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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 238, 7 October 1868, Page 2

We regret to state that an accident of serious character occurred on Monday last to a young man named Weedy, who has only recently arrived in the colony, and is now residing with Mr Beat at Appleby. It appears that tho young man had accompanied Mr William Best to the bush at Wakefield, and was returning home with a cart loaded with firewood, and drawn by two horses, the one in the shafts being young, and never having previously been in harness on the road. From what particulars we have been able to obtain, it would seem that, in going down the steep bill between Messrs Payton's and Hooper's stores, the load proved too much for the young horse in the shafts, and he took fright, both horses going at full speed j down the hill. Their progress was at last arrested by the cart coming in cou tact | with a post at the side of the road, which broke both shafts. Unfortunately, at the moment the concussion took place, young | Weedy was at the head of the leading horse, j who knocked him down, and by some ] means or other a portion of one of the broken shafts inflicted a violent blow upon his groin, causing exquisite pain. A light trap was procured, and Dr Oldham being shortly in attendance, Weedy was conveyed to Mr Best's, where he now lies under the charge of Dr Laking; and although he is suffering much pain, we are happy to be able to state that it is confideutly anticipated that he has sustained no serious internal injury. It was finally determined at the meeting of the members of the Nelson Cricket Club, held on Saturday evening last, that the opeuiug match of the season should take place to-morrow, when a scratch-match will be played on the Victory-square ground. All members desirous of taking part in the match are requested to be on the ground at 10 o'clock punctually. Amongst the arrivals from the West Coast this morning by the John Penn, were Mr J. W. Black, who is said to be one of the cleverest delineators of Scottish character, both as regards minstrelsy and the drama, in these colonies, accompanied by the old favorites Miss Annie Merton and Mr W. H. Newton, and other professional assistance. It will be seen that they propose giving an entertainment to-morrow evening, at the Odd-fellows'-hall, and, as the programme is of very attractive character, we trust that they will have a crowded house. Mr Hornby has now at his Auctionrooms in Bridge-street, a musical box of very unusually large dimensions, playing selections from favorite operas, and imitating the effect of a small orchestra, which, it is stated, was sold for 100 guineas at the Melbourne exhibition. The instrument is to be raffled for, 60 subscribers at £1 eacb. We regret to state that Captain Barnett, late of the Cresswell and of the Cashmere, who, it will be remembered, came out to take charge of the Dona Auita on her voyage home (her former captain having died on her way ont), died on the voyage, and, curiously enough, in nearly the same latitude as the former captain. The Dona Anita arrived at Gravesend on the 31st of August, and made a very lengthy passage. Amongst the arrivals at Southampton on the 3rd of August by the steamer Tasmanian, via Panama, given in the Home News, we notice the names of the Eight Rev. Bishop Viard and the Eev. Father Tresallet.' His Honor the Superintendent of Aucklaud'has appointed Mr Henry Wrigg, C.E., Provincial Engineer and Chief Engineer and Surveyor of the goldfields in the Province of Auckland. The Auckland Herald states that a rumor prevailed in commercial circles that the object of Captain Vine Hall's present visit to the colony was to wind up the Panama Company or make arrangements for terminating the contract on such terms as will relieve the directors from the re- ,

sponsibility incurred by the non-fulfilment of their engagements. The loss on the operations of the year it is stated, amounted to £60,000. Mr Kynnersley's duties as Commissioner ceased on Wednesday, the 30th of September. Mr Kynnersley has been invited by the inhabitants of Charleston, to a banquet which was to be given yesterday. A curious accident occurred on Sunday last at Westporfc to a mau named Andrew Corrigan, whilst assisting at the burial of a miner named Greig from Giles' Terrace. The coffin was being lowered into the grave, and Corrigan had one end of a rope which was supporting the coffiD, when he slipped, a portion of the saud bank gave way, and he was precipitated into the grave, and the coffin, with some earth falling over him, dislocated his elbow. The Westport Times of yesterday says that, in consequence of the number of hands thrown out of employment, by the reason of the stoppage of all Government work, large bodies of men were to be seen hanging about the streets durinc the greater part of Monday; the number being considerably increased by many who came down from Addison's Flat to attend the funeral of Heaphy, a miuer from that place, who died very suddenly in the hospital on Sunday, immediately after drinking a cup of beef-tea, which he apparently enjoyed. We were informed on most reliable authority that what are known as the Eight-mile Diggings are now extending over an area of eight miles, that the principal lead has been traced through a series of terraces, and is now running into deep ground. Several parties now sinking do not expect to bottom at less than 160 feefc. A number of shafts have been bottomed on good gold lately, out of one of these our informant saw a dish of stuff washed which gave a prospect of 1^ dwts., "with four feet of washdirt. There is a large population now in the district, and a township is being laid out at Pile Creek. — Grey River Argus. A case of mussel poisoning recently occurred in Hokitika, which, although for some time attended with serious consequences, fortunately did not terminate fatally. A young lad, the son of Mr Wade, storekeeper, Gtbson's-quay, picked up sevei'al mussels near the wharf, and partook of them. Within an hour after this lie was seized with a violent fit of retching, and subsequently his whole body and face broke out iuto large red blotches. Medical aid having been called in, and emetics freely administered, the sufferer was pronounced out ofdanger. Mr John Breeze, the Hokitika town crier, has given his reasons for standing for election as a member of the Borough Council. He says, quite epigraraaticaily, 'If I go in, the present Councillors will go out. They will not care to sit with me. Then we will elect a full Council of really useful men, and theu I can retire after having done a good service — do you see?' The Hawke's Bay Herald, September 29, says: — The-four-shillings-a-day and find-yourself arrangement, so generally proposed by the Stafford ministry, meets with no acceptance either at Napier or the Wairoa. Captain Tuke has not eugaged more than five or six men in Napier, and Capt. Saunders has been still less fortunate at Wairoa. In certain parts of the interior the munificent sum offered would not keep a man in rations. The natives of Pakowhai, Pa Whakairo, and Wairoa, are all seeing to the fortification of their respective pahs, so convinced are they that evil is in store for them. In truth native affairs have a very menacing character — a fact which is recognised by all except the paternal government under which we have the happiness to dwell. An enterprising settler on the Upper Huon in Tasmania, has commenced the manufacture of buckets and tubs, on the American plan, from the Huon pine and other timbers common in the district. He has put a sawing, planing, and turning machine on, a section he owns, and, with the assistance of his six children, can turn out two dozen of buckets per day. A terrible catastrophe has occurred in the French department of the Nievre, where a whole village, the village of Asnan, has been destroyed by fire. As many as 130 houses were utterly consumed, and with them all the furniture, linen, and provisions, and the corn, hay, and straw in the homesteads adjoining. The Minister of the Interior and Prefect of the Nievre have sent lOOOf. each towards the relief of the destitute burned-out families, and a public subscription is opened.