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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 278, 24 November 1868, Page 2

Telegrams received from Wellington last night state that the report which reached that city ou Sunday eveuiiiij from Wanganui, to the effect that Tito I_owaru had crossed the Wanganui River at Koi Waike was discredited by the Ooverntneut. Brail h waite, the messenger, adheres however to his statement, aud says that Tito was supposed to be coining down the Turakin i, between Wanganui and Rangitikei, and would be joined at the latter plai:n uy a large party of Hauhiius. He adds that the greatest excitement prevailed, aud that women and children were coining iuto Waugauui in large numbers. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon before the coroner, Dr Squires, and a jury, of which Mr Henry Drew was foreman, on the body of Thomas Reuben Bird, aged 25 years, who was found dead in his house in Washington- valley on Sunday eveuiug, as described in our issue of yesterday. The jury, having viewed the body, adjourned to the Victoria Hotel, Haven-road. The only witnesses examined were the widow, who was much affected whilst giviug lior evidence, and the policeman who was called in ou the discovery of the fatal deed. Mrs Bird described the events of the evening nearly as stated hy us yesterday, aud added that she had noticed nothing peculiar in her husband's m-iiiner that day; that he was playing with his child more thau usually ou Sunday. On the previous night, on his return home she had told him that ho seemed out of spirits, aud he at once became more cheerful. On Sunday he was ia remarkably high spirits, aud he had never said anything which would lead her to suppose that he ever contemplated such an act. He had great feats of su-iden death, nnd the statement made to him both by Dr Cusack aud Dr Cotterell tiiat, in cousequence of his having suffered for some time from serious disease of the heart, lie might die at any moment, had greatly troubled him, preying on his mind and making him very nervous. He was much alarmed by the late earthquake, and the Maori outrages hud also alarmed aud excited him. Constable Peter Levy deposed to finding the body, which he described as haviug the knees bent, aud the feet raised from the ground, ' so that had the deceased stood erect the rope would have been slackened. The body was quite cold when cut down by Dr Cotterell. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide while laboring under temporary, insauity. Dr Heclor, whose arrival we uoticed iv our issue of yesterday, brought with him a box containing a collection of rare and valuable fossils from various parts of Germony and Austria, forwarded us a preseut to the museum of the Nelson Institute, by the illustrious Professor von Hochstetter. These have beeu deposited in the museum, where they will shortly he displayed for inspection. We subjoin a copy of the Professor's letter which accompanied the present' — 'Vienna, 28 December 1867. Sir — I have the honor to forward to the Nelsou Museum a collection of 90 species of fossils from different strata of Germany aud Austria. I beg you to take it as a sign that I have not forgotten Nelson, aud T am only sorry that the opportunity of sending prevents me forwarding larger pieces and a more complete collection, as there is no more room iv the box which I have forwarded with books to the New Zealand Government, With my best wishes for the Nelson Museum, I have the honor to be your most obedient servant, F. v. Hochstetter.' The usual monthly parade of the Volunteer Companies for the Commanding

Officer's inspection, takes place this evening at a quarter to 6 o'clock at the paradeground, and the Volunteers will afterwards march to the Mud Flat at the north end of Collingwood-street. We learu from the Hon. See. of the Regatta Committee, Mr J. G. Miles, that he has received replies to his circulars in refereuce to the upproaching competition for the Chompioii Cup, frora Auckland, Wellington, and Dunediu, from which it appears that two yachts may be expected to enter the lists from Auckland, and one from Duuedin. Wellington has promised to send another yacht, but under the excitement which at preseut prevails iv that part of the colony it can hardly, we fear be expected that the Empire City will be represented on the occasion. The regatta is lixed to take place on Tuesday, the 3rd of February, in order not to clash with the arrangements for the celebration of the anniversary of the province, which will be kept upon the 2nd, the Ist of February falling this year ou Sunday. The sub-scription-lists are now ready, and we trust that the public will respond liberally to the appeal made to them by the Committee. Complaints are rife relative to the great inconvenience which is frequently experienced through the sudden cutting off the water supply, without any preparatory warniug, iv various parts of the city where pi pas are being laid down. Of course so long as the water-service throughout the entire city remains incomplete, these occasional interruptions must necessarily occur, but some notice ou^ht surely to be given, in order to prevent the inconvenience to which every household is subjected, to say nothing of the disastrous results in the case of breweries or other industries dependent on water-power. The harmonium * recital ' given at the Provincial Hall on Saturday afternoon, for tlie purpose of displaying the powers of the large church harmonium imported by Mr J. H. Levien frora Sydney, attracted a considerable attendance, and proved the admirable fitness of the instrument for use in a building of large size, the swell and pedal movements being especially good, and imitating the effects of an or^an astonishingly well. We understand that it is not improbable that this harmonium may be purchased for All Saints Church. His Honor Mr Justice Richmond, ia his charge to • the grand jury at the opening of the present Assizes, called atteution to the fact that the General Assembly bad, during its last session, passed an Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to juries in this colony, and earnestly impressed upon the grand jury the necessity of making themselves acquainted with the provisions' of the Act. Our readers will therefore probably thank us for laying before them the following particulars of the Bill as regards the remuneration to be awarded to jurors, and also the exemptions from service as jurymen which it recognises. Every juror who shall be summoued and who shall have attended at the Supreme Court to try civil issues or assess damages, and shall have actually served as a juror upon a jury, shall be entitled to receive, if the jury be a special jury, the sum of 20s, if a common jury 10s, and every taleman who shall have been added to any panel to try civil issues or assess damages and shall have served upon any jury shall be entitled to receive the same sum for such attendance as if he had been origiually written on the said panel. The following is a list of exemptions from service as jurymen: — Members of the Executive Council, members of both Houses of the General Assembly, members of Provincial Councils, during the time that such Councils shall be iv session; Judges of the Supreme, District, aud Native. Lands Courts, and Resideut Magistrates, clergymen in holy orders, and all persons who shall preach or teach in any religious congregation, and who shall not follow: auy secular occupation except that of a schoolmaster; all schoolmasters and inspectors of schools, all ' bafristers-at-law and solicitors, .duly , admitted aud actually practising; all persons holding any salaried or paid office by appointment of the Governor, all coroners, gaolers, police officers and constables, all licensed pilots and masters of vessels actually employed in the service of the Government, whether by the appointment of the Governor, pr by virtue of any contract with the Government;, all persons iv her Majesty's Army or Navy oa full pay, every commissioned officer of ihe Militia or of the Volunteer Foroe, whether on actual

service or not, and every other member of any corps of Volunteers, while on actual service in the field, and every militiaman when called out and on actual service, and every volunteer holding a certificate of efficiency granted under and in accordance with the provisions of The Volunteer Act 1865, and any rules or regulations made thereunder for the time being in force. It must be understood that members of Provincial Council are exempt only when the Councils are in session, aud that the names of volunteers and militiamen cau also be inserted in the jury list; except only when they are on actual service. The Act will come into operation on the Ist Jauuary next. The Advertiser, in referring to the disastrous intelligence from Poverty-hay, says that among those so foully murdered was Major Reginald Newton Biggs, who served on the East Coast as Captain from October, 1865, to the close of the campaign with great ' distinction, and was hy his •conspicuous gallantry brought frequently before the uotice of the public, having been engaged iv nearly every one of the actions and skirmishes in that part; his •coolness and intrepid conduct wou for him the highest encomiums from all cl sses at the time. He was appointed Major on August 1, 1868, and received the command of the Poverty-bay district. Captain James Wilson, also killed, served as Lieutenant in the Hawke's-bay Military Settlers •from their formation in 1865 to the close of the campaign on the East Coast. He was a brave, deserving officer, and gained for himself well-earned merit for his gallant conduct on several occasions in the field. . The Wellington Ranger, named Dore, whose narrow escape from tho Hauhaus, after the battle of Ngatimanu, and his subsequent privations will be in the memory of our readers, is now an inmate of the Wellington Hospital, where we are glad to hear that he is progressing favorably. The Wellington Post says: — The police of this province have for a long time had cast on them the duty of serving summonses iv civil actions, a duty which should devolve on the Sheriff and his officers, and they naturally complain; and, by an act of the Assembly, passed last session they have now the further duty imposed on them of forming the jury list. This work has hitherto been done by the Sheriff", and the police complain, if it is done by them, it will seriously interfere with the performance of their duties. A correspondent of the Southern Cross gives the following description of Tito Kowaru, and the other chiefs of the Ngaruahine hapu, which will be interesting at the present moment: — Tito Kowaru is a man about 27 years of age, abont 5 feet 9 inches in height, good looking for his kind, smart aud brawny. He is not tattooed, but has a head of black cutly hair, which, when uncovered, falls iv a thick bunch over his forehead, which does not add to his otherwise favorable countenance. This man was ou the most intimate terms with the officers and men of the regular troops who from time to time occupied the redoubt at Turuturumokai from 1866 to 1867. He with his wile and people were continually in aud about the camp daily, selliug peaches, small pigs, and potatoes to the troops. The waipero was in continual demand by him and his female relations, aod, in default of getting it, the canteen outside the redoubt would be resorted to, where their debauch would end in a good sleep of the whole confraternity in. the fern. This Tiro Kowaru could speak English pretty well, but the sub-chiefs Ngahiua (Mr R. Graham's friend) and Tukino, also visitors from the neighborhood of Pokaikai, were far superior in English conversation. They all could read and write English and often asked the loan of a newspaper. Ngahii.a is a most aristocratic looking fellow when dressed, with having more of the Italian than tlieMaori. Neither of these men is tattooed.. : j/ The Lyt'tHtoW Times has the following: — We have been favored Jiy Captaiu White, of the Blue Jacket, with particulars of a trial of Canterbury manufactured rope during his last voyage home and return to Lyttelton. When last in Christchurch he purchased a quantity of 4-inch rope from Messrs Jenkins & Co., which he caused to be rove as topsail haulyards and main braces. These lasted all the voyage home and back to the Cape of Good Hope, where, in the usual anticipation of rough weather, he replaced them with new lengths. So far however from being worn

out or seriously injured, he converted them to reefing staysails, which it will easily be understood could not have' been done if anything whatever had been the matter with the rope. ..The sailorsj_h(^'iulorins us, were unanimous in expressing a decided partiality for the rope iv all- phases of handling. It is much softerUhaii Manilla to the bauds, whilst it works with a smoothness'uotliing could' excel." Captain White himself feels perfectly satisfied as to Its wearing properties, aud says, without hesitation, that once in use it will ! rapidiy supersede the Manilla. The only objection he can possibly fiud to it is that the portion allowed to remain on the deck, and without straiu upon it, is liable to swell, but this he avers is easily obviated by. shifting it 'end for end.' The price of bread at Lyttelton which until lately, has been 6d the 21b loaf, and more recently s£d, is now-lowered to od. No alteration however has taken plaoeiu the price Of flour, it having been sold hitherto much cheaper in proportion than bread. A Volunteer Encampment took place. at Hillborough, near Christchurch, at the beginning of hist week. The whole affair was well arranged, aud passed off successfully. 4 Good morning, Kitty. A'e you riding without a groom? 1 should not like to do so.' Kitty: ' Why not, auuty dear? You are quite old enough to taka care ol yourself.'