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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 291, 9 December 1868, Page 2

We regret to state that a fatal accident occurred list night at the Port to a man natnod Thomas Lake, aged about 32 years, the carpeuter of the ship John Buuyan. It appears that the deceased, who is a married man, with a large family, and has been in the employ of Giptaiu Allen for the last ]8 months, was returning in company with some of his shipmates to the vessel, which is lying alongside the Government Wharf, about 11 o'clock last night, wheu he fell over the ladder- into the water, In so doing he must have struck himself agaiust the mooring chain, for he made uo exertion to save himself wheu iu the water, and his jaw and left arm were found to be broken. Efforts were immediately made to save him, and a rope was fastened round his body, but it unfortunately gave way, and the body was not recovered uutil this morning, when it was picked up on the side of the Government Wharf. An inquest will be held on the body this afternoon. ■ It will be seen from au advertisement in another column that the firing of the Volunteer Artillery Company has been postponed, in consequence of the heavy rain which fell this morning, until 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon; the Cadets, whose firing was appointed for to-morrow, taking their turn ou Friday morning, at 10 o'clock. By a notification which appears in the General Government Gazette of the 2nd instant, the Collector of Customs at this port is appointed to receive fees for licenses to be granted under the Distillation Act 1868, to brewers and wine and spirit merchants. We regret to learn that^within the last few days some ill-disposed persons have seriously damaged the new bridge lately erected at the junction of Vauguard-street and St. Vincent-street by the Boai'd of Works, at a cost, including the approaches, of £150. It seems that the stone coping of the bridge has been removed, and there is the best possible-evidence" to prove that the mischief was not done accidentally. We cau only express our earnest hope that any offenders who may be detected in the act of thus wilfully destroying public works which have been constructed at such considerable cost,- will be visited with condign chastise.meut.* We need hardly remind our readers that one of the most notable results of the late American war was displayed in the varied improvements in projectiles of various kinds, to'which the ingenuity of our Trans-

atlautic cousins gave birth. Not the least curious amongst these was Spence's Repealing Rifle, which was introduced iiito use shortly before tb.e termination of the war. A specimen of this destructive weapon may now be seen at Mr George Batchelor's, Nile-street West, being one of 12 which were brought to Sydney a short time since, the remainder having been purchased for the use of the Mounted Troopers of thai; city. The peculiarity in this rifle consists in its power to discharge 8 bullets consecutively without the slightest delay intervening between the shots, the bullets being propelled towards the breech by a wire-spring running through the whole length of the stock. .The bullet contains the -requisite charge of powder, and as its covering acts as a percussioncap ignition, takes place by a very simple process. The rifle is -sighted for 800 "yards, aud, though very strongly made, does not weigh heavier than the ordinary rifle used by the Volunteers. It is impossible not to regret that the use of so destructive a weapon as this could not be adopted in the warfare which is now going on with the Hauhau fanatics in the North Island. Mr W. T. L. Travel's, who has attained very considerable skill as an amateur photographer, has announced his intention to publish by subscription a series of mounted photographic views of various places of interest in the provinces of Canterbury, Wellington and Nelson. Specie mens of these may be seen at Mr J. Hounseli's, Trafalgar-street. Nearly £350 has been subscribed to the Refugee Relief I'und at Napier. H.M. s.s. Charybdis arrived in Wellington harbor on Saturday evening, having left Sydney for that port on that day week* It was understood that this fiae vessel was to convey his Excellency the Governor on a lour to th« South, hut. in consequence of the disturbed state of affairs, it is probable that she will be despatched for Poverty Bay as soon as possible. The Evening Post of the 7th iustant says: — We learn from Wonj-aimi that on Friday last two of Tito Kowaru's men came with a flag of truce to Woodall's redoubt, and warned the militia and Armed Constabulary who held it to clear out, as the}' were, about to attack it that night. Lieutenant-Colonel Heniek detained them and sent them on to Wangauui. On being searched at the police-station a watch was found on one of them, which was ascertained to have belonged, to one of the men killed at Te Ngutu-o-te-raanu. They were brought before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday. Public opinion was divided about them, some thinking the flag of truce ought to protect them, and others taking a contrary view of their case, which was not concluded when our informant left. Captain Herriek • has been temporarily appointed to the command at Wanganui* He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel* and will assume that position during Col, Whitmore's, absence on the East Coast. Referring to this officer, the Wanganui Times says:-^-Captain Herriek, previous to his late promotion, was junior to neatly every captain in the force, and has had no experience as a "commander either in this colony or elsewhere. We by no means mean to iusinuate that Lieut. Col. Herriek is not well qualified for the command, but simply that he is a totally untried man who, if our information be correct, served for a short time at home as an ensign in some Imperial regiment, left it, came to this colony, was employed as manager of a sheep and cattle station, thence entered the colonial service a short time ago, was rapidly promoted, aud without having seen any active service has' been recommended by Colonel Whitmore for promotion and the command which he now holds. We learn from the Auckland Weekly Express that the Lord Ashley claim on the Thames Goldfield has turned out a w-

markably rich one, and that the faet is rendered more interesting by the circumstance that it was discovered by the late lamented Von Tempsky, who, after working it for some time, was compelled to abandon it for want of means to carry it on. It was subsequently taken- up by another pßrty,jind the present claimholders purchased into it- some months ago.. The Lord Ashley claim consists of eMit men's ground, and ' the present fortunate proprietors of it are Colonel Balneavis, Messrs Carpenter, M'Oouakl, Vernon, Posseniskie, Avey, and Hoare. Out of consideration for the widow of the late Major Vou Tempsky, and in view of the fact that it was Vou Tempsky who discovered - the claim, it has been very liberally proposed, afad will, we understand, be carried out, to give that, lady au interest in it to the extent of one half-share 'or thereabouts. Captain Hutfou has prottouuced the Lord Ashley claim as likely to be one of the richest on the field. It is one of the nearest to the township, and the cost of carriage to the machine will be very trifling.