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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 182, 4 August 1868, Page 2

According to what now seems to be the normal state of things, no means has been afforded us of writing to England by the Suez Mail, and therefore our only opportunity will be by the Wellington on Thursday next, which will convey the mails to Wellington for transmission by the Rakaia via Panama. We understood that the Mail for Europe, &c, will probably close at an early.hour on Thursday morning. A public meeting takes place this evening at the Provincial Hall, for the purpose of receiving the first annual report of the Nelson Financial Reform League, and for the transaction of other business in connection with that body. The report, which is of considerable length, is published by our morning^conteraporaries, and expresses the opinion cf the Committee that the work of financial reform is only begun, insisting on the necessity of devising a sounder, less burdensome, and more equitable system of finance, to be approved by the public, enforced on the legislature, and carried out by the Government, before' any reduction in the present extravagant expenditure can be effected, or the present exceptionally heavy taxation be effected. The chair, will be taken at half-past 7 o'clock. Our readers may probably remember the sudden death at St. Mary's last October, from consumption, of the Rev. C. Sarda, a young Catholic priest, who was on his way to Akaroa from Auckland, where he had long been engaged as a missionary amongst the Maoris. A neat monument has just been erected over his grave in the South Cemetery, Trafalgar-street, by the Catholics of Nelson, to which several Protestants of this city also kindly contributed. The monument, which stands about 20 feet high, and forms a conspicuous object in

the cemetery, consists of a pedestal elevated on steps, on the four sides of which inscriptions are engraven, one giving the name of the deceased priest, with the dates of his birth % (at Carcassone, in the south of France) and death, &c; the Chalice and Host, the emblems of his ecclesiastical dignity, being sculptured on another side, and two texts— Numbers, xxiii, 10, and St. Matthew, xix, 29. ou the two others. Above the pedestal rises a column, bearing on its summit a cross. The monument was executed by Mr Robertson, of Hardystreet, to whom it does much credit.

Captain Spiller arrived by the Airedale to-day, from the West Coast, and proceeds to-morrow by the same steamer to Wellington, en route, for. Wanganui, where he will take charge of the.Nelson Contingent, which left this port on Friday last by the Charles Edward.

A correspondent writing from Motueka Valley, expresses his astonishment that the footbridge erected over the Wai-iti at Foxhill a year or so ago, should be allowed to remain in its present crooked state, when the expenditure of a few pounds only is necessary to restore it to its original state. The efficiency of this bridge as a simple and economical means of bridging the river has been amply proved, and the convenience which it has been to the settlers in that neighborhood is acknowledged on all hands. Our correspondent states that the floods in the Wai-iti seem to be increasing in magnitude yearly. That which occurred about ihe 22nd of last month was the highest which has yet been witnessed, and again carried away acres and acres of good land, destroying any amount of fencing, aud yet the little bridge over the river stood out bravely against the raging torrent and still affords safe communication. Nevertheless, in spite of this, it is left in its damaged state, as though it were unworthy of repair, and our correspondent desires to call attention to this fact, remarking that, although the Council have passed a vote for the erection of a bridge at Foxhill, there is reason to believe that it will not be carried out for some time to come, and he considers that in the meanwhile the footbridge should be put in proper repair.

The debate on Mr Fox's motion will probably result this evening in a majority of eight or nine for the Government, but it is reported that an amendment of some kind will be proposed, to be supported by the Auckland members. Mr A. S. Collins had spoken in opposition to the Government; Mr Curtis in support, and successfully.

A dramatic performance will be given this evening at the Oddfellows' Hall by the Star Dramatic and Variety Companies, who have combined their forces. Many of tbe performers are already known to the Nelson public, and their programme, which includes Dick Turpin, with tne performances of the Galatea Minstrels, will doubtless attract a satisfactory audience

The Airedale left Wellington at 10.5 p.m., of 22nd July, arrived at Lyttelton, ,

3 p.m. 23rd; sailed 1.40 p.m. 24th, anchored at Port Chalmers, at 9.40 a.m. 25th ; at 4 p.m. 26th, proceeded for Bluff, and arrived there the following morniug, at 8 a.m.; sailed again the same day at 4.30 p.m. July 28th, at 8.45 a.m., brought up in Preservation Inlet to land a surveying party (consisting of Mr Cameron, 5 men, and two boats), remained at anchor there till 30th, blowing a westerly gale with squally^ weather; at noon off Dusky Bay, wind and sea increasing, hard squalls and thick rainy weather, anchored in Facile Harbor ; 6 a.m. 31st, weather more moderate proceeded to sea, had very variable winds and thick gloomy weather td Hokitika, off which place she anchored. Ist August, transhipped passengers and mails, in a heavy sea same night, aud proceeded to Greymouth next morning. The

Despatch made an attempt to come out, but the sea broke clean over her, stove in, the main hatch and washed one of the anchors off the bows. The Airedale could not anchor as the sea was running too high, and was compelled to stand off and on till 4 p.m., when the sea went down a little ; at 9 a.m. of 3rd the steamer Despatch came out and transhipped passengers, gold, and mails. The Au-edale left for Nelson at 11 a.m. of the 3rd, and arrived at 10 o'clock this morning ; thus making the run in 21 hours 10 minutes.