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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 185, 7 August 1868, Page 2

A3 we have already stated, in order to afford the juveniles of Nejson an opportunity of witnessing Mr J. H. Cook's experiments iv electro-biology, Mr B. Crisp has made arrangements for an entertainment to be given at the Temperance Hall to-mprrow afternoou at 2 o'clock, the admission to which is fixed at the modest sum of 4d. each. An accident, happily not attended with very serious injury, occurred yesterday morning, about half-past 11 o'clock, at the building now in process of erection in Trafalgar-street for Mr W. Milner. It appears that a man named Edward Lamb was standing on a scaffolding about 12 feet from the ground, when one of the * padlocks' supporting it suddenly gave way, and Lamb, with another man who was also standing on the scaffolding, fell to the ground together with about a ton weight of stone and mortar. Both men, especially Lamb, were much bruised, but fortunately sustained no more serious injury than is likely to be remedied by a few days' rest from labor. Mr J. H. Cook gave another entertainment last night at the Temperance Hall, which was well attended, the experiments made on some fresh 'subjects' being very successful, and conveying to the incredulous a satisfactory proof of the effects which the mesmerist can produce on those who place themselves under his influence, the vocal powers of one of them being elicited to the great amusement of the audience. MrOook gives another entaioment of the same description torniorrow evening at thesame place. . We regret to find that the injury caused by the accident, the details of which were noticed in our issue of yesterday as having occurred to the third son of ■ W. Adams, Esq., of Wilden, on Wednesday lafo, is far more serious than was at first anticipated. We understand that the limb having yesterday become very much swollen, Dr Cotterell was sent for, who immediately discovered that a fracture of the tibia or shin bone of the right leg had taken place. This was at once reduced, and we are glad to add that the young sufferer is goiug on very favorably, though still in considerable pain. ' The ketch Elfin, from Greymouth, bound to Melbourne, put in to this port .

this morning, through stress of weather, having lost her sails. We are requested to state that the signal for the Moutoa will be a flag and ball on the north yard arm of the small flagstaff. The lion cubs in Foley's menagerie at Westport were respectively named 'Sir George Bowen' and 'Lucinda,' on Saturday evening, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The cubs are now exhibited, and appear to be very healthy and thriving. The Independent urges the propriety of erecting a suitable theatre in Wellington, aud attributes the lack of patronage of theatrical performances in that city to the want' of convenient accommodation for visitors. When the Treason-felony Bill which has been introduced into the Assembly was under discussion in committee, an attempt was made by Mr O'Neill and Mr Gallagher to throw it put, but it was agreed to, with slight amendments, and was afterwards passed. Mr O'Neill remarked that Mr Stafford, in moving for leave to bring in the bill, had said that the only offences now punishable with death were violating the king's wife, or shooting a chancellor. There was not the least fear of such offences beins committed in New Zealand. The Eveuing Post of the 27th ult, says: — The Secretary for Native Affiairs, Mr George S. Cooper, received instructions . this afternoon from the Executive to proceed to the Chatham Islands, to enquire into the late occurrences, and report thereupon to the Government. From the return in the hands of the Government of the number of Hauhau prisoners sent to the Chatham, it is more than probable that a number of those wretches were left behind when the Rifleman sailed, and doubtlessly Mr Cooper will exercise great caution in approaching the island. The machinery at Hunt's celebrated claim, at the Thames, is now at work. The first stone crushed yielded 5000 ounces in four days. The steam battery was started on Monday, July 20th, and in the first 16 hours 1500 ounces were obtained, and by Thursday evening, 5000 ounces. The following 'skit' upon the style of mining information furnished by the Auckland papers appears in the Wellington Punch as 'Latest news from the Auckland Gold Fields: — Miles of quartz reefs are discovered "daily. In the Blatherskyte claim two tons of gold were obtained last week from 481bs of stone. The lucky proprietors are busily employed drinking themselves to death at the nearest store. The Omnium Gatherum Company have struck a solid mass of gold, three feet thick, which they guard night and day . with sharp pickaxes. One of the party has gone to New York to procure machinery. Gold has been found in the bark and on the summits of the highest trees. Everybody is in the highest state of excitement. Diggers are arriving by thousands daily. Shortland is fast becoming the metropolis of New Zealand.* A destructive fire took place at Wanganui on the 23th ult. which originated io the new Presbyterian Church, which was in course of erection and nearly completed. The fire broke out at 1 a.m., and also destroyed the old church, situated at the rear of the new building. The flames then swept across Victoria Avenue, and caught Mr Churton's two houses, the one occupied by Mr Rawson, dentist; and the other by Mr Flyger. Some articles of furniture, &c, were saved from each, but both were shortly burnt to the ground, and nothing but the exertions of the Fire Brigade prevented still further destruction of property. The Wanganui Times of the Ist inst. states that the contractor for the Church and the Building Committee had had serious disagreements, and the : very 'night before the fire the committee bad met to consider a proposition made by the contractor and did not entirely agree with it. The contractor had. insured the ■ building for £1000. The Times intimates distinctly- that the fire was the work of an incendiary. A very destructive fire , .< occurred in Auckland on Sunday morning last, which broke out about halfpast 6 o'clock in the leather and saddlery stores of Messrs Ireland, Brothers, in Durhan>street East, a three-story brick building, adjoining which were Mr J. Black's stores, the Exchange Hotel, and Messrs Arthur and Son's auction mart. Messrs Ireland's store and the auction mart were entirely destroyed, the total loss of property being estimated at £14,000, but the fire has also

it is feared caused considerable injury to life, the back wall of Ireland Brothers* warehouse 1 having fallen on the roof of Arthui*'s mart, inside which a party of volunteers were working the hose. It was soon discovered that seven individuals has been buried in the ruins, who were speedily extricated. One of them was so seriously injured that he was not expected to live out the following day, whilst the rest are more or less sufferers. . The exertions of the Fire Brigade on the occasion are described by the Auckland papers as being most exemplary. The past eight or nine months' working of the new Bankruptcy Act has sufficed to show that it is most unworkable. For instance, in cases where the first meetings of creditors lapse through non-attendance, the proceedings to all intents and purposes come to a dead lock so far .as the realisation of the estates are concerned, while the protection afforded to bankrupts on filing^ their declarations still continues. During the present session of the General Assembly, a number of amendments will be introduced by Mr Macfarlane, so as to render the act somewhat less defective than it is. These amendments have been pointed out by various members of the legal profession, and if they are assented to — as there is little doubt they will be — the Act will be better understood and its provisions more generally applicable. The Wairarapa Mercury is responsiblefor the following : — The Governor of New Zealand lately called on a visit to a droll member of the Upper House, on whom, it is said, the 'Mantell' of Ben Johnsou has fallen. His Excellency, seeing a donkey in the yard, said to the hon. member, 'Is that your donkey?' it is supposed with a view to purchasing. 'No,* he replied, 'it is not my donkey, but my responsible adviser, and I could not do without him.'