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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 37, 13 February 1871, Page 2

Aurora Australis. — This beautiful phenomeuon made its appearance again last night;, and as it hnppened to occur at the time of the alarm of flre being given, was thought by many persons to be the reflection in the sky of flames bursting out ia the Waimea Road.

Death by Drowning. — A little boy, about seveuteeu months old, the son of Mr. Samuel Lucas, a teacher at the Wesloyau School, Stafford Town, was accidentally drowned by falling into a waterholo, on Sunday week last, February 5. — Grey River Argus, Fob. 7. Waimea Election. — This election has taken place to-ilay, but we are, of course, as yi't unacquainted with the result, which can hardly be known in town before noon tomorrow. About a dozen electors left town this morning for the purpose of recording i heir votes for Mr. Shephard at Spring Grove. Martha Everett, the girl who left a letter on the kitchen table of her master, Mr. Thompson of Connewarre, stating ilmt her body would be found iv the Barwon river, h:is been sentenced to a month's imprisonment a3 an impudent impostor who had no intention of drowning herself when she wrote the loiter. Alarm of Fire. — The clanging of the fire- hell created quite a stir in town about half-past nine o'clock last night, but the excitement speedily subsided on its becoming known that nothing more alarming had occurred than a lire in the gorse hedge surrounding the grounds at the Christ Church Parsonage, which has of late been so frequently alight. It is quite evident that some person or persons take delight in alarming the citizens by wilfully setting fire to this hedge, and we should have great pleasure in being called upon (o record their appearance before the Resident Magistrate. On the present occasion we are assured by a gentleman, who was walkiug by the spot not three mioutvs previously to the alarm being given, that there were, at the time he passed, no sigus of fire, nor did he notice auyone in. the vicinity of the hedge. Another, Meteoii. — The very unusual sight of a meteor in broad daylight was witnessed yesterday afternoou at about 4 o'clock. When first we heard of it, we were inclined to believe that the supposed brilliant visitor might have been au optical delusion, but we have, since then, beea assured that it was seen by various persons iv different places. It has been described to us as having a fiery red nucleus, with a tail of a lighter color, '"apparently about a couple ofyardsin length," its course beinsj from West (o East, aud that it filially disappeared behind tho Wakapuaka Hills. We shall be glad to receive any further information with respecfc to this strauge phenomenon. Election of a Maori Member. — In the excitement consequent upon the other elections we had quite overlooked the larcn which is being played throughout the Middle Island to-day i.i the selection by the Maoris of one of their interesting race, who is to have a voice iv tho legislature of the colony, but we may state that this political burlesque has taken place to-day, and that symptoms of it were to be seen iv the vicinity of the Court House, where a number of the free and independent electors, accompanied by several females, and ' their "encumbrances," were to be seen sprawling about in various attitudes (graceful, or ungraceful, according to the tastes of the looker-on). There are, we believe, three candidates, E Mauu of Wakapuaka, somebody in Canterbury, and someone else who is a resident in Otago. Iv all probability the votes will be accorded by the Maoris ia each district to the man with whom they are best acquainted, without reference to his views on the questions of the day, so that those who take the trouble of enlightening the public on the political principles of the newly elected members, will have some little difficulty in deciding whether they shall affix the letter O, M, or D, to the name of the successful candidate. Motueka Election. — Considerable anxiety to learn the result of this election was experienced in town on Saturday, and, ou the Lady Baikly from Motueka being signalled, a number of persons interested in the matter assembled at the Port eagerly awaiting the news. On the steamer nearing the wharf, it became known that Sir David Monro was the successful candidate, and the delight manifested by the crowd showed how acceptable was the information to the Nelson people. As soon as the boat came alongside, Sir David, who was a passeDger by her, stated that the election had resulted in v tie, and that the Returning Officer would give his casting vote in bis favor, but, on the returns being examined, a discrepancy was found to exist between the Waimea West poll, as sent over to Motueka, and as it was declared by the deputy returning officer at Wairaea West, the former showing 81 votes, and the latter 87 for Monro, against 46 for Parker. It was therefore supposed that a mistake had been made by the Returning Officer at Motueka, and that for 87 he had read 81, thus making the result a

fie, instead of a majority of six for Monro. On rnakiug enquiry, Rowever, we find that 81 was the correct number, and consequently that the Returning Officer would be called upon to give his casting vote, wliiirh, he has stated, would he in favor of Sir David Monro. We were iv error iv stating in our hurriedly written paragraph on Saturday that the Returning Officer had declared Sir D. Mouro duly elected, a3 the official declaration of the poll was not to take place until to-day at noon. We understand that the Waimea West poll was one of the last to roach Motueka, aud that up to the time of its arrival the supporters of Mr. Parker were most sanguine as to the result, their candidate having a considerable majority in Motueka, Riwaka, aud Lower Moutere. So great was the interest taken in the election that nearly I<O electors went out from Nelson to record their votes at Waimea West, where 127 voted, being, so far as we can ascertain, about 40 iv excess of the number polled there on any previous occasiou. Drowning of Mr. Davis. — The following is from the Grey River Argus : — Mr. Davis had for some time been engaged in a scientific examination of the coal deposits of the Grey district, and was returning from an inspection of the coast line between the Grey and Razorback Po'nt. On arriving at the Tenmile Creek, a narrow but rapid stream with a shifting bottom, he rode in, expecting to cross easily, as he had done the day before. A slight fresh had, however, occurred 1 in the meantime, aud the creek was tunning both deep aud strong. He and his horse were suddenly carried down and swept into the surf. The horse was recovered, but its unfortunate rider was drowned. What adds to the calamity is the fact that there is a safe bridge over the creek, about a mile away from where deceased was drowned, and it was in endeavoring to save about half-an-hour's detour that he met his sad fate. Mr. Davis was a risiug and talented officer of the Geological Survey Department, and had been specially selected for the importaufc enquiry previously alluded to. He had completed his investigations, aoi was on his way to town, .expecting to reach Wellington by the next steamer. Immediately on receiving the sad news of his death, Mr. Warden Whitefoord telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary, asking for instructions as to the final disposal of the remains, which will bo interred in the Cobden Cemetery on Suuday. Mr. Davis, we are sorry to hear, leaves a widow in Wellington.