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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 228, 25 September 1868, Page 2

VTe regret to state that an alarming accident befel Mr Roderick M'Eae yesterday afternoon whilst rabbit-shooting at Mr Best's Island. It appears that the cun, which was one that he had used for several years past, was completely blown to pieces, only part, of the stock remaining in Mr M'Rae's hand. The sufferer was immediately conveyed to Mr Lakiiiji's' at Richmond/ under -whose care he still remains, and who ascertained that he had received far less injury than might have been expected from an accident of so dangerous a character. Mr M'Kae has sustained lacerated wounds in the palm of the left haud, two fiugers of which are also injured, but it is believed that, although of extremely painful character, they are not likely to deprive him ot the permanent use of his haud. It is evideut that Mr M'Rae must have had a very narrow escape, for part of the barrel, jibout a foot lon<r, struck his hat, close to which it was found lying on the grass. No explanation can be given which would account for the accident, the gun not having been overloaded, or disused for any length of time previously. The fine bridge erected over the Wairoa at Waimea West was formally opened for 1 traffic yesterday morning, a large party, consisting of the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Engiueer, the Assistant Provincial Engineer, and other officers of the Government, having left town for the purpose at an early hour. Several other gentlemen also accompanied the party, and strange to say, with the exception of perhaps a dozen person or so, there were no other spectators of the ceremony. It might reasonably have been expected, considering the great boon which the bridge must prove to the surrounding neighborhood, that the settlers of the Waimea would have beeu present on the auspicious occasion in considerable numbers. This, however, was not the case, and we can only regret that they evinced such straDgelyunaccouutableapathy. The bridge having been thoroughly inspected, was 'pas- ; sed'by the Provincial Engineer, and the Government officials present then crossed over it, followed by the spectators present and the bridge was declared open for traffic to the public. The party then adjourned on the invitation of the contractors, Messrs Bray and Lloyd, to Mr Palmer's Hotel at Waimea West, where they sat down to a capital dinner, the Provincial Secretary presiding and about 35 guests being present. On the removal of the cloth, the chairman proposed the health of her Majesty which was drunk with all the honors. The Provincial Engineer then jrave the health of the contractors, Messrs Bray and Lloyd, and paid a very high compliment to them, stating that in all his experience, both at home and in the colonies, he had never known a contract to have been more satisfactorily performed. The healths of Mr Blackett, Mr Greenfield, and others having been given, the festivities were brought to an end, and the part.- returned to town, passing by the new bridge over the Wai-iti at Spring Grove, which is now in process of erection by the same contractors and will be finished iu about a month's time. The little steamer Moutoa resumes her trips to-morrow, leaving for the Rabbit Island at noon, and returning at half past 5 o'clock, thus affording sportsmen and excursionists full tliree hours on the island. She will make a similar trip on Monday next, starting at 1 o'clock. We learn from Mr Huddleston that he has only been able to discover about half-a-dozen dead trout ova, all the rest having been hatched, and being apparently iu a most satisfactory state. Mr Foley having kindly offered to devote the proceeds of one evening's entei-tainment by his Juvenile and Dramatic Company to the aid of the Oddfellows' Widow and Orphans' Fund, a performance will be given this evening for that purpose. The programme is a vcy attractive one, and we trust that a numerous audience will respoud, both to the benevolent intentions of the manager, and to the excellent object to which the proceeds will be devoted. Our readers will be glad to hear that David Erskine, who sustained so seri&us an injury at the Trafalgar stables a few weeks since, left the Hospital last week in a convalescent state, and hopes to be able shortly to resume his usual avocations. The Wellington papers announce the death on Wednesday last of the Hon. Dr. Evans, one of the founders of this colony, who arrived at Port Nicholson, in 1840,

and was for some time legal adviser of the New Zealand Company at Wellington. He was afterwards connected with the Fourth Estate in Melbourne, where he became Postmaster-General. In 1864 he returned to Wellington, where he lived in retirement. A Dunedin telegram in yesterday's Independent annouuces that the v»*ellknown firm of Royse, Mudie, & Co., of Dunedin and Hokitika, have failed. Mr Miller, of Oamaru, has also failed. The assets are £10,000. The Southern Cross of the 21st inst. remarks that one important question in connection with the late disaster at Ruaruru is — will the Hauhaus be reinforced to any great extent ? and thinks it possible that some of the wavering hapus may be so affected hy the victory of their countrymen that they will cast in their strength against us, and tbat the whole district up to Taranaki may rise. King TawhiaOj Tamati Ngapora, and Rewi, beiug anxious for peace, have refused to recognise Titokowaru's acts, so that it is unlikely that reinforcements will come from Waikato. There can be little doubt that the action will greatly encourage the Maoris who escaped from the Chatham Islands, and who, excited by the pursuit after them* threaten the settlers of Hawke's Bay. The Pa tea correspondent of the Taranaki Herald, under date of the 16th inst. 2 ; ves the following statements in reply to this question, and says that the whole of the natives at Taiporoahenui and Matangarangara, under Tito and Tukina, with the exception of Nahina and a few men who have gone to their fiishing village at Waukina, have joined the l'ebelsj and the whole of the Pakakaohi also will join Tito Kowaru ; and probably all the natives as far as Waitotara. Tito Kowartt and the whole of his people, including old men and women, have left the bush, and are now busy building a strong pa at Taiporoahenui, and about one mile from the Turuturumokai Redoubt, from ■whence they can be plainly seen and heard. Tomorrow most of the women and children will leave for Waoganui by the Sturt. Queensland, which was once regarded as one of the most promising colonies of the Australian group, ia spite of its goldfields, seems to have reached a most lamentable condition, financially and otherwise, which, if ' fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind,' we should much sympathise. The following article lately appeared in the Northern Argus : — Money does not multiply and increase iu our hands j we can hardly manage to keep a nest egg. Our country remains undeveloped; our merchants do nothing but draw water with sieves; our tradesmen are compelled to give long credits, and to sell without any certainty of payment; our artificers are half unemployed; and our laborers wander about the land seeking work; and, like the Isralitisb. spies, return with 'an evil report.' A debt which will, no doubt, yet be made heavier, h ngs like a millstone round the neck of the country, and ad valorem, our curse and our blight eats into the core of our prosperity, and keeps us ' heggars all.' Our squatters are iu a state of insolvency; stock of every description commands ruinous prices only ; our railways are running at a serious annual loss, while freightage and bad weather carriage odd to a catalogue which shows, to a partial extent, the sum total of our present difficulties. It appears from communications received at, Melbourne by the mail that her Majesty is likely to confer the honor of knighthood on the Mayors of the principal cities and boroughs of the colonies. The Sultan in addressing the members of the Council of State and High Court of Justice, said : — ' The duty of the State was to preserve under all circumstances the right of eveiy one to liberty, and ia the prosecution of this duty it ought not to be characterised by violent or arbitrary acts. As regards religion, every one may follow his conviction. Whatever be the creeds professed by our subjects,- they are all children of the same country, aud they must not entertain sentiments of contempt or haired one towards the other on account of religious belief. It is indispensable that the modifications of the lawshall correspond with the real objects with which they are made, and also with the exigencies of the present age. The degree of power attained by European nations and the progress achieved by them,are convincing proofs of the truth, of this- . principle*'

We, Eays the Southern Cross, are glad to see that the Acclimatisation Society have not ignored the indigenous trees and 'shrubs, many of which are as ornamental or useful as those acclimatised. Splendid young specimens of the kauri, rimu, kahikatea, and other native trees have been planted in suitable spots, and Mr Brighton has in course of training several native shrubs "which he feels confident can be made to wear as ornamental an appearance as the best English shrubs. Among those we may mention the mahoe, two fine specimens of which he has trained to look as well as bays. The branrhes were first clipped close of foliage, and nipped at the ends, and when the offshoots had reached a sufficient stage of developement they in their turn were also nipped, thus gradually thickening foliage and giving au appearance of symmetry to the shrub. Another of the same species which has been transplanted is now budding into leaf.