The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MAY 2, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 102, 2 May 1870, Page 2

Th e Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MAY 2, 1870.

" Generally it may be laid down that where one, by negligence, has contributed to the death of another, he is guilty of manslaughter." Such is the law as set forth by one of the judges of the English Supreme Court, and we could not refrain, on paying a visit to our port the other evening, from speculating upon what would be the verdict of a coroner's jury upon the body of anyone who should . chance to meet with his death owing to | the insufficient precautions taken to ensure the safety of those whose business takes them to the Queen's wharf on a moonless night. Even by daylight, what with rotten floors and cross rails, it requires a little careful navigation to get from one end to the other without a fall,, but upon a dark night this is a feat that one may feel proud of accomplishing. The regulations require that "two good and proper" lights shall be provided ; the first requirement, namely, as to the number, is complied with, but whether lamps which shed a dim confusing light over a radius of some six feet can be called good and proper lights is, at all events, open to question. 11l lighted as it is, the wharf is certainly not safe without a hand-rail, and, although no accident has yet occurred from the absence of such a | precaution, this cannot be pleaded- as an [excuse for the negligence that is exhibited in providing for the safety of her Majesty's subjects. We trust that the matter will be looked into, and such repairs and improvements made as shall render this placa of business somewhat more secure than it is at present.

Mr. H. J. L. Augarge quotes Perseverance shares, £1 paid, at 355. per share. Important Railway News. — Our readers, will, we are sure, be glad to learn that the official correspondence received by the last mail, on the subject of the West Coast railway contains, in addition to the letters of Sir Thomas Parky n and Col. Maude, a proposal from certain other; parties who, there is every reason to believe, are desirous of taking up the scheme in earnest. At the time of the mail leaving England the only difficulties in the way consisted of certain . legal technicalities of a trifling nature, of the removal of which there appeared to be little doubt. The correspondence in full will be laid on the table of the Council to-morrow, and its publication will, no doubt, be looked forward to with much anxiety. The Carandinis. — We would remind our readers that Miss Rosina's benefit is to take place to night, when we hope to see all those who have, during the short stay of the Company in Nelson, experienced so much pleasure from the delightful singing of this young lady, show their appreciation of it by giving her a bumper house. The programme, both as regards quality and quantity, must satisfy the most exacting, and the mere fact of its including the fair beneficiaire's chef cTceuvre "I cannot mind my wheel, Mother," should of itself be sufficient to attract a crowded audience, .0.-.m, k _. :i ,„ j ___ TTWnffliWfifWfi ' i • miii" i ' i ■

-» % The Suez Mail. — We call attentiop teethe Post Office notice, whiph appears in another column, whereby it will be seen that the English Mail via Stiez will close on" Saturday next, the 7th inst. Letters intended to be sent by this opportunity must be marked " Via Suez." Fire at Riwaka. — A fire broke out on Friday night last, on Mr. Rawlins's farm at Riwaka, resulting in the total destruction of two stacks of straw which had fortunately been threshed on the previous day. Owing to the fact of the stacks having been so recently built and not having had time to settle down, the flames, when once they had obtained a hold of the straw, burst forth with great violence, and the preservation of the adjacent buildings is to be attributed entirely to the rain which was falling at the time, thus keeping the shingles too damp to take fire readily. We have heard no cause assigned fof the fire.

Encroachment of the Sea at Westport. — A telegram was- received by the Government from Mr. Dodson on Saturday, stating that the newly erected groin and bank at Westport, had been entirely destroyed by the sea, which was then! within three chains of the gaol, the removal of which would be necessitated i£ the encroachment continued. We understand that Mr. Kynnersley has been despatched to Westport by the steamer today, to make the necessary arrangements for removing the building to some more "secure site. The Bishop of Wellington. — The Evening Post is responsible for the following : — A rumour is now in circulation to the effect that Bishop .Abraham has resigned his charge of the diocese of Wellington, and been nominated coadjutor Bishop of the diocese of Lichfield. Most probably his successor will be the Venerable Archdeacon Hadfield.-