News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 16, 24 February 1869, Page 2

News of the Day.

The Mails. — Up to the closing of the telegraphoffice last evening, there "was no intelligence of the arrival of the Kakaia with the January mail at Wellington. The Airedale, which has been kept waiting her arrival, will sail for Picton, Nelson, and Northern ports to-day. The Suez mail may be expected by the Eangitoto, now nearly due at Hokitika. Waimea-south Steeplechase Meeting. — The meeting at Lower Wakefield will be well attended to-morrow, should the weather prove favourable, there having been a great demand for the means of conveyance from town, and coaches-and-four and coaches-and-six, with every description of lighter vehicles, will be upon the road. For the two principal events four horses are likely to start for the weight-for-age race, and seven are entered for the handicap, while for the flat races hacks will not be Avanting in any number. Altogether we anticipate a capital day's sport. The New Electoral Roil. — Persona whose names are not on the Electoral Eoll are reminded that in order to become voters at the Provincial elections which will take place at the end of the present year, they must send in their claims before the end of the present month. In addition to elections for the Superintendency and members of the Provincial Council, it is not unlikely a dissolution of Parliament will take place at no distant day. Forms of application may be obtained at the Examiner Office. Vacancy in the Peotincial Council.— Mr. J. Bentley, who represented the Buller district in the Provincial Council, has resigned his seat, and the election of his successor will take place immediately. Vacancies in the House op Representatives, — There are two vacancies in Auckland in the House of Representatives— one of the seats for the Northern Division, and that for Newton— Mr. Gr. Graham, the well-known Maori sympathizer, having resigned his seat for the latter district. The vacancy for Marsden has just been filled up by the election of Mr. J. Munro, an old Nova Scotia settler, whose letter on Government retrenchment our readers may remember seeing some time ago. Silk Cultuee.— There is at present for exhibition in the window of Mr. Drew, jun., Trafalgarstreet, a box containing several hundred cocoons, raised by Mr. Batchelor, of Suburban North, and which are intended to be sent by an early opportunity to England, to the care of Mr. J. Morrison, who will be requested by the Superintendent to ascertain the marketable value of new silk of the value submitted, so that we may learn what prospect the raising of silk-worms affords in this province as a remunerative branch of cottage industry. The province 18 greatly indebted to Mi*. Batchelor for the perseverance he has displayed in cultivating silk, and the readiness he at all times exhibits in giving information on the subject. West Coast Public Works.— The Westport Times, of the 20th instant, prints the following letter received from the Provincial Secretary by the Chairman of the Westport Progress Committee :—": — " Sir Referring to my letter of the 29th December last, relative to the protection of the north bank of the -Buller River, I have now the honour to inform you that the Gorernment have considered Mr. Balfour's report (copy of which I inclose), together with the report of the Provincial Engineer (which hns already been forwarded to you) ; and as the works recommended in those reports involve an outlay of a very large sum of money, the Government cannot, taking into consideration the present state of the revenue, authorize their being done during this financial year, especially without the sanction of the Provincial Council. Full particulars shall, however, be laid before the Council next session, and the question will be reconsidered by the Executive when framing the estimates for the next financial year. With respect to the Buller Valley road, from Vestport to the Lyell, the Government having obtained a report on this line of road, with an estimate of the probable cost of making the same, have now decided to proceed with the work at once, and the District Engineer will therefore bo instructed to prepare tho necessary speciflcations, and advertise for tenders without delay." The Duke of Edinuurgh.— The intelligence brought by tho Tararua to the Bluff on Monday, that the Galatea had arrived at Adelaide, leaves little doubt of his Royal Highness reaching New Zealand at his appointed time, and that his visit to Nelson will (ako pluco at tho commencement of April, as expected.