LOCAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 139, 16 June 1869, Page 2

LOCAL NEWS.

Assembly Balls. — Arrangements having been made for holding a series of Assembly Balls during the winter, the first of tbe season will take place at the Provincial Hall on Friday evening next. The English Mail.— The Rangitoto. which arrived off Hokitika yesterday morning was, owing to the heavy sea, unable to communicate with the shore, and consequently sailed northward iv the afternoon. Up to the time of our going to press no news had been received of her at the telegraph office, we therefore presume that she has gone on to Wellington direct. A telegram was received this afternoon by the postmaster, stating that the Airedale with the English mails would leave Wellington for Picton and Nelson at noon to-morrow. Scientific Association. — We understand tbat the next meeting of this Society is to be held at the Provincial HaU this evening at 8 o'clock, on which occasion all who intend to become members are invited to attend, as the object of the meeting is to adopt the rules that have been framed for the guidance of the association, which has been formed with a view to holding occassional meetings for the purpose of discussing any new inventions or discoveries, more particularly those which affect any of our local industries. Football.-— We understand that a football match is to be played on Saturday next in Victory square, between the College bpys, assisted by a few of the old Collegians, and the Nelson Club. We are glad to ; find that this fine old game is finding favOr with Oiir Nelson youths, and" jtrust toiee a large number of spectators on the ground on the match day. ';

Mr. George Cotterell's Entertainment. — We can honestly congratulate Mr. George Cotterell on his successful appearance at the Provincial Hall last evening. With his first entertainment we certainly were highly pleased, but it must be allowed that he last uight showed to far greater advantage, having entirely got over the nervousness which naturally showed itself on his first appearance in public. With the exception of a few impromptus the entertainment was precisely tho same as the former one, and as we fully criticised that at the time, Aye shall not now go over the same ground again. Suffice it to say that the priucipal characters were rendered with considerably more gusto, which Avas especially noticeable in the ,; Wedding Breakfast Speeches," the Rev. Dr. Ponder, in particular, being a raaguificent piece of acting. As for the delightful Mrs. Meals, she was more charming than ever, and we cannot but regret that the matrimonial experiences of a lady so eminently adapted for the enjoyment of conjugal bliss, should have been limited to the trifling number of three husbands; if Mr. Cotterell could possibly persuade her, before her next appearauce in public, to believe that sbe hai been a young and beautiful bride a greater number of times, or, if this is uot to be done, if she could be induced to dwell at greater length upon her experience of married life, she would, we think become, if possible, a still greater favorite with tho public than is the case afc present. We are informed thafc Mr. Cotterell proposes giving entertainments at Richmond and Motueka shortly, our country friends will thus have an opportunity of enjoying the same treat that we in town have had provided foi us. Local Committees of Education. — Au unusually large number of householders met at the Agricultural Hall, Richmond, on Saturday last, for the purpose of electing four members in the place of Messrs. Barnicoat, Gapper senr., Harkness, and Oxley, who retired by rotation. On the motion of Mr. Harkness, tb.B chair was taken by the Rev. Mr. Lewis, and the election then took place with the following result: — Barnicoat 29; Harkness 25; Gapper 22; Beitt 22; Talbot 9; Young 7. The four first were declared duly elected. The Committee afterwards met and elected the Rev. W. Lewis as their representative at the Central Board, aud Mr. Barnicoat as Secretary. Motupiko. — The following gentlemen were elected for the Local Committee of Education at Motupiko: — Messrs. Quinney (chairman), George Coleman, William Lowden, William Gibbs, aud Frederick Mead. Alexander Johnston, who was arrested iv Melbourne upon a charge of having embezzled the moneys of his employers, Messrs. N. Edwards and Co., wa3 brought up at the Greymouth Police Court yesterday. He was remanded for the attendance of a uecessary witness. — West Coast Times. Parliamentary. — Iv the House of Representatives an Oceanic Mail Services Committee has been appointed; the other business has hitherto been merely formal. Mr. J. C. Wilson, C.8., has given notice of his scheme. He asserts that the time has come for an entire change of treatment of the natives. Two courses are open — to prosecute tbe war vigorously, or to give way. The former is the only manly course, but the colony at present is unable to carry out the policy unassisted. Commissioners, therefore, should be appoiuted, to Bee the Imperial Government, and ask for one regiment of troops, and two of Ghoorkas, to serve for a period of years. The colony is to incur uo expense for five years, at the end of which time the total cost incurred by the Imperial Government is lo be computed, and the colony to pay interest on' the sum at 4 percent, from the 6th to the 50th year, which payment will extinguish all liability at the end of the 50th year. Gold Export. — - Westport, for the quarter ending March 31, does not figure so prominently as usual as a port of export for gold. In that time it exported 23,2090z5., to which, as the produce of the Buller district, or "partly so, may be added 3Ql4ozs. exported from Nelson. Greymouth exported 19,0350z5„ the produce of Nelson Province, and 99910z5. the produce of Westland. Hokitika exiported:32jl696zs., and Dunedin 35,8990z5. The Nelson South-west Goldfields ex-

ported altogether 45,2580z5., while. Westland exported a total of 43,258 ozs. The exports from Dunedin represent the total from Otago. From Auckland the exports were 41,6740z5. for the quarter. The Nelson South-west Goldfields continue thus to be the richest goldfield in the Colony. — Westport Times. A Wild Goose Chase. — The Greymouth Evening Stat* of 9th innt, has the following amongst its telegraphic intelligence from Hokitika: — "An expedition, started south, this morniug, headed by Mr Charley Williams, in the cutter Hope, in order to try and discover a wrecked vessel, reported by Captain Turnbull, about two years ago. She is a Portuguese vessel, La Perouse, which is supposed tohave beeu wrecked 50 years ago, and for the discovery of which £4000 has been offered by that Government. She lies about ten -miles south of the Haast, and is imbedded in the sand. The above Government last heard of this vessel at New Zealand. The expedition is thought to be visionary. The Cbristchurch Evening Mail says : — " We understand that a celebrated clergyman, living not a hundred miles north of Christchurch, has such an abhorence of anything bearing the appearance of popery, that, not content with having banished his favorite dish, viz., a leg of mutfcou, because it contains the pope's eye; has carried his religious zeal so far as to discharge his servant, because he has a Roman nose."