ELECTION AT COLLINGWOOD.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 13 March 1866, Page 3

ELECTION AT COLLINGWOOD.

The nomination of candidates to represent the district of Collingwood, in the General Assembly, took place at Collingwood, on Friday, the 9th bf March. The Retubnino Officer having read the writ, called upon the electors to propose and second the candidates. ' Mr. William Gibbs proposed, and Mr. John Edmund Pbice seconded, the nomination of Andrew James Richmond, Esq. Mr. James M'Kenzie, proposed William Thomas Locke Travers, Esq. The Returning Offices having allowed a considerable time to elapse, and no seconder coming forward for Mr. Travers, he declared Andrew James Richmond, Esq., duly eleoted.

Thi Racjjs. — The entries for the Handicap Stakes were completed on Saturdoy, and the weights are now advertised. Seven horses have been entered, so that a good field is promised. Trust, by Towton, out of a half-sister of Strop, has the top weight, and gives Slbs to The Queen, 51bs to Gameiter, 81bs to Harebell, lOlbs to Centurion, lllbs to Blockboy, and 121bs to Compensation. We behove the Nelson races this year will fully maintain their old reputation, and offer excellent sport. The stewards, we observe, have determined on charging an admiision fee of one shilling for each person who goes on the course. This very reasonable charge will add something to the fund, and enable them to further increai c the sport, and every person present will feel that he is contributing to the race fund. The turn netted for the sale of the gates, booths, &a, on Saturday last, was £141 155. Exhibition ov Wobkb" in Mabble.— Signor del Colombo, a gentleman who has recently arrived from Melbourne, ha* brought with him a variety of works of art in pure marble and agate, which are to be disposed of by auction on Wednesday next. The collection it to be seen at the premises lately occupied by N. Edwards and Co., in Trafalgar-street, where the sale will take place to-morrow at eleven o'clock. The rooms are open to the public, who will find a viait repay them well. Accident. — A man named M. Harvey was driving a horse and cart on the Waimea-road, on Saturday last, and, when near Stoke, his horse was ■tartled by the crack of a whip, and Harvey in some way got knocked down, one of the wheels of the vehiclepassing over his leg, which it seriously injured. Harvey was conveyed to tho Hospital, and w» bear is now doing well.

The Lenton Teoupe.— This talented company, which arrived here on Sunday, by the Eguiont, on their way to Hokitika, gave a performance last night, at the Odd-Fellows' Hall. The houso was tolerably well filled, and the performance was a highly pleasing one. Accident to the Fox-hill Coach. — Shortly after leaving town on Saturday last, the axle-tree of the vehicle, driven by Mr. Holder between Nelson and Fox-hill, broke on the road. A short delay ensued, uutil another coach was procured from Nel-* son, when the passengers proceeded eafely on their journey. Nelson Institute Exhibition. — We see by advertisement that in addition to several new attractions, the new magnesium light will be produced at the exhibition, at eight o'clock this evening. Finances op New Sotmi Wales. — The Treasurer's financial statement, made on the 28th ultimo, was considered the most satisfactory one made for years. It assumes the question of taxation settled for some time, and expects a credit balance at the end of the year of nearly £150,000. The expenditure for the year includes £20,000 Bubsidy towards tho Panama mail contract. The Government intend re-assembling Parliament in June. Austbalian Mail Seevice. — The Government of Victoria has invited a conference of the other Australian colonies, to see what can be done to remedy the evils of the mail service as now performed by the P. and O. Company. A correspondent of the Argus, writing from Sydney, says " It is not at all likely that the Government will accede to the request of the Victorian Government for a conference on the subject of the mail service. This Government is responsible for the entire Australian subsidy to the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian mail service ; and if Victoria will not contribute to that service, it is more than probable that the New South Wales Government will withdraw its support from the service via Galle." Australian Sebial Litebatube. — The first number of the Australian Monthly Review was published in Melbourne on the Ist instant. It is edited by Mr. G. A. Walstab. This publication, judging from its first number, is said to be in advance of any publication of the kind which has as yet appeared in the Australian colonies. Tboops in New Zealand. — We observe it stated that General Chute received peremptory orders, by last mail, to reduce the strength of the Imperial troops in this colony to 3,225 officers and men, to consist of the 12th, 14th, and 18th Regiments, a battalion of Artillery, and a company of Royal Engineers. Tho 43rd, 68th, 40th, 50th, and 57th Regiments are to proceed home as quickly as ships can be procured. Tht Viotobian Dead Lock. — The illegal proceedings of the Ministry of Victoria has caused the revenue of that colony to lose the large sum of £63,780 in tea and sugar duties within the last few months. Through the dodges to which the Government resorted to impose import duties not sanctioned by law, they pormitted tea and sugar to be imported on payment only of an illegally imposed tax, under the units of Entry Act — a measure passed some years since for a totally different object than that to which it was lately applied — and having taken no bonds for the balance from the importers, theso gentlemen, some half-dozen in number, shared amongst them the Bum above named, being tho ballance of the legal duty The whole fact was unwillingly admitted by the Treasurer in a late debate on the new tariff. St. David's Day. — The Welsh residents of Melbourne celebrated St. David's Day by a dinner, at the Hummum's Hotel, Bourke-street. Seventy gentlomon wero present, amongst whom were several members of Parliament. Mr. Davies, M.L.A., in responding to the toast of the " Immortal memory of St. David," said :— " The history of St. David, that truly venerable saint, whose memory Welshmen in all parts of the world-were proud to honour, was no mythical story, but a record of the good deeds of a living man, duly canonized by the Church to which he belonged. During his long life of 146 years, the patron saint of Wales devoted himself to the cause of Christianity, which was then struggling for existence. He was born towards the close of the fifth century, in the county of Cardigan, was the son of Prince Sandde, and consequently uncle to the famous Prince Arthur. There were proofs extant of his great erudition and genuine piety, and numerous anecdotes were related of the power of his eloquence. Historians generally agreed that he died in the year 514, and true Welshmen would always honour his memory." West Coast of the Middle Island, New Zealand. — The following, from Captain Thomas Brown, appeared in the Sobart Town Mercury : — " Would it not be advisable to call the attention of the Colonial Government and people, to the necessity of sending a searching party to the West Coast of New Zealand, Middle Island, with a view of relieving human suffering? Two vessels lately, the Mary Williams and Sangalier, and I do not know many others, are supposed to be wrecked about that quarter. The character of a great portion of the West Coast of the Middle Island is calculated to cage men up, as- it were, in the many harbours it affords for shelter, yet prevent them from walking to any settlement, on account of the mountainous and rocky nature of the Fareshore ; we know from experience it is not unusual for both ships and boats to be ground up by the sea, when, in the providence of a compassionate God, His creatures have been spared. Since the trade opened up with Hokitika, the number of both small and large vessels, also open, boats, passing along this coast Kaa been considerable ; and very possibly the crews, or part of the crews, of the missing ones, may be, at this present feeling something like what the poor fellows suffered but lately at the Auckland Islands, and so giving unto a benevolent people another opportunity in their life-time of doing good, in holding out a helping hand to the castaway sailor; could one human h'fe be saved by such a course, or information gained how others have gone, it would be ample satisfaction for the little expense it would take to carry the whole thing out. To have this very interesting coast surveyed, without further loss of time, is a public duty. From the degree of south latitude 43 deg. 33 sec. to 46 deg. 10 sec, a distance of 160 miles of said coast affords fifteen pkces of shelter, where vessels in distress, when put to the last push — in case of shifting ballast, or cutting away part of their spars — would try and make, rather than experience a hopeless end on the open shore. Within the said 160 miles there is an inlet, or bay, or sound, on an average every ten miles, beginning at the north end with Milford Sound, Bligh Sound, George Sound, Looking-glass Bay, Caswefl Sound, Charles' Sound, Nancy Sound, Thompson Sound, Doubtful Inlet, Gaol Sound, Dagg Sound, Breaksea Sound, Dusky Bay or Sound, Chalky Inlet, and Preservation Inlet ; in nearly the whole of these places a vessel under jury-masts, and often in full gear, would seldom gain an anchorage, both because of the wind falling light, or changeable, and becoming calm on approaching the the high land, and the soundings being so deep that vessels cannot find anchorage close up to the rocks, unless by getting to a cove at the head of one of those extensive inlets of the sea, which in most cases can only be done by towing or steam. Unlike the whale-ship, coasters can do little at towing, and would only become a wreck after the last strain of seamanship in picking out a soft place, which too often proves hard enough to grind the strongest ship up in a few minutes. It is about four months since the above-named vessels left Hokitika, and have not been heard of since. The Mary and William, barge, of Williamstown, Captain Evan Griffiths, left Hokitika about the same time as the Sangalier, also bound to the Molyneux, arrived safe, and left the Molyneaux again on the 16th December. Captain Griffiths reports that there were heavy westerly gales blowing for several days after the Sangalier left Hokitika, and it is just likely that the Sangalier may have got as far south before the gale began, as to get one of the said harbours, formed between the mountains under her lee, where her crew may yet be unable to get away of themselves." Victobian Libbaby. — In presenting to the Legislative Assembly recently the first report of the Library Committee, Mr. Edwards stated that the Library now contained 26,000 volumes.

Attempt at Suicide. — The Lyttelton Times, of the 23rd February, gives the following account of attempt at suicide : — " Last Tuesday, a man named Isherworth, residing in Kilmore-street, attempted suicide by hanging himself to a bed-"post. He was cut down before life was extinct, and was conveyed to the Hospital. Upon some pretext, he managed to evade the vigilance of the authorities of that institution, and plunged into the river. lie was, howhowever, rescued, and' re-conveyed to the Hospital. We believe that he will be brought up, when sufficiently recovered, before the Resident Magistrate, in order that his state of mind may be ascertained. He has been suffering for some time from extreme depression of spirts." The Lyttelton and Cheistchttbch Tunnel. — The Canterbury Press, of March 6, informs us that " From the Provincial Engineer's return of the progress made to the Lyttelton tunnel, during the month of February, it appears that it amounted to sixty-six feet at tho Heathcote end, and forty feet at the Port end, or one chain and forty feet in all. The total amount driven, up to the end of February, was fifty-four chains sixteen feet at the former, and fifty-one chains seventeen feet at the latter, or 2,321 yards, which, as the total length of the tunnel is 2,838 yards, leaves 517 yards still to be driven." Fatal Accident. — " On Friday last," says the Canterbury Press, of March 6, " an inquest was held at Leithfield, before C. Dudley, Esq., the district coroner, on the body of William Collins. From the evidence, it appeared that the deceased had left tho North Hotel, at the Hurunui, on horseback, on Sunday, February 25, about eight o'clock in the evening, to which house he was again brought back dead on Thursday last, the body having been found by one of the shepherds of the St. Leonard's station, near a wire fence, which was considerably broken, evidently by the horse falling over it. The body was lying near the broken part of the fence, on the face, one hand being in the coat-pocket ; the neck was supposed' also to be broken, though, from its decomposed state, this would have been difficult to ascertain. The position of the body conveyed tho idea that the deceased must have come into collision with the wire, and been thrown over his horse's head, breaking his neck, and causing almost instantaneous death. The jury returned a verdict of 'Found dead.'" Bueglaby at the Hutt. — In the Wellington Independent of March 6, we find the following: — "Early on Saturday morning last, a robbery was effected at Fern Grove, Hutt. The thief or thieves entered the bedroom of Mr. Harrington's house, and took a purse and its contents from the pocket of his trousers, which were on a chair at his bed-side. They then went to the bedroom of his daughter, removed her clothes from the bedside into an adjoining room, where they also took out a purse from her dress pocket, and emptied its contents. The drawing-room was also entered, and a valuable silver inkstand stolen therefrom. A window in the sitting-room was found open which had evidently been opened from the inside." Savage Attempt at Mubdeb by a Maori. — " A most savage attempt," says the Auckland New Zealander, " was made on the 21st instant, by a native, to murder a military settler named Mullin, who was residing on his fifty acre farm at Hamilton. The facts of the case are these : — The farm, alloted to Mullin's father, who also belongs to the regiment, happens to lie pretty near to the ground on which the Maori gum-diggers are at work ; and as he has a considerable breadth of potatoes planted on it, it has proved highly attractive to the diggers, and for some time back he has suffered much annoyance and loss from their depredations, which were conducted in a truly Maori fashion, pulling them up, taking off the large ones, and then pushing the stalk and the small ones back into the ground. These depredations being committed mostly at night, he determined the other night to watch his crop ; and about ten at night, one of them, provided with an iron bucket, came over the fence and commenced operations, when he seized him, and took him into the house. He had in the house with him only a little boy, whom he sent in the morning for his son and son in-law, who speedily went to the farm, and marched him off with them, making him cany the potatoes he had dug, and some timber he liad stole from a neighbouring house, no doubt for firewood. When the party were about a mile from the township he solicited permission to go into a flax bush to get a blade for his pikau, when Kelly, the son hrlaw, went on a step or two, young Mullin following the Maori into the flax. In this flax bush the Maori had a blacksmith's hammer concealed, and which was the real object of his search, for as soon as he had found it, he directed Mullin's attention to something behind him, and the moment he looked round, struck him behind the ear with the hammer, which brought him at once to tho ground, repeating his blows on the head when down. Kelly, hearing the scuffle, at once ran to his aid, knocked down the Maori, and wrenched the hammer from him. He said ' Harry, shall I brain him ?' and the poor bleeding young fellow said, ' Don't hurt the old man,' and almost immediately became unconscious. Kelly seeing this, and seeing him bleeding so much about the head, felt more concerned for the life of his brother in-law, and thought more of conveying him where he would find help, than of securing the Maori, who was thus unfortunately enabled to escape, carrying with him his plunder in the iron bucket, which was recognised as one that had been stolen from one of the settlers a short time before. Kelly carried him to the nearest house, and sent for Dr. Beale, who was promptly on the spot, and dressed his woundß with equal care n.ncL still. Tke young man was shortly after rei moved to his mother's house, under the directions of i the doctor, who thinks that, with quiet and attention, his life may be saved." The Leiohaedt Search Party. — The Port Denison Times of the 10th February, says :—": — " We have news from the Thompson to the 20th January. At that date Mr. M'lntyre's exploring party, consisting of the commander and two men, were on the Thompson River, about 120 miles from the depdt on Aramac Creek, to which place they were travelling. Rain had fallen, and the horses and camels were improving rapidly. Several men had expressed their willingness to join the expedition, and it was Mr. M'lntyre's intention shortly to recruit and continue the search. An old grave has been discovered within forty miles of the dep6t on Aramac Creek, surrounded with rails wKich appear to at least seven or eight years old, and as it is evidently the work of Europeans it is supposed to belong to some explorer. No initials or marks can be discovered in the vicinity, and owing to the long drought, it had been found impossible to dig up the grave with a spade (the. only implement at hand) Mr. M'lntyre's brother arrived on Bowen Downs with 1,000 head of cattle in the beginning of January, and awaits there the arrival of the explorer. The cattle are described as being in first-rate condition." The Gold Discoveeies in Southland. — The Southland Times, of the 28th ultimo, in a letter from its own corresondent at Riverton, says : — " The gold discoveries are becoming very important j the feeling of mistrust, the reluctance to believe that a genuine gold-field existed in our district, has led me to be careful in my statements — to only give half the accounts which I believe reliable. But to the subject matter of my letter. Southland has a goldfield which, although, at present, I would not designate of ' surpassing richness,' bids fair to prove of great value. A gentleman who arrived from the Pahi Diggings last night, states that notwitstanding a number of miners have arrived, all are satified, and acknowledge that they were making good wages (at least £1 per day), and that over many miles he had prospected, there was ground for any number of men who would work, which would yield from fifteen to thirty shillings a day. He has had considerable experience on the West Coast, and believes that the field will prove of great extent and value. Several parcels of gold have been brought into townj and for the most part sent to Invercargill for sale. There can now be no doubt that a payable gold-field exists. I have had a party with me to-day who more than confirms all that I had previously heard. He is an experienced miner, one of a party, the majority of whom are on the West Coast. He has written for all his mates to return at

once, and there can be no stronger evidence of his confidence in the place, than the fact that to ensure despatch he has forwarded a letter to Invercargill, with instructions to send it on with all haste, at any cost. I send you tho name of the party, whom you will acknowledge is a most reliable person. M'Closkey's party came in from Longwood on Saturday, and divided £6 per man for the week, after paying all expeuses. Others are doing better." The Riverton correspondent of the Southland News, referring to the gold prospects obtained there, says : — " The whole of the coast between this and Jackson's Bay has been more or less prospecbed ; and Mr. Trjett, whose party is remaining at the bay, is now in Riverton, with Captain Carter, of the Petrel, for supplies. Mr. Tryett will remain for a month, and thoroughly prospect the Longwood and Paihl gold-districts, and his present intention is to send to his party now at the bay to return to Riverton. He has had a great deal of experience in mining, and has been eighteen months in prospecting in and around Jackson's Bay, and his opinion of the country round us, from what he has seen and learned from parties at work, is that we shall very shortly have a gold field close at home, little — if any — inferior to the West Coast diggings. One thing is certain, that both at Longwood and Kolac Bay, everybody gets well paid for working. There are no grumblers, for there is no occasion for it." HIGHWAY ROBBEBY NEAE MELBOURNE. — The following case is reported in the Argus, of tho 2nd of March : — " A case of highway robbery on the Hei-delberg-road on Wednesday evening, was reported to the police yesterday, by Thomas Harman ; when returning with his cart from Melbourne market, on the previous evening, at nine o'clock, and when within about a mile and a-half from Eltham, he was met by a man wearing a mask, who presented a pistol at him, and demanded his money. He gave up what money he had about him, amounting to £5 45., with which he made off. As the fellow had his face covered with a mask, his identification will probably be difficult. Danger of Fiee feom Glass Bottles. — " There appears," remarks the Talbot Leader, a Victorian paper of a recent date, "to be considerable risk of fire during the hot weather, from the glass-bottles exhibited by druggists in their shop-windows. The other morning, about eight o'clock, the attention of Mr. Paul, a druggist of this town, was called by a passer-by to smoke arising from his window, when it was found that the back of the shelf upon which three large bottles stood, was burning. The fire being very slight at the time, was soon extinguished. Each of theso bottles had acted as a kind of burningglass, and the rays of the sun pouring steadily through them, ignited the shelf on the other side. No wonder, after this demonstration of a theory upon which the public has so long been divided, that the bush is so often ignited by glass-bottles." Export of Hobses to India. — We learn from the Argiis of the 26fch of February, that " upwards of ninety horses were shipped on Saturday on board the ship Harkaway, at Sandridge Town Pier, for the Calcutta market, to which port tho vessel is bound. The horses < are a cai-efully selected lot. There are several thoronghbreds amongst them, and all appear to be well bred animals. They are all from four to six years, and from them can be selected horses fit for carriages or buggies, for cross-country riding, or for any kind of hack work. They have been got together, by picking from mobs brought into town during the last few months, and are a lot that are likely, if delivered in good condition, to retrieve the character of Australian horseß in the Indian market. In consequence of the indifferent quality of some consignments sent to India some years ago, and the losing nature of the speculations, the export of horses to that market suffered a check which it has not since recovered, and the result of the sale of the present shipment will be of interest to horse-breeders in this colony. Value of a Chinaman's Tail. — In the Bendigo Police Court, recently, a man was fined 40s. for assaulting a woman living at the Back Creek ; or, in default, ordered to be incarcerated in gaol for a week. After receiving the sentence, the Celestial resumed his seatr-snd was remaining until the adjournment of the Court, evidently having made up hia mind to " take it out " in prison. The Police Magistrate, just before the business of the Court was over, observing that the Chinaman's occiput was decorated with a tail of almost interminable length, gracefully wound round his head after the fashion of the Chinese, told the interpreter to inform the man that if he did not pay the fine and was sent to gaol, his tail would be cut off. On the dread alternative being placed before him, John was evidently on the horns of a dilemma whether to part with hiß money or his tail. At last he compounded the matter, by informing the magistrate that his friends would come and pay the fine for him. He paid the money before the rising of the Court. A New Austbalian Bishopbic. — "A private letter," says the Argus, " was received by the last mail from an old colonist, announcing that the Rev. Dr. Waddelaw is to be appointed Bishop of Grafton and Armidale." Anooea Goat 3 and Osteiohes fob Viotobia. — The Council of the Melbourne Acclimatisation Society, at a late meeting, unanimously agreed : — " That the available funds of the Acclimatisation Society during the current year, be mainly expended in the introduction and management of Angora goats and ostriches." The secretary reported the arrival of two mallee hens from Dr. Mac&onald, of Horaham, and two moose deer from Mr. Charles Gray, of Nareeb Nareeb, Wickliffe. An T7:NWEi,costE Visitoe A3? Air Ink. — The inmates of the G-lobe Hotel, Rookhampton, ■were lately awoke early one morning, by the continual breaking of bottles. On searching the bar a large carpetsnake, nearly seven feet long, was observed crawling about the shelf, and occasionally coiling himself around the bottles. Without much hesitation a club or two was brought into play, and the reptile was despatched, but not before several bottles of grog were capsized and broken. Meteorology of Melbotxbne. — The Government Astronomer of Victoria, in Mb meteorological report for the month of Februaiy, says: — "The highest temperature in the shade was 102 s', on the Bth ; the lowest, 46"- 4', on the 25th ; the highest solar and the lowest terrestrial radiation were respectively 127° 0' on the 18th, and 41° C on the 25th. The weather during the month was fine, though frequently very hot ; light rain showers on the Ist, 11th, 12th, 18th, and 19th ; heavy dew on the nights of the 3rd, 4th, sth, 6th, 17th, 22nd, 26th, 27th, and 28th ; thunder and lightning on the evening of the 11th ; very hot and sultry on the 7th, Bth, 9th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 21st, and 22nd ; hot wind on tho morning of the 12th and 22nd ; squally on the 12th, 15th, and 28th j Aurora Australis on the evening of the 21st." Gbeat Mobtality at Sea. — On board the immigrant ship Sultana, lately arrived at Brisbane, seventy-seven deaths occurred during the passage, and sickness was still prevalent on her reaching port. Sebious Fiee. — The Kyneton Observer reports :—: — "Another disastrous fire, occasioned by a steam threshing machine, occurred on a farm of Mr. Gordon, of Rochford, on Saturday. The machine belonged to Mr. Kennedy, and had been engaged some days in threshiug at this farm, as nearly the whole of this year's crop had been threshed, amounting in all to something like 2,500 bushels, and this large quantity of corn, in sacks, had been stored in a new barn. It is supposed the fire first commenced from a spark from the engine, but at any rate the barn and its contents were, in a few minutes, destroyed. We have not been able to learn whether either the machine or corn were insured." Peactical Chbistianity. — Four little boys were caught in the act of pilfering the Chinese garden, last night (says the Oeelong Register, of February 24). John took them into his house, and, after giving them their supper, let them go. A Case of Tbespass. — The Geelong Register mentions that " the traffic over the Ceres-bridge has suddenly been brought to a standstill. It appears the ground over which the approaches are made, has not been paid for ; and Mr. Lomax, now asserting his claim for payment, has stopped the traffic, and caused considerable inconvenience. '