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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 292, 10 December 1868, Page 2

As the Lord Ashley will leave Wellington to-night for Nelson, a Mail for Europe, via Sue2, will be dispatched by her from this port to-morrow, but it must be borne in* mind that correspondence intended for conveyance by this'opportunity niuet- be marked, ' via Suez ' or Marseilles^ as the case may be, or they will be detained for the ljext Panama Mail. The Artillery Company took their turn to-day in tbe competition for the Provincial prizes, having commenced firing at 2 o'clock this afternoon. To-morrow the Cadets will compete at 10 o'clock. The scores made on Wednesday last by the district companies in the Waimeas and at Wakapuaka have been received; in the first mentioned corps the highest seoreta were Corporal J. Arnold 39, Privates J. Newth and R. Fowler being ties for 37$ whilst GuunerMansenn, ofthe Wakapuaka Artillery j made 44, and Sergeant Gill 39* It should be stated that in both instances the prizes were shot for in a lying position, aud not kneeling, as was the case with the Nelson companies. It will be seen that the firing for the Prize Revolver given by the Provincial Government to the Champion Shot of NelsoD, lakes place at the City Shooting Ground, Murphy-street, on Tuesday next* commencing at 10 a.m. The ranges will be 300, 400, and 500 yards, and the target 6 feet by 6, any position being allowed without artificial rest. As the shooting off will occupy a considerable time, and a large number of the competitors will be visitors from the country, we hear, that it is proposed -by the City Volunteers to make some provision for the refreshment ox the various competitors on the ground. From a Wellington telegram published this morning by the Examiner, we learn lhat although the Rakaia will be the last boat which will leave Wellington for Panama, at all events under the present direction of the Panama company, the three steamers, will make their return voyages. The steamers Auckland and Claud Hamilton have been sold. It is also stated that the Panama contract when sent to England, was never signed by tha company. Amongst the incidents which preceded the departure of the Rakaia from Wellington on Tuesday last, was the arrest of a Mr H. A". Bruce, who had only arrived the same morning from Melbourne, and had paid £230 for the passage of himself and family to America, oii a charge of having embezzled a considerable sum of money whilst employed m the civil service in Vicloria. Some. years ago, we believe, Turkish baths were erected in Launceston, Tas* mania, under the superintendence of Mr Doyne, well known here as the engineer of the Dun Mountain tramway. Wo are glad to see by the late papers that similar establishments have been very recently opened in Hobarton, Tasmania, undef a joint stock company. It is said that ' the speculation has been very successful in every respect. A daily average of 20 people enjoy the luxury.' At the monster meeting held at Wellington on the 4th instant, to consider the state of native affairs, Mr Borlase, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr D. Maclean and the friendly Maoris serving under him on the East Coast, said that the casting vote of Sir David Monro, as Speaker, upor Mr Maclean's motion on Native Affairs, after the eight nights' debate, had cost the colony £300,000. The Evening Post complains that the newly appointed Militia Officers at Wel-

lington are negligent in their attendance at drill, and states that they , have been very properly requested hy tho Government to amend this fault or resign their commissions at once. A letter appears in the Wellington Independent of the sth instant, written by Mr Joseph Rhodes, of Napier, to his brother, Captain Rhodes > at Wellington, suggesting that the people of the South Island should exert themselves in favor of • their brother-settlers in Hawke's Bay, and send them, suy 200 volunteers each from Canterbury, Otago, Hokitika, and Nelson, Wellington having enough to do to raise men for the defence of her own frontiers. The writer suggests that they might as well come over with a good grace to their assistance at once as wait to be ordered to the Front under the Volunteer Aet, which -provides that they may be moved to any part of the colony. The Argus of the 25th ultimo says: — We hear of nothiDg to be done afc the military headquarters in reference to tbe -New Zealand disturbances. We believe •indeed that there has been no communication from the New Zealand Government on the subject; and thus the rumor that -the 2nd battalion of the 14th regiment stationed here are under orders to be iu readiness for departure is no more than a canard. It may be Bor 10 days before anything deifiuite is known. When the railroad across the continent of America is completed, which it soon will be, there will be constant conveyances by* means of railways and mail packets for passengers desiring to travel round the world. This grand tour will be 22,000 miles in length, will cost about £300, and will be accomplished in about 80 days. The English tourist will be able to visit America, Japan, China, Ceylon, and Egypt. He will cross the Atlantic, North Pacific, and Indian Oceans, the Red and Mediterranean seas, the continent of America and the Delta of Egypt. He will be able to leave England, say the beginning of May, and to arrive home again about the middle of July. Steampackets leave Englaud for New York almost daily. Daily trains will start from New York for San Francisce. Mail steamers leave San Francisco for Hongkong monthly ; and Hongkong for Southampton fortnightly.