The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1868. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 179, 31 July 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1868. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington, July 31. 2.30 p.m.

The second reading of the Road Boards Bilr was carried on Wednesday evening, without opposition.

The debate commenced last night on Mr Fox's motion — 'That this House is of opinion that no further business should be done until the Government has placed before it a full and precise statement of its policy, and [indicated the extent to which it proposes to alter existing institutions; and also make a statement of what is doing as. regards Native affairs.' .

Mr Fox protested that his motion was not based on factious opposition, and disclaimed any desire for office, if the Government would only act openly and candidly, of which he failed to see any indications in what had been said or done either in or out of the House. Local selfgovernment was only a common political trick, seizing a name, and carrying out a directly contrary policy. The policy of the Government was to centralise all power in their own hands, as had been the case in Westland, where — —

[This message had proceeded thus far, when we were informed that communication was suspended; we were therefore compelled to go to press without its conclusion.]

His Honor Mr Jußtiee Richmond sat in banco this morning, when the feilowing case was heard : — A. Porter v. Hori-te-Koromo and others. This was an application to restrain the defendants in the case Jervis v. Tasker from taking any further proceedings in the action of ejectment commenced by them on the 30th of January last, and in which judgment had been given for the plaintiff unless the defendant delivered amended pleas on or before the 31st inst. Dr Combe, with Mr Kingdon, appeared for the plaintiff; Mr Pitt for the defendant Jervis. Various affidavits were read and the matter was adjourned untilthe 21st of August next, on the understanding that no proceedings in the old action. would be taken by the plaintiffs in the original action Jervis v. Tasker. The Court then adjourned until Friday next.

The Volunteers for service in the North Island left this afternoon, in charge of Ensign Wrey, for Wanganui, by the steamer Charles Edward, which had been specially chartered for the purpose. They were accompanied to the wharf by the Artillery Company and the Artillery Cadets, the Volunteer Band playing appropriate airs, amongst which we noticed * Partant pour la Syrie,' ' Cheer, Boys, Cheer,' 'The Girl I left behind Me,' &c, and by a large concourse of citizens, including not a few weeping damsels. They were repeatedly cheered on their way to the Port, and appeared to be in excellent spirits.

Mr J. H. Cook's second entertainment on electro-biology and mesmerism took place last night at the Temperance Hall. Unfortunately, of the several 'subjects' •who presented themselves upon the platform none proved to be susceptible to the influence of the operator, and considerable disappointment was in consequence experienced by the audience. This, however, is a casuality which frequently befalls mesmeric lecturers, and is in no wise attributable to a lack of skill or to less creditable causes. We remember when Professor Bushell, one of the most clever and experienced electro-biologists who has ever exhibited his powers in these colonies, failed for three consecutive nights in obtaining satisfactory subjects, and, but for the general impression, that this failure was owing entirely to fortuitous causes, he would probably have been hooted out of the city iv which he was giving his

lectures, as an arrant impostor. Another trial was suggested; and the result fully realised the anticipations of his friends. Let us hope that Mr Cook will be equally fortunate on Saturday evening, when he announces his intention to give another entertainment to which the admission will be gratuitous. . We would remind our readers that Mr W. Ryan's benefit takes place this evening at the Oddfellows' Hall. The programme includes 'The Ticket-of-leave Man,' together with a farce, dancing, &c. We regret to learn that the premises adjacent to Mr James Baird's residence at Clifton, Motupipi, including a barn, workshop, stockyard, and cow-byre, were totally destroyed by fire on last Monday afternoon. The origin, of the fire is unknown. The following is given in the Census Returns lately laid on the table of the General Assembly, as the population of the principal towns of this colouy: — Auckland, males, 5,752, females, 5,401, total, 11, 153; Wellington, males, 3,927, females, 3,533, total, 7,460; Nelson, males, 2,925, females, 2,657, total, 6,652; Christchurch, males, 3,335, females, 3,312, total, 6,647; Dunediu, males, 6,654, females, 6,122, tot»l. 12,776 ; New Plymouth, males, 1,096, females, 1,084, total, 2,180; Napier, males, 987, females, 840, total, 1,827; Invercargill, males, 1,098, females, 908, total, 2,006; Lyttelton, males, 1,371, females, 1,139, total, 2,510; Picton, males, 228, females, 237, total, 465; Native population. 36,540; total, including both races, 258,632. The Wellington correspondent of the Canterbury Press, thus describes the architectural features of the edifice prepared for the reception of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh: — Imagine a building perched up on a mound behind Government House, consisting of two tall windowless erections, without even an attempt at paint. In size and general appearance resembling a flour-mill erected by an unenterprising man of exceedingly small zesources.

On the 24th inst. a young man, named Martin Doyle, who was engaged in mining at the Hauhau lead, near Hokitika, fell down a shaft 80 feet deep. One of his friends at once proceeded to town for medical assistauce, but at the hour of his leaving- the poor fellow had not been brought up, and but little hopes were entertained of rescuing him in time to render medical aid available. We learn from the Westland Observer of the 26th that he was got up aud carried into town to the Hospital, where it was found that the accident, though serious — a large flesh wound having been caused by his being caught in one of the buckethooks in the fall — was not so serious as was at first imagined, and his restoration to health is confidently anticipated.

The Hokitika Evening Star of the 27th inst says: — -We are informed by a gentleman lately arrived from the Wanganui Inlet that a large and extensive coal mine is now in course of being opened up at that place, by Messrs Batty & Co., of Nelson. There are, he says, a large number of coal seams visible, cropping out of the various terraces, all of which, with a very small outlay, might be profitably turned to account. Messrs Batty & Co. have lately erected some extensive pumping gear, the machinery for which was landed from the s.s. Murray on her last trip from Nelson; and also a horse and five fresh hands for the more extensive working of the seam. The workings are at present necessarily of a very rude nature, but withal are returning profitable results. Several small crafts are now laid on for the purpose of delivering coal at Neison.

The Hokitika Evening Star of the 25th instant says : — A regular stampede to safer quarters has been commenced by the inhabitants of the west side of north Revell-street. The apathy which the residents of this locality showed on the near approach of the sea to their dwellings was superseded yesterday by evident signs of real alarm, and as soon as the tide receded from the buildings, a general pulling down of houses was commenced, continuing far into the night, and at daylight this morning, the houses on the west side had been entirely razed irom a little above Tudor-street..

The Marlborough News of the 25th inst. says that on the 23rd, Lewib's coach while passing through the water,' which was unusually high near the Opawa bridge, was washed by the force of the current some distance down the bank of the river. The driver, Charles Thompson, jumped

out and swam ashore. The coach and horses were fortunately prevented from going far by the friendly branches of a willow tree, against which the vehicle lodged. Assistance was speedily rendered and with the aid of ropes, &c, the horses were got ashore much exhausted, and the coach was afterward saved, little the worse for iis mishap. South Dauvers, Massachusetts, has changed its name to Peabody, it beiug the birthplace of the great philanthropist.

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