The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 298, 17 December 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1867.

When we mentioned in our issue of yesterday that the execution of Robert Wilson hail been fixed for to-morrow morning, it was under the impression that the deaihwarrant had actually arrived. It appears however that this was not the case, only a telegram having been received by the Sheriff, stating that the Governor had signed the warrant, which would be forwarded by the Egmont. to Nelson. As however that steamer had not left Wellington at two o'clock to-day, it seems quite impossible that the execution can take place to-tnorrow morning, since the warrant must be in the possession of the Sheriff before he can proceed to execution, it having been repeatedly established that a telegram has no legal authority. Moreover it is more than doubtful whether the three days' notice required by the Act should not follow the actual receipt of the warrant, and not the arrival of a telegrain. It is much to be regretted that such haste, savouring strongly of indecency, should have been manifested by the Sheriff iu fixing the date of the execution without legal and full authority. — Since writing the above, we find that a telegram has been received, stating that the Egraont will not n:ach Nelson until Thursday afternoon. The execution will therefore in all probability take place on Friday morning.

A subscription has been set on foot with. a view to indemnify Mrs Taylor in some measure for the loss she has sustained through the late fire at her house iu Sel-wyn-place. His Honor Mr Justice Richmond's name heads the list for the munificent sum of five guineas, and we doubfc uot that many amongst us will gladly contribute to alleviate the trouhles of an old and much respected resident, who is moreover, crippled by rheumatism aud quite incapacitated from active occupation.

The annual examination of the pupils of Nelson College is now going on, and will terminate ou Thursday next, on the afterneon of which / day, at 8 o'clock, tlie va:ious prizes will be distributed in the of the Governors aud of the parents of the pupils, who, with others interested in the College, are invited by ■-advertisement to attend. We. understand •that the ' breaking- up,' as it is generally .•termed, will be signalised on this occasion by a ball to be given ou Friday evening, for which a large uumber of iuvifatious "have been issued amougst the fair friends of the pupils, whose wishes in this regard bare been mo3t kindly and generously -seconded by the Plead Master and Mis .Maclean.

The distribution of prizes as; the Bishop's "School takes place on Friday afternoon, at >3 o'clock, when the Eight Rev. Bishop Suter will present them to the fortunate caiifiidai.es. The parents of pupils and the public generally are invited to b« present <»n this interesting occasion.

The seat hi the House of Representatives for the Golden Bay district, which will shortly he rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr A. J. Richmond, who is leaving for Englaud, seems likely to be warmly contested. Mr A. S. Collins has been bolcling a series of meetings throughout thte district, with the object of placing

before the electors his views on the preseut state of our colonial politics, and it is stated that he has everywhere met with a very favorable reception. Mr Wastney, M.P.C., who some weeks since received a requisition, numerously and iufluentially signed, asking him to come forward, intends, we understand, to visit the district immediately on the same errand. Mr Gribbs. M.P.C., another candidate, is also, we hear, busily engaged in canvassing the district. The public meeting convened by his Honor tlie Superintendent, in compliance with a requisition sigued by the Hon. Sir David Monro and others, for the purpose of agreeing to a farewell address to his Excellency Sir George Grfy, on his approaching departure from the colony, will take place on Thursday next, at half-past 7 o'clock, at the Provincial-hall. We may mention as a noteworthy fact that at the fuueral of the late Clerk of the Provincial Council on Sunday last, his remains were followed to the grave by four of his late assistant-clerks — Messrs Smallbone, Pauling, and Lane, and byjlie present assistant-clerk, Mr John Percy, the fifth, Mr H. D. Jackson, the present Provincial Auditor, being absent from town. We understand that it is proposed to hold a review of the Volunteer Corps on Boxing-day, on which occasion it is intended that the me.nbers of the Artillery Company should appear iu their new uniforms, which are nearly completed. It would seem however that several very serious olyections militate against this arrangement, amongst which we may mention that many members of the other Volunteer Companies object, and not unreasonably, to the holiday, which is very generally devoted to picnics and-amuse-ments of that character, being occupied in the rmnuer indicated ; that the muster of the Cadet Companies would necessarily be very meagre, since a large number of the lads composing them will have left for their homes iu the country and elsewhere, aud that the No. 2 Rifle Cadets are only partially supplied with arms. Under these circumstances the postponement of the proposed review until New Year's Day. or even until Anniversary Day, might be expedient, on either of which d/iys a full representation of each company might be secured. Madame Carandini's concert — the third of the series — which was given last night at the Provincial hall, was numerously and fashionably attended, and was probably the most successful in all respects which has yet been giren. The audience were exceed iu^ly demonstrative, and most merciless encores, accompanied by abundant floral ovatious, were the order of the evening; in fact the maxim that oncrnay have too much even of a good thiny seemed to be altogether ignored, and the patience aiid goo.'huuure of the various members of the party were consequently put to a severe test in several instance?. The various it^ms of the program ase were, one and all, most, successfully rendered, the duet, s iie\vaiv, trust her nor/ creating a perfect furore by she very arch manner in which it was sung by the Misses Carandini, whicii could o;s!y be pacified by its repetition. In fact a general sense of thorough enjoyment seemed pervade all present, and the innumerable bouquets showered upon the fair songstresses were only the material evidence of the deepadmiration f'eit by the audience for their varied accomplishments, as well as for the exceedingly graceful and unaffected manner in wSiii'h ..these flntteriuir tributes of popular favor -were accepted by them. The programme for this evening is also a very attractive one, and includes several rnorcenux which are established favorites. To-morrow evening Madame Carandini lakes her benefit, when a numerous audience may be anticipated, and the last concert will be given on Friday, (he party leaving fc-" Wellington ou Saturday. Tl>o challcn™ of the four members of of the Kelson Volunteer Artillery Compeny to pull a four-oared race iu whaleboats against four members of any other company in the province, having been accepted by four members of the Fire Brigade, ic is understood that the match will come off on New Year's Day. The Weslport Star pronounces favorably for Mr Maclean's candidature for the seat for West port in the Provincial Council created by the vote passed to tbat effect last session: — 'Mr Maclean is a stranger to the electors whose suffrages he is about to seek, but he is thoroughly well known in the older portions of the province. He has

held for a considerable period the position of Principal of the Nelson College, where his abilities have been fully recognised, and have been instrumental in maintaining the position of the school as one of the first educational establishments iu New Zealand. But what the tendency of his political views are, we are as yet unable to say; but we can say that his antecedents are at all events a sufficient guarantee that incapacity or unfaithfulness will not be charged against him; and since he is materially and personally interested in the prosperity of the district, it may be fairly assumed that he would give £due attention to the wants and well-being of the community.' Should Mr Maclean be elected for Westport, of which there seems to be every probability, it will be the first instance, as far we are aware, iu which a member of the cleiical profession has taken his seat iu our Provincial Couucil, though instances are not wanting in. some of the other .provinces of the colony. The Grey JRiver Argus of the 12th says that a host of persons have been summoned before the Resident Magistrate at Hokitika by the luspector of Weights and Measures for having unstamped scales and measures in. their possession. Chuilotte Davvson, whose desperate attempt at suicide at the Buller we noticed a short time since, has recovered from her self-inflicted injuries, and when brought before the Resident Magistrate at Westport, ex pressed her contrition for what she has doue, and was dismissed with a caution. The West Coast Times publishes a letter from a miner on the Queensland goldfields, which he describes as being anything but an El Dorado, and says that ' it would be utter madness for a workingman to ieave bis employment and go to a diggings where so many are not earning their food.' He thinks however that a payable goldfield will yrt be found, as the country has every indication of rich and extensive gold deposits. The Canterbury Press of the sth instant says: — It has often been matter of remark that no great efforts have been made to effect any extensive improvement in the pastures of this province. It is true that English grasses and clover have • been introduced very generally, but they are not so suitable for the dry, loose, and stony soil which is to be found overspreading the greater part of our plains It has been suggested that other and hardier grasses should be tried, and among tht-se prairie-grass would appear to be the best adapted for the purpose. It manifests a greater indifference to the kind of soil iu which it is grown than, any other cnttle food, ami may therefore be grown more universally. It vegetates ail winter, and is the eariiot growing food in spring. It wi!! grow in not, dry weather, when all other food is dead or dormant through the effects of aridity. It is less expensive 10 raise than lucerne, sanfoin, or an}' other oi" the heavy cropping artificial glasses. It bears more cutting than any other grasses, natural or artificial, lucerne excepted. The annual pro: hi e is greater than that, of any other of the n.iUiral <ir<ts.>us, xnd, aiter the first year than of the ariitfeia! grasses, All domestic animals are fonder of it than of marigolds, lucerne, chicory, lettuces, turnips, or any of the grasses. It contains a greater proportion of nourishment than docs any other kind of grass feed. It is the best crop that can be selected for dirty land or bad farming, for with a little assistance at. first it wiil take care of itself, choking all kinds of weeds out of existence. It is more tena ious of life than any of the useful natural grasses, some of the couchtrrr.rscs fxeejk'd It is more readily propagated by seeds, by ulfset.-, and cuttings than any other grasses, natural or artificial. B: ; iag a natural, wiid, and uncultivated \i!ant, analogy would lead us to expect that skilful cultivation will iurther develop it« acknowledged valuable properties to an indefinite extent. It, is stated that H.R.H.the Duke of Edinburgh absented himself from the monster free banquet at Melbourne in deference to the oppressed opinion of the police authorities that his presence might cause a rush that would endanger >he lives of the women and children, and therefore his Hoyul Highness reluctantly drove away from the scene of festivity. It appears from the latest Melbourne papers that the victims of the late Orange outrage at the Protestant Hail in that city are still suffering gri-vons!y from the wounds so wantonly anJ bar-ban-usl v 1 inflicted. The poor boy, Cross, who is only nine years old, was siiU in the Hospital and progressing but slowly. Several of the offenders have been arrested, but in the present state of the, victims, no evidence could be given against them, and they were therefore remamUii It seems that the Ballaarat cavalry corps have not a high local reputation as equestrians, and that grave apprehensions are entertained with respect to their utility in the demonstration in honor of the Prince's visit. According to the Star, ' as the horses are unaccustomed to strains of martial music, and some of the equestrians have not been long inured to horse exercise, danger to women and children is apprehended aud at a meeting serious thoughts were entertained of not permitting ihe corps to join in the procession. One councillor said they rode like Chinese.' It seems that Mr Thatcher, the 'inimitable,' is now giving an entertainment entitled 'Life on the Golilfields)' at the Polytechnic Hall, Melbourne, -which is said to afford a lively and graphic representation of the perils and adventures of the early visitors to Mount Alexander. The Herald says: — The pictures are very well executed. Liardet's Beach, as the site of Sandridge was called in 1852, and the Forest Creek gold-diggings, are faithful representations of those celebrated localities in the good old times; and the songs and descriptions of Mr Thatcher are well written. Indeed, there is throughout, a

vein of humor which: strongly reminds us of Artemus Ward. Mr Thatcher's description of a working bullock, 'as an animal wbu lives in perpetual celibacy, and is fed upon tafts of grass and curses,' is a fair sample of the style of the entertainment.

One manifest destiny of Queensland ia dSsmembermeat, the north from the south; and as a son of preliminary to future agitation of the separation question, a bill has been tabled in'the Queensland Assembly by a northern representative, providing for the establishment of district councils, somewhat on the New Zealand model with the view of securing in localities at war with the centralising Brisbane Government a due proportion of local control over funds locally contributed. It is not anticipated by anybody that the bill will be carried, but it puts in tangible shape a suggestive remedy for grievances long talked about. The Kockhampton journals approve of the measure, the Brisbane journals rather lending their weight the ocher way. The personalty of the late Mr Horatio Ward a native of the city of New York, United States but for many years a resident in England, has been sworn under £90,000. There is one very interesting bequest which he has made to the surviving daugutws of the late Mr Henry Morris, of Philadelphia, of the sum of 19,u00dols. • These ladies,' he states, ' are t'.ie granddaughters of the celebrated Henry Morris, of the Revolution, and ii wiil be a surprise to them to receive a legacy from a person they never knew, and perhaps uever heard oil It is in return for kindnesses shown me by their father when I was a boy.'