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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 94, 22 April 1868, Page 2

• The Postmaster has received a telegram stating that the Phoebe left Wellington today at 2 p.m. for Nelson via Picton, with the Panama Mail, and she may therefore be expected here to-morrow morning. The Suez Mail will most probably reach us on Sunday, by the Taranaki.

Mr. Commissioner Kynnersley arrived yesterday afternoon from Westport, by the John Peun, which also brought Mr. Gr. Donne, M.P.C., aud the two new members for tho West Coast, Messra. Home and Smith, who will take their seats in the Council this evening.

A cricket match took place ou Monday at Collingwood, between the Collingwood and Takaka Clubs, which resulted, in a victory for tlie former. Both teams afterwards partook of an excellent dinner at Mr. Mi lea's hostelry. The pleasure of the day, unfortunately, was much marred by an accident which occurred to Mr Tole, by which his leg was broken. The limb, however, was immediately set, and we are glad to hear that Mr. Tole is going on well.

We are requested by Mr Gibbs, M.P.C., iu reference to a letter signed C A Collingwood Elector ' which appeared in our issue of the 20th ult., (and which has only just been brought under his notice), to state that although a placard was posted at the Slato River, stating that the candidates would address the electors on the Sunday previous to the election, this transaction took place entirely without his cognisance or consent, as he had no intention whatever of addressing the electors __ on that day.

The Volunteer Band will perform a selection of music at 7 o'clock this evening on the Church Hill.

We understand that the John Penn is advertised at all the ports on the West Coast to convey passengers to and from Nelson, for a month, at single fares at the reduced rates. We believe that this announcement has been made for the especial convenience of intending visitors to Nelson for the Races and Cattle Show next week, and that it is probable that a large number of persons from the West Coast will avail themselves of the opportunity.

From Hokitika we learn that Messrs. J. F. Byrne & Co., of the Corinthian Hall, clothiers, have filed a declaration of their insolvency. Their liabilities are stated at £32,000, and one of the banks figures amongst the creditors to the amount of upwards of £12,000. The Nelson Gazette of Saturday last contains declarations of insolvency of Phillip M'Carthy, brewer, of Westport ; of John Shields Williams, storekeeper, of Mokihiuui; and of John Smart Crate, commission agent, of Nelson.

The letting by auction of the refreshment room of the grand stand and of the ground for booths on the Race Course at the approaching meeting, took place on Monday last at Mr D. Moore's auction room. The refreshment room was let to Mr Edwards, of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Collingwood-slreet, the grand stand itself, with the saddling ground and entrances to the course, being retained by the Turf Club. Grouud for nine booths was also taken, the whole realising a total of £53.

The Westport Star understands that Mr Commissioner Kynnersley has recommended the appropriation of a sum of money for the purpose of erecting four additional wharves at Wfstport, similar to those at present in course of erection.

The Westport Evening Star of the 17th inst. points out a hitch in the working of the District Courts Act: — This morning, when his Honor Judge Clark took his seat on the bt-nch, Mr E. Ty W- drew his attention to proclamations of the Governor in Council, constituting the district under the District Courts Act, aud fixing the boundaries of the portion of the district in which his Honor had insolvency jurisdiction. Mr Tyler argued that, according to tbe proclamation published in January last, his Houor had power to adjudicate in insolvency cases only in the County of Westland, and therefore not at Westport. The Judge argued the point, but ultimately accepted Mr Tyler's interpretation of the Gazettes, and decided not to go into the remainder of the insolvency business before Court. The Court then adjourned. On the following day, however, his Honor ruled against the decision he had arrived at previously with reference to his jurisdiction in insolvency business at Westport. He stated that he had jurisdiction, but postponed the business before the Court until the next sittings ; at the same time

he granted protection to the insolvents whose cases had not been decided.

The Hokitika Evening Star of the 18t"h says that the first execution in Canterbury took place on Thursday morning, when John Dinsley Swales, alias John Swales Dipeley, underwent the extreme penalty of the law within the walls of Lyttelton

gaol. The culprit was convicted for the * wilful murder of John Rankin, at the last criminal sittings of the Supreme Court of Christchurch, before Mr Justice Gre»son. Swales was a native ofEmsley, Yorkshire, England, and- arrived in Canterbury by the ship Ivauhoe, which anchored in Lyttelton Harbor on the loth June, 1864. At the time ofhis execution, Swak-s was 56 years of age. For some time previous to the commission of the crime for which he suffered, he had been iu partnership with Rankiu, keeping a small general store in Colombo-street, near the Duke of Wellington Hotel, and nearly opposite the Post-office. From his couviction up to the time ofhis execution, Swales has been comparatively calm and tranquil iu his demeanor, but up to the dfiy before his execution he had, although acknowledging the justice of his sentence, been very reticent respecting the particulars of the crime for the commission of which he paid the forfeit of his . life. His spiritual advisers were the Rev. E. A. Lingard, of St. Luke's, Christchurch, whose parishioner he was, and the Rev. F. Knowles, of Lyttelton, both of whom were with him in his last momeuts The Very Reverend the Dean of Christchurch also visited Swales during the period between his condemnation and execution. Late advices from Auckland tell of great losses entailed upon the Thames goldfield diggers by a disastrous flood. Several hundred tous of auriferous quatrz, together with a quantity of mining appliances and huts, were washed away. Later news has been received at Auckland from the Fijis. The Herald says : — *• It will be remembered that on the last occasion when the Eagle visited this port from the Fiji Islands, she brought intelligence of the murder of the Rev. Mr Baker, Wesieyan Missionary, aud his teachers, at Viti Levu, and of the fact that the King of the Fijis had avowed his determination to follow up the murderers and avenge the death of that devoted missionary. By the arrival of the Eagle we learn that the heathen aboriginals residing iu the mountains, having been apprised of the King's intended attack, collected a large force and descended during the night upon an important settlement inhabited by the Christian natives, and killed aud wounded some 30 or 40 of the latter. Ratu Kineru, the leading chief among the coast natives, being justly indignant at this, assembled a body of 2000 men, and proceeded to attack the settlement of the hostile party. Just before the departure of the Eagle a report reached Ngdronga, that Ratu Kineru's army had destroyed three villages by lire, and killed a large number of the enemy, the casualties on their side beiug limited to some half-dozen killed.'