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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 66, 19 March 1868, Page 2

In a notice which appeared iu this journal about a fortnight ago of the primary report of the Dunedin Waterworks Cornpan n, it was stated as one of the beneficial results of the undertaking, that the Insurance Companies in that city had already reduced their rateß 10 and 20 per ceut. on timber and brick houses respectively. We were therefore not a little surprised to hear that no reduction had taken place in the rates of insurance on the introduction of the Waterworks in this city ; that, in fact, in some instances, where insurers paid 2\ per cent, previously, they are now charged 4 per cent., and this, too, on houses where the water has already been laid on. We canuot but think that this has arisen from some misunderstanding, and trust that the subject may engage the speedy attention of the agents of ths various lusurance Companies, which, with the superior security from fiie which now exists, cannot but be the losers through withdrawal of insurances. We have received a letter from ' One of the Wood Club,' complaining of the statement iu our issue of the 17th instant, to the effect that the Victory-square Cricket Grouud had been 'unceremoniously invaded,' and a match played upon it by which the turf had been cut up, &c, and stating, in explanation, that the match alluded to was intended to bave been played upou the ground on which it has hithertotaken place — the Botanical Gardens — but a member of the Nelson Club having proffered the use of the Victory-square ground, it was accepted. Our correspondent adds that a member of the Nelson Club marked off the ground and the creases, and helped to pitch the wickets on the occasion, and he holds that this can hardly be regarded iu the light of ' unceremonious invasion.' Although the conduct of the member of the Nelson Cricket Club alluded to, whoever he may be, is indefensible, and may be pleaded toa certain extent in exculpation of the alleged 'unceremonious invasion' by the two clubs, on which we commented on the occasion referred to, we fear that their vindication can hardly be deemed complete, since it is stated that one of the two offending clubs, wben playing only a few days previously with the Band of Hope Club, united with the members of the latter club in preparing another piece of ground for their match, actuated by the impression that the ground which has been so maltreated was specially reserved by the Nelson Cricket Club for their matches. Probably an expression of regret on the part of the two clubs for the trouble and anuoyance they have occasioned their brother cricketers would best atone for what was surely a merely thoughtless, though very vexatious act. A lad named Daniel Shannon, about 14 years of age, who has for some time pasl

been employed -on the Messrs M'Rae's run on the Maitai, and who was a general favorite in that neighborhood, died on Tuesday evening last, from fever occasioned by exposure to the sun whilst bathiug in the Maitai and following sheep ou the hills. Though the habit of throwing stones is too prevalent, amougst the boys ofNelson, and many serious accidents resulting from it have lately come to our knowledge, it is only right to state that the rumor which has prevailed to the effect that the deceased lad had met his death from the effects of a wound thus inflicted by a companion, is altogether false. It appears that Shannon, who was a very expert swimmer, was bathing in the Maitai about a month ago, when another lad, who accompanied him, playfully threw a stone at him, hitting him on the head, and causing a considerable effusion of blood. Dr Vickerman, however, assures us that the wound was of the most trivial character, and that the poor lad's death resulted solely from the causes which we have already indicated. We understand that the next concert of the Harmonic Society will take place iu Easter week, when selections from Mendelssohn's oratorio of Elijah will be the piece de resistance. We are informed by the Rev. W. Lewis, the iucumbeut of the new Church of St. Alban's, Appleby, tbat we were iu error in stating that its ' consecration ' would take place on Wednesday the 25th inst. The Church will be dedicated and opened on tbat day, but its consecration must be deferred uutil the building is completed, wbich, it is hoped, may soon be the case. The Grey Eiver Argus, ' March 17, states that the opening of the new Wesleyan Church on Suuday was celebrated under circustances which must have given great pleasure to all who had concerned themselves in the erection of the building. In the morning there was a good congregation, which would doubtless have been larger but for the heavy showers which fell in the earlier part of the day. In the evening the church was crowded, many persons having to be accommodated in the aisles. The Rev. J. T. Shaw preached on both occasions, his sermons being specially appropriate to the opening of a place for divine worship, The choral portion of the service was very effective, the choir having been augmented, and tbe orchestral accompaniments strengthened by several instruments in addition to the harmonium. Collections were made at the closo of each service, which realised £21 10s. towards the building fund. The new church is a very pretty and commodious structure, and agreeably situated; it is built in the simple gothic style, with pointed windows and buttresses, and lined and papered inside throughout. On Monday evening a tea meeting was held in the church, which was well attended. Several appropriate addresses were delivered, and the proceedings were enlivened by some excellent music, discoursed by the choir and band, under the directorship of Mr Edwards. The tea tables were most plentifully supplied, and presided over by members of the congregation, to whom a vote of thanks was most cordially passed by the meeting. The West Coast Times states that several intending passengers by the Phoebe for Sydney en route for the Queensland diggings, were so disheartened by the bad news brought last week both by the Otago and the Phcebe, that they returned on shore, preferring to forfeit their passage, to encountering fever, ague, suakes, and duffers. Several old West Coast diggers returned to the scene of their former labors. They give most deplorable accounts of the Queensland Diggings, which are fully confirmed by the returns of the latest fortnightly escort into Maryborough, which was only 2000

oz. If we take half the number of d iggers estimated to be on the field at that time to have been there during that period, this returu wili average only a trifle over three-and-a-half dwts per man per week. If such accounts do not stop the exodus lately going on, what wili ? The Hobarton Mercury states that Mr John Mackenzie, a gentleman ofthe legal profession, who has been iu these colonies for some months past prosecuting inquiries in the disputed Tichborne baronetcy case, under an order from the Court of Chancery, ha3 again paid Hobarton a visit. We understand that Mr Mackeuzie has ascertained, as the result of his investigation, that the Australian claimant, who wus kuown in New South Wales as Tom Castro, is . identical with a young man named Arthur Or ton, who early in the year 1853 arrived iu Hobarton from London, in the ship Middleton, Captain Storie, now of the Harrowby, in this port, in charge of two Shetland ponies imported by Mr T. D. Chapman. Ortou signed ship's articles as a butcher, and was afterwards in the employment of various butchers in this town, and ultimately was engaged hero by Mr John Johnson to proceed to his station of Mew burn Park, Gippslaud, to act as a stockman and general servant. We also understand that the photographs of Tom Castro, who is nov/ knowu iu England as Sir Roger Charles Doughty Tichbourne, Bart., have been recognised by his former employers and other parties here as coi reet likenesses of the abovementioned Arthur Ortou. Bishop Strachau, of Toronto, who died lately, aged 89, was the oldest Church of England Bishop in the world. He had been intimately connected with the affairs of Canada for nearly three quarters of a century. His successor is Dr Bethune, Bishop of Niagara. The bishopric is worth £1250 a year.