Local Intelligence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 72, 5 December 1857, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

Sinking of a Small Vessel. — Yesterday morning an accident, that might have been attended with fatal results, occurred to the cutter Three Brothers. It appears that while crossing the bay, being loaded with timber, she shipped a heavy sea and sank near the Boulder-bank, opposite the Magazine, but fortunately she was not so low as to prevent her being got off when the tide fell. The harbour boat put out to her assistance, but the two men on board fortunately had launched their small dingy and reached the bank. The water in the Three Brothers was then pumped out, and she floated, being taken in tow by the harbour boat ; but from this, on feeling the wind, she broke away, and bore off for Wakapuaka; she vf as, however, brought back safely to Nelson on the turn of the tide, and her cargo of timber discharged. The cargo, we believe, belonged to Messrs. Robinson and Black, and consisted of timber to be used in the construction of the new chapel here. It is never our wish to find useless fault with any public officer, but in this instance we cannot refrain from the expression of our surprise that the signal-man did not notify that the vessel had gone down, as it appears he saw her sink. Let us for one moment presume that she had passengers aboard, or that the two men iv her had not had time to launch their little boat and could not swim, at this time we might be mourning the loss of human life, and then the position of the signal-man would have been indeed a serious one. We will hope that for the future he will use more care in the discharge of his important duties.

We are happy to see that at last the inhabitants of Nelson are beginning to stir themselves about a nuisance which infests our town ; and really at times, renders it dangerous for ladies to walk along the streets ; we mean the great number of canine mongrels, wandering about at all hours, and seemingly owned by no person. The following petition has been most numerously signed. To the Provincial Council foe the Province

of Nelson.

Gentiemen — We the undersigned inhabitants and electors of the town of Nelson, respectfully request that you will at the earliest possible period enact such measures by the imposition of a suitable tax, and otherwise, as will appear to you to be best adapted to suppress the many annoyances and evils arising from the numerous dogs which infest our streets and neighbourhood, &c., &c.