The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2. 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 51, 2 March 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2. 1870.

Supreme Court. — Tho civil business of (his Court, is adjourned until Wednesday next, 9lh instant. Corhespondknce. — We have received a lef fpr' from Mr. Mcnary, but as it refers lo mat! ers of a juirely personal character, we must decline to give it insertion. The Wangapeka. — No news has yet been received from the Wangapeka since Mr. Kynnersley's arrival there. Culliford's case, we are informed, was to be heard in the Warden's Court to-day. Register. — We must remind onr readers that the time for registering votes for the ensuing year expires with the current month. .It should be remembered that a general election for the" General Assembly will take place before another opportunity is afforded of placing names on the electoral roll. Theatrical. — There was a full house at the Hall last night, on the occasion of Mrs. H. Jackson's benefit, and it is quite needless to say that her acting in Lady Aud ley's Secret elicited loud approbation from the delighted audience. To-night, the. lnst on which the Company will appear in Nt'looi.', [Le performance, which includes the sparkling comedy of "All that glitters is uot Gold," is to be for the benefit of Mr. Simmonds. Goviskmiemt Annuities. — We call the at ten tiou of the public to an advertisement issued by the Government, establishing certain offices, and among them the Nelson Post Office, as Government Life and Insurance aud Annuity Offices. We are not aware that the Government offers any peculiar advantages beyond that which certainly ought to be a consideration, namely, that the money is uot sent out of the country, but full particulars are published in the Gazette of 14th February, which are well worth the attention of those who contemplate insuring their lives. The importance of Life Assurance is acknowledged on all sides, and it is a matter that should tot be overlooked by family men whose incomes cease at their death. As a contemporary says in writing upon ihis subject, " if workmen and others of limited incomes could only he persuaded to speud in premiums the sixpences and shillings they devote to the purchase of spirits, how much misery aud privation might be averted." Australian Wines. — Mr. David Randall, an Adelaide wine, grower, is at present making a tour through New Zealand, for the purpose of appointing agents for the sale of his wines. These light Australian wines are without doubt the pleasan test and most healthy description of drink for our hot summer weather, combining as they do an agreeable flavor with excellence of quality and appearance. Oue of their greatest merits is their genuineness, a recommendation which is sadly wanting in the port, sherry, aud other wines to which the colonial wine drinker is accustomed. There is one great drawback, however, to the general consumption of these wines in this colony, namely, the heavy duty— eight shillings a gallon — imposed upon them ; were this removed, there can be no doubt that they would become a very favorite beverage with us. It is a great pity that the Australasian colouies could not come to some arrangement whereby they might, with mutual benefit, exchange their produce

without these heavy imposts. There are two articles to which we would particularly refer — wine and beer — Australia can produce the former of excellent quality, while New Zealand has long been noted for the superiority of her beer. Would not reciprocity in these two commodities bo attended with advantage to both couu tries ? Amongst the numerous parties who are engaged or about to be engaged in flax dressing in Marlborough may be numbered the well-known Maori chief Rori, who lias a considerable quantity of flax land. We (Marlborough Press) have no greater subject to congratulate our farmers on than the bouutiful harvest that there has been this year in Marlborough, which is unprecedented in the history of the province. Not only has (he yield been most extraordinary in quantity, but the weather with which we have been favored has enabled onr agriculturists to secure their crops, we believe, without a single exception. From reliable sources we are informed that, the yield has averaged about thirty bushels to the acre, and some growers have produced more than fifty. Maori Translation of Earl Granville's Despatch. — "Some Maori translations of Earl Granville's last despatch are reported to have been circulated among the King natives. The authorship of translation is attributed to Mr. C. 0. Davis, of Auckland." — Otago Daily Times. At intervals between squalls aud showers, the Buller beach was crowded on Sunday by persons watching the destructive influence of the sea, impelled by a strong north-west wind against the low and rapidly disappearing piece of debateable ground between the surf and the town. Considerable further encroachment was made at some points — especially near Mr. Chesswas' house and near the cemeter}' ; and at the narrowest part of the sandspit, a juuetion between the river and the sea was effected. Had it been the height of spring tides, the excitement on shore might have been more intense thau it was, and, under such circumstances again it will undoubtedly be so. — Westport Times. A few months ago it was rumored that the miners in the Brunner Coal Mine had come across a rock that broke the course of the seam, aud seriously threatened its future existence. The Grey Miver Argus announces that on Thursday forenoon the workmen in charge of sinking the shaft cams to the base of the obstruction at a depth of 42ft from the level of the drive, and found, as was anticipated, a splendid sample of coal. It is not known, however, whether this is a continuation of the old seam or that a new oue has been found. By a return published in the County of Westland Gazette we find that during the year 18G9 there were 71 deaths — males 60, females 11. 01 these, 14 males were drowned, and 21 met their deaths from mining accidents. Official Notice is given by Mr. Gisborne that certain post-offices will be opened as Government Life Insurance and Annuity Offices on and after the Ist March, 1870. Forms of application, and any information, can be obtained from the several postmasters. The offices are — Chief Post Offices at Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Napier, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, aud Invercargill. Post Offices afc Hokitika, Greymouth, Westport, and Charleston. We are informed by experts on the subject, that the Government Life Insurance Offices are much more favorable to insurers than those of the private companies. — Post. A serious fire has occurred at the Wairarapa whereby the Taratahi SawMills, five dwelling houses, 150,000 feet of timber, and other valuable property have been entirely destroyed. A number of the birds bought out to Dunedin lately by the Warrior Queen from London have been submitted to public competition when the prices averaged were, blackbirds, 30a.; skylarks, 505.: goldfinches from 30s. to 355. One or two thrushes realised £4. The construction of the graving dock at Port Chalmers i 3 progressing rapidly. The excavation is nearly completed, and the masonry work is being proceeded with. A great portion of the stone, obtained from a quarry in the neighborhood, is dressed and ready for setting.

The other day three men were trying to cross Mackaroa river, Lake Wanga, Otago, when their dingy got capsized, and one of them named William Smith, was drowned. Smith had a sheep dog with him. The faithful animal on finding that his master did not come on shore, plunged into the river, apparently in search of him, and continued swimming about the spot the whole day. Scarcity of Labor. — Complaints regarding the scarcity of harvest laborers aro common in Canterbury aud Otago. The Press states that in consequeuee of the scarcity of labor throughout the province, there are a vast number of acres of coru cut and lying exposed to the weather. The rate of wages this season to harvest hands and laborers not employed on farms by the year has been unprecedentedly high. Ti-ie Taranaki Herald states that accounts from the country districts in tbat province are to the effect that the wheat crops will be heavier this season than many previous years —as much as 40 bushels to the acre are spoken of. The oat crops, also, are looking well. The establishment of a new iudustry in the colony is a thing most worthy of record and encouragement ; and our readers generally will be glad to learn that there is a probability of a glass manufactory being established in or near the city of Auckland in a short time. A discussion took place recently in the Auckland Provincial Council on a motion by Mr. Carleton that the Superintendent should be empowered to sit iv the Council, aud take part in the debates, but retiriug so often as the Speaker should put the question. The motion was lost by a majority of 16. The Flax Industry. — The demand for flax machines is vow in excess of the supply. About four a week are made at the foundry of Mr. Wilson, who is at present turning out -'double machines," and 12 lately imported from Auckland by Mr. Manning, have all been sold. This, with the applications to the Waste Land Board for sites for flax mills, and for permission to cut flax, shows that the new industry is rapidly gaining ground throughout the proviuce. — Independent. A meeting* of miners and others, interested in the opening of the Ohinemuri, was held on tlie 19th ult. in the open air, opposite the Shamrock Hotel, Grahamstown. The meeting had been called for the purpose of hearing the reply of the Government to the deputation who had waited ou them, but owing to the nouarrival of those gentlemen, the meeting took another turn, which may lead to very important results, and have the effect of testing the sincerity of those natives who declare their willingness to open their ground to the miners. The following resolution was carried unanimously : — • "That the miners assembled at this meeting appoiut three miners, and authorise them to negotiate with such Maoris as are willing to open their lands for mining purposes at Ohinemuri, aud that the basis of such arrangements as may be come to by both parties, namely, the Maoris who would open their lands for mining on the one side, aud the miners on the other side, shall be a mutual pledge by the said parties in written terms that oue and all concerned, both individually and collectively, will use every means in their power to do justice to all parties as between man and mau." At the con- . elusion of the meetiug some general con- ] versation set iv, aud amongst other j matters the question as to whether the ] Ohinemuri district contained gold. Oue man stepped in and handed a small paper parcel to Mr. O'Hare. On opening it, it was found to coutain a very nice sample j of alluvia! gold mixed wit.h black sand. ■ The man referred to said he had himself obtained it on a terrace at Ohinemuri out of two dishfuls of dirt. There was nearly a dwt. of gold in the paper. ' We (Wellington Advertiser) understand that a passenger in the William Cargill has brought out with him an invention for ; flax-dressing, patented iv France; and that i it has been proved by actual experiment j that flax as now prepared, further treated j; by this process, which is not by any means f costly, is valued at £15 per ton more than * before it had gone through it. • <- The New Opera Company have been! highly successful in Melbourne. -They! have played to crowded houses, and their I performances are favorably criticised. |