News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 81, 3 July 1866, Page 3

News of the Day.

Fatal Accident in the Pelobus Sound. — A fearful accident has happened to a vessel in the Pelorus Sound. The Wild Wave, belonging to Captain Buckstone, one of a fleet of excellent colonial Behoonera, was upset whilst working down the Sound and all hands, save the captain and cook, were drowned. We understand that four bodies have been recovered and an inquest held on them.

The Magistrate's Couht. — During bo important a trial as that which is now occupying public attention, and of which a large number are looking to the public journals for authentic accounts, it seems strange that better arrangements hare not been made to enable reporters to take correctly the evidence which is adduced by the various witnesses. It is difficult under the most favourable circumstances to take correctly every word that falls from the mouth of a witness ; it is still more co when the reporters are compelled to sit immediately behind the witness whose voice is almost entirely inaudible. As the approaching trial for murder is one which will arrest the attention of persons in all parts of the colonies, it would, we think, be advisable to place greater advantages in the way of seeing and hearing to those on whom depends a correct publication of the facts of the case. Were the reporters' table placed side by side with that for the counsel the evidence could probably be taken down verbatim ; under the present arrangement this is impossible. MiBB Aitken.— By the Claud Hamilton, yestei«< day from the South, this gifted lady arrived here W her way to Hokitika ; and, at the solicitation of numerous friends, Bhe has consented to give an evening's entertainment in Nelson. Those amongst us who heard Miss Aitken's readings when she last visited Nelson, will be pleased to learn that she has been induced to forfeit her passage in the Claud Hamilton, in order to afford us the gratification of again hearing her, and the more so when they are informed that this is the last visit Miss Aitken will ever make to Nelson, as she is about taking her departure from the colony, and giving up her profession. We believe we shall be borne out in our statement, that Miss Aitken's readings were considered, by all who heard them, as some of the greatest intellectual treats ever enjoyed here. From the late-hour last evening at which the lady was prevailed upon to delay her departure from Nelson till the sailing of the next steamer for the West Coast, no arrangement could be made for her promised entertainment beyond fixing the evening, Friday next. A future advertisement will give full particulars. Nstsoy Assemblies. — The Assembly, postponed from Friday last, and intended to come off on Friday next, will not then take place. The second Assembly of the season will come off on the last Friday in this month, which will cause the last of the set to be a month later than originally contemplated. Customs Revenue.— We give below the Customs revenue received at our port during the quarter ended the 30th of June. It is nearly £I,o' X) in excess of the amount received for the preceding quarter. This amount is independent of our share of the Customs revenue received at G-reymouth :—: — £ : a. Spirits, 4,674 gallons . . . 2,804 9 0 Cigars and Snuff, 7721b5. . . 173 17 1 Tobacco, 8,7861b5. . . . 1,098 5 0 Wine, in wood, 1,672 gallons . 334 8 0 Wine, in bottle, 200 gallons . 50 4 2 Ale, &c, in wood, 2,798 gallons . 104 18 6 Ale, &c, in bottle, 4,796 gallons . 359 14 0 Tea, 23,6851bs 592 2 6 Coffee, Cocoa, &c, 12,8801b5. . 161 0 0 Sugar, 332,0091b5. . . . 1,383 7 5 Fire Arms, 75 . . . . 18 15 0 Gunpowder, 2001bs. . . • 210 0 Measurement Goods, 7,251 ft. 3 in. 1,812 16 4 Goods by weight, 1,980 cwt.2llbs. 396 Oil £9,292 7 11 Export duty on Gold . . . 315 6 6 Warehouse rent, and incidental receipts 23 14 8 £9,631 9 1 Hobbible OcottrbeNCß. — A telegram in the Christchurch papers states that a woman, at the North Taieri, has cut the throats of both her children and of herself. She iB supposed to have been insane for six months past. Bachelobhood. — The Auckland Penny Journal, of the 23rd instant, speaking of the criminal calendar, Bays :— " The new feature deduced from the calendar is that which follows : Out of twenty-one prisoners, only three were married. Three only had the advantage of social ties. Eighteen were isolated from the civilizing and humanizing influence of female society. They possibly had no other interests than their own to risk by breaking the laws, no counsellor in a faithful and sensible wife, no objects of affection in a young family. It was the Spartans, or the Athenians we think, who imposed a penalty or tax on bachelorhood, after a certain age. Perhaps it was because bachelors were the unruly members of society. Could not a revenue be raised by such a capitation tax here P Such a penalty might not fail to bring somo of the waifs and strays of society to their senses, and force them to take their share of the responsibilities and duties of life. With such responsibilities they would possibly afford society a guarantee for their good conduct. The figures, as we have given them, are startling. We may not have succeeded in pointing the right moral

and adorning the tale correctly, but it is fair to conclude that the circumstances to which we have referred, are not without their influence on the morality and criminality of society, and that ' it is not good for man to be alone.' The tax would also have the recommendation of being a novel one, and would afford to Mr. Stafford, or any premier who might introduce it, an undoubted and unwavering support from all unmarried ladies."

Recovery of Damages by a Public Servant foe too Sudden Dismissal.— At the recent sitting of the District Court at Picton, Mr. Alexander, late Secretary of Public Works for the Province of Marlborough, brought an action agaiust the Superintendent to recover damages for wrongful dismissal. It appeared that the plaintiff was appointed Secretary of Public Works for the Province of Marlborough, in January, 1861, and held that office until November last, when he was dismissed with something less than a month's notice, on the ground that the Government had determined to abolish his office. His salary was £230a-year; and it was not suggested that he had not performed his duties efficiently. Mr. Conolly addressed the jury for the plaintiff ; Mr. Moffit, for the defence, admitted that the notice was insufficient, and addressed the jury in mitigation of damages. Verdict for the plaintiff, damages £40 14s.

Attempted Murder and Suicide. — The following sensational story is related by the Daylesford Mercury :—": — " Intelligence was brought into town on Saturday, that a tragical event, likely to be attended with fatal consequences, occurred on the alluvial diggings, Pike's Creek, about thirty miles from Warwick, on the 27th ultimo. It appears that a young man named Augustus Lee had been paying his addresses to a young woman named Mary Ann Kettle, aged about eighteen, who, it appears, was averse to his intentions. On the day in question he was nearly all day about the premises of Miss Kettle, who resided with her parents, and about lour p.m., Lee asked Mary Ann to come outside. She declined, saying, 'If you want to say anything, you can say it in the presence of my mother.' Lee then took hold of the girl and pulled her on to the verandah. She called out, and on her mother going out she saw Lee cutting her daughter's throat, and the girl immediately fell at her mother's feet. Lee then threw stones at the poor girl, and deliberately cut bis own throat, and rushed down to the creek. He shortly returned and fell in front of the hut, being exhausted from the loss of blood. The knife used was a rough table knife. Lee cut half through his windpipe, but severed none of the principal blood vessels. The girl's throat was severely gashed, but not dangerously. Dr. Margetts at one proceeded to the spot with a constable, and the sufferers were brought in to the hospital on Sunday night — Lee, of course, in charge oi the police."