The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 307, 29 December 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1870.

We are glad to welcome back to our shores Dr. Feathevston, who arrived from England in the Rangitoto this morning. New Appointment. — In the Gazette of 22nd inst. we notice the appointment of Percy Wakefleld, Esq., to the Clerkship of the Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Courts at Ahaura, in the Nelson South-west Goldfields. Accident. — A little girl, daughter of Mr. Spanger, of Eighty-eight Valley, met with a nasty fall on Saturday last, which resulted in the breaking of her arm. She was taken at once to Richmond, where Dr. Park set the fractured limb, and reports, that she is doing well. The Russian Difficulty. — From a passenger by the Rangitoto we learn that but very little credence is to be placed in the telegram recently received from Melbourne, to the effect that the Governor of Victoria had received au iutimation from the English Government, stating that war between Russia and England was imminent. Electoral District op Motueka. — We learn that a largely signed requisition to Sir David Monro, inviting him to allow himself to be nominated as a representative for the district of Motueka, has been got up and will be forwarded to that gentleman at an early date. The absence of Sir David from, the House would be much regretted, and we are glad to hear that there is every probability of his acceding to the request of the electors. Resident Magistrate's Court. — Leopold Vincet, cook of the steamship Charles Edward, was this morning charged with assaulting Robert Draper, seaman of the same vessel, by striking him on the head with a stick. Evidence was adduced showing that considerable provocation had been offered by the complainant, and Vincet was fined £5 and costs, or in default one months' imprisonment. Masonic. — The members of the Southern Star Lodge, No. 735, of Freemasons, celebrated the Festival of St. John the Evangelist^ on Tuesday, last,. December 27th, . at . their Lodge room, M'Gee's Nelson :: Hotel. The' brethren niet ai high noon,' -vvhen the installation of the several officers; took, pi ace; the lodge was then adjourned to half-past 6 o'clock, whenabout -thirty sat, down to a capital dinner, after which? the usual loyal arjd Masonic ; toasts were duly given and responded to, visiting- Brother H. Pitt, responding on behalf of the Lodge of Unanimity, / Blenheim, and Brother De Beer, on behalf of the various lodges in the colony. Songs, toasts, and recitations enlivened the evening until a late hour, when the brethren separated. Mr. Kelling at Suburban North. — Mr. Kelling addressed a meeting of tbe electors at Wakapuaka last night, when about twenty-five were present, the chair being taken by Mr. Macintosh. Mr. Kelling spoke in favor of the Government plan of immigration, if carefully carried out, but the railway scheme, he thought, went too far, and was more than the couutry required. He was in favor of discriminating protective duties, and gave various reasons for his approving of them, quoting Germany as an instance of a country in which they had worked satisfactorily. He, to a certain extent, approved of a General Government Education Act, but would not consent to the principle on which the Nelson Act was based being upset. In the matter of the mail contract he considered that Mr. Yogel had shown himself a thorough master of his subject, and he believed it would eventually prove highly beneficial to New Zealand. Several questions having been asked and replied to, a vote of thanks to Mr. Kelling was unanimously carried on the motion of Mr. W. Wastney. The Wellington correspondent of the Westport Times says: — The Hon. W. Fox has been laid up with sun stroke at Wangauui. The matter is made very light of by some papers and people, but from private information I am inclined to believe that tbe attack may have serious results, and will very probably lead to his retirement from political life. ;

After a fire that recently occurred in Wellington had been extinguished, a gentleman possessing property in the vicinity, who did not wish his name mentioned, presented the Captain of the brigade with £2, for the benefit of the body under his command, as a mark of gratitude for their exertions in checking the fire, which otherwise might have done extensive damage. The Advantages op Railways. — The Dun? din Echo must have been in a " chaffing" humour wheu it published the following: — Perhaps the most extraordinary argument in favor of railways was used by Captain Frazßr. In discussing the motion of Mr. Seymour, the Superintendent of Marlborough, in favor of the Goverument establishing a" woollen and rope manufactory, Captain Frazer stated, "If they had a railway from Picton to Dunedin, the hon. gentleman [Mr. Seymour] would be able to wash every morning with soap which was manufactured in DunediD." However necessary it may be that Mr. Seymour should " wash every morning," we think the colony cannot afford to have a railway from Dunedin to Picton for such a purpose. In a letter to the Melbourne Telegraph, Dr. Singleton made the appalling statement thai, " while the average mortality of children in England per 1,000 deaths of all ages is 67|, the same mortality 'in Victoria is above 500, while in some of Melbourne suburban boroughs it reaches 700. The death-rate of all ages for Melbourne and suburbs is above 30 per cent higher than that of the remainder of Victoria." In fact the mortality among children is five times greater in Victoria than it is in EDgland.