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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 168, 18 July 1868, Page 2

It is rumoured, and we believe with some probability, that Mr John M'lutosh, of this city, is likely to present himself as a candidate for the seat in the Provincial Council for Westport, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr J. V. Smith. Telegraphic communication with all the stations, with the exception of Havelock, has been suspended since tbe morning. The Rev. P. Calder gives his third lecture on the theology of the present day, at Trinity Presbyterian Church to-morrow evening, the subject being * The Christ of Romance,' as pictured in the writings of Renan. His Excellency Sir George Bowen has presented a pair of emus from Brisbane, and also a pair of Australian turkeys or talegala, more commonly known as the scrub turkey, to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. A cottage on the farm belonging to Mr W. Harkness at Richmond, was destroyed by fire between 11 and 12 o'clock on Thursday morning. It appears that the cottage was occupied by a man named Stone, whose wife and children bad gone to visit him whilst he was employed getting up timber on the swamp. Soon after leaving home they perceived flames rising from the cottage, and immediately returned to it, where, having obtained some assistance, Stone managed to break out one of the windows, and thus saved a trunk and bed with a few blankets, ali the remaining property being consumed. The cottage was uninsured, and the total loss amounts to about £200. A subscription has been started in Richmond and tbe neighborhood in order to indemnify these poor people for the loss they have sustained, and the amount collected bad yesterday reached the sum of £30. A meeting of the subscribers of the Richmond Institution, which was very numerously attended, took place on Friday evening. The Rev. W. Lewis having been voted chairman, called on Mr Barnicoat, the treasurer, to make a financial statement, which proved a very satisfactory one, as besides showing a goodly sum in hand more thau sufficient to meet

liabilities, £25 had been recently remitted to cover an order for new books, while the library at present consists of nearly 1000 volumes in various departments, the aim of the committee being to provide works suited to different tastes. The chairman then read over the existing rules, adopted some years back, in which, after some discussion, a few amendments were made. The following persons were then proposed and seconded as a committee for the ensuing year, Rev. W. Lewis, Messrs. Brock, (secretary) Barnicoat, (treasurer^ Beitt, Harrington, T. Ham. mond, Talbot, Thompson, C. Saywell, Harkness, Nicholas, and J. Lammas. Immediately after the election the committee met and appointed Mr Brock as librarian. A football match was played yesterday morning on the College ground between 8 players of the Nelson College and 15 of the Government School, Waimea Road. The match consisted of three games, and was easily won by the Collegians. New regulations of a stringent character have been published in the Government Gazette with regard to the liabilities of sailing vessels on our coasts when carrying passengers. These regulations affect the quality of cargo or ballast which such vessels shall be allowed to carry ; what stores of water they shall be compelled to have on board ; the number of passengers to tonnage is regulated, and^the supervision of the Customs authorities ia the matter defined. The Thames Advertiser of the 7th inst. states that the Caledonia Claim are crushing at Goodall's machine. The result of the previous night was a yield of 71b. amalgam from a crushing of about 12 tons of stuff, exclusive of specimens, which will be crushed separately. The Westport Evening Star of the 15th inst. has the foiiowing with reference to Mr Wrigg's movements on the West Coast, who returned to Nelson by tho Charles Edward yesterday : — During the past eight days, Mr Wrigg, C.E., and Mr Lowe, District Surveyor, accompanied by the survey staff, have been engaged in making a more thorough examination of *he Buller coalfields than had previously been undertaken, with a view to their development, and no doubt also -with a view to obtaining all possible information with regard to the conditions under which a West Coast Railway would have to be constructed. The party left Westport last week for the Wairaangaroa. From that point inwards they inspected all the coal seams which are exposed or have been discovered, and returned on Monday evening by way of Mount Rochfort, having camped for part of their time in one of the drives in the mountain-side. On the day after their return — yesterday — they proceeded up the Bnller, for the purpose of exploring the valley which extends from Mount Rochfort to the river, their intention, no doubt, being to determine the most practicable line of railway in connection with the coalfield, and with any general system which may be adopted. The party return from their second journey of exploration this afternoon. The Canterbury Provincial Council met 'on the 3rd inst. In the Superintendent's opening Speech reference was made to the step taken by Messrs Holmes & Co., the railway contractors, that very morning, to close the tunnel. They had received au intimation from the Government that they would take over the line on the Ist of August, which would have given them ample time to complete the tunnel and • their contract. They immediately closed the tunnel 'for the protection of their own interests,' as they said, and have thereby caused a vast amount of inconvenience. The Railway engineer has stated ' that traffic can be resumed as early as the 18th, and it remains with the contractors to determine whether they wi|l push the work forward, or whether they will see the month out, as a kind of spite to the authorities. The sum of £12,500 has, been voted for liquidating the claims of the contractors and for the maintenance of the line j but they have, put in for a much larger amount, and the question will probably be ultimately settled in a court of law. The Auckland papers state that many a good speculation has been made at the Thames lately, and amongst them, one by Mr Justice Moore, who bought into the Hokitika Claim for some £70 and has since been offered £1200, which, it is said, he has refused. It is suggested that this is likely to pay better tijan dispensing

j ustice, or ' laboring for tbd entanglement ; ! of real estate.' Two full shares in th& \ Middle Star Claim have been purchased ; by Mr Thomas Russell, of Auckland, for £6,000. There has been a great conflagration at Sandridge, Victoria. Tbe Pier Hotel ahd five houses adjoining have been burnt to the ground. A cabman, named O'Cal-, laghan, and Mr Charles Strettle, a retired Indian officer, have perished in the flames.