WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 32, 11 April 1866, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1866.

The mouth which has elapsed since the departure of the March mail for Europe has been more than usually full of events of importance to Nelson. On the 13th March tho Provincial Council was opened by his Honor the Superintendent, whose opening speech upon that occasion gave general satisfaction. As the important discovery of gold in the south-western portion of the province had taken place since the prorogation of the Council, he had been compelled to make wide deviations from the Appropriation Act, to meet the altered circumstances of the province. The Council approved of the course that had been pursued by the Government upon that occasion. Reports from the Provincial Engineer, upon the works which have been undertaken since the last sitting of the Council, and also from Mr. Warden Kynnersley, giviug much valuable information respecting the south-west gold-fields, and other importaut documents, have siuce been published. Mining interests in this province have received a great development during the past month. The gold miners have commenced to work upon the Buller side of the saddle at the he..d of the Little Grey. Although the reports of the great richness of that discovery appear to have been greatly exaggerated, yet there is 1.0 doubt that a large extent of grouud in that ueighbourhood will yield remunerative returns. The older diggings are still yielding well, and another discovery is announced in the direction of the Suowy Ranges, at the head of the Grey. The coal miues there are also likely to become of considerable value to the province, and the first cargo from a new mine opened at West Wangauui, one of the best harbors on the West Coast, has been brought into Nelson: its quality is highly spoken of. The telegraph was completed to Nelson on the 19th Mareh, and was opened for the use ofthe public a few days afterwards. The absurdly high charges upon the Canterbury line to Hokitika, prevent its beiug used, except upon the most important occasions. The Nelson races came off on the 20th and 2 1st March. The Nelson Trial Stakes were won by Mr. Redwood's Corsair; the Turf Club Plate by Mr. H. Stafford's Ladybird ; the Handicap Plate by Mr. Redwood's Blackboy ; also, the Ladies' Purse by the same horse ; the Maiden Plate by Compensation ; and the Town Plate and the Licensed Victuallers' Plate both by Ladybird. The events excited much interest, and the racing was good. The agricultural show took place at Richmond on the Gth, ifc was considered a falling off upon last years, the farming community uot taking a proper amount of interest in it. The exhibition of the Institute has closed. We believe a fair amount of success has attended the exertions of the committee; the beautiful water-color paintings exhibited through the kindness of our principal townsfolk, were greatly admired. Dr. Irvine and Sir. Sharp have beeu elected Governors of Nelson College. There have, we regret to say, beeu several accidents during the mouth, one of which termiunted fatally. Ou the Gth instant, a young man named Daniel Wright, while engaged in excavating near Mr. Akersteu's wharf, was buried, by a large quantity of arth which fell upon him; he was extricated

alive, but soon afterwards died from the effects of the injuries he bad received. An inquest was held upon him, and a verdict of accidental death returned. The other accidents have not been fatal, and most of them were trifling. The arrival of the New Zealand Steam Navigation'Co.'s steamer Taranaki, added another fine vessel to the already large fleet of splendid steamships engaged in the New Zealand trade. She since had a trial of speed with the Rangitoto, from Wellington to Port Nicholson Heads, which, however, led to no decision as to the relative speed of the two vessels. We regret to learn that the Eleanor, a small screw steamer engaged in the West Coast trade, has gone ashore afc the Grey, and has since broken up. The inhabitants of Nelson have been well supplied with amusements of various kinds. A very successful amateur concert has been .riven iu aid of the fund to relieve the sufferers o by the late floods. The Teuton troupe of acrobats performed for some nights at the Oddfellows' Hall, to full houses. A comedy troupe paid us a short visit, aud Professor Jacobs gave three of his very clever entertainments. Also, Messrs. N. Edwards and Co.'s steamer Wallaby took about 150 excursionists across the Bay to Motueka, returning with them the same evening. The news which arrived by the Euglish mail of the loss of the Londou, caused great sorrow in our community; every one deeply sympathised with Judge Chapman, who lost his wife and three children in that ill-fated vessel, and also with all those who suffered bereavement by thafc dire calamity. The success which has attended the Evening Mail during the first mouth of its existence, has beeu of a kind so satisfactory and encouraging to its proprietors, that they intend, so soon as their arrangements are completed, to enlarge its dimensions aud publish it in a greatly improved form.