The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 12, 14 January 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1871.

Erratum. — la the letter signed " C. H. Martin," on " Our Volunteers," in the 3rd paragraph, 10th and 12th lines, read "Captain Locket, the cost cannot be less than £1000 in that time," &c. The Panokama was on view again last night, and those present were much pleased with the excellence of the pictures, which give so faithful a representation of the various scenes depicted": •-$ Payment of Town Rates.— -We would remind the. ratepayers of the Town that the Collector will be in attendance at the office of the Board of Works, on Monday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to receive the amounts due for the ensuing year.

Rainfall in New Zealand — By a table puiilirhc-d in t!u< Gazette <>f » lit? 6th instant, we find that the Isirjrrst fall of ruiij iv N.hv Zealand for tin-' month of November, 1870, was in Hokitikti, where it itinountol to 9.53 inchi-p, and the smallest in Nelson, where it was only 1.22 indies. In the former place Lho average fall for the. same month in (ho previous six years was 10.192, and in the latter 5. 763 inches. Telegraphic Mistakes. — A telegram dat«-r| fr >m Tararniki, Jauusiry 3, to the effem. that "On Christmas there was a duel," appeared lately in the Wellington Independent, on which the Herald remarks : — This is most ridiculous, and we can scarcely believe that any one could have forwarded such a statement. Probably word has been sent that "Christmas was dull." which the Independent has transmogrified into Mio above absurd sentence. The Late Murder at Noble's. — Margaret Q'J'gley, charged with the murder of a miner named George Patenaude, at Noble's, was tried before the Supreme Court at Hokitika on Wednesday, found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to four years' penal servitude. Nelson Board of Works. — There was but little business done at the periodical meeting of the 'Board held last night, beyond opening the following tender?, ami deciding upon which of them should be accepted. Building culvert on the Waimea-road : — Charles Blecher, £39 10s.; Jacob Small, £45; Charles Pettit and John Edwards, £G5 19s. 6d.; Charles Bray, £69. Gravelling Waimearoad, per chain : — Wm. Osmr.u and Win. Taylor, £2 95.; Charles Bray, £2 12.; Robert Grant, £3 ss. Cutting ditch from,, Wnimea-streetto-K^Wfax-streef, per chain :- —Haslain and party, 6s>.; John Percival,? Bs.; John Edwards, 12s. 3d.; Richard* Sherwin, 175.; Henry Williams and party, £2 10s. The lowest tender was accepted in each case. The Secretary was instructed to call for tenders for filling up Grove, and Halifax-streets, and also for the necessary work in Washington Valley near All Saints' Parsonage. A Feeling of gloom will to-day, says the GippsLand Mercury, of 15th December, pervade society when it becomes generally known that Mr. J. C. J. Johnson (eldest son of Capt. Johnson formerly of Nelson), of Mewburn Park, is dead. For some time past he had not been in the enjoyment of his usual state of health, but his friends considered it a mere casual illness, and, did not auticipale a fatal result. On Friday last he was present on the racecourse, but throughout the day complained of being indisposed, and was compelled to return home. Unfavorable symtoms appearing on Monday, his medical adviser, Dr. Hedley, was sent for, but the irrevocable fiat had gone forth, and, though all that science could prompt was done, he gradually sank, until he breathed his last about five oVlock yesterday after.noon. The deceased gentleman was universally esteemed, not ouly for his sterling probity of character, but also for the gentleuess and amiability of his disposition which caused almost every one with whom he name in contact to feel an involuntary liking for the man.

The English papers mention that a cask of fine pale New Zealand honey has been sold in London at 60s. per cwt. The First coach from Wellington via Wautranui ami Patea, arrived at Taranaki on Thursday night, an<l gave rise t.o much rejoicing on the part of the townspeople. Otago will send to the Colonial prize firing at Auckland 14 volunteers, includiug the champion and 6 cadets. The hot dry weather is now very seriously injuring the crops in the Tokomairiro district, and pastures are getting completely burnt up. Unless a speedy change takes place, the prospects of farmers will be completely blasted. A Number of Fiji sponges have been received as samples in Christchurch. Some of them are said to be of superior quality, and would compare very favorably with many of the sponges imported from Europe. The scarcity of wives for young men which prevails in the Province of Hawkes Bay having been brought under the notice, of Government, arrangements are reported"* to be making for the arrival quarterly at Napier of a small number of female immigrants. The Maoris, with their usual audacity, have bestowed a " tin pot " name ou the Commissioner of Armed Constabulary. The Alexandria correspondent .of an Auckland journal says : — "Nini Kukutai has just returned. He states that the Kingites say that if the Government"require the murderers they can send Panoiken (Mr. Branigau)and his soldiers, and take them." V Me. Yogel has addressed a letter to a mercantile firm at Dunedin, slating that the Governor would be recommended to reduce the present license fee for dealing in powder, so far as regards small retail

dealers in t.immuaition in up country districts, to £2 per annum. A singular accident ocenned lust week to Cliarlfs Fabiiin, the It-logniph messenger at Blenheim. It appeared lhai a fodfi water bottle Imist while being opened, a piece of whicli struck him in the throat culling a severe push about two inches in length. A medical man was sent lor who sewed up the wound, and, although the patient was in a precarious state for a day or two, he is now last recovering.