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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 303, 23 December 1867, Page 2

We understand that on after the Ist of January, the lines of telegraph worked hitherto by the Provincial Government of Canterbury, -will come under the direction of the General Government, thus bringing the whole of the telegraphic communication of New Zealand under the one management. We regret to have to add, that the present high tariff of charges enforced by the Canterbury Goverment is still to be maintained. The public examination, of the pupils of the Town-schools takes place to-day and to-morrow, when the parents of the children are invited to attend. The prizes will be distributed by his Honor the Superintendent at the Provincial-hall, on Friday next, at 3 o'clock. A parade of four of the City Volunteer Companies will take place at 3 o'clock on Thursday next (Boxing-day), at the Bo-tanical-gardens. On this occasion the Provincial Government and Special Prizes will be presented to the successful competitors, and the City Artillery Corps will appear, for the first time, in their new and becoming uniform. We understand that the Wakapuaka tfnd Waimea Companies have also been invited to take part in the ceremony of the presentation, and with the exception of the Rifle Cadets Jtfo. 2, who are, we believe, still unprovided with arms, the whole existing strength of the City

Battallion 'Will in all .probability, thus be' present on the" occasion. A full muster of the members of the' Nelson Artillery Volunteer Corps is called by Captain Pitt for this evening, at 7 o'clock, at the Depot. All those provided with their uniforms are requested to wear them. Those of our citizens -who purpose seeking pleasure on Boxing-day at a distance from Nelson ■will be glad to learn that tbe proprietors of the Lady Barkly announce a trip to Motueka and back on that day, at the very moderate cost of five shillings. Many will doubtless avail themselves of this favorable opportunity of visiting that picturesque locality. The usual Christmas performance of Handel's oratorio of The Messiah, by the members of the Harmonic Society, will take place to-morrow evening (Christmas-eve);-being what is known as an ' open night/ at the new Practice-hall, Church-hill. We" are requested to call the attention of the members to the fact that a rehearsal is called for this evening at 8 o'clock. The Murray left the wharf at "Westport at 7 p.m. on the 2 1st instant, and arrived here at 4 p.m. on the 22nd. Buller to Kocks Point, strong breeze from south-west, with heavy sea from thence to Spit, light air and calm. Moderate sea breeze up the Bay. Met the steamer Southland from "Wanganui to Buller -with cattle, 10 miles south off Wanganui-inlet 6 a.m. on the 21st. We understand that the Cleopatra has been placed in the trade between Napier and Wairoa. An attempt is being made among the people of the latter place to get up a company to purchase her. The Madborough News states that another fire occurred on- the afternoon of Monday the 9th inst. at Blenheim, which caused the totaT destruction of the premises occupied by Mr MorrisSklaark, opposite the Government Buildings and the new hotel in course of erection' for Mr J. Ewart. A considerable quantity of drapery and other goods was destroyed. A portion of the stock, and most of the furniture downstairs was saved, but the fire spread so rapidly that there was not time to move all. As on the. former occasion, there was a great number of persons willing to assist in preventing the fire from spreading after all hopes of saving Mr Sklaark's premises had been abandoned. This time however there was a great scarcity of buckets, parties being unwilling to lend them in. consequence of the Insurance Companys' agents declining to make up the loss that individuals had sustained on the occasion of the previous fire. The efforts of the parties assembled fortunately prevented fire from spreading, and confined the destruction to one building. The premises belonged to Mr JosephJDempsey, and were insured in the Liverpool and London for 2501. Mr Sklaark's stock was insured in the New Zealand Company for 400Z, and ia the Victoria for 300/. Mr Sklaark's furniture was also insured in the Victoria for IQQI. A Brisbane contemporary of November 19 says that it is understood that his Excellency Sir George Bowen has determined on leaving this colony on tne 20th December, his instructions being to proceed to New Zealand immediately on receipt of his commission by the in coming mail via Panama. By leaving here on the above date his Excellency will have a week in Sydney before he proceeds by the mail-steamer from that port for Wellington, the seat of his new Government. It will be seen by our telegrams that Arthur E. Kennedy, Esq., C.8. , has been appointed to succeed Sir G. F. Bowen here. Mr Kennedy was Governor of Western Australia from 1854 to 1562, and in the following year he was appointed to Vancouver Island, where he remained till the befirinniner of the nresent vear.