The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 9, 11 January 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1871.

The Late Meteor. — We learn that our late brilliant visitor was seen at Auckland, and also at Timaru. A Floater Show was recently held at Hokitika and proved a great success. No place is better adapted for the growth of flowers than Nelsoo, and yet it is about the ouly town of any size iv New Zealand where horticultural shows are not held. Panorama. — A panorama of the Pacific Mail Route, which is very highly spoken of by the Wellington press, arrived by the Stormbird, and will be on view at the Odd fell ows'Hall to-morrow. Sydey Harbor, The Rocky Mountain Railway, and views of portions of Houolulu and San Francisco are all truthfully depicted, and form an exhibition which possesses unusual interest. Acclimatization. — That useful and beautiful bird the Californian quail, appears to thrive as well at Canterbury as iv Nelson. In' the first season of their introduction into that province the total numbed of eggs laid by a single pair in the Society's grounds was 85, the hen bird completing her reproductive labors by sitting in her neat little nest, on 21 eggs, and rearing every bird. These birds are doing well in our province, and in Waimea West particularly, are to be seen in large numbers. The Ash Tree. — All our readers will know perfectly well to what we when we speak o( the ash tree, -and each one of them will be exceedingly " sorry to hear that the beautiful tree, which formed such an ornament to the banks of the Maitai was completely smashed by the south-easterly gale of yesterday evening, when it was split into three pieces, and now presents a melancholy appearance to the numerous visitors who throughout the day have been thronging to the spot to lament over tho ruins. The seed from which this noble tree sprung was sown some 27 years ago by Mr. Bomford, a resident in Brook-street Valley, who was present at and lost his arm in the Wairau Massacre, and a few years ago it was fenced, in, aud seats erected urider its grateful shade by tbe Board of The wind of last night has certaiuly deprived Nelson of oue of its^ most beau tful sights. Election Intelligence. — By our Wellington files we see that Mr. Hunter of the firm of Bethuae •& Hunter has been brought forward to oppose Mr. J. C. Richmond for the representation of the City of Wellington. Mr. E. T. Gillon ; is a candidate 'for the Wellington Country 1 Districti?'

A NEW penny paper under the name of the Evening Herald, has been published at Blenheim. Another Murder on the West Coast. — A horrible rape and murder was committed at Hokitika on Saturday, on a girl of eight years of age. Ti e girl vas left in tho house by her parenls, who, on returning, found ihe bed covered with blood. They traced and found the child behind the house, violated, and with her throat cut. A colored man named Noblp, who has just served two years in gaol for rape, has been arrested on suspicion. The evidence against him is very strong. Native News. — Tlie following appeared in yesterday's Wellington Independent'. — Auckland (via Wanganui), Saturday. Telegrams from Alexandra today report that forty natives under Topihana and twenty under Whitiora, are within ten miles of the confiscated line. The iriendlies say that the Ilauhaus express a determination to light a fire at Alexandra. The latest (ehgmm reports them building a pa. The Government believes th^re is no cause for serious alarm. The parly threatening is unsupported by the King. K-dmna, a Waikato friendly native, s:iys that unless the Government commence, there is no danger of war. The natives of Patateie arc prospecting with a view of throwing open the land for mining.