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Colonist, Volume III, Issue 295, 17 August 1860, Page 2

By the Constantine we received Wellington papers to the 11th of August. They are filled with the intelligence from Taianaki, which has already appeared in our paper. In the Advertiser ,of Saturday last, it is stated that *more activity has been exhibited in commercial .circles this week than has been manifested for some time past.' In the same paper there is a report of a meeting to grant ' Relief for Taranaki,' caused by the following communication from Messrs. Nash and Scaife^pßNelsQn :— We beg to offer you our best thanks for your kindness in laying our circular letter of the 9th ulfc. before the public of your city. We have not thought fit in that to allude* to the state of the poor women and children who- have been sent down here for safety, but we can assure you the fearful destitution existing among them passes description. We may mention one case out of many, that of a poor woman with seven children (some of them unwell) who were landed here without bedding or blankets, during the recent severe weather. They have: since been supplied with necessary comforts by private ' subscription, but .it is impossible for a small community like this tp ir meet all' .the demands of the poor families -who' haying lost. their ' little all,' land amongst us in many casea desti-' tute of the common necessaries of life, and often of clothing. The Airedale brought down 120 more last night, and it is anticipated' that next trip she will bring|down about 300, the exodus being now rendered compulsory." The Deputy-Superintendent, W. Waring Taylor, Esquire, was unanimously called to the chair. The meeting was addressed by the Bishop of Wellington, Messrs. Hunter, Bannatyne, Stokes, Borlase, Woodward. The following resolution was moved by the Bishop and unanimously adopted:—• That this meeting deeply sympathising .with our fellow-settlers, in Taranaki, and with the Soldiers, Sailors, and Volunteers, engaged in, and suffering from, the effects of the present war, feels it to be a duty incumbent on all Ihe inhabitants of the Province of Wellington to contribute towards the relief of those enduring privation, resulting from the sad consequences attendant upon the war.. Mr. Stokes made an able speech, and moved the following resolution, which was carried, after some verbal amendments, in prder to include the sufferers at Nelson with those of Taranaki:— That in order to give practical effect.to the previous resolution, a Committee be formed to collect subscriptions, of money and suitable articles, and to transmit the same to Taranaki and Nelson, and cause them to be distributed in such ways as the Committee may deem expedient. A general committee was then-formed, with power to organise local committees to give effect to the objects of the meetings Mr. Stokes then proposed another resolution, to the effect that accommodation should be offered to such people as felt disposed to partake of such offer. This was overruled, on the grounds that it was * not impossible they would have to be again removed owing to the autsettlers coming swarming into the' town in the event of a rising of the Maoris in that province.'

The Late Mr. Thomas Fagan.—The public have losb an old and very valuable servant. He was seventeen years in the police force, the major part of which time he was principal officer. This office is not one of the most enviable, and not one at all calculated to gain a man many friends, or enable him~to pass through a long course of service without creating enemies. Yet, however disagreeable the task imposed on him, he, Ariel like, did his ' spiriting gently.' However much chagrin a man might feel in being under the Uw, such feeling was much soothed by the gentle, goodnatured, cheerful manner in which the preliminaries were performed by the deceased Sergeant-major. Requiescat in pace. New Zealand Flax.—Mr. Dillon Bell has given notice in the General Assembly that he means to bring m a Bill to grant patents to certain persons for an improved method of dressing the Phormium Tenax. . Volunteers. No. I.—According to the notice we gave in our last number, this Company was attended on the drill ground by the new brass band. A great coucourse of people collected on the ground, to whom the efforts of the band appeared to give great satisfaction. The Company has still a motley appearance, from many of the volunteers not having yet assumed the uniform. They marched down Bridge-street and up Trafalgar street, and broke off near the Masonic Hotel.

New Bridge.-—This Bridge, spanning the Maitai and thus connecting the town and the wood, by means of Bridge-street, has been commenced, and from the vvdl-known expeditionary powers of the contractor, and the efficient body, of workmen under him, we may expect a speedy completion of this very desirable accommodation. \ - . AcciDENTS—Several horses have this week run away with carts and gigs, but unattended with mnch mi?chief. In one case the running of one caused the bolting of another, and a very pretty m cc was the consequence, which was ultimately stopped by-a collision and cip-izi mar the Coiirt-hduse. One case on the beach was rather more serious, as the horse aud trap belonging to Mr. Creasy turned topsy turveyon the boulders near the old government wharf; luckily no one was in it. The horse was not much injured, and the trap was minus a shaft and received various contusions in different parts.