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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 30, 6 February 1868, Page 2

We would remiud our readers of the ' important public meeting to take place tbis evoning, at the Provincial Hall, his ! Honor the Superintendent in the chair, in reference to the anticipated visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Au inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Rising Sun lou, before the Coroner, Dr. Squires, and a jury, on the body of Lawrence Devany, who had been found drowned at an early hour that morning, in a ditch on the Waimea Road. The jury having viewed the body, Mr. Samuel Biggs stated that at 6 o'clock that morning he had found a stick lying across a gutter on the left hand side of the road outside his premises. He had walked about for some short time, and then, about 30 feet from the spot where he had found the stick, aud nearer town, be discovered the body of the deceased, lying on his back in a ditch, about 2_\ feet deep. Mr. J. W. Neale, residing on the Waimea Road, stated that he saw the deceased last on Tuesday evening, about half-past 7 o'clock ; he was then sitting ou the side of the road, at a distance of from 30 to 40 feet from the spot where tbe body was found, and he said something, of which the witness did noL understand the purport. From the evidence of Police Constable Sherwood, who took possession of the body previous to the inquest, it appears that it was lying about 30 feet from Mr. Davis's house. The general impression on the rniods of the jury appeared to be that the poor old man, who was iv a feeble state, and incapable of taking care of himself, had been bewildered by the fearful storm which was racing at the time, and in his efforts to Beck the highest part of the road, had fallen into the ditch in which he was

fouud. The jury, after a short consultation, brought in a verdict of "Found drowned." At the inquest held yesterdaj'- afternoon on the body of the late Lawrence Devany, the Coroner, Dr Squires, called the attention of the jurors to the 10th clause of the Coroners' Act, hy which it is euacted that auy individual summoned on a jury either verbally or by written summons, who, aftei being three times opeoly called, shall neglect to appear and serve as juror, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £5, wbich the Coroner i 3 authorised aud required to iuilict. The City Artillery Company commenced their competitive firing this morning, at 10 o'clock, Corporal Lloyd and Captain Pitt made the two highest scores — 47 and 45 respectively. We are glad to perceive that the Board of Works lias lost no time in repairing the damage done to the various roads id the vicinity of the city by the late flood. By favor of the Provincial Government, the Board has been enabled to secure the assistance of prison labor for a few days, which will, it is needless to observe, considerably lessen the expenditure which has become necessary. VVe may therefore anticipate that iv a few days' time the roads will be put in a state of satisfactory repair. We understand that Mr 11. Wrig£, CE. accompanied by bis staff, hacl reached Foxhill last night and may be expected in town to-night or to-morrow morning, on j his returu rrom the preliminary survey for the proposed railway to the West Coast. The Independent ofthe 28th uit, states that Mr Robert Hart has resigned the oflice of Assistant Law Officer. It is said that his resignation is the result of some difference between himself aud the Government, arising outof a certaiu code of Civil Service regulations, which was lately published. The salary attached to the office is £600 a year. The Amherst sailed on the 24th ultimo from Invercargill for the Aucklands, Campbells, Stewart's Island, &c, in search of the chief officer and sailors of the ill fated General Grant, taking with her provisions, carpenters' tools, spades, seeds, pigs, goats, boats, compasses, aud sailing directions, a portion of which will be left on each island. Mr H. Armstrong, a member of the Provincial Government, Southland, accompanies the Amherst. The New Zealand Examiner gives the inhabitants of this Colony at least their due when it says it has been the fashion in certain quarters to decry all colonists, and especially those of New Zealaud, as men who do not care in the least for the welfare of the aboriginals they come in contact with. It is a pleasure, therefore, to us to make an extract from a New Zealand Government Gazette, containing the receipts and expenditure for the financial year 18b6-7. These colonists, who are said to desire the extermination of the Maori, actually pay out of their revenue £10,182 for his preservation and education. We would recommend those who are easily induced to believe all ill of New Zealand colouists, to lay to heart the fact that, instead of allowing the native race to die out or sink to the level of the black of Australia, they couseot to lie taxed to the amount uamed. This is 'Aboriginal Protection' by the white colonist iv contrast with the pamphleteering wickedness of Exeter Hall. The open hauded colonist working earnestly to help the Native, iv clear distinction from the cruel stupidities of those whose conduct must ever tend to make the olive branch a fire-brand. We sincerely trust that our home and colonial readers will not fail to make this kuown wherever they may be. Whilst the assistant pilot of Napier was dragging the bay for an anchor which the steamer Wellington lost there lately, another auchor, weighiug about a ton, was recovered, and now lies at Napier awaitiug the owner. Subscription lists for the memorial to the late Mr Crosbie Ward are filliug up fast at Christchurch aad Lyttelton. It is proposed to erect a memorial window in Trinity Cburch, Lyttelton. A late number of the Australasian furnishes the following statistics of the manufacture of wine iv Victoria, which, it is unquestionable, might be adopted with equal success in this province : — The progress of the wine-growing interest bids fair to almost equal in rapidity the rise of the mining interest. In 1857 only 580 acres were uuder cultivation for winegrowing purposes-; in 1866 4078 acres

were legitimately devoted to winegrowing, aud 50,000 cwt. were plucked f in that year : 32,000 cwt. were made into wine, and 18,01)0 cwt. otherwise disposed of. The considerable amount of 176,959 gals, of wine were produced in that year, aud 795 gals, of brandy. During the last year, however, this amount has increased by nearly one-half, and the retailing of colouial wine has become a distinct colonial industry. A gentleman of festive tastes had been at a dinner, where he drank freely and did not leave for home until very late. On reaching the doorsteps, and fishing up the latchkey, he became satisfied that 5 he was essentially convivialL<ed, and not iv precisely that condition which a husband i should b« iv to meet a good wife. Cau- ( tiously entering the bouse, he stopped, listened a moment, heard no noise, aud congratulated himself that everybody was asleep. Quietly he took off his overcoat, drew off his boots, slowly ascended the stairs to his bedroom, hesitated at the door, believing he was reasonably right stealthily entered, found the gas turned' low, wife apparently asleep, sat down, listened again, no stir, beiran to undress got most of his things safely off, was goin»towards the bed, wben the wife ofhis bosom quietly asked — 'Coming to bed, dear ?' — ' Yes, love.' — 'Well, dear, hadn'tyou better take your hat off?'