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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 204, 28 August 1868, Page 2

We regret to learn that some mischievous boys have, during the last few days, done considerable damage to the fishponds in the Government Domain, by stopping up the pipes with gravel aud small sticks, thus causing the „water to overflow and destroy the pathways round the ponds. The grass has also been much cut up, paths having been worn in various directions, evidently with a view to obtain as expeditious a route as possible from the Government School, which is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Domain. These are practices to which a stop should at once be put, the more especially as, on the arrival of the trout ova from Tasmania, all access to the ponds must be rigorously denied, perfect quiet bsing essential to their development. We trust that the police will take steps to prevent the recurrence of the mischievous practices to which we have referred. The John Perm, which arrived this morning from Auckland, brings very satisfactory intelligence from the Thames goldfields, but comparatively little has been doing there during the past week, the miners being all away at the Races, held at Tararu. We learn that Mr Henry Powell, a settler on the Upper Moutere, was killed last night by the upsetting of his cart in crossing a bridge on the Motueka-road, near Mr Drummond's. The body was found this morning. We are gratified to be able to state that at a special general meeting of the Harmonic Society, held at their practice room yesterday evening, the Rev. C. L. Maclean in the chair, it was unanimously

resplved to accede to the propositions made by the Amateur Orchestral Society, as the conditions of its unioa with the elder association. The meeting was well attended, aud we understand that much satisfaction was expressed at the result. The fusion of the two Societies is therefore now complete, and there can be little doubt that this new and important accession to the strength of the Harmonic Society will be productive of the most satisfactory consequences. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column that sermons will be preached at tbe Wesleyan Chapel Hope, on Sunday next, August 30, by the Eev. W. Lee, of Blenheim, and that on the following Tuesday, a public tea meeting, with addresses, will be given at the same place. We are glad to be able to give a somewhat improved bulletin of the state of Mr Poynter's health to-day, though he is still suffering from a very trying cough, and is in an exceedingly debilitated condition, which causes much apprehension amongst his family and friends. A rumor having been current in the city during the last few days that it was intended to disband the Cadet Compauies \of the Volunteer Force, and that, but for the unfavorable weather which prevailed on Tuesday last, advantage would have been taken of the Commanding Officer's inspection to announce this fact, we think it advisable to state, on authority, that this report is entirely without foundation. Owing to the very meagre attendance of Cadets at the drills lately, it is, we understand, in contemplation to amalgamate the two compauies, but even this step has not yet been decided upon. On enquiry at the Hospital we find that David Erskine, who sustained such severe injuries through the kick of ahorse at the Trafalgar stables, on Tuesday night, still remains in a very critical state, the skull being much fractured, and it being impossible as yet to ascertain the extent of the injury to the cerebral region. The Auckland Weekly News states that there is absolute inaction at the Front. After two months spent in organising the force at his disposal, Colonel M'Donnell set forth on the night of the 11th to attack the Te Ngatuotemauu Pa, the stronghold of the Ngaruahines, but returned after a day spent in the bush, without having seen a hostile Maori. Two pas were taken, an exploit, however, the success of which is somewhat detracted from when it is explained that they were tenantless. The reason assigned on returning as they went is that the track ia the bush was lost, and the further prosecution of the enterprise rendered not only unsafe, but dangerous. Colonel, Haultain, Defence Minister, is at present at the Front. It appears that tenders have been invited at Wellington for the raising of the steamer Taranaki, but the general opinion seems to be that it will not pay the cost of the experiment. It i 3 stated that an'idea of some importance with reference to affairs at the Front is under serious consideration at Wellington. It is proposed that the different Volunteer companies throughout the colony be requested to perform a month's service at Patea, the various corps taking it in their turns. It remains to be seen with what favor this proposition will be received by our gallant defenders. The Wellington testimonial to Bishop Selwyn is to take the form of an address, embodying the universal feelings of the people towards him. The address will be richly illuminated, and engrossed on vellum by Mr Charles Barraiid, to whom the work has been entrusted. The parchment will be bordered by an illustrated scroll, containing water-color views of the nine cities of New Zealand, embellished by native foliage, and the whole will be placed in a frame made of different New Zealand woods. The signatures affixed to the address will be placed ia a casket made of similar material. The Auckland polltax is virtually defunct, though it has received the Governor's assent and become law r for it is pretty clearly understood that th'A Provincial Government will not push its operation. The correspondent of ihe Auckland Weekly Express, under date of the 20th inst., saye that the dinner to Mr Mackay passed off most Bucceesfully that night. About 100 persons were present, and an attempt on the part of one or two speakers to introduce politics was, very properly, at once put down. Mr Mackay, untrammelled by official ties now, simply spoke

out, and the result was a rather uupleasanfc expose of the two Governments. The dinner took place at the Scotch church, kindly lent for the occasion, no other building sufficiently spacious being available. The -Marlborough Express complains bitterly of the treatment which that province is receiviug from the General Government in financial matters, and says that some time ago an intimation was received by the Provincial Government as to the amount of the balance due, after manupilation by the Colonial Treasury. After a long lapse a paltry credit was placed at Bank, on account of this sum, of about half its amount, which the provincial authorities properly declined to touch until they knew what had become of the balance. This case is not a singular one, as nearly every province is making a similar outcry. It is said in Wellington that a misunderstanding has arisen on this account between Mr Stafford and the Comptroller, who is impatient at the muddle into which the colonial and provincial accounts have been plunged. By the arrival at Auckland of the schooner Kate Grant, intelligence has been received that a very valuable discovery of gold has been made at Kapa, one of the Society Islands. A large number of Europeans are already on the diggings, and it is said are doing well. One person had found a nugget of solid gold which weighed nearly one pound. Coal has also been found at the Society group. The earliest mention of a banking transaction — When Pharoah received a check on the Bauk of the Ked Sea, which was crossed by Moses and Aaron. Surely, if a medical quack can be called a woman because he's a Charlotte Anne (charlatan), a chemist might be called a ditto, as he is an Anne Eliza (analyser).— London Punch.