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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 287, 4 December 1868, Page 2

We understand that Mr George Sparrow, M.P.C. for Takaka, has resigaed his seat in the Council, and that Mr A. S. Collins will probably "bo Teqliested to fill the vacancy thus created. Mr Dreyer has also resigned his seat for Cobden, and it is said that Mr James Wilkie will be nominated as his successor. We are sorry to record the sudden death by apoplexy of Mr Isaac Harper, brother of the Messrs Harper of Nelson, which . occurred on Weduesduy last at Springgrove, where he was residing, apparently in the enjoyment of the best health. Orders having been received from the Defence-office that all spare arms, rifles, carbiues, or revolvers shall* be immediately forwarded to Wellington for use at the Front, several large boxes of carbines, &c, are awaitiug the arrival of the Airedale, to be sent thither by that opportunity. The s.s. Murray, which arrived from Wellington on the 2nd, and left this morning for the West Coast, has, as we have already stated, undergone a thorough overhauling ; n Wellington, where she has been fitted with a new boiler, her machinery and accommodation for passengers being al9o much improved. At her trial trip at. Wellington on the 24th ult. she „ gave a very satisfactory exhibition of her powers, having steamed round Soames Island at- the rate of 9 knots per hoar, under easy steam, and her capacities generally elicited much admiration from t.he numerous party invited by her owner, Mr J. Paul, to be preseut on the occasion. She wilj now be employed solely for the trade on the West Coast, where she has always been a favorite, aud judgiug from the estimate formed of her powers' in Wellington, we may reasonably expect to hear that she has made some smart trips. Samuel Morrison, who was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday last, charged with stealing various articles of jewellery, &0., the property of Mr James Oc-blois of Motueka, and was remanded until to-day, was not brought up this morning, the prosecutor not having arrived from Motueka. In our notice of the consecration of St. Alban's Church,^;at Appleby, we stated that the site was presented by Mr Best. We fiud that the donation was made by its original owner, Mr F. W. Newdigate, of Byrkley Lodge, Burton-on-Trerit, the surrounding land having since been, bought by Mr Best, by whom the site for the new church was reserved in the purchase deed for this especial purpose. Theanuual meeting of , the General ; Assembly of the Presbyterian Church <>f New Zealand commenced at Wellington,

on the 25th ult. The Key. P. Calder, "who represented the Presbytery of Nelson in the Assembly, returned in the Murray on Wednesday evening. TheJLittle child, Frederick Anson, who was. accidentally ruu overiu Bridge-street on the 16th ult, aud received,-as was imagined at the time, some Tatal injuries, is doing well, the upper portion of the little fellow's body, which appeared to be com'pleteiy paralysed, having resumed its functions. The lower limbs, unfortunately, are still entirely devoid of feeling, but Dr Yickerman anticipates that time and care "will ultimately restore their use. We take this opportunity 4o state that the'individual ■who was driving the cart, aud who lias shown the greatest kindness to the litti9 •sufferer since' -the uccideut, was not Mr I •Bradley, of the Wood, as erroneously as-'Serted-ut the time, hut a resident in the country. : •We observe that the young trout-fry in the bVeeding-pouds of the Government Domain are , now assuming - very goodly proportions, and they may be seen dis-. porting themselves with all the vigor and activity which characterise the movements of their species in their native waters. Iv connection with this successful enterprise of the Acclimatisation Society we may mention that the blackbirds which arrived by the Gertrude are breeding fast, at least ■a dozen of the young birds having lately been seen on the wing in the Maitai-valley. The doves and pigeous brought from Melbourne by Mr Hudd-leston in September last-have also hatched their youug.' At the open air meeting held at Dunedin, on the 24th ult., to express sympathy " "with the sufferers in the .North Island, an amendment on a resolution reflecting on -the management of the Government was moved by the notorious Mr J. G. S. Grant, to the effect that 'the British Gogernment be requested to take possession of the North. Island, to appoint- a MilitaryDictator, to exterminate the Maoris, and abolish General und Provincial Governments till the rebellion is stamped out.' This amendment was carried. The meeting was rather a failure, chiefly from the introduction of the .political -aspect of the question. A final amendment was carried to the effect that the whole be referred to a future meeting. The Otago Government has offered to. pro vide for a limited number of refugees from the West Coast, if necessary. A new goldfield has been found near Steiglitz, Victoria, which promises to turn out very well.