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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 196, 20 August 1868, Page 2

Immediately before going to press we received telegraphic information that the Airedale, which left Wellington at 4.30 a.m. this morning, reached Ficton at 11 a.m. to assist the Taranaki, and to bring on the mails and passengers. AH the mails have been saved, except some two or three packages, which, it is thought, may yet turn up. The Airedale will leave Picton for Nelson at midnight. The Bishop of Lichfield, Mrs and Mr Selwyn, were passengers by the Taranaki. A very fair audience assembled last night at the Temperance Hall, to hear the lecture on ' Love,' announced to be given by Mrs Alice Evereste, but we regret to state that the proceedings came to a premature termination, amidst a scene of considerable confusion, shortly after the appearance of the lecturess, the most respectable portion of the audience retiring almost immediately. Far be it from us to be ungallant enough even to hint at the cause of this reception, which was possibly only attributable to the temporary indisposition from which the fair exponent of the tender passion was obviously suffering. Suffice it to say that the not unreasonable demand made by many members of the audience, that the entrance money should be retnrned to them, not being complied with, their indignation found expression in no measured terms, and in somewhat curious fashion, the scene being only terminated by the prompt action taken by Mr B. Crisp, who extinguished the lights, and closed the hall, leaving the malcontents to ponder over their misplaced confidence in female lecturers. It will be seen from an advertisement which appears in another column, that the presentation of the testimonial to the Rev. P. Calder, to which we made allusion yesterday, will take place at the Manse, on Saturday afternoon next at 3 o'clock. In connection with this subject we may mention that the Rev. Thomas Patterson, who has been appointed to succeed the Rev. John Hall as Presbyterian Minister at Wellington, wag among the arrivals by the Ballarat on Tuesday last. The programme of the concert to be given this evening by the Harmonic Society is of very attractive character, including several novelties, amongst which we may especially mention the ' Stabat Mater' of Rossini, the last great work of the oldest and most gifted composer of the day, it being its first performance in Neleon. The vocal selections contained in the second part of the programme will introduce at least three recent accessions to the ranks of the Society, whilst the performance of Beethoven's Sonata Patelica on the pianoforte, by a titled lady amateur, will form another novel and welcome feature in the concert. A* the sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court, held yesterday at Motueka before J. Sharp-, Esq., R.M., and Major

I Horneman, J.P., the adjourned case of Macmahon v. Fearon, for destruction of property, was heard. Mr Pitt, who appeared for the defendant, took several objections to the form of proceedings, and the case was withdrawn. Mr Pitt applied for defendant's costs, which were refused. In the counter-case, Fearoa v. Macmahoo, an information under the Protection of Animals Act, 1867, in which the case turned upon the question whether a person authorised by the Superintendent to capture game for distribution in other parts of the colony, is entitled to do so without also takiug out the ordinary license to kill game. The Resident Maglstrats, haviug stated that his interpretation of the Act differed from that taken by Mr Pitt, dismissed the case, and intimated that the plaintiff might appeal to the Supreme Court. Mr Pitt immediately gave notice of appeal, which will be heard io due course. We learn from our Canterbury files that the tidal commotion, which was observed at this port on Saturday last, was far more violent in its effects at Lyttelton and Kaiapoi, and that it also first occurred at an earlier hour of the morning. Telegrams in the local papers give the following particulars: — About three o'clock that morning the sea receded from tbe harbor so as to leave the vessels at the Government Wharf high and dry. Soon afterwards an immense wave returned, rising much higher than the usual level of high water, and causing considerable damage to the shipping. Several lesser commotions of a similar nature followed in succession. The rise and fall, which occupied about 30 minutes, was little short of 18 feet. The John Knox damaged her bulwarks and stanchions; the JeannieDuncan had her boat broken, and various other slight accidents occurred; and the Margaret knocked her mast and bowsprit out, and damaged the Annie Brown. The same thing occurred at Kaiapoi, the wave bringing up quantities of timber and part of a wreck, sunk many years ago, as well as an old ship's tank. It quickly subsided and the same effeat was produced during the day, at interval, varying from 15 to 40 minutes. Several small boat3 were destroyed, and vessels damaged. It would appear, as far as we have been able to learn, that no commotion of this character has been felt on the West Coast. In the House of Representatives, Mr Vogel has given the following notice of motion, ' that in order to remove all restriction in the way of the free circulation of newspapers, it is desirable to abolish the postal charges thereon, and that the Government be requested to introduce a measure to give effect to the resolution.' The Postmaster-General, in reply to a question from Mr Stevens the other night in the House of Representatives, relative to steam postal subsidies, stated that two tenders had been received, from one company 17 per cent, increase on the present subsidies, and the other 72 per cent: adding that it would not be advisable to close with either. A bill to amend the law with reference to the mortgage of stock is now passing through the Assembly. It provides that all mortgages of stock, or of stock and other chattels on any station in New Zealand which shall hereafter be made, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, whether the time for the payment of the money secured shall have arrived or not. Not withstand ing subsequent bankruptcy, no such mortgagee shall be protected from the operation of the bankruptcy law, unless it shall have been executed at least 60 days before the date of the order of adjudication of bankruptcy, or unless the consideration shall be an advance or loan made at the time, or in contemplation of such mortgage. The Wellington telegram in the Grey River Argus of the 15th inst, whilst summarising Mr Dillon Bell's speech on Mr Fox's late motion, says that he attempted to prove that Mr Stafford's statement that instructions for General Chute's march were not given during his tenure of office was incorrect, affirming that those instructions were given after Mr Stafford took office. Mr Stafford was much excited and denied the correctness of the quotations from the despatches, declaring the quotations to be garbled. Assertion and counter-assertion continued for some time, compelling the Speaker to interfere several times. At the close of Mr Bell's speech, Mr Carleton moved an adjournment, to give an opportunity to deny Mr Fox's charge.^ Mr Stafford spoke strongly, reading other despatches in support [of his

denial, and appealing to Mr Weld's colleagues to confirm his statement. Mr Richmond confirmed Mr Stafford, while Major Atkinson confirmed Mr Bell's statement. The Hon. Col. Kenuy has carried a resolution in the Legislative Council, praying that the Governor will delay the embarkation of the troops now in the colony until after advices have been received in England of the present native disturbances. The Evening Post says that an effort is beiug made amongst gentlemen connected with journalism to introduce a Bill into Parliament, this session, having for its object the alteration of the law of libel aa it at present exists in this colony. It is well-known that tobacco is very dearly prized by most persona who are unfortunate enough to be sentenced to terms of imprisonment, and it is curious -to observe from the report; of the Commission ou Prisons, the irregularities which are in force with regard to this luxury in the New Zealand prisons. In Wellington Gaol, tobacco is allowed to firstclass prisoners, but as there is no classification, all the prisoners are allowed to smoke. In Lyttelton Gaol, two sticks of tobacco per week are allowed to firstclass prisoners although all are prohibited from smoking. In Hokitika Gaol, the Lyttelton regulations were adopted, but tobacco, although expressly allowed to first-class prisoners, has been taken away by the Visiting Justices, on the recommendation of the gaoler. In Nelson Gaol, tobacco is only allowed as an indulgence for good behavior, although the ration list provides two sticks of tobacco weekly for each prisoner. In the Auckland and New Plymouth Gaols, no tobacco is allowed. In the Napier Gaol, a stick of tobacco is given to the hard labor men generally, with the sanction of the authorities on recommendation of the overseers. In Duuedin Gaol, tobacco is prohibited, except by permission of a medical officer, or to well-behaved prisoners; although by the regulations of 1862 the penal servitude men are entitled to two sticks each per week. In Invercargill Gaol tobacco is only given by medical permission. In Picton Gaol, tobacco is allowed to those persons who work for the Board of Works, but whether under the regulations of the Superintendent or not does not appear. The Canterbury papers state that a large number of arms, now in use by the volunteers of that province, were to be transferred to Wellington immediately. The Wanganui Times states that there are now 720 men and 34 officers in the field at Patea. The amount realised from the sale of the Town Lands of Fokitika will, in. round numbers, reach £5000. Of this sum seventy-five per cent., or threefourths, is to be handed over to the Corporation for town improvements. We have the following intelligence from Melbourne up to the 7th instant : — The Earl and Countess of Belmore have visited Melbourne and Ballarat, and had returned to Sydney by the mail steamer. Mr Verdon's agent, who sailed for England in the Somersetshire, has been presented with a testimonial and a complimentary address. The Sladen Ministry have been entertained at a dinnfg at Ballarat, about 350 gentlemen were present, Mr George Harker being chairman. All the Ministerial candidates have been elected. The Legislative Assembly was to meet on the 7th. The libel case, Moffatt v. Argus has been settled out of court. Gold has been discovered iu Freestone Creek near Sale, and favorably spoken of. The Melbourne Corporation have purchased a beautifully mounted ostrieh-egg, the first laid in Victoria, for presentation to Mr Austin of Barwon Park, in recognition of his services in the cause of acclimatisation. Benjamin, an insolvent, has been arrested at the instance of Ray, Palmer, and Co., for obtaining goods under false pretences. We have the following intelligence from Sydney, up to the 6th instant : — Bishop Quin, of Brisbane, leaves next month, for Rome. — Queensland steamers have brought 4700 ozs. of gold. — A protest, signed by the British consul and others, against the Fiji Trading Company, is published in the newspapers. — The annual steeplechase will take place on the Ist of October. What is the largest room in the world? — The room for improvement. Why is life the greatest riddle? — Because all must give it up. 'I'll be round this way in a minute,' as. the second-hand said to the pendulum.