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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 76, 31 March 1868, Page 2

The Ladybird left Port Chalmers for Lyttelton, with tbe English Mail via Suez, at half-past 4 p.m. yesterday. It is therefore improbable that we shall receive our portion of the mail before Thursday next. We learn by telegram that the Fenian prisoners arrested at Hokitika, were remanded on Saturday last until to-morrow. Their removal from that place cannot therefore take place before that day, aud it seems probable that Wellington, and not Nelson, may be chosen for their place of confinement. Owing to the uncertainty which prevailed as to the precise date of the Prince's visit to this colony, it was deemed inexpedient to fix any date for the approaching Race Mejeting. As, however, it is now almost a matter of certainty that the Duke's original intentions will not be carried out, any further delay in making the requisite arrangements would be obviously inexpedient. It is therefore proposed that the races shall take place on Wednesday and Thursday, the 22nd and 23rd of next month, that is, in about three weeks hence, and the programme will immediately be published. Already no less than ten horses have reached Nelson from the adjacent provinces, to compete with our local stables, and several others are on their way hither, and there can be no doubt thai the coming meeting will be by far the best ever witnessed in Nelson. As, however, it will he necessary to raise a sufficient sum of money to make the stakes worthy of such competition as appears likely to take place on the occasion, fer this purpose a liberal subscription list will be indispensable. We trust, therefore, that the public will generously second the efforts of the Turf Club, and under the special circumstances of the case, and in view of the disappointment caused by the Prince's return to Europe, we think that the Government

would certainly be justified in supplementing the funds by a Queen's or Duke of Edinburgh's Plate on this occasion. M. and Madame Simonsen's concert last night was perhaps the most attructive of the present series, for the programme contained in addition to several other items of interest, the last act of Meyerbeer's posthumous opera ' L' Africane,' the production of which created so much excitement both in Paris and London, and which is considered by musical critics to be the illustrious composer's greatest work. This selection included, of course, the famous upas tree scene, of which so much has been written, and although last night no adequate conception could be formed of its merits as a composition, through the absence of the orchestral accompanyment which form so essential a feature in all Meyerbeer's works, still there could be but one opinion of the magnificent manner in which it was rendered, both vocally and dramatically, by Madame Simonsen, who, despite the usual accessories of scenery, &c, managed by dint of the most finished mimic action, aided by the glorious intonations of her magnificent voice, to convey to her audience an almost complete sense ofthe composer's intentions. The gradual stupefaction which creeps over the senses of the unhappy Selika, after imbibing the poison which exhales from the flowers of the deadly upas tree, only broken by intermittent glimpses of the Paradise peopled by the deities of the Indian Mythology, which she fancies she has reached in company with her departed lover, was done to the life, aud Madame Simonsen's rendering of the whole scene called down the loudest plaudits from the audience. The entire programme was of a very pleasing and attractive character, and M. Simonsen's admirable performance on the violin, were received most enthusiastically the evening throughout. This evening Madame Simonsen takes her benefit, and makes a special appeal to her friends in Nelson, this beiug her farewell appearance. The programme includes two features of especial interest — The Shadow Dance in * Dinorah,' and the Mad Scene in the 'Lucia;' the former has not been given here before, of the latter we have already spoken in terms of the highest praise. We trust that these highly gifted artistes will be greeted by an audience commensurate iv numbers with their marvellous abilities. We regret to state that intelligence reached town this morning of the death, by his own hand, of a gentleman named Toft, who, with his brother, an officer of the army at present on duty in India, and Mr Bachelor of Wakapuaka, have for some time past held the run in Pig Valley, formerly the property of Mr Marmaduke Sellon. It appears that the deceased gentleman, who was in his 32nd year, and, we believe, unmarried, was in his usual health and spirits on Sunday night. On the following morning he ordered the men living on the stauon to some distance from the house, aud when they returned they found him quite dead, shot through the head, the act having been evidently committed by his own hand. We have heard no reason assigned for this fearful deed, but, doubtless, some further particulars will be elicited at the inquest, which takes place to-morrow.