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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 74, 31 May 1866, Page 3

Dunedin. — We see by the Dunedin papers that the anniversary of the Queen's birthday was celebrated in style in that city, and that there was an amount of enjoyment upon that occasion far exceeding that upon any previous time in the province. There was a match between the No. 2 Company of Volunteers and the Taieri Company, which resulted in favor of the latter by 23 points. The Volunteer Fire Brigade had a pic-nic and cricket match. The . regatta was thoroughly snccessful. The pair oars race was won by Mr. Goldie's Amateur ; the yacht race by Mr. Street's Cygnet; the waterman's skiff race by Mr. Goldie's Amateur ; the all-comers' sailing race by Mr. Burkes Champion , the five-oared whaleboat race by Mr. Jones's* Mystery ; the second amateurs' four-oared race by •Mr. Goldie's Amateur ; the skullers' race by Mr. Green's Edith; and the waterman's four-oar race by Mr. Goldie's Amateur. It may not be out of place to mention that the Amateur, which won in every race in whicli she started, was built by Mr. Goldie at Port Chalmers, and is the first boat which has been built by him. There was afterwards a mimic naval en gagmen t. A division of the naval brigade from a schooner, the Caroline, commenced firing on the port; two launches filled with another division, pulled. to the schooner and captured her. The fi-iht lasted an hour and was wellmanaged, — 0. D. Times, Mr. Bunny bas placed ihe following on the motion and order paper of the Wellington Provincial Council : — i: That in the opinion of this Council the present system of Provincial Government is a delusion, and ought to be abolished. That this Council is of opinion that his Honor I. E. Featherstou, Esq., should be made Superintendent for life. That application should be made to the General Assembly to obtain an Act to carry the above object into effect, and to give permission to the said I. E. Featherston to do as such Superintendent in all respects as he pleases, and to spend the Provincial revenue in whatever manner he may think right." — W . E. Post. The AMEEiCAir Arctic Expedition. — The New York Times states that a secoad part of Captain Hall's report on his search for fuller information about Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition has been received. The wrecked ships of Franklin appear to have been visited, the remains of a large number of their crews seen, frozen and mutilated, and tlie valuables left in the ships appropriated by the Esquimaux. They encourage Captain Hall to believe that some of tlie men mny sfili be living..

PRESIDENT JOHNSTON AND THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU BILL. Much interest being felt respecting the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, which was vetoed by President Johnston, we give the following synopsis of it : — The first section extends the act of March the 3rd, 1865. Until otherwise provided the Bureau to have the supervision of the freedmen in all parts of the United States ; the President to divide the country into not exceeding twelve districts, and appoint Assistant-Commissioners in each, or detail officers of the army for that purpose. The second section directs a subdivision uot exceeding the number of counties in each State, with an agent, who is allowed two clerks, and extends military protection to all agents or employes of the Bureau. Section 3 authorises the Secretary of War to issue provisions, clothing, fuel, and other supplies, including transportation, to the destitute, under the rules and regulations he may direct. Section 4. That the President is authorised to reserve under the Homestead Law, unoccupied puhlic lands iv Florida, Mississippi, and Arkansas, not exceeding three millions of acres of good land, which the Commissioner can allot in forty-acre parcels, at a moderate rental or sale. Section 5 confines the occupants of the Sea Islands of South Carolina in their possession for three years ; provided, whenever the former owners make application for them, the Commissioner is authorised to settle with the occupants and procure them other lands, as above provided, in the public domain. Section 6 states that the Commissioner shall, under direction of the President procure lands for refugees and freedmen, dependent on jthe Government for their support, and cause suitable asylums to be established, Congress to provide appropriations for the expense. Section 7 says where the local law discriminates against freedmen, the Commissioner shall extend military protection and jurisdiction over all cases affecting such persons. Section 8 provides for the imposing of a fine and imprisonment on any person who shall attempt to enforce auy local law against the freedmen in States where the said local law discriminates against him ; provided the jurisdiction conferred on the Bureau by this section shall cease whenever the discriminating ceases, and in no event be exercised in any State where judicial proceedings are not interrupted and where no discrimination exists.