News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 40, 19 May 1869, Page 3

News of the Day.

The English Mail.— The mail steamer Rangitoto arrived at Hokitika from Melbourne yesterday, and wo may therefore calculate on getting our mail from Wellington by the Airedale on Saturday next. Accidents on the Beach Road. — On Monday night last two vehicles were driven orer tho wall of the Haven Road. The first accident occurred to a vehicle driven by a man named Whiting, which was backed over the beach-wall a little below tho Custom House Hotel. Tho vehicle contained one passenger, with the driver, but neither sustained any injury, nor was the horse or vehicle injured. The second befel a man named Lockyer, who in driving Sfcockwell'a four-wheel carriage up from the beach, about halfpast eleven o'clock, kept so near the edge of the road, that in approaching the Pest Office the near wheels wont over the edge and the carriage rolled into the tide-way, which fortunately was not very deep. Lockyer dislocated an ancle and otherwise seriously injured his foot, besides breaking the shafts of the carriage. The night was not particularly dark, so that there must either have been gross carelessness or gross incapacity. Rifle Match. — A Becond rifle match between ten of No. 1 Company of the City Volunteers, and the same number of the No 1 Wellington Company, was fired by the Nelson men on Monday, with a very indifferent result. The conditions were : ranges 200, 300, and 400 yards ; at tho first range the target to be 6 ft. by 4 ft., with a two foot centre, and eight inch bull's eye ; position, standing, At the other two ranges, target 6 ft. by 6 ft,, centre 4 ft. by 4 ft., and two foot bull's-eye; any position; five shots at each range. Several of our men were quite out of practice, and it was absurd to shoot in a match under such circumstances. The total scored was thirtyfour points less then in their former match with Wellington. We append the scores :—: —

Total .... 353 SYMPATIIY TOE THE SICK AND WOUNDED AT Wanganut. — The following letter was recently received by Dr. Gibson, Provincial Surgeon, in charge of the Bick and wounded in the Wanganui Hospital :—": — " Sir — A few of the ladies of Nelson have desired me to forward a box of old linen, calvesfoot N jelly, and preserves, for the use of the sick and wounded in hospital under your charge. The ' Stormbird, 1 which takes this letter, will also take the box addressed to you. The ladies would be very much obliged to you to inform them through me how they can best contribute to the relief and comfort of the sick and wounded of the forces. It is hoped that (ho box I now send may be but the first fruits of a substantial effort, lasting as long as the war, to assist and complete the care of tho sick and wounded by the Government ; for a Government, zealous as it may be in this good work, can hardly over overtake all minutite. Tho ladies of Nolson would be happy to correspond or co-operate with a lady or ladies in Wanganui who may wish to take a share in this work. — I remain, &0., C. Huntee Brown. Address. Long Look-out, Nelson." Direct Importation of Tea.— The brig Waverley, with a cargo of tea from Hong Kong, arrived at Auckland on the 30th ultimo. The time occupied in the voyage to Hong Kong and back was four-and-a-half months. Testimonial to Colonel Gore Browne. — We learn from the Hobart Town papers that a sum of £500 was lately sent to England for tho purchase of a testimonial (probably in the shape of plate), to be presented to the late Governor of Tasmania, Colonel Gore Browne. The money was tho result of public subscription. Deficient Water Supply for Wellington. — The Independent lately observed :—": — " Is it not too bad to think that iv this, the capital of New Zealand, and a town more favourably situated than most others for tho purpose, we should have no watersupply except what Providence and a few wellsinkers choose to give us ? Is it not too bad that in this windy placo we cannot walk down the beach in fine warm weather without being smothered in dust, j when a water-supply would change all this ? We may see Dunedin with its complete system of waterworks — we find Christchuvch amply supplied by numerous artesian wells — Nelson has its reservoir and its water laid on to overy house and garden ; but Wellington, as usual of late years, lags behind. Once upon a time Wellington was full of energy— a time which we fear can only be remembered by some of the oldest inhabitants — but of late years a lethargy has crept over it, with a steady resistance to all enterprise or change. Thus the conservative interest upholds the vested interest of stinking water | and of blowing dust, of drains unflushed and of gar-

dens unwatered. With a water-supply such as we might with small expense secure, in addition to the inestimable blessing of the pure liquid itself, we might at once get rid of the abominable smells which disgrace tho town, and the causes of which may some day decimate the inhabitants — we might bring fertility to tho gardens, and, it is possible, we might procure sufficient power for all neeessai'y manufactures. While on the subject of removing smells, we wish to know how long the Town Board intends to continue tho wastefnl and dangerous practice of draining with wooden boxes, instead of adopting the modern improvement of glazed tiles ? Anyone may perceive that the sole of a box drain is admirably adapted for the rentcntion of filth, and that wood, when saturated with sewage, must be intolerable and very unwholesome. We also believe that these wooden abominations are in tho first cost more expensive than glazed tiles would be, even if imported, and doubtless much more so were the tiles manufactured here. It is no doubt a tiresome operation to toil along Wellington beach against a strong north-wester, but rob the northwester of its dust and you remove half its terrors. The citizens of Wellington are probably not aware that on the opposite shores of Cook Strait, at Nelson, every garden is now supplied with a head of water which can saturate every part of it. What a change this must make in the aspect of the placo during summer may easily be imagined, as also what au increased production of fruit and vegetables. We throw out these few remarks on a water supply with a faint hope that our mite may go a small way towards bringing about so desirable a result."

Sergeant Oatloy Sergeant Gully Private Smith • Captain Sbarp Private Drew . „ Otter son „ Morrison „ Skeefc . „ Hunter Corporal Elliott 200 16 9 14 15 10 13 13 12 13 10 x ard9. 400 500 Total. 17 15 48 19 18 46 13 12 39 14 9 38 14 9 33 8 11 32 9 10 32 13 5 30 13 2 28 11 6 27