The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 279, 20 November 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1873.

Yesterday's Cricket Match. — We regret that we are unable to-day to give the scores made in the match between Nelaon and Wakefield yesterday. Theae, with many otber matters, we are compelled by want of. space to hold ,over qntil to-morrow. Referring to the speech made by Mr O'Conor at Westport lost week, the Times speaks of it as " a speech which lost him many votes, and created against him a strong feeling of contempt among those who, approving of the moderate tone of his first speech, were inclined to supporc him. Election News. — We regret to learn that Mr Macmahon has announce.! his intention of retiring from the contest at Motueka. Mr Macmahon was not one of the speaking members, but always brought a iarge amount of shrewdness and common sense to bear upon the consideration of all questions introduced into tbe Council, arid he will be much missed by all who were his fellow members. — We understand that Mr Grove and Mr Sloane wore not nominated for the Upper Buller district, aud that the contest lies between Mr Macgregor and Mr Maclean.AMessrs Guinness and Corbett have been returned for the Ahaura, for tbe representation of which district tbere were nro less than five candidates. The numbers polled were Guinness 218, Corbett 177, M'Kenoa 141, ginkerton 130, Gray 41. An Independent Newspaper. — The Westport Times has been threatened tba. unless it supports Mr O'Conor a rival paper will be started by his party. Our plucky contemporary laughs to scorn such an attempt at coercion, and this is the defiant answer it flings back upon Mr O'Conor and hia party ;^- l f The O'Conor party in Westport has suddenly become rampant, aud, declaring, that if uot with •tbem we ure against tbem, now actually 'threatens coercive^measures and retaliation ! We may be bent, bnt certainly not broken, and with a profound contempt for all blustering threats, while regretting dissension with tbose we haye endeavored to serve faithfully, we tell Jhem plainly and deliberately that we will not support Mr O'Conor, but, in common wilh every other section of thiß New Zealand press, giving utterance to opinions on the subject, we maintain that of tbe two candidates he is the least desirable, possessing neither the training, ability, or, so far as his past actions have proved, integrity "of purpose to fulfil the duties of Superintendent with honor to himself or benefit to the province." Mr O'Conor has an ugly habit of accusing every newspaper that honestly thinks that his advent to oflice would be a disaster to the province, of a. want of independence. Is ihu, Westport Times sufficiently independeut ior him? H.M.S. Basilisk, whilst entering the Taurangn harbor a few days back, took the ground, and before she could be floated off, ail her guns, water tanks, topmn ata, &&, bud to be removed from her. No d-mafi-e was sustained by the vessel. ■'fh ■ P or<\ arrived iu the Manakau yesterday afternoon, places us iu posessiou of Sydney intelligence to the Bth

instant. From our, files we glean in sabstance what follows* with respect to the San Francisco mail service. The Macgregor, the first steamship that is announced to take the Australiaa majls frQm : Sydney on the 20th proximo, left Hongkong via Batavia on the 30fch October. The Mikado, one ofthe stenraships for the temporary service, ia a maguificent vessel of 3000 tons. Honolulu, ; i-t Appears,: is, quite willing to reap all the limefi.s of ihe mail service, but declines to give any money subsidy. The Government, however, promises wharf accommodation, storage of coals and waterATlt considers that the freight and passenger trade of the port will pay any good service for calling at the port both tfaye. It has been hinted in the Sydney TLegislature that there was' something wrong iu Mr Hall's secdritie.B, for we find Mr John Robertson asking the Colonial Secretary whether the Government had received an intimation from Mr Cameron, one of Mr Hall's; sureties, that he had withdrawn from his responsibility. Tho samß member also wished to know whether the Government had received any information to the effect that, Mr Hall had transferred bis contract ? To these questions Mr Parkes replied in the negative. It has long been known that there is a section in the New South. Walea Assembly who are strongly opposed to the service under the present contract; but what may be the renson for this, or what object the opposition is intended to serve, we are unable to learn. — Herald, Nov. 15.