The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1875.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 7, 8 January 1875, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1875.

The s.s. Otago arrived this morning from Wellington with a number of Melbourne excursionists. She will proceed to Golden Bay to-morrow evening where she will be tendered by the Lady Barkly which will bring back Nelson passengers by the Otago on Sunday night. Railway Compensation. — The hearing of a claim for compensation for damages occasioned hy the fcNelsA and FoXhill railway commenced? this morning before his Honor' Mr Justice Richmond, and Messrs. Barnicoat and Sharp, assessors. The claimant whs Mr A. G-. Jenkins, who demanded £1683 , whereas the Government offered £950. Mr Fell appeared for the claimant, and Mr H. Adams for the Government. The evidence was of an uninteresting character. The judgment, when de° livered, we shall publish in full. Nelson Regatta. — The forthcoming regatta, which is to be under the auspices of an entirely new club, promises to prove by far the most successful held in Nelson. At present the amounts of prizes for only three events have been published, namely, the Yacht race, £25, Whaleboat race for professionals, £15, and Open sailing boat race, £7, as the Committee desire to learn first to what extent the regatta will be supported by the public. At present the subscription list has attained, very fair proportions, but it is hoped and expected that it will be yet largely added to, as an active canvass ia to be carried out. The secretaries of nine oluba have been communicated with, and have been asked to reoder all the assistance they can in the way of inducing owners to send their boats from other parts. A large number of visitors and competitors from elsewhere would, of course, add greatly to the interest of the races. Alfalfa Gkass.— The Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society informs us that he has growing in bis garden some of this grass which was sown the first week in September, was cut as fit for hay on the Bth December, and is now fit to cut again as a second crop. He has a small quantity of seed which be is prepared to supply to those who care to cultivate a grass which appears to be so well adapted to this climate. The Otago Times, on authority, gives a flat contradiction to the statement that Judge Chapman has consented to retire from the Bench of the Supreme Court, or has made it a condition that Mr C. D. R. Ward shall not succeed him. The Times emphatically deolarea that no proposal haß been made to Judge Chapman to retire. Sib George Gbey.— -With reference to the rumored candidature of Sir George Grey for the representation of

Auckland City West, in the room of Mr T. B Gillies, the Auckland correspondence of the JW says:-— He will not take any steps himself, but will not refuse if elected. It is believed that there will be no opposition. The Herald supports the proposal, the Star warmly urges it, and the Gross is silent but will do as bidden from Wellington. Popular feeling appears entirely in favor of Sir George." A very distressing accident occurred at Masterton (Province of Wellington) on Monday last (aays the Standard.) A son of Mr. E. Chamberlain, aged 3£ years, was ailing, and his father went to Mr Skeet's establishment for medicine which was given in the form of two powders. Subsequently the mother administered one of them, and symptoms of the child being poisoned were at once manifest. The father went to Mr Skeet immediately and inquired what the medicine was. Mr Skeet perceived that there must have been something wrong about the medicine, and looked at the bottle from which he had taken the material for the medicine, and found that he had, by mistake, used strychnia instead of worm powder. The two bottles were similar in appearance and apparent contents, and had been somehow misplaced. Mr Skeet at once despatched the father home with an antidote, but the child died before it could be administered. An inquest was held by the District Caroner yesterday, when the above facts? were elicited. The verdict of the jury was, the child died . from strychnia, given to it by its mother in a powder prepared by W. H. Skeet, chemist, in a mistake for worm powder," and a rider was added, stating (hat in the opinion of the jury deadly poisons should only be kept in bottle's having some distinctive and unmistakeable character. At a recent cattle show in Otago, the Good Templars made,' a bold effort to enforce compliance witfc their principles. They actually bright all the publicans' booths offered for sale by the committee. This took place at Outram, West Taieri. « • The Otago Guardian, has received information per telegraph that Sir George Grey returned unopened the despatch from Sir James Fergusson recently published in all the papers prior to being received by Sir George himself. It was not forwarded through the Superintendent, and Sir George taking this as a slight, as well as its premature publication, returned it unopened to the Government, through the Superintendent.