Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 218, 5 November 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1880.

We understand that Mr Baddeley, who has for some years heen Clerk of the Court here, baa been appointed Resident Magistrate for tbe Nelson district, and that Mr Moynihan, the assistant clerk, will be promoted to the position vacated by Mr Baddeley. The salaries in both cases will remain as at present. Mr . Guinness arrived from the South hy the Penguin this morning, and will proceed to Collingwooo. to relieve Mr Campbell on Monday. The new rifles, which have been anxiously expected by the members of the City Rifles, arrived hy the Murray yesterday from Wellington. They are perfectly new, having just arrived from England, and are spoken of as being splendid weapons. It will be seen hy an announcement in another column that a special parade is called for this evening at half-past seveD, when those present will each reoeive a rifle, so that no doubt there will be a good muster. Ma. and Mrs Hart announce their intention of giving a series of three of their amusing entertainments entitled "Happy Hours " ,on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednes- „ day next. It is so long since there has been anything of the kind here that the probability is they will secure bumper houses. Mb. Pitt's meeting is postponed from Monday until Friday next. ■ Mb. Macalister returned from Golden Bay yesterday, having completed the survey of the telegraph line from Takaka to CoUingwood. The erection of an office at Takaka will he commenced shortly. To-day heing the sth of November there was, so long, as the weather permitted it during the morning, tbe usual exhibition of Guys and the customary request by their hearers from passers hy for coppers to pur--2 ctiasejireworks. The number of boys who were thus employed during school hours was suggestive of the desirability of putting in force the compulsory clause of the Education

To-dat is a day to be remembered in tbe history of this settlement, being the 39th anniversary of the discovery of tbe Nelson harbor by our present pilot, Mr Cross, who was a passenger from Londou by the Whitby, wbich anchored at Astrolabe, whence a party started on a voyage of discovery in one of the boats, and, after some time spent in the bay, foundjthe entrance to the haven, through which since then so many hundreds of valuable sailing vessels and steamers have i passed in and out. Very little of late has been heard of the Mapourika diggings, which were to cause a rush to tbe Okarito district, but which, as yet, haa not, eventuated. The Grey JRiver Argus of the 27th ult. publishes a letter from a correspondent which givea somo reliable particulars of the workings there. The attempt by Mr. Antonio Zala, the original prospector, to float a company at Hokitika, to bring a water-race in upon the Mapourika diggings, was not successful, but he has since sold out his chare in the claim he was in for something over £2000. About ten parties are afc work tunnelling or sinking shafts. One company is at -work bringing in a waterrace to ground sluice their claim, and across the river, on the opposite side from the workings proper, several parties are fossicking and tunnelling, as also at the Forks, and a few higher up. The diggings are progressing very slowly, and the diggers themselves are not quite so elated as thoy were, yet^ in face of ;many drawbacks, they are fossicking and trying to develop the resources of the field.