News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 169, 18 November 1873, Page 3

News of the Day.

The Ng-akawhau. — We are informed by Mr. Sclanders that the Albion Coal Company's steamer Coomerang successfully entered the Ngakawhau yesterday, and is now loading at the mine. Nelson a Municipality. — Wo are glad to learn that the amended petition in favour of the creation of Nelson into a Municipality, has been forwarded to Wellington. Wo trust the scrupleß of the law authorities of the Cabinet will now be satisfied, and that in the course of a week or two we Bball Bee the usual intimation in the Qazette, that after the usual interval for inquiry his Excellency will grant the prayer of the petitioners. There is so inucty to be discussed fer the good of tho city, that wo await the event with some impatience. Regatta Committee. — Through the Volunteer entertainment being held last night, the meeting of this committee, which was advertised to be held at' the Custom House Hotel, was postponed till next Thursday, the hour and place being the same.

KiBAJIEA Coal. — Some specimens of coal /rom the Karamea mine, on the West (Joust, were exhibited yesterday on Mr. Webster'h premises in Trafal-gar-street. They were somewhat peculiar, being browned and seamed as if they had been exposed to fire. On examinatien they were seen to be surface samples, and we are informed that they were taken from the outcrop of a newly-discovered vein, and that, iv all probability, they had been exposed to the influence of the weather for scores if not centuries of years past. The coal appears to be of a highly bitumenous character,»and therefore would»be afl'ected all the more by exposure to the strong sun and the still stronger wind (comparatively) of the West Coast. We learn that men are now being employed to test the mine by sinking through the seam, and that specimens, which will show the true character of the vein, will arrive in Nelson shortly. Thr Melbouene Stbamees. — Some uncertainty appears to exist as to when the next steamer from Melbourne may be expected. It was anticipated that the Claud Hamilton would have been on the Coast before now, but the information to hand, by way of Sydney — brought by the N.Z. Co.'s. Phcebe, though the telegraphic ngent omitted to give the date at which the vessel left Port Jackson — indicates that the Claud has been detained. The Tararua was to sail from Melbourne on Thursday last, direct for Hokitika, and we may anticipate hearing of her arrival off the coast iv the course of tomorrow. The Exhibition. — We had the pleasure of inspecting, yesterday, a collection of paintings in oil and water-colours, by Mr. and Miss Harris, of Nilestreet Eu9t, which they intend for exhibition in the Industrial Exhibition, the opening of which is now bo near at hand. The principul picture is a landscape — a view in the Province of Tarauaki — a riverBceue, with Mount Eginont in the distance. This work was produced a iew years ago, and time has so mellowed the tints as to make it a very pleasing work indeed. In the foreground is a shallow stream, joining a broad river, which seems to come from the distant mountain-range. A native stands on the bunk, while a native woman fords the stream, carrying the usual load of a Maori woman. This gives lifo to the picture, which, however, is remarkable for the fidelity with which the native vegetation bus been reproduced, the admirable prospective, and the excellence of the tone of the work. It is a large picture, and will be much admired. So also will the several smaller landscapes, speciully puiuted for the Exhibition, and representing little bits ot choice scenery in the neighbourhood of Nelson. A picture which the artist hna named " Neleon Roses," will attract a considerable amount oi uttenuon. It represents a young lady, in a Bitting position, with a posy of flowers in her lap, and holding in her hand a pretty tlower. The dresß is after the Dolly Varden sty kl,k 1 , with the appropriate straw hat and ribbons. Those are very prettily painted. The face is that of a fair blue-eyed girl, simple, and attractive. The great merit ot the picture, however, is in the admirable manner in which the lace of the dress is painted. Miss Harris has evidently given a great deal of attention to the native flowers and shrubs of tho colony. In this she has followed the taste of Mr. Harris, in whose works the greatest attention is paid to accuracy of detail in the representation of native Bhrubs «nd flowors, their fruits and their leaves. Miss Harris "has ready for exhibition a variety of water-colour paintings, of dowers and fruits, in which nature has been copied with great success. Oue of theße pieces shows the autumn tints of a collection of leaves from Church hill, and these have been reproduced with very great success. Miss Harris will ulao exhibit a very large number of drawings of fiowera indigenous to the colony, all of which show taste in selection and skill in reproduction— the eye and the touch of an artist. TnE Agiucultubal Association's Show" at Canxkbbuby. — We have been favoured by a friend who visited Chriatchurch during the race week with a copy of the catalogue of the stock, &c, exhibited at the late show there.' A glance over it is instructive, as showing how the agricultural interest has grown in Canterbury. We observe, for example, that the entries for the show were larger than the telegraphic reports had led us to believe, being 891. The catalogue itself is by no means a fine specimen of the art of printing, being rough, with a bucolic character about it, and being like the product of some country town in the fens of Lincolnshire. Among what we may call tho curiositieß of the show we notice thut seven sheep-dogs were entered for competition, but the catalogue affords no hint as to how the dogs were to be judged — whether by shape, size, speed, or intelligence. An immense display seems to have been made of agricultural implements — in itself a veiy healthful sign. Amongst the miscellaneous articles we notice new boots, fire-bricks, butter cuske, drain-tiles, pickles, porter, preserved meats and fruits, mats, flooring tiles, flower-pots, bottled cider, rope, &c. Agriculture in Canterbury .is undoubtedly going a-head.