The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 246, 19 December 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1866.

A writer in the G-. R. Argus, referring to the Buller, says it is safe for. vessels of almost any tonnage to enter at any state of the tide. The principal buildings consist of a lively sprinkling of stores and hotels facing the river. In a short time the Buller must become the principal port on the West Coast. In fact, taking into consideration the great material advantages of the Buller river, together with the splendid tract of almost unexplored country north of this, consisting of the Wainungaru, Mokihinui, aud Karamea districts, which, according to all. accounts, are highly auriferous;, in fact, already there is quite a little circle of wideawakes making slow but sure progress towards that quarter, and several parties are establishing themselves as store or shanty keepers all along the beach tracks. There is considerable talk of the Mokihinui district beiug likely to turn out good. I should not be at all surprised to hear of a rush setting in there shortly. A writer in the G*. R. Argus of the 15th says the claims at Fox's do not exceed 100. Some will take a year to work out, and will yield a handsome fortune to the owners, while a good many will only pay moderately well. A survey is being made with a view to a water supply. In some claims they have as much as from 5 to 9 feet of wash dirt, but this isnot usual. On the flat between Fox's river aud the terrace a good deal of prospectiug has been done. To the south there is nothing new. Amongst the principal business places at Brighton are the buildings pf Messrs Sweeny, Wilkie, Alcorn, and Salmon. There are about 50 places doing business. Flour is £32, sugar Is, tea 4s, bread 2s per 41b. The people are orderly. Unless something new is struck soon a large number will have to go away. The West Coast papers contain a long examination of Sullivan in the case of DeLacey, charged with conspiring to rob Mr Fox. The prisoner was remanded, bail being taken. When he left the dock he placed his .hand round his neck, intimating that Sullivan deserved hau gin g. The latter claimed the protection of the Magistrate, who refused to interfere. The public gave expression to their feelings by hissiug Sullivan.' The usual monthly meetiug of theN. V.F. Brigade!; was held last; evening,: Captain Knight in the chair. A new uniform coat was adopted, which had. been, made by Mr. Webb. Mr Vincent Sinclair was elected foreman of No. 1 Hose Company, in the place Of Mi_Bpnd; It was announced that the new hose rail had arrived from 'Dunedin by the Lord Ashley; it has cost, the brigade about

£60. The next practice will be on Friday, at 7 p.m. - - ■ A grand interprovincial pigeon match for a sweepstakes of 200 soys, is appointed to take place at Dunedin, on the 29th instant. The particulars are given in an advertisement elsewhere. The tea meeting, in connection with the anniversary of the Union Chapel ' Sunday School, last evening, was well attended. After tea a public meeting took place. The children recited their pieces in a mauner that reflected credit on themselves ancl teachers, and aflorded much pleasure to the company. They then, about 70 in number, received their, rewards. Excellent addresses were delivered by Messrs I. M. Hill, R. Smart, (the superintendent of the school), audJY Hooper. The Rev. E. Thomas presided. The proceedings were enlivened by singing on the part of the children, and the meeting broke up about 10 o'clock. Iv the Resident Magistrate's Court, to-day, Mr. Poynter stated that "Mr. Sharp to whom the case of Beckman, jun. v. Beckman, sen. had been referred, had given his award lor the defendant. In the case of Davis v. Levy, claim £10, Mr. H. Pitt for the defendant, admitted the debt, stated he had filed his schedule, and asked for time. Mr. Adams for plaintiff, objected, to time being allowed, on the grouud that it was an attempt to evade the debt. Mr. Pitt replied that defenfendant had lost his ship aud cargo at the Buller and was penniless. Mr. Adams was informed the defendant had received, from £60 to £70 here. His Worship said as the defence appeared to be a threat, he should give immediate judgment for plaintiff, to discountenance this sort of thing. The Board of Works sued John Brook, for rates £2 Is. Bd., which was included in Mr. Braithwaite's assessment of £7 Bs. It appeared that the defendant was in possession at the time of the assessment, but by a mistake of the assessor the name of Braithwaite was entered. The. magistrate told Mr. Younger he must sue the party whose name appeared on the assessment, and dismissed the case. Field v. Harford, £4 12s. balance of account. Judgment for amount claimed. Franklyn v. Carter, claim for work done. Defendant admitted £2 which he paid into Court, and cost of summons, which plaintiff accepted. Trimble v. Pengelly, claim £5 ss. The debt was admitted, £l paid into Court, and an order given for payment of the balance and costs, in equal instalments of one month each. Captain Wheeler charged William Gutterigu, with travelling from Sydney to Nelson, in the Phcebe without, paying his fare. Defendant was ordered to pay his fare of £6 10s. and a find of £3, and in default of immediate payment, two months' imprisonment. Serjeant Nash complained against the same man for resisting him in the execution of his duty. For this he was fined £1, in default, one week's imprisonment. A monetary convention has been concluded between France, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland, by which the contracting parties agree to adopt a. uniform system of coinage, aud to mutually accept the gold and silver money coined by each other. The difficulties of a satisfactory adjustment of the border customs' duties between the Australian colonies, especially New South Wales and Victoria, are still unsettled, and are likely it seems to cause more trouble. A "Border Customs' Abolition League" has established and there are threats of force if constitutional means fail. The Southern Cross says:* — We learn, by a private letter from England, that Captain Stack has been gazetted to the 37th Regiment of foot as captain, with the brevet rank of major. He is to proceed to India, and on joining his regiment there he will be gazetted brevet-lieutenant-colonel. We learn that it is considered highly probable that the G-eneral Assembly will meet for the despatch -of business, some time in February, chiefly for the purpose, of adoptingsteps, with regard to the unsettled stateof the North Island. The township at Fox's River has been officially designated Brighton.