The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9,1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 8, 9 January 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1874.

The Phoebe left Manukau for Nelson at noon yesterday, and will arrive here about one a.m. to-morrow.

Wesleyan Mutual Impbovement Society. — The members of the above Society are requested to attend tbe halfyearly meeting, at the Wesleyan Schoolroom, this evening, at eight o'clock.

Charles' Panorama. doors of the Odd-Fellows' Hall was last night besieged by people endeavoring to obtain admission to Mr Charles' panorama, which was exhibited to a crowded audience, and during the evening a large number of reully valuable presents were given away to the fortunate holders of prize tickets. There will be an entertainment again to-night, and another, for the convenience of children each of whom will receive a gift, to-morrow afternoon. The Wellington 'Independent' calculates that 20,000 immigrants will settle in the colony within the next twelve months. Gaelic sermons are the latest addition to the variety of life in Dunedin. Tbe painters of Dunedin »re forming a trade society. The ancient drinking habits of Port Chalmers are on the decline. The holidays passed over without a " disorderly " or an " incapable." A Californian quail was shot lately at Pahautaoui. No other birdß of that description having been seen, it was presumed that it was blown across the Straits,

A curious legal puzzle occurred in the. Supreme Court this morning in swearing in the grand jury. The foreman, Mr T. Mason, is a member of the Society of Friends, in common parlance a quaker, and therefore exempt from the necessity of taking an oath; a declaration being substituted. But under these circumstances, the usual form "' The snme oath as your foreman has taken, so you on your pavt shall also take, &c," became impracticable, and some little delay took place before it was decided what should be the wording of the oath to be taken. The difficulty ultimately was met by using the form, " The same thing which your foreman has solemnly affirmed and declared, you on your part shall duly swear." The point was rather a curious and unusual one, and only could arise in the event of the non-juring juror being the foreman.— Wellington Post.

The Row on the Auckland Race Course. — We take the following from the ' Herald ' of Friday last:— The Railway Stakes resulted in a walk-over for Papapa, as Mr Watt declined to try conclusions against the colt with his mares Hatred and Calumny at the last moment, preferring to reserve the pair for the big event — the Summer Handicap. In this Mr Watts was justified in doing as he list with his own property. The public, however, considered that they should have a voice in the matter, and that they should be studied as well as Mr Watt. But the public, or rather a section of it, had rather a queer way of declaring their opinion. According to usage, Papapa was walked over by Derrett, his jockey. A number of roughs determined that the jockey should not return to the paddock unmolested, and formed a ring round the entrance to prevent the horse from being taken in. The movements of the crowd were observed by Mr Hardington, the clerk of the course, and others, and with the assistance of the police, an endeavor was made to clear the course. But the rowdies were not to be baulked in their determination to injure the jockey, and while the few mounted, in their endeavors to preserve order, charged past the paddock entrance, a rush was made at them by the roughs. One man was knocked down by a horseman and ridden over, Mr Hard ing ton's horse followed, and stumbled over the prostrate man, throwing his rider heavily to the ground. Mr Hardington fell on his head, and in turn was ridden over and trampled upon by the excited and infuriated throng. Observing the occurrence, a rush was made by the foot police and several of the law abiding spectators, and Mr HardingtoD, who was lying on the course at full length, npparently lifeless, was at once borne on the shoulders of his friends within the ring, while some in the mob yelled out, " Serve him right." Dr Hooper was, happily, on the spot, and attended the wounded man. Water was administered, and in a short space of time he was restored (o his senses. On examination his skull was found to bo hurt, blood flowing freely from his left ear. His jaw was broken and he had a severe wound on his cheek, while one of his ancles was found to be considerably hurt. He was shortly afterwards removed to his residence at Onebunga, in Mr Watt's brougham, accompanied by Dr Hooper, who has remained in attendance since. While this was going on the mob were not satisfied with the result of their riotous behaviour; and on Mr Broham, the Inspector of Police, endeavoring to clear a way for the racehorse to pass through, he was seized, dragged from bis horse, and otherwise ill treated. The constables, however, flew to his rescue, and succeeded in beating off the ruffians, while Detective Jeffrey captured a man named Christie, who was seen in ibe act of assaulting the Inspector. Order was with difficulty restored, several of those implicated in the riot receiving kicks from the horses of the police, for which they have only themselves to thank.

The Melbourne correspondent of the ' West Coast Times ' says: — In the Melbourne General Cemetery there is a Mortuary Chapel, erected to the memory of deceased Boman Catholic priests; and a visit to this place raises very strange feelings in perons who are impressionable. Descending by stone steps, the visitor finds himself or herself in a cemented vault, lighted by a lamp from the ceiling. On the floor are eight or nine corpses of priests* each enclosed in a number of coffins, the outer one of copper, hermetically sealed up, with the name of the deceased clergymen upon it.