The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 14, 17 January 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1868.

We are gratified to be able to speak very favorably of the present state of the hop grounds in the vicinity of this city, ■which are well worthy ot inspection. Those belonging to the Messrs Harley, which extend over an area of four acres, are in splendid condition, the bines being very healthy and promising. The plants of the species of hop which derives its name in this province from its importer, Mr Bumford, but which is kuown at home as * Colegate,' are particularly strong and are the most forward, though we believe that they are the last to come to maturity, measuring already quite 16 or 18 feet in height, whilst those known as * Goldings,' ■which are generally ready for picking a fortnight or three weeks before the rest, are not so forward, but nevertheless promise well.

The Westport Times of Monday notices the fact that on Sunday morning the Rev. B. W. Harvey, the Church of England minister for Westport, officiated for the first time, in the prospectors 5 ' hut at the Caledonian Lead, in the presence of a goodly number of miners, and congratulates the reverend gentleman on his pluck in penetrating into tbe district. The Westport Times gives the following intelligence in reference to the new rush at tbe Caledonian Terrace : — ' The news from tbe new rush continues of a satisfactory character, and several new holes have been sank on the new lead. Several cases of jumping have occurred, and every day adds to the population, so that there are between 400 and 500 people located in that neighborhood. A great many claims are being shepherded pending the bottoming of a shaft sunk 70 feet deep, and which has already got a small quantity of gold. The back or new lead, it is supposed, will turn out as rich as the Caledonian, while the German Terrace is reported to be not only more extensive, but richer than either. The good news has caused quite a commotion among business people in Westport, who are looking hopefully towards these diggings for some return for the many disappointments they have undergone. If only one-half of the rumors are true respecting the richness of this district, Westport will indeed become the port of the West Coast for a long time to come.'

A testimonial, consisting of an address signed by upwards of 100 inhabitants of Charleston, accompanied by a purse of sovereigns, was presented on Monday evening to Mr Apted, late editor of the Westport Times, whose fracas with Mr Commissioner Xynnersley is fresh in the •memories of our readers. Mr R. Reid, one of. the proprietors of the Westport Star, was deputed to act on behalf of the subscribers, and after a few appropriate remarks, presented the address, which expressed ' the deep sympathy of the subscribers with Mr Apted in the late unfortunate sequel to his earnest endeavor to initiate a proper moral tone in society/ which Mr Apted duly acknowledged.

The Grey River Argus of Tuesday last states that Mr Dutton, R.M. at Charleston, is about to be removed to Cobden, to take charge of the Grey district of Nelson $&l<sield9. {""whilst Mr Lightband will proceed to act as Warden at Charleston. An immense number of signatures are being attached to a petition to the Superintendent, praying for Mr Dutton's retention in the

Our contemporary, the Colonist, in noticing, this morning, the telegram published in our columns of ' Tuesday last, relative to the wreck of the General Grant on the Auckland Islands, falls into a very ungracious blunder in suggesting that the Government steamers would be better employed in making periodical visits to these islands 'than in being lent to a young English nobleman to run races with in Wellington Harbor.' Our readers may remtmber that last week we noticed the arrival at Wellington, by the Kaifcoura, of the young Earl of Pembroke, who is now making a tour of these colonies, and at the same time referred to a match which had taken place in the harbor between the two cutters St. Kilda and Sandfly, the latter of which is being used by Lord Pembroke as a yacht, the former being the property of Captain Ryan. Our contemporary, it is plain, has confounded the cutter St. Kilda with the Government steamer of the same name, and has thus been led into making a blunder which is all the more ungracious as referring to a young nobleman to whose father the British people owe a debt of gratitude which (even supposing the above statement were true, which it is not) any colonial Government would but poorly recognise by the performance of such on act of courtesy as the Colonist appears to deprecate.

The annual picnic in connection with the Presbyterian Church Sabbath School took place yesterday, in the Maitai Valley. The scholars having assembled, in company with their teachers, at 1 o'clock p.m., in Trinity Church, they were briefly addressed by the Rev. P. Calder, and thence proceeded to the place selected for the day's enjoyment, the use of which had been kindly granted for the occasion by Ralph Richardson, Esq. The attendance of young people was larger than at any previous meeting of the same kind, about 150 being present, in addition to the teachers and other friends. The usual games were gone into with much spirit, the beautiful weather contributing largely to the success of the meeting. A meeting of the members of the Nelson Jockey Club took place yesterday afternoon at the Trafalgar] Hotel, at which it wa« decided that the annual Race Meeting should take place this year some time in April, probably, about the 14th, that time being specified as the probable date of the Royal visit. In order to render the meeting worthy of our .august guest, it has been determined to obtain, it* possible, larger subscriptions, so as to be enabled to offer prizes of higher amount, and thus induce entries from the other provinces. We are requested by Mr Huddleston to state that the particular species of ailanthus of which he is desirous of ascertaining whether any plants exist in this province, is the ailanthus glandulosus a deciduous tree, • f the order of zanthozylaeea*-, imported into England from China in the year 1751. It is requisite to make this distinction because there is another species of this tree, the ailanthus excelsus, which is a native of the East Indies, but which does not appear to be equally desirable as a food for silkworms.

We regret to learn that a fatal accident occurred on Thursday week, when a young man named Samuel Jones, of Riwaka, was drowned in crossing the Motueka River, which was much swollen at the time. The horse and trap which he was driving were found on the following morning on the bank of the river, the animal being dead, but though a search was prosecuted for several days, the body of the illfated young man has not been discovered.

The annual school festival at St. Mary's was brought to a conclusion yesterday afternoon, when the children, having assembled at 2 o'clock, amused themselves with various sports on the ground adjoining the church until three o'clock, when the sale of prizes to the pupils for their ticket money was continued from the previous evening. At six o'clock, about 90 children sat down to tea, a similar repast being afterwards served to the adult visitors present. The magic lantern was again shown at 8 o'clock, the exhibition^ the view of the School in which the pupils will resume their studies on Monday next, eliciting loud cheers, the proceedings being enlivened by the singing of several glees and the National Anthem, and the whole concluding with the ascension of a large fire-balloon, kindly presented and sent up by Mr Berry.

The Canterbury Races came off on Tuesday and Wednesday last ; the Cante-bury Cup, of 500 sovereigns, was won by Mr Studholme's Knottingley (the favorite), beating Mr Maliock's iiackbiter, Mr H. Hi Stafford's Magenta, and the victors of tne two previous years. Mr Delamain's Belle of the Isles, and Mr Carson's Stormbird. The Grand Stand Handicap was carried off by a Nelson filly, Mr Stafford's Omen, on the second day ; Mr H. Redwood's Ake-Ake running second on the first day for the Maiden Plate of 200 sovereigns, and Mr Stafford's Omen and Nebula taking like places for the Lottery Plate and Criterion Stakes on the same day, whilst his untried Ally, Discretion, sister to Omen, came in second for the Ilam Stakes on the following day.

We would remind our readers of the important sale of engravings, statuary in Parian ware &c. to take place at Mr Hornby's Auction Mart to-mor-row at 11. a.m.

The usual monthly meeting of the members of the Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade takes place this evening at the enginehouse at 7 o'clock. The drawing for the six watercolor drawings of scenery in the North Island, by Mr Hoyle, of Auckland, to which we lately invited attention, took place at Mr Hounsell's Kepository on Wednesday evening. The prizes fell to the following persons:— Captain Rough, Mr Poynter R.M., Mrs Hounsell, Mr Montague, of the' Bank of Naw Zealand, Mr Bentley, M.P.C., and Mr R. B. Scott.

The Westport Star of Tuesday last reports that tenders have been accepted for the erection of a fence round the Cemetery at the beach at that township, reference to which was made in this journal a few days .since. The Westport Times Btates, in relation tot his subject, that the sum (JB50) allotted for this purpose, was altogether .inefficient, _esides which, a portion of the original Cemetery Reserve has been cut up into streets and partly disposed of, so that it has been deter.mined to enclose only that portion of tbe ground Already. occupied, so as to preserve the graves rom destruction, with just sufficient land besides

to meet the probable requirements of the next few months; and as soon as the money can be found for the purpose, to set about clearing the ground for the new cemetery on an admirably adapted site "that has been selected at some distance up the river on this side, where the new hospital might also be erected. The late escort from Charleston to the Buller brought between 14,000 and 15,000 ounces of gold, and the Otago took 10,000 ounces of gold from Westport, on account of the Bunk of New South Wales and the Union Bunk. It seems that the Bank of New Zealand ships its gold from Hokitika, but as this course is attended with a considerable extra cost for freight and other expenses, the plan of direct shipment from Westport will probably be adopted in future. An execution in Siam is thus described. The condemned were first bound to stakes, and a bamboo Sfjear was erected in front of each to , receive tlie head after execution. Another chant, and then the prisoners receive mouthfuls of iruits and preserves, and some pungent scented liquor from a bottle. Their executioners composed their heads in an upright position, and placed small joss lights before them and to all seeming recommended them to pray, which they did fervently, but their executioners, crawling cat-like, from the covered walks behind, pinched and nudged the backs of their heads, to see if their presence of mind would allow them to receive the fatal blow without moving their heads. This being ascertained, their ears were immediately filled with mud, and a mark made on the neck of each convict with the same material to guide the coming stroke, including a repetition of the nudging and pinching. All beiDg now ready, the executioners again stole from the covered walk in the rear, each flourishing his sword, and now the blows began to fall. <Jne old hand so well performed his duty that his vie _m's head rolled at his feet with the first stroke, but all the rest took an amount of chopping and sawing which had the effect of disgusting away most of the white spectators who came to witness the horrifying spectacle. The heads of the condemned were now erected on spears — one old man's we noticed kept its ensanguined jaws open and moving several seconds after death.

A few Sundays since Eda was, at her own request, allowed to go to the Sunday-school for the first time, and there she learned the startling intelligence that she was made of dust. Little Eda's mind was fully impressed with the importance of the great truth, as was evinced by her frequent questions answerable and unanswerable. This morning, however, she propounded a ' stunner ' which 'brought down the house.' Intently watching her mother sweeping, as if to learn the art she must finally practise, saying not a word, her eyes resting upon the little pile of dirt accumulated by her mother's broom. Just as the dirt was to be swept into the street, the little philosopher burst forth with, ' Ma, ma, why don't you save the dust to make some more little girls ?'

A method of making use of fowls, recently devised in France, is raid to be of great agricultural value. An old omnibus is fitted up with nest-boxes and perches, aud it is proposed that such a machine should be kept on every farm well filled with fowls, and shouid be transferred every day to the spot where the most active farming operations are. carried on, The fowls would then follow the plough and harrow, clear the land thoroughly of fly and worm, pick up all the stray grain after harvest, keep themselves high in health, and feed themselves without cost.

1868