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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 303, 23 December 1868, Page 2

An inquest was held this moruiug at the Wakatu Hotel, before the Corouer, Dr Squires, and a jury, of wbich Mr R. Disher was foreman, into the circumstances attending the death of Mr Charles Bray, senior, which occurred at his housa on the Haven Road on Monday night last. The jury liaving viewed the body, the evidence of Mrs Bray, the widow, and of Mrs W. Lloyd, the daughter of the deceased, was taken, which entirely corroborated the staterneut made iv our issue of yesterday of the circumstances under which the deceased met his death. It appeared tbat be had complained fof the last 13 years of pains ia the chest, which he attributed to indigestion, aud had also been subject to fits, the last of which occurred about 12 months ago, the symptoms of which in no wise resembled the attack under which the deceased expired. Dr Cotterell deposed to having been called in on Monday night to see the deceased, who was lying on the floor perfectly lifeless, and to the results of the postmortem examination, which proved that death hnd been produced by fatty degeneration of the heart, causing syncope, and a verdict •was given, in accordance with the evidence, of Died from disease of the heart. We regret to stafe that intelligence has reached town of tbe total destruction by fire at an early hour yesterday morning, of Aldourie, Waimea West, the residence of Mr James Mackay, terti us. It appears that, about 3 o'clock yesterday morning, Mr and Mrs Mackay were aroused from their slumbers by the noise of flames, and had barely time to escape by the window of their bedroom with what scanty amount of clothing tbey could hastily don. The fire burned with great fury, and in an incredibly short time nothing was left of the building save the chimneys, all the furniture being destroyed, together with, ye regret te add, several original models of machinery made at considerable cost and labor. Aldourie, which is the property of Mr Davidson, of Wakapuaka, was insured for £200, and tbe furniture, &c, for £350. Au inquiry will be heid this afternoon at the Waimea West Hotel into tlie origin of the fire, which was evidently the result of accident. We may mention that a gentleman who was spending the evening at the 1 ouse, had determined on staying the night, but suddenly changed his mind, and providentially too, for his escape from the room which he would- otherwise have occupied would have been most difficult and almost impracticable. The Evening Post of the 21st inst. an- . nouuees that the Panama Mail Service is to be continued, at least for a time. It is possible tbat there may be some chauges in reference to the Atlantic Line, but on this side the vessels wiil run as usual, aud it is presumed that the sailing of the s.s. Mataura, by Cape Horn, will be countermanded. We regret to state that in consequence of the Oddfellows-hall being engaged by the body to which it belongs, the Japanese Troupe, who arrived by the Airedale, will be unable to perform iv this city, as they leave by that steamer to-morrow. To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail, Sir — When the Honorable E. Stafford addressed his constituents on the 2nd May last in the Provincial Hall, and the meeting was numerously attended, only two of all the electors in the city had the moral courage to show themselves upon the platform, and, truiu to tell, bolh of them appeared io small advantage. On the 14th September was another large meeting of electors and non-electors. I refer to the meeting of which we have I heard so muzh eaid, whan Mr N. Edward*}

iiiiiiitTi -mv 'll Iti ■ II —^— . " r "" i~T*~ was chairman, and when an elector proposed the 3rd resolution condemning Mr Stafford unheard, aud asking him to resign his seat in the House — a resolution most unjust to Mr Stafford or to any other man, since the greatest criminal has the privilege of having a fair trial by a jury of his countrymen. Not so with the people of Nelson, for out of a meeting of 600 or 700 electors and non-electors, only nine bauds were held up disagreeing with the resolution. Another meeting was called by his Honor the Superintendent on the 12th of October at the same place, which was also uumerously attended by all classes, when his Honor gave a clear and long account of his doings iv Parliament, aud his votes upon different questions that came before tbe House during the session, a statement wliich was lisieued to with much attention. An elector, who was also the proposer of the damnatory resolutiou passed at the meeting held ou the 14th September in the same Hall, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr O. Curtis for bis staterneut. NowAir Curtis has voted throughout the session upon every question on which there was a division, with Mr Stafford, with the exception of one votp, and that vote cost the province £140,000. If Mr Stafford was condemned by the electors of Nelson, so should Mr Curtis also have been condemned, for they both vote alike. Mr Stafford was not present at the meeting aud could not speak in his own defence, whilst Mr Curtis was present aud could speak for himself, but the elec-* tors were dumb. One Who Was Present. [We insert the above letter, though we confess ourselves quite unable to arrive at tbe same conclusion. — Ed. N.E.M.]