The Nelson Evening Mail. TuESDAY, JABUARY 7, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 6, 7 January 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TuESDAY, JABUARY 7, 1873.

. Kesident Magistr^tk'sC()tjkt. — Benjamin Erwin, Robert Woods, and John Swauson, seamen of the brig Emile were charged by John Franklin, the master of that vessel, with refusing to do their duty. Prisoners were sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment, ■to forfeit two days' pay, and to be put on board the brig again -prior to her leaving the harbor.

Supreme Court.— The Court has been occupied the whole day with the case of Carl Luhrs, of the Upper Moutere, charged with indecently assaulting a girl named Lina Bergmann. At the close of the case for the prosecution, the Judge said that he did not consider it necessary that the defence should be gone into, and acting upon his instructions the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The evidence is unfit for publication.

A Correction — We have received a letter from Mr F. Stanton requesting us to correct a portion of bis evidence as given in the assault case recently heard iii the Resident Magistrate's Court. He complains that he is made to say : — " I said neither my father nor Mr Lee should* strike my brother," iostead of which he asserts that he said: — "I said I would not allow Mr Lee nor anyone else to. beat my brother."

Acclimatization. — The Tararua, which arrived from Melbourne yesterday, brought three more hares, consigned to the Secre-

tary of the Acclimatization Society here, who took them to Richmond to-day, and liberated them on Mr. Withers farm. This makes six that have been turned out within the last week. A few more are shortly expected from Melbourne, so that in the course of a couple of years, we may expect to see ihe&e animals fully established here.

Philharmonic Society's Concert. — This Society gave their Christmas concert in (he Temperance Hall last night to a large audience. The programme comprised selections from the A essiah, all of which were performed with correctness and great spirit. Of the solos those most deserving of mention were, " c The people that walked in darkness," "He shall feed bis flock," "Thus saith the Lord," "O thou that tellest," and " Thou shait break their bands asunder." All the choruses as far as the " Hallelujah Chorus " were suDg with a precision that was clearly the result of careful training.

Inland Communication. — A full meeting of the sub-committees was held at the Grand Jury room last night, when their respective reports were brought up and discussed. The gentlemen who have taken in hand the task of inquiring into all questions bearing upon this all important matter deserve no little credit for the hearty manner in which they have thrown themselves into the work, and 'the fulness of the information they have collected on every subject affecting the desired communication. An elaborate and most comprehensive report has been prepared on the engineering portion of the question, which embraces the route to be followed, the various curves and gradients, the class of country through which the Hue would pass, and the probable cost of such a railway as is recommended. The Finance Committee have gODe fully into the question of ways and means, and their report shows that those to whom this portion of the work was entrusted have given the subject a vast amount of consideration, and, without anticipating the report that will be brought up on Wednesday next, we may say that they hold out reasonable , hopes of sufficient inducement being held out either to the Government or a company to enter, upon the construction of a railway such as that which all who are interested in the advancement of the province and the colony must wish to see commenced and carriad to a successful termination. The General Information Committee, too, have collected a mass of facts and statistics, which cannot but prove most useful io showing the desirability of such a work. A committee, consisting of Messrs J. : C. Richmond, ,, Shephard, T. Mackay, and Acton Adams has been appointed to prepare a digest of the various documents: wfi.ich were produced last night, and they have undertaken to frame a report, based upon the information before them, to be laid before the general committee on its meeting on Wednesday nest. It will then remain with those geutlemen to say how they propose iof proeeed-r-whßther they think it advisable to go to the General Government for assistance in. carrying out this truly colonial work, or whether they 'are' of opinion that successes inbre likely to be ensure.^ ,by the ■ formation "of., a,, company for the purpose.' l " r [ &i whatever decision they . arrive, ' tfaers can ; be no doubt \. that, a ; , step has- been made jOvthe right direction in -'sißtting to work iosb hu^nesß : like a jinSßner to ascertain , > the (eastern and western i

extremities of the province, and what are the obstacles that; have to be overcome^ hefore so end can be achiev^Td,?? Where Bo|much-zeal,and unanimity h&yej been manifested by those engaged in thisp very laudable attempt to advance the welfare of the province, we cannot bo otherwise than sanguine as to the probable results.- '.*■■', , ■ ■ . .- .■ ■ 5• .

Athletic Sports.— The MarlborougK Express, in its report of the sports that took place near Blenheim, on Boxing Day, says : — The extraordinary feat of running a quarter of a mile, riding the same distance, pulling a boat a quarter of a mile, walking and bopping each a quarter of a hour, and finally swimming a hundred yards, .in a quarter of an hour, wa9 also performed, or rather we should say pearly, performed, the match being lost by fifteen seconds. Tins was attributed to the fact of the boat having swung round to the current, which caused a slight delay. The public were, however, so well pleased with (he manly way in which the several tasks were performed, that a purse of four sovereigns was subscribed on the ground, and presented to the performer. of the feat.

satisfactory to know that even the loss of this., large.. sum will not seriously., affect his business arrangement. It is said that among tlie gold 'lost ttero was a parcel of sonYe vnlu^ belonging to another storekeeper in the Half-Ounce district, which Mr. Hayes had taken charge of. It may be mentioned that Hayes was not armed, aod he was therefore entirely at the mercy of his assailants. ,

Whoever the robbers were, they must evidently have been aware of the circumstances which detained Mr Hayes at Balf-.Qunce, and were patiently lyiug in wait for him UDtil he passed. This supposition is borne out by the fact tbut Mr W. C- Mirfin, overseer of Public Works in the Grey Valley, passed the spot without beiD£ molested only twenty minutes before Mr Hayes arrived, where the robbery was committed.. Mr Mirfin' met a. man just after he came out of the bush on to the plains, and ha p:issed another man near the large culvert where the road crosses the racecourse. A third person who was on his way to Abaura from Seefton overtook Mr Mirfin, and all these travellers were allowed to pass without being: interfered with.

12s 6d per share out of the result of the month's work. The Black Angel mine has fairly astonished those who were best cognisant of its resources and prospects. Out of 940 tons of stone raised aod crushed during the month 17400z5. lOdwtß. gold has been obtained, thus enabling this company to take a position on the dividend list, and divide amongst the shareholders 12s 6d per share, or a total of £2750. The Golden Crown mine has also come to the front in a truly remarkable manner, and contributed as its proportion of the gold in the month's Iht 1320 pzs. 17 dwts. gold from 285 tons of stone. The Thames goloifield alone shows an increase of 5174 czs 7 dwts. over the November returns, and there^ is also an increase of 145 ozs. from Coromandel. This increase on all sides is decidedly satisfactory, and it is particularly pleasant to have to notice the fact that the outside claims have contributed such a very Jarge amouut to assist in making this increase"

This is the worst year that bas ever been known in Kansas for pulling guns out of -waggons muzzle first. A woman in Jewell county has just pulled one, and now has to part her hair on the side that her only arm is on.