. In this case, by consent of counsel, it was ordered that further proceedings should be stayed until the 14th of August next, the defendants undertaking to find security within one week from the date of the order for £600. This step has been taken in order to enable the solicitor for the defendants to communicate with the Board of Directors in Auckland, as to the question of applying for a new trial in this case, on the ground of misdirection by the learned Judge, and of the finding on the 6th issue. No decision was given in the case The Pieton Board of Works v. the absentee proprietors of certain sections in that township, for arrears of rates levied under the Pieton Improvement Act, 1861. Judgment was given for the plaintiff on demurrer iv the ejectment case, Jervis v. Tasker* Reports of

these cases will appear in our next issue. In the Bankruptcy jurisdiction, William Wallace obtained his final discharge. Yesterday's Provincial Government Gazette contains declarations of insolvency by Terence Patrick Finn, draper late of Addison's Flat, and now of Brighton ; by Joseph Moss aod Reuben Harris, commission agents, late of Brighton, and now of Charleston; by Charles Lofty, stationer, of Charleston ; by John Lewis, ironmonger, of Charleston; and by Thomas Goodwin, cordial-manufacturer, of Westport. Our readers will see from an advertisement in another column, that Mr J. H, Cook, Professor of Phrenology, Electrobiology, &c, will give a lecture on the first mentioned subject, oa Thursday next, at the Temperance Hali. Mr Cook also purposes giving lectures on Mesmerism, &c, whenever he can obtain the use of either the Oddfellows' Hall or the Temperance Hall for the purpose, both those buildings being pre-engaged for entertainments for some time to come. A very numerously signed memorial has been got up to the Alliance Insurance Compauy of Australia, requesting them to establish an agency in Christchurch, with the view of reducing the advanced rates of premium now demanded for insurance against fire. The Westland Observer of the 13th inst. announces the death of Captain George Clarke, late of the schooner Dancing Wave, who died at Hokitika ou the previous day in his 31st year, from inflammation of the lungs. The Ruahine sailed from Wellington on the Bth inst., with 33 passengersfor Europe and America. The Christchurch correspondent of the Westland Observer says that a most important document has appeared in the form of a report from Dr. Hector on the river Waimakariri, He states that in his opinion Christchurch is in imminent danger from an overflow, aud suggests certain remedies for lessening, if not removing, this danger. The Westport Times of the 13th instant, gives a detailed account of the narrow escape experienced by the barque Nightingale, on her voyage from Melbourne to Westport. It seems that Capt. M'Phaiden, on arriving iv the roadstead, on the sth instaut, after waiting for four days for a tug boat to tow the barque into the river, and finding his signals not answered, went on board the Kennedy and crossed the bar, intending to return to the ship by the tide this evening. In his absence, however, a violent gale arose on the following day, and the ship, which was roiling very heavily, having parted from her anchor, drifted towards the Steeples. Shortly after 7 p.m., two heavy seas broke over her, breaking the lashings of a number of beef and water casks, and spars, which were on deck, and throwing Mr Moore, the chief oflicer, with great violence against the chime of one of the casks, by which his skull was fractured, causing instant death, and inflicting severe injuries on the second oflicer and two of the seamen. The ship then drifted to the S.W. amongst the breakers and close to the Steeples. The wind then happily changed, and the vessel was put to sea, but though she sighted several vessels and signalled them, they passed her unnoticed. At length on the Ilth instant, after enduring the greatest fatigue and suffering, they were cheered by the sight of a steamer steering apparently from Westport, which proved to be the Challenge, and by which the Nightingale was towed to the anchorage. A post mortem examination of the body of Mr Moore proved that his skull was fractured fiom the base from one ear to the other. He was a son of Captain Moore of the Alma, and was much respected. Mr Bain, who lately filled the ofiice of Clerk to the Bench at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, has been committed for trial on a charge of embezzlement. A Christchurch contemporary says: — The Provincial Council of Canterbury meets on the 7th instant, for a short session, we presume. The railway question is creating great excitement in political and commercial circles. The Government appear to wish to get the railways into their own hands, and the contractors will not deliver, until certain claims are settled which are disputed. A wheelwright living near the" Bastille has a very extensive collection of old cars, carts, and chains ; many of the vehicles have seen better days, and sometimes even in their decay have a kindly pur-

chaser (says the Court Journal). One of these old coaches, called the Salad Basket, after having been laid up for years in an out-of-the-way corner, is likely to see public life again. It has been bought by the proprietors of Madame Tussaud's Exhibition for an additional Chamber of Horrors. This coach had served for upwards of half a century to convey criminals from the Palais-de-Justice to Barriere Saint Jacques, where executions took place. It conveyed only four passengers — a gendarme, the executioner, a priest, and le patient. In it were conveyed the notorious malefactors Fieschi, Aiiband, Lacenaire, and Poulmann. This well-known vehicle, drawn by an old thiD, broken-down horse, with three broken bells and his guillotine trot, was well known to the Parisians. It is said that the cousin of Sanson, the executioner, who is a veterinary surgeon, has the old horse stuffed. In going to the guillotine this animal did his best to trot quickly, but after the execution nothing could make the horse get out of a walking pace — he persisted in his funeral march, with the culprit's remains, to the grave. The women of the United States have put forward a new claim, which they will, we imagine, win. Most of the churches there are. organised on the plan of the English Nonconformists, the whole body of communicants, electing and dismissing the parson, and virtually, though not nominally, settling the 'articles' to which he is to subscribe. Women, however, are not allowed to interfere, or even to be present at church meetings. The female communicants of several large churches, therefore, are asking whether they also bave not souls, and if so, why they are excluded from choosing their minister. It will be very difficult to answer that question, more especially as the average woman of America knows more of theology of a kind than the average man, and subscribes quite as liberally. We recommend this new claim to any of our « women's rights' friends who belong to any creed with democratic organization. At present, the Quaker? are the only sect who formally recognise the equality of the sexes in ecclesiastical affairs. The Florence correspondent of the Daily News gives a glowing description of the Princess Margherita, the future Queen of Italy. She attaiued her sixteenth year last November: — She possesses a much more .extensive knowledge of modern languages than has hitherto fallen to the lot of either Italian princes or princesses. She has a thorough relish for and fair proficiency in art; she has poetical powers of an order which would invite and receive careful cultivation if she were born in a far humbler sphere; but, better than all this, a kindness of heart, and a sincere desire to do good. To these merits she adds the attractions of her youth and her great personal beauty. A New York police-officer, seeing a nigger whom he knew, exclaimed, *Ah Sambo, yoa are an honest, faithful fellow. I will give you a drink.' — ' Wid all my heart, sar,' said Samby ; * wid all dis child's heart. Some niggers are hauty and proud, and won't stoop to drink wid a policeofficer; but dats -wrong. I tink a policeofficer most, if not ebery way, as good as a nigger— -'specially when that nigger's dry.'