NELSON.

Southland Times, Issue 977, 29 June 1868, Page 3

NELSON.

(feom our ows correspondent.) \ Nelson, June 20. The Provincial Council is in session, and the business transacted has been of an important character. A long debate took place on the question of voting | £32,000 for the construction of a dry | dock in Nelson Harbor. The principal opposition came from the country mem* bera, who contended that the money should be expended upon roads and other public works throughout the Province, instead of confining the outlay to the town. But; on the other hand, the majority of the members admitted the necessity of proceeding with so necessary and advantageous a work for the province generally, and adduced such arguments in its favor as ensured the Buccess of the resolution, which was accordingly carried by a large majority. ! A rather disgraceful occurrence took j [ place recently in the Provincial Council. I One of the members, Mr Donne, when the Estimates were under discussipD, i moved that the item £1000 for printing should be reduced to £750, and in the course of his remarks stated that the three local papers were subsidised by the Government expenditure on advertisements, &c, and that if it was not for this support they would crumble to ruin. The House very properly resented the insinuations of the hon. member against the press, and during the discussion, Mr Donne several times had to contradict himself, and showed that it was simply spite that actuated him in making his misstatements — that in consequence of his political career having been unfavorably spoken of he determined, under the guise of being a member of the Council, to endeavor to injure the Nelson press. 1 need scarcely add that he only succeeded in making himself the laughing stock of the Council. A ploughing match lately came off with very satisfactory results. Seven teams were started, comprising three with wheel ploughs and four with swing ploughs. The ground was somewhat heavy, but the ploughing was decidedly good, and from the interest manifested in the proceedings there is every likelihood that future matches will become popular. A sad accident occurred to a member of the "Waimea Volunteer Company, named Robert Boddington, by the incautious use of firearms. It appears that shortly after a moonlight parade I some of the men amused them- | selves by firing off their spare I cartridges, one of which took effect, | wounding Boddington in the back. Prompt medical assistance was rendered, and the young man has since been pronounced out of danger. Another accident, but of a different description, occurred at "Waitapu, resulting in the death of Mi John Barret, builder, of Toitoi Valley. It appears that whilst endeavoring to cross a creek with four others in a cart it came in contact with a bridge that was covered with three feat of water and capsized the cart into the stream, which was somewhat swollen from the late heavy rains. The accident was witnessed by two gentlemen whe> rendered every assistance, and succeeded in rescuing the party, but I regret to say Mr Barret received such injuries, it ia thought from the kicking of the horse, that shortly after he was rescued he expired. The work of Acclimatisation steadily proceeds. We have received a further addition of 116 English song birds and six pheasants, all of which arrived in first class condition. Considerable excitement was created by the arrival of the intelligence of the Maori outrages, and a strong feeling exists in the minds of a great many persons, that nothing but extreme measures should be entertained by the government in suppressing the rebellion.