The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 185, 7 August 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 1871.

Captain Htjtton, of the Geological Department, was a passenger to Nelson by the Taranaki yesterday, and purposes paying a visit to Colliugwood hy the Lady B'rkiy to-morrow, for the purpose of surveying and reporting upon the Perseverance mine. Appointment. — Mr. Henry Douglas Jacksou has been appointed Official Auditor for the Nelson South-west Goldfields " to audit the accounts of all official agents heretofore appointed, or hereafter to be appointed UDder "The Mining Companies Limited Liability Act, 1865." The s.s. Taranaki arrived in harbor from Pieton and Weiliugton at noon yesterJay, bringing among other passengers Messrs." Conolly, Travers, and Allan, who are engaged as counsel iu the civil cases about to be tried in the Supreme Court which commences its sittings on We'dnesday next. Diocesan Church Fund. — We remind our Church of England readers of the meeting to take place at the. Assembly Room this evening, when the Eev. Mr. Johnstone, and other members of the clergy and laity will explain the puipose and condition of Diocesan Church Fund. The discussion of a matter of such vital importance to the welfare of the church in this diocese should ensure a large attendance of those interested in it. Customs Revenue. — From a Government Gazette received to-day we learn that the total Customs revenue collected at the port of Nelson for the quarter ending 30th June last was £5,550 against £6,979 for the corresponding quarter of 1870. The total colonial revenue derived from this source for the quarter lately expired was £183,026, against £187,981 for the corresponding quarter of last year. The total for the financial year was £732,756. Meeting of Parliament. — The Government steamer Luna is expected here ou Thursday next from Manukau en route for Wellington, to which port she wili proceed via Picton on the following day, conveying the members from Aucklaud, Taranaki, Nelson, and Marlborough. The opening of a new Parliament is not conducted in the same manner as that adopted in the case of one that has already met, and we find on look-, ing back at the journals of the House, that the course hitherto pursued on such occasions has beeu as follows : — The " Commons " are summoned to the Legislative Council Chamber on the day appointed for their meeting, when the Parliament is formally declared to be opened by a Commission, consisting of the Speaker and two other Commissioners, after which the members of the Lower House are dismissed for the purpose of being sworn in, and of electing a Speaker. This having been done, the Speaker is, on the following day, presented at Government House, aod his appointment duly approved by the Governor, and on the next day the Parliament is opened lor the dispatch of business by His Excellency in person, who then delivers the customary speech. Should the same forms be adhered to on the present occasion, as no doubt they will be, we cannot look for the ".speech," which, this year, should be possessed of more than ordinary interest, until the Afternoon of Wednesday, the 16th iust Should; the mail steamers from* San Franoisoo arrive on her due date, Mr. > Vogel will reach 'Wellington on the fol-» lowing 4ay. ■a.-^i aa.

The Fuis.---The following extracts from Fiji papers do not give the impression that, those; islands are the pleasantest spot in the world for the residence of a peace-; fully disposed gentleman : — " A case of lynching has recently occurred in Levuka. Two American negroes bad a dispute over cards, and one of them need a " sling shot." The bystanders pursued this man, when he again attempted its use, but without success. A consultation was then held, and it was determined to give the man a dozen lashes, which were accordingly administered. — A horrible double murder has been committed by Apii laborer?, who had only recently been brought to Fiji by the Edith, on board that vessel, as she lay at Vagadace.— A horrible double murder has been committed by the mountain tribes of Viti Levu, by which two Ba coast planters lost their, lives. They were in a boat when the natives appeared on the bank, asking them to come ashore and trade. The two unfortunates — Messrs. M'lntosh and Spiers — did so, when they were brutally murdered, and their bodies horribly mutilated. — The planters are organising an expedition to punish the murderers. — A white man named Walter Golding, and a Tauna man were brutally murdered, and after the deed had been committed, the men decamped in the ship's boat. The boat has been recovered, but the men are st ill at liberty. A reward has been offered for their apprehension. — Two of the Tanna men who are supposed to have murdered the white man and the Tanna lad on board the Edith some weeks since, aud then escaped to the mountains, were brought in on Wednesday afternoon by some Fiji men and lodged in the stronghold at Levuka Creek. Six are still at large ; but it is supposed they will soon be captured, as their whereabouts is known. — On Monday, sth June, the white residents, convened by advertisement, met in front of the Wesleyan Mission House, Mount Vernon, when a proclamation from King Cakobau was read, declaring the establishment of an Executive, consisting of the following gentlemeu : — " Sydney Charles Burt, Premier aud Minister of Finance; George Austin Woods, Minister of Foreign Affairs; John Temple Sagar, Minister of Trade and Commerce; Ratu Savauak3, Minister of Native Affairs; Ratu Timoci, Minister of War and Police; James Cqbham Smith and Gustavus Hennings, members of the Executive Council." With reference to Mr Burt, the Premier, the Australasian has the following remarks :— " Tbe Fijian Premier is Mr. Burt, who, iv a strange fit of absence of mind, sailed from Sydney in his own yacht, quite forgetting that which the Count of Garofa was always remembering, viz., tbe existence of his creditors. Mr. Burt will prove himself a good financier, no doubt. We. may yet float a Fiji loan with the coupons payable half-yearly at Levuka or Nagaski."