The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 275, 27 November 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1878.

At Richmond, last night, where, from all accounts, the thunderstorm appears to have been even more severe than in town, some horses belonging to Mr J. Sutton were so scared by the lightning that in their frenzy they tried to force their way out of the paddock, and in so doing one of them fell over the fence into a ditch and broke its neck. In the prize list of the Horticultural Show published yesterday an error occurred, the second prize for three fuchsias having been awarded to Mr G. Frank instead of Mr Bolton as reported. It was manifestly unfair s but it was nevertheless the fact, that the weather last night treated Captain Edwin with a great want of consideration in conducting itself as it did without giving him any previous warn» ing. Just before it became dark pale flashes of lightning were seen flying about over the sea in a very threatening manner, and half an hour later they had become almost incessant apd most dazzling in their brightness, of which some idea may be formed when we state that in the Provincial Hall, where the Horticultural Show was being held, the gaslight was entirely thrown into the shade by the brilliant blue lightning. The thunder, lightning, and rain continued with more or less severity until haif-pasfc two, when j the storm seemed to gather fresh strength, and from that time until four o'clock it | raged with a fury unprecedented in Nelson. The roar of the wind, which was blowing fiercely, the clatter of the rain on the roof, and the loud pealing of the thunder, which, accompanied by blazes of lightning from all quarters of the heavens, never ceased for thirty seconds together, combined to create as fierce a turmoil and as wild a, scene as can possibly be conceived. About halfpast four, although the rain continued to pour down pretty freely, peace and quiet were once more restored, to the great comfort and satisfaction of all nervous individuals. ; A sEßiotjs accident occurred yesterday afternoon to John Matthews, a storeman in the employ of Messrs Sharp and Pickering, who in some unaccountable manner fell into the Maitai River off the path about 100 yds above the Nile-street Bridge. A lad named Henry happened to be passing along and on looking down saw the body of a man lyiDg in the water, and immediately gave the alarm to Mr H. Thomson and Mr Waitt, who were fishing a little higher up the stream, and on the other side. They started off at once and Mr Thomson, who was the nearest, arrived first and found Matthews tying in the river on the edge of a hole in which were his legs while his head was on the rock with the water just flowing over his mouth. His face was perfectly black, and on his forehead was au ugly gash. Mr Thomson at once raised his head out of the water, and on the arrival of Mr Waitt they dragged him out. The police were communicated with, and they sent for Dr Farelle who went up in a trap and had the unfortunate man brought down to his ' house in Hardy-street, where he lay in an , unconscious state until early this morning, when he rallied a little, and has since then beea progressing satisfactorily. All ho

remembers of the accident is that he slipped, but- how he does not know. Matthews ia a quiet respectable man and has many sympathisers in his trouble.