The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 270, 14 November 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1868.

It is superfluous to state that the receipt of the late appalling intelligence from Poverty Bay has aroused a feeling of the most intense sympathy and indignation throughout this community, and innumerable suggestions are rife as to the best means of giving effect to these sentiments. As we have already stated, his Honor the Superintendent, in compliance with the terms of a requisition presented to him yesterday, has convened a public meeting, to be held on Monday evening next at the Provincial Hall, in order to afford the inhabitants of the province an opportunity of publicly expressing their deep sympathy with the sufferers by the late horrible outrages in the North Island, and of declaring their willingness to support the Government in any course of vigorous action which it may adopt in order to suppress the rebellion. We understand that Mr Justice Eicbraond and several leading citizens have promised to- attend the meeting, which will, doubtless, be very numerously attended. With a view to ascertain the feeling of the members of the several Volunteer Companies with respect to giving their aid to the Government at the present crisis, a muster of the Artillery Company was called by Captain Pitt for last night, on the Paradeground, at which a large proportion of the members of that body were present, together with a considerable number of the geneml public. A thorough readiaess was expressed by the members of the Artillery Company, in which we have reason to believe that the other volunteer companies entirely participate, to take part in a general Volunteer movement, should such be organised throughout the Southern Island, for service of a temporary character under the Government, provided they be under the immediate command of their own officers, and that a complete change shall take place in the present most unsatisfactory administration of the Defence Office. Every desire was manifested to prove by deeds, and not by words only, the sympathy which is so universally felt for the sufferers in the late outrages. Although we have received no intimation of the fact, we cannot doubt that a similar movement is taking place in all the Southern provinces, and there seems no reason to anticipate any difficulty in raising a body of men, 1000 strong, well armed and disciplined, from the Volunteer Force of the Middle Island, who would be able at least to protect life and property until the arrival of further reinforcements from Australia and the motser-country. It cannot be expecred that men with families and settled pursuits in these provinces would volunteer for service extending over an indefinite period, but with a view simply to meet the present emergency, and to prevent a repetition of these horrible outrages, we thiok that this proposition is entitled to serious consideration, and its realisation would unquestionably redound highly to the credit of the Nelson Volunteers. A letter from one of the prospectors at Collingwood, to whom allusion was made in our issue of yesterday, and addressed to a friend in town, has been shown to us, which states that the scene of their operations is situated at a distance of 50 miles from Collingwood, and in which the writer, an experienced digger, counsels his friend to join him without delay, as the most sanguine anticipations are formed, and apparently with good reasoD, of the probable results, of their labours. We may add that we have been informed that the intelligence to which we gave publicity yester-

day was by no means unexpected, a wager of large amount having, we are told, been staked by a miner who has been employed in prospecting at Collingwoqd for some months past, during a visit to Nelson some six weeks ago, that within four months from that date upwards of 1000 diggers would be congregated on that goldfield. We shall await further intelligence with considerable interest. We have been requested by Captain Spiller to state that all persons who have enlisted in the Armed Constabulary must present themselves at parade on Monday next, in order to be in readiness to proceed to the Front by the first opportunity that offers. It will be seen from au advertisement in another column that the Lady Barkly steamer will leave the wharf at 5 o'clock on Monday morning for Motueka, returning thence at 7, in order to bring over the witnesses in the eattle-poisoniug case, so as to be in time for the opening of the Assizes at 10 o'clock the same morniug. The Westporfc Times an o ounces the arrival at that place, by the Kennedy, of the Provincial Engineer, Mr Bluckett, who has been busily engaged since his arrival in surveying and sounding the Buller and its branches, with a view to submit to the Government a report upon the works necessary for the protection of the river banks, or for the diversion of the stream, in order to avert the threatened washing away of the town. The Times expresses a hope that Mr Blackett may discover that the co&t of aoy works required wiH not amount to anything like the sum he is said to have suggested to the Superintendent as the probable expense. The Resident Magistrate was occupied this morning exclusively in the investigation of four cases, in which the belligerent parties were all — in spite of the apparent paradox — representatives of the gentler sex. Mary Thorn psou was charged by Jane Livingstone with having violently assaulted her on Tuesday last, on the Haven-road, Mary Bradshaw preferring a similar charge against Anna Brookes, for an assault committed on her in Grovestreet, on the 6th inst., while Rosa Barry appeared for the purpose of charging Daniel Leahy, cow of Auckland, with refusing to support an illegitimate child, born on the 22nd May, 1865, of which the fair complainant, who had 'loved not wisely but too well,' declared him to be the father. Ifc will excite no astonishment amongst our readers when we inform them that his Worship, doubtless sorely perplexed by the various conflicting state- . ments urged with such eloquence and volubility by the gentle (?) litigants, adjourned his adjudication on these cases until the sitting of the Court on Monday. We are however gratified to be able to add that another case of assault between two elderly dames, well-known residents at the Port, to wift, Christina Johnston and Anne Porter, was withdrawn at the request of the complainant. The following criminal cases are set down for hearing at the sittings of the Supreme Court which commences on Monday next:— Alice Morcome, perjury, committed from Ahaura, West Coast ; Daniel O'Connor, indecent assaults on children of tender age (two indictments); Geo. W. Brooks, killing cattle at Motueka ; William M'Kay, assault committed on board the Charles Edward ; and John Johnston, larceny. The following civil cases are also entered for hearing ; — Watt and another v. Max, Stewart v. Pike, and Apted v. Kynnersley, all by special juries. As we have already stated, the 'meantime' of New Zealand is now observed at the various public offices in this city. The time adopted as the 'mean time' of this colony is the time corresponding to the longitude of 172 deg. 30min. east from Greenwich, which is exactly 11| hours in advance of Greenwich time. We learn from the West Coast Times that the Hon. Jas. A. Bonar, M.L.C., and his Honor the Superintendent of Canterbury, are the arbitrators appointed for the settlement of the debt of Westland to Canterbury. It remains with these gentleman to choose an umpire. In the event of their not doing so within a certain time the Governor will appoint one. The Nelson Creek correspondent of the Grey River Argus writes under date of Nov. 9 — l have arrived here this morning, and had scarcely got half-way up the creek before I heard news of another rush that had taken place yesterday. The site is a terrace immediately behind the old township on a terrace facing the new rush, and .the lead of gold is supposed to be

exactly the same, only broken by the" channel of the creek. The prospects ard equal, and in some instances better, than those found on Hatter's Point terrace, and as this new terrace extends in one unbroken line for upwards of four miles, and gold has already been found for a long distance, my words will without doubt be fully confirmed, iv placing this as the nd' plus ultra rush of the Grey River. I met a large crowd of miners going down to Camptown to obtain protection for their ground, pending the time occupied in cutting tail races into the ground, and I was assured by one of them, on whose word I could safely rely, that the claims could not be left ten minutes without being jumped. The whole of the creek is excited with the accounts of the new discovery, aud many of the claimholders of Try-again Terrace are being seduced to the new rush, leaving their old claims to the'tr fate. New comers have every chance, as, if unsuccessful in the new place, many good chances may be found in the deserted claims. I really think that this creek will soon pass the best beach rush that has as yet taken place in the number of miners aud yield of the: precious metal. The Grey River Argus, Nov. 10, states there have been plenty of rumors lately concerning a reported new rush at the Greenstone, but we have, before giving publicity to them, waited for reliable information. We have now the best authority for stating that the new workings are on the banks, whereas the old workings were in the bed of the creek. There are now 500 men on the ground, and: the prospects obtained average about two grains to the dish. The gold is a little rough, and the ground is expected to be capable of paying good wages. There is every facility for working the ground, owing to the water being easily brought ou to it from the creek. Our iuformant believes there are sufficient men on the ground to work it, but it is expected that the terraces will prove to be auriferous, when a much larger population will be maintained. There are a number of business places going up, but provisions are very dear, as they have to be brought from Hokitika, boated up the Teremakau River to the junction, thence packed to the diggings about 8 miles distant. It is a great pity that a road or serviceable track has not been made to these diggings, so that its supplies could be drawn from Greymouth. Mr J. T. Peacock has been returned' member of the House of Representatives for Lyttelton. The seat was rendered vacant by the death of Mr M'Farlane during the last session. A practical joke was perpetrated recently by some facetious persons, who adorned the front door of the Treasury, Melbourne, with the three golden balls which constitute a pawnbroker's sign. The constable on duty there did not discover the strange decoration until about 8 o'clock, when he of course removed it at once. The force of the joke was a little heightened when subsequent inquiries revealed the fact that the said sign was the property of Mr Marks,, pawnbroker and money-lender, of Elizabeth street. The Times, in a leader, expresses surprise that the Government should have neglected to meet the Governments of the Australias in the suggestions made by them for connecting Australia with India by means of a telegraphic cable, especially after the offer made by the Victorian Government alone to take the matter in hand if the Home Government would engage to provide a moiety of the subsidy. The Quarterly Keview, in a recent article on Lace, referring to the strange expedients frequently resorted to in order to evade the duty on French lace, says: — Ladies of rank were stopped in their chairs in Fleet-street or Covent-garden, and relieved by the officers of the customs of French lace to which they could not show a satisfactory title. Even ladies, when walking, had their mittens cut off their bauds,, if supposed of French manufacture; and a poor woman was stopped with a quartern loaf in her hands, which, when examined, contained £200 worth of lace inside the crust. In 1767, an, r officer of the customs seized J6400 worth of Flanders lace artfully concealed, in the hollow of a ship's buoy. Even his Grace the Duke of Devonshire was, after death, poked into at Dover with a stick, to the disgust of his servants, to make sure that he was real. Forty years, indeed, before that the body of a deceased clergyman was found to have been replaced by a bulk of

\Flanders lace of immense value. The smugglers had cut away the trunk from v the head and hands and feet, and removed it; and the discovery of this trick caused the ignominious treatment of the Duke of Devonshire. Nevertheless the high sheriff of Westminster ran comfortably £6,000 worth of French lace in the coffin . of Bishop Atterbury, who died in Paris, when he was brought over, counting probably, on a dead bishop inspiring more awe "than a deceased duke. One of the most delightful incidents in •the life of a Benedick occurs at midnight, when he is "routed from his slumbers by his wife. — 'What is the matter?' he cries. —The lady, \vho has drawn her delicate Head underneath the blanket, says, in a tremulous voice— 'I hear a noise! There is somebody in the house.'— 'Nonsense: you are mistaken.' 'There — there it is again. You oati hear them talking in the parlour.' — The husband has, by this time, raised himself bolt upright in the bed and pulled off his nightcap. After he has shivered five minutes or so, the wife again says — 'There, now I heard a glass 'break. Oh, we shall be murdered ! Do 'get your pistols.' — The husband really alarmed, gets out of bed. He gropes around carefully j but falls over a chair, pitches iuto a washstand^ and alights among the fragments of the waterbasin. The lady shrieks, aad asks if the robbers are in the room. {Jetting no answer, she dashes to the window, and cries murder. The husband endeavors to stop her ; but the steam is too high for the safetyvalve. The neighborhood is alarmed. The policeman hears the terrible shrieks of the 4ady, breaks the lock of the front door, and rushes in. Several of the neighbors follow him with lights, and of a sudden the whole picture is illumined. The poor husband has cut himself upon the basin, "and the floor is covered with blood. The wife explains the cause of their alarm and dilemma and of course the policeman is to go off. This official never thinks any more of the matter ; but the neighbors never forget it. The poor husband gets •the name of a blackguard and a vile brute, and a story goes about that he was caught •beating bis wife in a dark room, at midnight, with chairs and a washbasin, she being too kind to tell the truth.