The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5,1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 182, 5 August 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5,1870.

The disclosures made ia Court on Tuesday last relative to ihe internal discipline of the gaol were such aa cannot be allowed to pass without comment from the public press. The prisoner Macpherson, who was brought up on a charge of having escaped from gaol, pleaded Not Guilty, with the evident inteutiou of eliciting from the witnesses on crossexamination the state of things that prevailed at the time wheu he was enabled, unchallenged, to walk out of the prison doors; and, from the answers that were given to his questions, we find that it has been customary with the warder left in charge of those prisoners who were not but at work with the hard-labor gang, to quit their posts occasionally, and to leave those under their charge in a position to walk out at the front door whenever they felt so disposed. The evil effects of such a state of things has already been felt by the province, which, in addition to the £50 reward paid for the capture of the prisoner, who, seeing the doors left open a few weeks since, very naturally availed himself of the opportunity of walking out and endeavoring to obtain his liberty, has also been put to the expense of his trial for what, when the attendant circumstances become known, was after all but a very venial offence. " I quitted my post," said the chief warmer on his cross-examination, " and went into the debtors' yard, leaving all the doors and gates open so, that as far as bolts and bars were concerned the three prisoners left in the building were at perfect liberty to make their escape if they pleased." One of the number, it appears, was pleased to walk out, and then, the warden goes on to say, "I went out to give information of his escape, leaving the doors uulocked," thus giving those who had not left the building an opportunity of following his example if they felt in any way inclined to do so. We must say that we were not a little surprised to find that, after such a confession, the wituess was enabled to stand in the box and assert that he was still chief warder of the gaol. Nelson gaol contains some few criminals of the worst possible character, in which category we may include this Alexander Macpherson ; if men, such as he, are allowed to walk out of the prison gates without let or hindrance, neither life nor property will be secure in the town or its immediate neighborhood.

tors were inclined to act on this advice, ' but a generally expressed opinion out of doors to the effect that a machine of some description should be ordered, induced them to order a four-stamper battery, which was to be put up in such a way as not to interfere with any large permanent battery that might be subsequently erected. As soon as the tunnel, now^beiug formed, was completed, should the reef prove as rich as is anticipated, it was intended to order a large machine, aud not to delay in pushing forward every work necessary for the working of the mine on a large scale. The mining manager's report having been read, a discussion arose on a paragraph in the director's report relating to the manner of keeping the accounts; and it was ultimately resolved to adjourn the meeting for a ' week, in order to allow the directors time to further consider the matter. 3_cre. — A fire broke out last night between 10 and 11 o'clock in the house of Mr. Timothy Shea, adjoining the Windsor Castle Hotel, in Bridge-street. The brigade turned out with their usual smartness on the sounding of the alarm, and in a very few minutes the water was turned on, but unfortunately the pressure proved too strong for the hose which burst repeatedly, thus giving the _ame3 a fair chance of obtaining the mastery. Notwithstanding these misadventures our water supply under the excellent management of the brigade, proved too powerful for the fiery element, which was eventually compelled to succumb, after it had pretty well gutted the house and burst through the roof, a large portion of which was consumed, thus leaving little besides the bare shell of the house. Every fire that occurs occasion for congratulation on the efficiency of our water supply, which perhaps, never showed to greater advantage than last night, when the house next to that on fire was, although only a foot of space intervened between the two, totally uninjured, aud, this morning, shows not the slighest symptom of being scorched. The property was, we understand, insured to the amount of about £300. While we cannot help feeling proud of our system of waterworks, we must say that it was clearly shown last night that unless better appliances are provided for conveying the stream on to a burning building, the means at our disposal are to a great extent rendered useless, and it is to be hoped that the brigade will see the necessity of providing stronger hoses, those now in use having burst on every occasion on which they have been called into use for the last three or four months. We are requested to state that the labors of tha firemen would be much facilitated if the crowd which naturally assembles on such occasions would keep back and leave them free scope for their operations, aud also that if those present would refrain from giving contradictory orders, the men would be less embarrassed and more in a position to attend to the instructions of their officers. Opening of a Wesleyan Church in Christchurch. — The church in Montreal street, lately known as the Swedeaborgiau Church, having been purchased by the Wesleyans of Christchurch, was opened for Divine service on Sunday July 25, when two sermons were preached — in the morning by Mr. F. J. Garrick, and in the evening by Mr. John Armitage. The congregations were large and attentive, and the collections amounted to £5. Yesterday the opening services were continued by a public tea meeting, when about 250 persons sat down to a sumptuous tea provided by some of the ladies connected with the Wesleyan Church, Christchurch ; one tray being given by the bachelors. On the removal of the tables, theehuvch was densely filled by an interested audience, who highly enjoyed the proceedings of the subsequent meeting to its close at near ten o'clock. The Rev. W. Kirk, after opening the proceedings by devotional services, took the chair, and gave two interesting and brief readings on the character of John Wesley. Readings were also subsequently given by the Rev. W. Oliver, from " A Scene in the Early Life of Henry Ward Beecher ;" Mr. Garrick, on the " Waldenses ;" Rev. A. Reid, on "Manliness;" and Mr. C. W. Turner, gave " Beautiful Snow ;" and [ "Beautiful Sun" all of which were ; effectively given. Perhaps the main fea- 1 ture of the evening was the excellent musical performances by the Durhamstreet Wesleyan choir, under the efficient conductorship of Mr. Spensely, choirmaster of that church. Several solos and

duetts were well rendered ; and " The Heavens are Telling," and the "Hallelujah Chorus" were also gone through in a manner which would have been creditable to a much more numerous choir. Mr. Packer presided at the piano with his usual ability, and in addition to accompanying the vocal performances, played an instrumental solo. The proceeds of the tea and collection were £14 7s 6d. Another Hau Hatj Outbreak.— -The following telegram was received from Napier by the General Government on Tuesday last : — A despatch has just been received from Wairoa by express orderly, to the effect that the Hau Haus, between 40 and 60 in number, have attacked Tolaga Bay, aud succeeded in wounding two friendly natives. All Europeans and natives have collected in the pas. Major Westrupp has sent 30 Europeans and 20 natives to their assistance. An Auckland telegram of 20th July, which appears in the kPost, states that a meeting of the New Zealand Bank directors was being held that day, and that the proposed increase of capital was considered certain. The Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad, in Massachusetts is not remarkable for speed. As a train on it recently came to a dead halt, a passenger exclaimed, " Well, I wonder what we are stopped for now ?" " Why explains a fellow-traveller, " it's to take the cow-catcher off the engine aud put it on behind, to keep the cows from running over us.