News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 1, 3 February 1872, Page 4

News of the Day.

' Nelson Resident Magistracy. — The oflici 1 of Resident Magistrate in Nelson is vacant, by the resignation of J. Sharp, V ?q. It is not yet known who will be Mr. Sharp's successor. Visit of tiie Superintendent to the West Coast. — It is the intention of Mr. Curtis to pay a visit to the West Coast and the Inangahua, withinvi few days. His Honour has not been well for some little time, or ho would have made the visit earlier. San Francisco Mail. — The mail steamer is again several days behind her time, no tidings of her arrival iv Auckland having reached here last evening. • Amateur Dramatic Performance. — The performance of which we have already spoken, given on Wednesday evening for the benefit of' a fund to purchase a new piano for the Harmonic Society, went off very successfully. The Hall was comfortably full considering the -weather, but having regard to the object of the entertainment we should have been glad to have seen -the attendance larger. All the ladies and gentlemen engaged laboured to acquit themselves satisfactorily, and succeeded in their endeavours. TnE Drought. — The continued drought, which prevails throughout New Zealand is really alarming in many districts. Not only are the pastures burnt up, but stock in places are actually djing from want of water. Iv Auckland, such is the scarcity of water that it is sold in the streets. We have great reason for congratulation in Nelson, that our supply is unabated, aud the purity of our water unimpaired. Great Heat of tiie Wkatiier on Thursday.— Ihe thermometer stood higher in Nelson on Thursday la3t than it has done within the last ten years. In the shade it registered 90°, and in the sun lb6°. The night was also very oppressive, and two hours after sundown the glass stood at 80°. About two o'clock on Friday morning it became colder, and the temperature fell to 70°, which admitted of sleep. Yesterday the heat was not nearly so great. Wakefield Steeplkchase Meeting. — The entrances for tho Wakefield meeting will be founri in the programme, as also tho weights for the ITandicfip. We question very greatly the wisdom of the Stewnrds in making the weights so heavy, considering the stamp ot horses entered. They seem to us calculated not only to break down the hows, but to lead to accidents which may prove serious to the riders. Fires in Marlbo hough:. — The Marlborough papers give very little additional information respecting tho fires on the runs. The country was still burning between tho coast and the Awafere, and ut the head of tho Wairau and Waihopui valleys, but no particulars were known in Blenheim. Wreck of tiie Pioneer. — An account appeared in the V/estport Times, of the 29th ultimo, furnished by Mr. Reubin Waite, giving an account of the wreck of the Pioneer, a small vessel either belonging to, or chartered by him, in getting out of the Atmtori river, a 6hort distance below West Wanganui. The vessel was becalmed, and et^tby the surf on the beach, where, through the absence of proper appliances she remained. Big River Diggings. — We copy the following notice of Ihe above-named diggings from the Westport Times, of the 30th ultimo. Big River, although not marked-in tho charts, is the name of a river between Rocka' Point and West Wangauui, and is therefore in this province, and can be reached overland from Collingwood :—": — " We learn that there arc about ninety men at present engaged in gold mining in the vicinity of the Big River, while men are arriving almost daily. No heavy finds are reported, but all are satisfied, and the general opinion is that it will prove a remunerative field. The present workings are in small gullies ; the sinking shallow, and the ground is easily worked. The gold is of a course nuggetty description, and strongly impregnated with quartz, while many specimens are very littlo water-worn, the terraces are likely looking, but have not yet been prospected. Provisions at the Anatori are reasonable, there being two stores, which draw their supplies from Nelson. Referring to the capabilities of the Big River as a port, our informant states : — ' A Bailing vessel cau run from Wcstporl to the Big River in eight hours. It has a good aud safe entrance, and vessels inside are thoroughly sheltered from any wind or tho roughest weather. Tho bottom of the river is sandy. With south-west winds the bar i 9 smooth, being sheltered by Kaurangi Point, and when once known the port would become a favourite shelter for emnll craft or the coasting steamers. There is ample room in the river for the latter to turn.' " Another Government Appointment. — Mr. Fribery, late muntiger of a boiling down establishment in Hawke's Bay, is appointed Scandinavian Immigration Agent. Movements of the Colonial Treasurer. — The Independent of the 29th ultimo, says :—": — " Our telegrams from Melbourne announce that the Colonial Treasurer, the Hon. Mr. Vogel, had been successful in obtaining money to tho extent of £66,000 in Sydney on remarkably good terms. Whether tho 'loan' mentioned refers to Treasury Bills or to the loan for tho Province of Wellington which Mr. Vogel was authorised to raise doe 3 ] not appear very clear. In any case, to obtain two per cent, premium on a six per cent, loan in Sydney is not a bad financial operation, and Hpeaks well for the credit of the colony, which j tiot even the continued cries that it is 'on the verge of ruin,' which aro so industriously raised by the discontents in New Zealand, can shake. The negotiations with regard to the San Francisco mail service, although not as yet far advanced, appear to bear a favourable aspect. The Sydney Chamber of Commerce had adopted a recommendation to the Government of the States [query, Colony ?] to the effect that a subsidy should be given ,to Mr. Webb's line, aa was proposed to be given to the abandoned line under

the management of Mr. H. H. Hull. The Go* vernment, it appears, hu.il not decided when the mail left, but it is probable thut terms may be arrived at. Mr Vogel and Mr. Webb were proceeding to Melbourne to endeavour to obtain the assistance of the Victorian Government to the mail service." Immigration Ag-ents. — The Independent states that Messrs. Famuli, Birch, and tiedton, three gentlemen who have proceeded to England, and were reported to have gone home in the capacity of Immigration, Agents, " have no appointments in the strict sense of the term," nor do they receive, any salary. They are only furnished with letters to Dr. Foatheruton, who may employ them if he thinks proper. Our contemporary says ;—"; — " We have every conlidenco that if either Messrs. Birch, Seaton, or Faruall receive any remuneration they will have given good value for it." We gladly print the explanation, offered by the Government organ. Extraordinary Fooi Race.— The following is- from the Q-rey Hiver Argus, of tlie 24th instant: — " One of the closest and most exciting races that have been run on the West Coast, or even iv New Zealand, was the one ran yesterday between Vaughan and Pat Twohill, ut the racecourse, for £50 a-side, for one mile. At the last Christmas sports, ib will be remembered, both Vaughan and Twohill ran together in the mile race, Vaughan beating Twohili by a few yards, having given him thirty-five yards. Pat Twohill, who is undoubtedly oneot the best short-distance runners on the Coast, was not satisfied with his defeat, and hence the challenge to Vaughan, who, hitherto, has been reekoued the best uuie runner lin this part of the globe. The match was made directly after the last sports, Vaughau giving Twohill n'lty yards start, Twohill h,eing in charge of his old trainer, Buckley, and Vaughan under the experienced hands ot the Bauger Betting was ahghtiy in favour of Twohiil. The two meu were in fine condition, and Twohill having taken his station, Mi*. J. Macdonald, the stai-Ler, iired the pistol, and both men got away at the same time, the ground being vei y heavy in consequence of the wet weather. For the firut three-quarters of a mile Twohill led, being nearly eighty yards in front ; but from this time Vaughan began to overhaul his lengthy opponent, and about fifty yards irom the winning post they wore running neck and neck. The excitement here became intense, and ttie ring that only a few seconds before were otferiug 20 to 1 on T won ill looked rather blue at the prospect. Aboifc twelve or thirteen yards from thg winning post, Vaughan's shoe gave way, and lie struggled on leading to within a few feet ot the winning post when he fell, and Twohill, who had just tuKen a step in advance, fell also — ' exhausted nature could no farther go;' and hero, so far as running was concerned, was an end of the race. The running wus all out of either of the competitors, and it is a matter of discussion which won the race ; but the umpire, Mr. Walter Irving, handed in the following decision, which virtually settled the matter: — ' Gtreymouth, January 23rd, 187 i. This is to certity that 1 give my decision in the mile race between Twohill ana Vauglian, in favour of Twohill. Walter Irving.' There is one thing certain, neither of the competitors ' breasted the tape,' although it is contended that Twohill fell under it, although he did not actually run the distance ; at all events his length covered it. There have been come quibbles about what constituted ' a tape,' but ' a tape ' is only a nomenclature, The latest decision on the matter is on a question referred to the sporting editors of the Australasian on a similar race run in the western district of Victoria, and answered in that paper of the 6th instant, and which runs as follows : — ' Belfast. — Whichever breasted the tape first is the winner, or if no tape was used, whichever body pressed the post first.' " Taupo. — The Independent, of the 261h says : — " A wonderful change hus come over the Taupo district. Instead of it being a theatre of war, ifc was during the Christmas and New Year festivities a scene of hearty amusement. Cricket matches were played, and a rope walker essayed his skill ou a wire stretched from some place ' below the redoubt* across a ravine. A coach, now runs regularly to this once seuled-up spofc, and ' is now,' says the correspondent of a Napier paper, 'looked for twice a week,' ' just as if we had been accustomed all our lives to seeing vehicles of all descriptions come and go. It is only a very little while ago that a bullock dray was a wonderful thing to behold in this district. Wo hope to see plenty of visitors, and now that the travelling is so easy, people could in a week or ten days see all the wonders and beauties of Taupo, its mountains, lakes, and last, though certainly not least, its far-famed hot springs, and be back in Napier within the time above-mentioned. AH the outposts have been' withdrawn, and every- v thing has resumed its everyday aspect. Captains Preece and Mair, however, are again in the Uriwera country alter Te Kooti, whosd whereabouts, it is said, was divulged by Kereopaa few minutes before his death.'" A Caution. — On Monday, January 22, a, serious accident occurred at Moffit'sinill, Lincoln, near Clivistchurch. to a young man named Freeaton, who used to be employed as clerk at Wood's mill, Christchurch. lie was engaged in placing a band on some of the machinery wheu, his trousers being caught between two cogs, one of his legs was drawn in and seriously smashed. He was at once removed to the Hospital a> Christchurch, when it was found neue-aary to u..iputate the leg immediately below the knee. The operation was successfully performed, and the sult'erer is now doing well. Convicts from: Western Australia. — Earl Kimberly writes to the Colonial Government that the Imperial Government has taken steps to prevent a repetition of the emigration ot com icts from Western Australia to this colony. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Justice Chapman, of Dunedin, and the Hon. Mr. Mantell, of Wellington, have been gazetted members of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute for the year 1872.