Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 194, 18 August 1870, Page 2

" ' ] A Gold Watch of the value of 30 guineas has been presented to Mr. Selfe, the engineer of the Storm Bird, by the people of Wellington, for his gallantry in jumping off the wharf and rescuing a boy who was in danger of drowning. ; The Charleston Herald says: — Twoj of the priucipal claims in the district J have scraped up on Saturday last, withi good results. The Nile Company in four weeks had close on 5000z5., and Hunter and party, after five weeks' work, 4600z5. Fire near Blenheim. — We take the following particulars from the News : About 5.30 p.m. a lad named Pope, from Howland's mill, passing under the verandah of the Ferry Hotel, saw a flash of light like a match beuig struck at the entrance ot Mr. Hatbaway's fiax mill, where fiax was stored. Immediately after a cry of fire was raised by Mr. Gave, and a great number of people were directly on the spot, but by this time there was a pyramid of fire from the mill that defied attempts to approach the building and endeavors to save anything from it, notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts were made. All attention was then directed to saving the engine, in which they were so far successful that ifc has been but little damaged. We are not yet able to state the amount of damage done, but it must he very considerable, as there were six or seven flax machines on the premises, besides a scutching machine and twenty tons of prepared flax, that was ready for ship- 1

ment. It is roughly estimated at £1,000, ; of which we are sorry to say there was nothing insured. It is supposed to he the work of an incendiary, as Mr. Hathaway was the last known to be on the premises a short time before the fire occurred when he left all right. It seems to be generally allowed that Maori representation is a farce, and yet we seem to be in danger of another dose of it, for Mr. Haughton has given notice that he will move, That in the opiniou of the House of Representatives, the native race should be represented in the Legislative Council. Surely this motion of the hon. member for Hampden is only intended as a joke, played at the expense of the patrieiaus. — Post. Mr Vogel's scheme is beginning to work. The gudgeons are biting at it in famous style, aud Timaru aud Christchurch are on the eve of a quarrel about i whether the promised railways are to be made North or South. Had not outneighbors better keep their temper until I they find out whether or not they are to have I any railways at all ? When the money is I procured, and the millions safe in the Treasury, then they eau settle the.directiou I of the lines. — Post. j Explanatory of the reasons for the Bank of New Zealand increasing its capital by half a million, the Southern Cross remarks : — " The main reason for the increase is that it has been found necessary to augment the power ot the one Bauk in existeuce iv New Zealaud which is really uuder local management. The other Banks doing business in the Colouy are subject to foreign control, and are of course not conducted eutirely with a view to the iuterests of this Colouy. Moreover, the instructions which they receive are necessarily frequently issued under a misapprehension of existiug circumstances, and are quite inapplicable to to the state of affairs existing at the time wheu those instructions are carried into effect. Another reason for the step is that in view of the great increase which has recently taken place in the amount of the deposits, it is advisable to give the public au additional guarantee — an object which is effected by the issue of these shares." The Wanganui Chronicle of Thursday has the following: — "The process of paying our native allies still drags its slow length along, and Major Kemp must ere this have become tired of investigating the claims of some 600 people, and hand- ( ing over his quota to each man. The j other day he paid away iv this manner j a sum of £GOOO over at the Putiki pah. The money is paid in New Zealand bank notes, whereof there is a pile which made our very mouth water. Striking an average, aud allowing for previous payments made, each man now finds himself in possession of something like £30, j while the officers get about £100. This i money they have been knocking down J pretty freely lately in the town. j Payment to Provinces Bill. — On the [ House going into committee on this Bill, j Mr. Hall took up the case of his foster : child, Westland, aud urged that the ! capitation grant should be enriched by the j addition of £5,000. Mr. W. H. Harrison j pointed out the great injustice which j would be done to Westland under the ■ scheme as it stood, aud urged its claims as Ito a special grant. Mr. Reynolds kindiy suggested that Westland should return to j the arms of its mother, Canterbury, aud j Mr. Yogel announced that the Govern- " ' ment had resolved to treat Westland in au exceptional manner — that they would increase the graut in addition to capitation allowance by £3,000, would promote the aunexation of the Grey District, and would bring in a bill to make the Chairman of the Council a nominated officer. Mr. Fitzherbert agreed with what was proposed, but Mr. Curtis wanted the Nelson Council to have a say in the matter before the Grey was received into the Province. Mr. Yogel stated that Maoris were not to be included in the capitation grants, and after a discussion on how the number of the population was to be arrived at annually, and how the £50,000 road grant was to be distributed, the bill was reported with amendments. Another Test in Telegraphy. — The result of the Derby was telegraphed to India by the Ind-European route, via Teheran and the Persian Gulf. The race was run at 3.23 p.m., Greenwich time, and i . the telegram announcing the first, second, i | aud third horses reached Bombay at 5.57,

and Calcutta at 6. 25 p.m., Greenwich time thus travelling from the Grand Stand at Epsom to Bombay iv 2 hours and 34 minutes, and to Calcutta iv 3 hours 2 minutes.