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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 181, 2 August 1871, Page 2

In a discussion in the Auckland City Council on the question of licensing hawkers, one Councillor suggested that commercial travellers should be included in the list requiring a license, as they carried about samples, and peddled goods to the injury of Auckland importers, in exactly the same way as pedlars interfered with the busiuess of theshopkeepers. In the Otago Provincial Council a series of resolutions was introduced by Mr Reid, recommending that a sum of £100,000 should be provided out of the money to be raised. by the General Assembly for the purpose of draining and improving agricultural land throughout the colony by advancing the money on loan, the security being the properties on which the money is to be expended. The resolutions, after some discussion, were passed. Attempt to Poison a Hospital Warder. — A Hokitika contemporary says : — A rumor of a most unpleasant character has been rife in town for the last two days, from what could be gathered, it is to the effect that, on Saturday last one of the wardsmen in the Hospital, having occasion to go out, placed his porridge, which was a portion of his breakfast, in the oven. On returning, he took a mouthful, but finding it distasteful, spat it out, and gave the rest to a dog. To his surprise the animal died in about a quarter of an hour, and on examination, it was found that strychnine had been mixed with the food. The matter is one which demands the most searching inquiry. The Moonlight correspondent of the Grey River Argus announces a very important discovery, probably the finding of the old lead which was lost some years ago. The discoverer is Mr. Nelson, the prospector of Nelson Creek, and he is reported, during the last week, to have taken out lOOozs from the bottom of a paddock 10 feet square. The gold found was .coarse, as is the usual case at Moonlight, including several large pieces one, of which was a beautiful nugget, entirely free from quartz, weighing 16ozs. A small rush has set iD, but as Moonlight is proverbially patchy, we discountenance any large influx of- men to the district until it is ascertained whether the old rich lead has, in reality, been struck. The Weather on the West Coast. — During the past week, say the Grey River Argus of July 29, business of all kinds has been seriously interfered with by the boisterous state of the weather, and the floods in the rivers. All communication with up-river districts, and also with Hokitika, was yesterday cut off. A pleasant change took place last evening, which is to be hoped will last, in order that the shipping trade may be resumed ; but it is to be feared that many disasters from late gales and floods will have to be recorded. State of Hokitika. — From a gentleman who has just returned from a visit to Hokitika, we ( Greymouth Star) learn that Westland's metropolis is in a state of collapse. The business houses and hotels at ! the north and south ends of Kevellstreet are all closed, and some at the north end of the street actually falling to pieces, only the middle of Revell-street, from the Tramway Station to the Town Hall, presenting the slightest sign of life. Hotel-keepers stand at their doors anxiously watching every, passer by, in the hope that they (the landlords) may be able to dispose of three-penny-worth of liquor for sixpence. Sometimes, but only sometimes, a man may be observed eutering an hotel and call for a beer, which he drinks first, and then tells the landlord to " chalk it up" afterwards. After eight in the evening scarcely a soul is to be Been in the streets, and the town presents something of the appearance of a deserted settlement.