News of the Month.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 30, 11 March 1865, Page 5

News of the Month.

The Gale of Friday Morning. — This city and its environs were visited on Friday morning by a gale of very unusual violence, which lasted, however, only for a few hours, aud occasioned considerable damage and destruction of property. The wind was from the S.S.W. to S.E., and it is very rare that a gale ever blows home to Nelson from that quarter. A good deal of damage was done by the wind to gardens in and near the town, the applo and pear trees to a large extent being stripped of their fruit, and in the hop-gardens many of the vines were blown down. In Mr. Hale's nursery-garden, two very fine cypresses (cupressus macrocarpa) were laid level in the road fronting his grounds, and several of the fine willow-trees which are so great an ornament to our city, were destroyed. We have heard of a few chitnuics which sustained some damage, and in the harbour the schooner Tiger was blown on shore. The steamer Airedale, from Manukau, experienced the full force of the gale in crossing the Strait.

Registration. — Our attention has been called to an omission made by us in our article on Registration, on Tuesday last, in which we omitted to state the leasehold qualification of electors. To prevent any possible mistake, we now quote the clause of the Act, which states the qualification of electors? — " Every man of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, having a freehold estate in possession, situate within the district for which the vote is to be given, of the clear value of fifty pounds above all charges and incumbrances, and of j Or to which he has been seised or entitled, either at law or in equity, for at least six calendar months next before the last registration of electors, or having a leasehold estate in possession, situate within such district, of the clear annual value of ten pounds, held upon a lease which at the time of such registration shall have not less than three years to run, or having a leasehold estate so situate, and of such value as aforesaid, of which he has been in possession for three years or upwards next before such registration, or being a householder within such district, occupying a tenement within the limits of a town (to be proclaimed as such by the Governor for the purposes of this Act), of the clear annual value of ten pounds, or without tho limits of a town of the clear annual value of five pounds, and having resided therein six calendar months next before such registration as aforesaid, shall, if duly registered, be entitled to vote at the election of a member or members for the district." Persons who have changed their qualifications, such as householders removing from one residence to another, should send in a fresh claim, or they will be liable to be disfranchised.

Sporting. — A match for £20 aside, which had created considerable excitement in sporting circles in this city, came off on the Ist March, on the Racecourse, between Mr. Thomas Harley's bay horse Lord Raglan, ridden by the owner, and Mr. Horrigan's chestnut horse Shamrock, ridden by J. Robinson, junior ; once round the course. A large concourse of spectators had assembled on the ground, and the betting was decidedly in favour of Shamrock, in consequence of tho extra weight — twelve pounds — carried by Lord Raglan. On drawing for places, Shamrock got the inside, which, however, was soon taken by the bay horse, who, both from his superior build, and the skilful pilotage of his rider, seemed destined to be the winner. Nevertheless, when coming up the straight running, the occupants of the Grand Stand were betting two to one on his opponent, whose jockey then began, though vainly,' to use the whip, but at length Lord Raglan, who had been held all the way, came in the winner easily in a canter. A match for £30, also took plaae upon the race course on Thursday morning la9t, between Mr. Coleman's chestnut horse tho Barber, ridden by Jones, and Mr. Thomas Harley's brown horse Lord Raglan (the winner of the Waimea Hack Stakes run on Wednesday last), ridden by Lang. The betting was decidedly in favour of the Barber, in consequence of the fact that his Lordship was suffering from lameness, caused by a kick received on the course on the previous Wednesday. The distance was a mile and a-quarter, and the running was excellent. The two horses kept well together, but coming up the straight running, Lord Raglan took the lead, and won easily by three lengths. Time two mins. 15 sees.

Theatricals. — We learn that on the arrival of the next steamer from the North, Mr. C. O'Brion, the highly popular Irish comedian, will give us a short theatrical season in Nelson, supported by an excellent company which, for several months past, has received the most flattering support in Auckland.

Hops. — The hop-picking season has now fairly commenced, and in the gardens of Messrs. Harley and Sons, and Messrs. Hooper and Co., may be seen numbers of women and children busily employed in gathering the hops from the vines. In Messrs. Harley and Sons' garden, near Collingwood-bridge, is one of the finest crops ever grown in this province, and perhaps even in England. The garden is four acres in extent, and it is estimated that the yield will be at least a ton and a-quarter to the acre. The " hills " are literally covered with the golden fruit, and the leaves hanging in graceful festoons, give the gardens quite a pretty appearance at this season of the year. Considering that Nelson-grown hops sell for 3s. a pound (being Is. a pound more than imported English hops will realize), it seems a pity that this branch of industry is not more attended to especially as, when Nelson beer is not quite up to the mark, the fault is generally ascribed to " English hops."

Map or the West Coast Gold-held. — We have just seen a map prepared by Messrs. H. L. Skeet and A. D. Dobson, shewing the West Coast Q-old-field, and the overland routes from Nelson and Christchurch. It is carefully made, is of a handy size, and the lines of the road distinctly marked ; those available for horses being particularized. We understand it is at once to be lithographed, and will probably bo published by the end of next week. If so we would recommend it to those proceeding to that part of the country.

Pbovincial Revenue and Expenditure. — A Gazette, published on Thursday, the 16th February, gives the Revenue and Expenditure of the province for the quarter ended the 31st of December last. The gross Customs Receipts for the quarter were £7,498 Bs. 5d., of which £273 was for duty on gold belonging to the Provinces of Marlborough and Canterbury. The available Land Revenue for the quarter was £2,821 12s, Bd. The whole Ordinary Provincial Revenue was £6,131 13s. 4d. ; the Disbursements, £13,145 15s. 7d., which reduced the balance of £12,176 11s. Bd., in the Treasury at the commencement of the quarter, to £5,162 9s. 6d., at the end of the quarter.

Accident. — Shortly after the departure of the Phmbe for the South, on the 2nd March, an occurrence took place on board the Airedale, which at one time seemed to threaten consequences of a very serious nature. It appears that a dispute had arisen between the chief cook of that steamer, a Scotchman named M'Bell, and the carpenter, a man named Pie, and after some altercation, the carpenter struck Bell, who, either in warding off the blow, or in attempting to return it, lost his balance, and fell backwards into the hold. The unfortunate man was immediately taken up in an an insensible state, and it was supposed that he had received some fatal injury to the spine. He was carried without loss of time to the hospital, where Dr. Cusack was speedily in attendance. It was then discovered that though much shaken by the fall, he had received no very serious injury, and was in fact suffering severely from the effects of drink, in which it is stated that both men had been indulging very freely. On inquiring at the hospital yesterday, we learned that Sell was steadily recovering. The man Pie was apprehended on Thursday evening, some suspicion, well founded or not, being entertained that the injury to Bell was not unintentional.

Otago. — As showing the present position of Otago, we would quote the following from the Evening Star, of February 3 : — " A large number of summonses, about sixty, in civil cases, were withdrawn this morning at the Resident Magistrate's Court, the plaintiffs not caring to pay the cost of the hearing, which would probably result in verdicts they would never be paid by the defendant*. This kindk*ttr»ofa]»ditofcffthiiqpiQdM&"

Coroner's Inquest. — An inquest was held at Waimea-south, on the 18th February, before Thomas Connell, Esq., Coroner, touching the death of John Wilson, lately a lieutenant in the Royal navy, which took place at Waimea-south on the previous day. It .appeared from the evidence of Mrs. Bur bush, who lived near the house occupied by the deceased, and was in the habit of attending upon him, that she last saw him alive about half-past five on Friday afternoon, when he was then in his bed-room. Mrs. Burbush then quitted the house, leaving deceased I kneeling at tho side of his bed, and apparently | very weak and exhausted, with the intention of obtaining her husband's assistance in order to lift the deceased upon his bed. On her return with her husband, it was discovered that that he had breathed his last during her absence. Mr. Burbush then summoned Mr. Baigent and Dr. Oldham, who arrived shortly afterwards, but the deceased was dead. From the evidence of this witness, who had attended upon him for the last thirteen years, it appeared that the deceased at times drank to excess, and on the Thursday preceding his decease he had been drinking porter and brandy in considerable quantities. His last fit of intoxication commenced early in January, and continued up to the date of his death. He was in a partially stupid state, knowing what he was saying, but incapable of taking care of himself. Dr. Oldham deposed to the habitually excessive indulgence of the deceased in spirituous liquors, and gave it as his opinion that, death was produced by suffocation, caused by his falling forward on the bed whilst in such a state, and being nnable to recover himself. Mr. Squire, Postmaster at Wakefield, deposed to having supplied the deceased with thirty drops of compound spirit of ammonia, at his request, on the Thursday preceeding his death, when he was in a state of great exhaustion, and the Rev. Francis Tripp, Incumbent of Wakefield, deposed to having^ found him lying about half-past five on Thursday evening last, in a ditch at the roadside, having with him three bottles of beer, which were destroyed by Mr. Tripp's directions. He (the deceased) was then in an extreme state of intoxication, and quite incapable of taking care of himself. The jury, having viewed the body previous to hearing the evidence in the case, returned a verdict of " Died from asphyxia, caused by extreme drinking of intoxicating liquors."

Drowning op Mr. Simpson at the Bitller. — On Tuesday, the 31st January, Mr. Simpson, storekeeper and licensed ferryman at the junction of the Lyell Creek with tho Buller river, whilst crossing the ferry with seven passengers, was drowned m consequence of the capsizing of the boat. The passengers were all saved, but Simpson, who was seen to struggle hard, was drawn into the rapids and disappeared. Simpson was a native of Suffolk, and had long resided in New Zealand, having been at the Lyell Creek four years, where he appears to have been greatly respected by the miners. A memorial has, we are informed, been sent to the Executive, with the view of inducing them to place a bridge over so dangerous a crossing place.

Permanent Building Society. — The £20 shares in this society, sold on the 21st February, realized premiums of £4 Bs. each for twenty-eight shares, and £3 10s. each for four shares.

Acclimatization.— We aro glad to find that the partridges received last from England, and turned out in Waimea-west, near the residence of Mr. Redwood, jun., have bred this year, covies having been started in the neighbourhood of where they were liberated as well as on the opposite side of the Waimea river, in the grounds of Mr. C. Best. The pheasants which were turned out some years since by Sir E. H. Dashwood, Bart., at the Moutere, and which have bred so numerously, have now extended into the Waimea, several birds having been seen there during the summer.

Government House Wellington. — The Lyttelton Times publishes the following : — " A photograph of the approved design for the residence to be built in Wellington, for the Governor, has been forwarded to us by the courtesy of the architects, Messrs. Mason and Clayton, of Dunedin, who, as our readers may remember, were the architects of the Exhibition building, and of many other important'public and private edifices in that city. The design before us appears to be well suited to the site upon which the house is to be built, a tolerably level block of land at tho base of steep round topped hills. Ifca chief characteristics may be referred to the Elizabethan Btyle, but the name is of little consequence ; the effect is very pleasing, the proportions and grouping are peculiarly good, and the eastern and the northern elevations which are shown indicate that the interior is capable of being arranged as a comfortable dwelling-house — a much more important point in these matters than it seems to be commonly thought. The building is two-storied, though the high-pitched steep roofs, the perpendicular lines of which abound, and a tower which rises in the centre, give a somewhat lofty effect. The material is, of course, to be chiefly timber ; and the cost will be from £18,000 to £20,000."

Our Maori Allies and the Victoria Cross. — The Wellington Advertiser urges that the Victoria Cross should be given to Hori Kingi, Mete Kingi and the other chiefs of the friendly natives who recently defeated the rebels at Wanganui. It says : — " Her Gracious Majesty has wisely knighted some of her Indian subjects whose loyaity or philanthropy has been pre-eminent, and we are sure that on no such occasion was knightho.od more discriminatingly bestowed than it would be if attached to the names of Hori King, Mete Kingi, Aneki, or Mawai. The proudest among us need not blush to pay respect to the Victoria Cross if it glittered on the breasts of such Maori warriors — men who, not for themselves, but for their Queen and fellow European subjects, stood in the van of the conflict and caused the tide of rebellion to ebb. We trust that the Government will readily respond to this suggestion, and that the first act of confiscation will be in favour of the children of the noble Williams, and of his friends, the lion-hearted Kingis ; while they will make known to her Majesty the devoted loyalty and unswerving courage of her Maori subjects in order that they also may share her smiles. John Williams cared not to count the odds ; he stopped not to calculate the effects of the apathy, vacillation, and mistrust of Government ; he went boldly to the most distant frontier out-post, and placed himself in the gap and stopped the rebels' path. And now the warrior lies in the silent tomb, his generous interpositions in behalf of his fellow-subjects are at an end, his loyalty and devotion are carried to the grave ; but his memory will be cherished, and will be a household word among the homesteads of Wanganui for many a year to come. Let us show that we are worthy of such men ; let us teach our children to appreciate them by ourselves recognising their value, and rewarding their merit."

Picton and Blenheim Railway Bill. — The Executive have decided upon drawing up a Bill, to be presented to the G-eneral Assembly, for permission to construct a tramway between Blenheim and Picton. This will be granted as a matter of course. We presume the Government would not have taken so necessary a preliminary Btep without having substantial grounds for believing that the way is pretty clear to them where the money is to come from.

The West Coast Gold Escobt.— The Canterbury Press, of March 1, says : — "-A careful inspection of the maps in the Survey Department, and inquiry from those who have been on tho coast, leads us to the conclusion that it is very doubtful whether a gold escort could be brought through at all from the West Coast at such a cost as would render it worth while to maintain it until some improvements are mode in the road. At the same time, if from 1,000 to 2,000 ounces a-week are being raised, we think it ought to be tried even at risk of failure."

The Exhibition.— The Otago Mail says :—": — " We should like to see the New Zealand Exhibition become thoroughly popular throughout the province. It has now been opened several weeks, and it is truly painful to witness the small hold it has taken on the public favour. Except on special occasions, you may saunter round the spacious building without seeing a score of persons in it, and these look sometimes more like mourners at a funeral than enthusiastic rtsdfstt of tht wwlu el nrfr ud xutart .'•

Gully's New Zealand Scenery. — We take from the Lyttelton Times the following with reference to some pictures painted for Mr. Haast by Mr. Gully, of Nelson ; — " Those who have enjoyed the pleasure of seeing the water-colour paintings of the mountain and glacier scenery in the interior of this island, executed by Mr. John Gully, will be delighted to learn that the eminent firm of Day and Son, in London, are about to issue a volume of twelve Chromolithographs of the best of these drawings. The paintings have been made from sketches by Dr. Haast, taken in the interior of the province of Canterbury ; and for striking effect may justly be said, in the words of Sir Roderick Murchison, never to have been surpassed by any delineator of icy regions. A prospectus before us gives an account of Messrs. Day and Son's intention, from which we learn that oach view will be eighteen inches long, on paper of twenty-five inches. The whole twolve subjects will be bound together, and issued at a very moderate price to subscribers, if a hundred are found for the work. We believe the number is nearly complete, and an agent in Christchurch will receive applications for the remainder, which we have no doubt will be eagerly sought for.

Collector of Customs, Wairau. — S. L. Muller, Esq., has been appointed Collector of Customs at the port of Wairau.

The Wakamarina. — The following is from the Marlborough Times : — " The exodus from the Wakamarina gold-fields to the Grey, reduced the population by some hundreds in a few weeks. A fow days' heavy rain last week caused an extraordinary rise in the river ; in fact, it is said that the water rose as high as at any time during mid- winter. This untoward circumstance, having occurred just at the time that the report of the rush to the Okitiki reached the Wakamarina, caused a considerable number of the miners to start for Nelson overland, so that not more than four or five hundred now remain. In fact some estimate the present population even lower than that. The merchants and traders of Havelock have gradually moved off to Wanganui, Wellington, and. other places, and there are now only some half dozen stores left. Under these altered circumstances it now becomes a serious question for our Provincial Government as to how so large and expensive an official staff can bo maintained as was necessary when the population was nearly ten times what it now is. The revenue ' derived from the Wakamarina as a gold-field will not pay a third of the entire expense. The provincial revenue is small and required for other purposes. Either an immediate reduction in the number of officials employed, and also of the police force, or a reduction in the amount of salaries has become imperatively necessary. The salaries are already on a moderate scale, and perhaps the wiser course to adopt would be to recommend a few of the extra hands to the Canterbury Government, for employment on the Okitiki goldfields. No doubt a few miners will remain on the Wakamarina, but to maintain the present staff on their account, in the present financial position of the province, would be simply impossible.