The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 240, 9 October 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1868.

A rumor has been current for the last few days in town to the effect; (hat the Government and the Hospital Committee had determined on making the date of the proposed Hospital Ball depeudent on the time when the Governor and Lady Bowen may decide on paying their promised visit to Nelson. We find, on inquiry, that this statement is only partially true. There can be no question that the viceregal presence would impart much additional eclat to the ball, and that a point would be strained to effect this object; bufc at the same time ifc must not be forgotten that the Hospital, with its infinitely superior Accommodation to that afforded by the bniiding at preseut appropriated for that purpose, is now ready for the reception of patieDts, and it is unnecessary to observe that th 6 ball — the proceeds of which are intended to form the nucleus of a fund for the assistance of convalescents on quitting the hospital — must take place before the building is handed over by the Government to the Hospital Committee. As however it is confidently reported that Parliament will be prorogued in about three weeks' time, and it is understood that Nelson wili be fche first place visited by the Governor and Lady Bowen after that event has taken place, it is proposed that before the date of the ball is fixed menus should be taken to discover how soon the viceregal visit to Nelson will take place, so as, if it be possible, to make the two events coincide, and we shall probably be able shortly to give our readers (aud especially tbe fairer portion of fc hem, to whom the matter is of course intensely interesting), some more definite information on the subject. Ou introducing tbe Conveyances Charges Bill iv the Legislative Couucil, the Hon. Mr Holmes said tbat the Act of 1842 had been construed by some legal practitioners to allow conveyancing charges at least twenty times as high as they should be under ordinary circumstances. When the Act was passed the usual transactions were of a very limited character, generally not exceediug £100 or £200. The scale of fees for a conveyance which did not exceed £1100 was 20s for each £100, which was very reasonable; aud when the consideration money exceeded £100 the charge was 10s per £100 on the excess. From a published return of meteorolo- . gical observations for the month of July last, furnished by Dr. Hector, we observe tbat the rain fall during that mouth was heavier than usual over the whole colony, with the exception of Taranaki, Dunedin, and Christchurch, the excess being particularly marked in the cases of Nelson and Hokitika. The rainfall during the month in the latter place amounting to over 13 inches, while during the same month in the previous year, it was only 9 inches excess being even greater at Nelson, where this year the rainfall for the same month was also a fraction over 13 inches, while last year it amounted to but something over 4 inches. In other respects also, the weather during July is recorded as having been remarkably severe. ' The Marlborough Express of the 3rd inst. says that since the publication of its last notice of the quartz reef at Wakamarhaa, a variety of conflicting stories respecting it have been current in Blenheim,

where it appears that its existence had been known for several. weeks. The specimens exhibited to the late Warden, Dr Sickler, showed about 30 ozs. to the ton. Mr Arthur Hill and party came through to Blenheim last week for the purpose of registeriug their claims — a difficulty having arisen in corisequence of Dr Sickler's death. It is said that William Douslin, Esq., J.P. will be appointed Warden as successor to the lateDr Sickler.' We understand that the ketch Folly left our harbor last night for Havelock, but shoi tiy afterwards the wind changed to the north west, with a heavy sea, and Captain Kilgour then tried to run the vessel hack into port, but unfortunately got her ashore ou the Boulder Bank, where she now lies. The Captain states that he and his mate experienced very considerable difficulty in getting on shorp, the sea running very high at the lime. It will be seen from an advertisement that the ketch was so much damaged, that she will be sold to-morrow, together with her cargo, by Messrs Lockhart, and Co. We are glad to learu that Mr Weedy, to whom so serious an accident occurred on the road between Wakefield and Appleby on Monday last, is progressing very favorably, aud the apprehensions originally entertained that he had sustained serious internal injury happily prove to be unfounded. We were glad to find a very fair audience assembled at the dramatic and musical entertainment given last night at the Oddfellows' Hall, for the performance was throughout decidedly meritorious, a verdict which was satisfactorily endorsed by the unanimous proofs of approbation abundantly bestowed during the evening by those present. If we except the clever accompaniments and fautaisies on the pianoforte by Mr Singer, which formed a most agreeable ingredient in the entertainment, it was supported by only three performers, and yet the gratification experienced by the audience never seemed to flag, the most genuine laughter testifying to the success of the strenuous efforts made for their delectation. Mr and Mrs Newton are old favorites in Nelson, and we need hardly say more than that" they showed no evidence in any wise that their dramatic powers had undergone any deterioration whatever since we last had the pleasure of seeing them. Mr John Black is however a stranger, but he at once enlisted the warmest sympathies of his audience, his deliueation of the low comedy parts intrusted to him, as well as his rendering of the several songs aud duets, which fell to his share in the musical interlude, beiDg characterised by an easy racy humor wbich never degenerated into vuglarity. We heartily counsel those who may think themselves entitled to enjoy a little legitimate amusement this evening, to wend their way to the Oddfellows' Hail, and we feel sure they will thank us for the hiut. The programme includes two capital farces, supported by Miss Annie Merton, Mr J. Black, and Mr Newton, with an interlude, in which figure some capital songs, &c, such as afforded so much amusement last night. We understand that the movement initiated a short time since with a view to tbe formation of a gymuasium in this city, has progressed so favorably, a large number of persons having signified their wish to become members, that it has been determined to enrol subscribers forthwith, and the subscription has been purposely fixed at a low figure iv order to render the undertaking as popular as possible. Ou Friday week the Hon. Col. Kelly carried, in the Legislative Council, his motion for an address to his Excellency, praying that he may be pleased to adopt the necessary measures for calling out the first-class militia of the North Island for the purpose of enrolment, and the formation in each province of one or more corps, as may be considered necessary. He explained that the provisions of the ' Militia Act, 1865,' relating to exercise and training, should be enforced iv a manner that would not put the settlers to any serious inconvenience. By a late Order in Council six hundred acres of land have been reserved at the extremity of Farewell Spit, in the Province of Nelson, as a site for a lighthouse. Dr Featherston, the Superintendent of Wellington, is rapidly recovering from the indisposition under which he has been laboring, and he is now able to attend to his official duties. On the 23rd uit, in the Legislative Council, the Hon. Dr. Pollen said that it

was the desire of the Government to bring the Petty Sessions Act into operation as far as practicable throughout the colony, and that any district that expressed its desire for sessions of the peace to be held there would have their wishes complied with. The following jeu d'esprit appeared in the Wellington Advertiser:-— Mr William Fox, we are informed, intends leaving for Europe by the next Pauama mail. The object of tbe honorable gentleman is to endeavor to induce the Sultan of Turkey to reduce the taxation upon fishing boats in the Sea of Galilee. The butchering establishments iv Westport advertise an advance in the price of meat, in consequence of the scarcity and increased cost of stock. We perceive, from an advertisement in the Grey River Argus, that the Grey Coal Company are calling for tenders for the railway bridge across the Omotomoto Creek. The bridge is to be 330 feet long, 12 feet, wide, iv 22 spans of 15 feet each. Tenders must be sent in before Saturday, the 17th instant. The Taranaki Herald, after mentioning thst one of the women of Tito Kowaru's hapu had visited the wife of a settler near Warea, and had given an account of the doings in the rebel camp, says : — The horrible cruelties perpetrated by the cannibals of New Zealand iv former times on their wouoded prisoners, have again been indulged in to satiate their inveterate hatred and revenge towards the pakeha. The wounded who were left behind in the retreat from Ruaruru, were dragged into the pa, subjected to insult and torture, and eventually burnt to death, their bodies afterwards cut in pieces and divided amongst the cannibals, and eagerly devoured even by the women and chMdren — any of the men who were nofc fortunate enough in obtaining a piece of human flesh were hooted by their wives and abused as cowards. A whiteman who has beeu among the rebels since the time of General Chute's overland expedition, made his appearance at the friendly natives pa, Taihu, on Monday last. He stated that he had been astray in the bush for two days, having lost his way going to an inland station belonging to the Wairos ; he left the Taihuas on Wednesday, September 30, to return to the rebels. The Maori loss afc Ruarua was four chiefs and a great u umber of others, among them some of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, who came to assist Tito Kowaru. The Patukai (Taranakis) are ready to join when Tito asks them. From a Taranaki Government Gazette published ou the 2nd inst. we perceive thafc the Superintendent of that province has, by the powers vested in him by the Governor, issued a proclamation calling out the whole of the Militia for active service within the Taranaki Middle District, and in a notice appended to it his Honor states, 'That in reference to the proclamation, he thinks it desirable, in order to avoid causing groundless alarm, to state thafc this step is taken as a precautionary measure only, in consequence of the disturbances in the south of the Province. During a dinner recently given in London to Mr Cyrus Field, the Duke of Argyle in the chair, messages were sent to and from the United States and Canada. To the President of the United States the Duke sent — 'I am now surrounded by upwards of 300' ! gentlemen and many ladies, who have assembled to do honor to Mr Cyrus Field for his exertions in promoting telegraphic communication between the New and Old World, and in asking you to join our toast of "Long life and happiness" to your most, worthy countryman, let us add a Highlander's wish that England and America may always be found, in peace and in war, " shoulder to shoulder."' Messages were also sent to Cuba, Havannah, Victoria, Vancouver Island, Newfoundland, and to Miss Mary Grace Field and Brothers, New York. Mr Bright responded in an eloquent speech to the toast 'The peace aud prosperity of England and America,' in which he designated Mr Field the Columbus of the 19th century. At a meeting of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, Mr Cyrus Field mentioned some important facts illustrative of the beneficial effect which a reduction in the tariff of the Atlantic cable has had upon the receipts. Under the £25 tariff the receipts were £505 per day; under the £10 £579 ; and under the £5 ss. £693. Mr Field mentioned that the company was in a position to do six times the amount of businees it is now doing without adding a shilling to the expense.

Mr Ingham, the Magistrate at the Wandsworth Police Court, emulates the wisdom of Solomon, and really not without some pretence of a Solomonian calibre. Recently George Herbert was summoned before him by one Eunice Coe, for detaining o parrot, her property. The defendant stated that ifc was his wife's parrot, which she had lost, and which was restored to her on the 16th Juno. Eunice Coe, on the other hand, maintained|that it was her parrot, which she had lost on the 16th June. Mr Ingham, emulafciug Solomon, decided that the parrot should itself testify. He ordered the defendant's wife to take it out of the cage, which she did, amidst much shrieking and many signs of opposition and dislike from the parrot, who made great attempts to peck Mrs Herbert j bufc on being placed in Mrs Coe's hands, it ceased from struggling and shewed great signs of affection. So Mr Ingham ordered the bird to be given up by Mrs Herbert to Mrs Coe.