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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 249, 23 October 1867, Page 2

A letter has been shown us from an individual who left this place with his mates about two months ago, with the intention

of making his way to the Karamea by Duttou's track via Motueka. We make the following extract from this letter, not only to prove the superior advantages which Hough's Pass presents for access to that district, but also for the information of those miners who are now awaiting in town the arrival of further tidings with respect to the present state of the various tracks into the head of the Karamea. The letter in question states that the party 'were about as far from what they started for as they were a month ago, being about thirty odd miles from Motueka, on the top of Mount Arthur, and as nicely snowed in as any one could wish to be.' They had consumed their third load of ' tucker* up to the date of the letter, which was written on the 14th instant, aud the last fortnight is described as having been one of frightful seventy, the snow having fallen full a foot deep during the last few days previous to the date of the letter. The party, however, who had proceeded as far as the track was cut, were counting on a change at the full moon on the 15th, and would then makeone more effort to get through to the Karamea. The conteuts of this letter will show how premature any attempt to reach that gold-field by Duttou's track must prove at the present seasou. We are glad to learn that Mr Arthur Dobson, the Assistant Provincial Eugineer, has left town for the purpose of making a complete examinaiiou of all the various tracks in the direction of the Karamea, crossing by that to which we havejust referred, over the Loadstone, and recrossing the range by Groom's track. Mr Dobson will then return to the Karamea by Hough's Pass, and back into the Wangapeka by Roch fort's track, and his report, which will doubtless be very full and satisfactory, will be looked for with considerable anxiety.

The funeral of the young priest, whose almost sudden death at St. Mary's yesterday morning we have already mentioned, takes plat c to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock, at which time a solemn Requiem Mass will be sung in the church, and the body will be taken to the Cemetery for interment immediately afterwards. We have been requested by the Rev. Father Garin, as a large number of. persons haVe made inquiries at the Station whether persons who are not members of the congregation would be admitted to' the ceremony to-morrow morning, to state that the church Will be open to all who may be desirous of being present. St. Mary's was thrown open today at two o'clock; the body of the deceased ecclesiastic 'lay in state,' exposed in his priestly robes ou a catafalque, surrounded with lights, which had been erected in the centre of the church, the chancel of which had been very tastefully draped with mourning. This portion of

the funeral arrangements was conffaed to Mr Amos, of the firm of Parmenter&Anv)-* who has executed the task very creditably, considering the short time allowed htr_t. Considerable anxiety is manifested to vrifr ness this part of the ceremonial iuvariably' adopted on the death of an ecclesiastic af the Roman Catholic Church; aud a.large number of persons, both Catholics auU Protestants, have visited the church, which will also remain open for this purpose throughout the night.

Telegraphic communication with Christchurch aud the southern stations was resumed yesterday morniug, about eleven o'clock.

The rooks (says the M. Press) supposed to have escaped from Nelson, and which favored us with a visit last week, have made their appearance at Haveiock, to the delight of the dwellers iv that locality.

The M. News says that a meeting of the Blenheim Volunteer Corps took place on the 15th instant, at which it was decided that the late reduction of expeuditure amongst that body should liave no effect in the discharge of the various duties of both officers and men; and, from the adjutant down to the privates, all agreed to perform their several parts as if no reduction had been made. A challenge from' 12 of the Nelson Volunteers, to compete for £6 against a similar number in this province has been accepted; seven bein«» chosen from the Blenheim and five from the Picton Companies.

The audience at the Oddfellows' Hall last night was more select than numerous, but both the pieces announced for performance went very smoothly, aud evidently gave the highest satisfaction to those present. This evening there will be no performance, the use of the Hall bein» required for the Oddfellows; but to-mor^ row evening Mr W. H. Newton takes his benefit, when Lord Lyttou's five-act play Richelieu, with which the names of Macready and Charles Kean are so intimately associated, will be performed with the assistance of some local amateurs. Other entertainments will follow, and we trust that Mr Newton's friends will rally round him on this occasion. The company play this evening at Richmond, at the Agricultural-hall; Delicate Ground and Nan theGood-for-Notbing being the pieces selected for performance.

Our readers will perceive, from an advertisement by the luspector of Police, that persons are cautioned against bathing in the Maitai, or any other public stream, betweeu 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., under a penalty of twenty shillings.

We would remind our readers that the general meeting of the Nelson Cricket Club takes place this evening at the Trafalgar Hotel, at half-past 7 o'clock, for the purpose of receiving the report of tbe subcommittee, electing officers, and for other important business.

It is definitely settled that a review of all the Volunteer Companies in Nelson shall take place on the Prince of Wales'. Birthday November 9th on Victory. Square. The Wakapuaka Artillery Corps and probably also the Waimea West Rifle Company, will take part in there-,, view.

The Lyster Opera Company are drawing full houses in Adelaide, in spite- of the unfavorable weather. Mr Beaumont, on bis first appearance since his accident, in the ' Bohemian Girl,' was most enthusiastically received.

Iv the evidence taken before a Select ' Committee of the Legislative Council, speaking of the resources and extent of the Grey coalfields, Dr Hector said : — ' It is of the greatest importance to the colony that the coal mine in that district •■*■ should be worked, because oi the superior character of the coal, aud the ease with which access may be obtained to it. I estimate the coal area on the Canterbury ! side of the river . at at least four square . miles.'

Dr Hector has given it as his opinion, before a select committee of the Legislative - Council, that the diggiugs on the West . Coast ' will arrive at a minimum yield at a not very distant period; but they will: ; maintain that with a permanence perhaps greater than any other goldfieid, and probably support an actual digging population * of 5000 or 6000. The country has been -. much 'better examined than is often represented.' " l

The Marlborough News says — His Excellency Sir George Grey is a tough antagonist, and it seems probable that. his quarrel with the military authorities will only cease when the last soldier has left __e4_*lony. Amongst the lately published

despatches are found a , goodly number devoted to military disputes, and the Governor makes a new complaint on account of a practice that has sprung up among military officers of applying direct to the Ministry for grants of confiscated land, which, bis Excellency remarks, 'is contrary to the regulations of her Majesty's service for a long series of years,' appears to be of au inconvenient character, and in one instance, nearly caused serious difficulties between himself aud his Ministers. The sinner picked out for reproof is Deputy-Commissary General Strickland, C.8., who it appears applied to the Miuis- , try for a grant of land and was refused. One paragraph of the despatch is both spiteful aud effective. . It runs tljus:— There is, also, I think, a manifest impropriety in officers in the position of. Mr Strickland, who can make, secretly, reports to her Majesty's Government, seriously damaging to the character and reputation of a Colonial Government and Ministers, being allowed, unknown to her Majesty's Government, to apply for valuable gifts to' the -very meu whom they at their pleasure secretly defame, in a manner most injurious to the public interest, and to their reputation.

The Timaru Herald thus describes a sudden death that occurred on the 14th instant: — Last Tuesday evening, a man Fowler, a coach builder, in the employ of Messrs Flocton & Co., went to the door of the Assembly Rooms for the purpose of taking a ticket for the dramatic performance, but finding he had no mouey with him returned to his loddings, at Mr Simpson's boarding-house, to get some. He entered the house and left again, but in, a few minutes returned, holding his pockethandkerchief to his mouth, and asked for water. Mr Massy, who was present, went to his assistance, and tried to seat him on a chair, and blood spouted out in a large quantity. Before the unfortunate man was seated he dropped back quite dead. Breaking a blood vessel in the heart ia supposed to have been the cause of death. The poor man leaves a wife and family in Tasmania, to whom he had that very morning sent a remittance of money.