LOCAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 85, 13 April 1869, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Transparencies. — A number of these " works of art " are to be seen at Mr Lockhart's, who has them for sale. Many of them are extremely neat and ornamental, others again are more peculiar than pretty. The Prince and the Children. — The children of Nelson we understand are undergoing a course of training in singing the National Anthem, with which it is proposed that, they shall greet the Prince on the day of his arrival. Mr Crisp anticipates being able to muster at least 1000 from different parts, and we trust they will receive beforehand such an amount of tuition as shall enable them to perform their part in the reception with credit to themselves and their teachers. The West Coast Petition. — We learn from the Westport Times of the 10th insfc. that Mr Pitt, solicitor, Westport, had seen Mr Stafford with regard to the petition which is now being signed, praying for the separation of the Nelson South West Goldfields from the Province of Nelson, that the interview was satisfactory and that the Premier had promised to take charge of the petition. The new Warden and Resident Magistrate of the Grey district and Cobden, Mr J. H. Lowe, sat tor the first time on tbe Bench at Cobden, on Monday. The Argus says : — He must find his office no sinecure, for his duties commenced on Thursday last, when he had a heavy Court-day at Camptown, sitting until four o'clock. On the following day, Friday, the Court at the Ahaura occupied from eleven to six o'clock, and on Saturday Mr Lowe had to visit the new rush at Napoleon's, to settle, on the ground, a disputed mining case.

Mesmerism. — A large audience at the Oddfellows' Hall last night testified their appreciation of Dr Carr's wonderful powers as a mesmerist. We know of several of those present who ridiculed the idea of any man possessing the power that the lecturer professes to have over Ms fellow men, but the most determined of these sceptics were fully convinced last night that there was no collusion between the operator and his subjects, but that they were most completely and helplessly under his sway so long as he held them in the mesmeric trance. There is something "uncanny" in this mysterious influence, and we confess we would far rather be a witness to the exercise of it upon others than place ourselves under the control of this powerful mesmerist. Nelson South- west Goldfields. — A copy of the petition to he presented to the General Assembly at its next session, from the inhabitants of the West Coast of the Nelson Province has been received in town, and we have to-day had the privilege of perusing this interesting document. In doing so we came across certain assertions which possess all the charms of novelty, and a little of the raciness of judicious exaggeration. The way in which the framers of the petition have committed themselves to figures, betrays, we fear, a lamentable want of discretion on their part, as there will be but little difficulty in discovering glaring errors in some of their mathematical calculations. We shall take an opportunity of referring to this matter again when we have been able to compare the statements made in the petition with the hard dry facts that are to be found in the blue books. Separation from Nelson. — The Hokitika Evening Star has the following remarks on the separation movement: — Discord has at this early period of the campaign appeared in the records of the separators. Some are going in for the erection of a separate county with Westport for its capital, some for amalgamating with the Grey district and forming a county out of part of Westport and a portion of Nelson province with j Greymouth as its chief town, some don't exactly know what they want, and the residents of the Upper Grey, while fully appreciating the advantages of local self-government, seem to think that they would lose rather than gain, by being formed a portion of a county to be reigned over by either Westport or Greymouth. How the various contending interests of the large territory known as the Nelson Goldfields are to be reconciled is hard to tell. One thing however, is certain, and that is that the journals of the two towns which are striving to be the metropolis of the proposed new county are preparing for a paper war of the bitterest and inkiest discreption. The Volunteers. — We understand that the following programme of the part to be taken by the Volunteers in the Duke's reception has been arranged by the Officer commanding the district: — The Volunteers are to form a guard of honor at the landing place and salute the Prince as he steps on shore, they will then form part of the procession. On arriving at the corner of Bridge and Trafalgar Streets the Prince and procession will proceed up the latter street, while the volunteers will march up Bridge-street to be ready to receive H.R.H. at the Provincial Hall for the presentation of addresses. A guard of honor will again be formed to receive the Prince when he arrives to hold the levee; and will remain to salute him as he leaves the Hall. A royal salute will be fired by the Artillery as the Prince enters the j harbor. On his departure one company will j form a guard of honor at Panama House to j salute H.R.H. as he leaves his residence and another will be at the landing place to salute him | as he embarks. As he proceeds up the harbor a royal salute will be fired by the Artillery. A guard will be furnished to give a double sentry over the Prince's residence during his stay in Nelson. Parish op All Saints. — A meeting of the parishioners of All Saints was held on Friday evening last, for the election of churchwardens and vestrymen, when Mr. W. J. Rogersou was appointed by the minister, and Mr. Thornton elected by the congregation, as wardens. A report was read, showing, that there now remained a debt of ,£485 on the new church, of which sum, £200 at six per cent, had been borrowed from the Diocesan Loan Fund; £200 at ten per cent, from Mr. Henry, to be re-paid in 1872, and it was hoped that the balance of £85 would be paid off during the ensuing year. The vestry accounts showed a balance in hand of £26 9s 3d. The report went on to state that already increased accommodation was called lor, there being at present, application for more sittings than could be allotted. The free sittings, it was stated, were fully occupied, and the wardens had reason to believe that were there a greater number of free seats, more would attend of those who were unable to pay for them. After the reading of the report, a lyote of thanks was passed to the Rev. li. J. Thorpe, for the earnestness and zeal with which he performed the duties of clergyman of the parish.