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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 113, 14 May 1868, Page 2

Many of our readers are probably aware that a movement has been on foot for some time past, with a view to supply a desideratum which has long been felt amongst the musical community in this city. We allude to the "want which has long been experienced of orchestral accompaniments at the many musical entertainments which are given here from time to time, and especially at the concerts of the Harmonic Society, by which the general effect of its performances has confessedly been much impaired. It was also felt that while much attention had been paid to the study of vocal music in this city, the cultivation of instrumental music, excepting, of course, the pianoforte, had been almost entirely neglected. A preliminary meeting was held about three weeks ago, when the proposal to intitiate a society for this object was very favorably received, and such decided encouragement given as induced its projectors to persevere in their efforts. A considerable number of those interested in the formation of the new society, met last night at the Harmonic Society's Practice Koom, in Trafalgar Square, when it was resolved that a society should be formed, to be called ' The Amateur Orchestral Society,' and the following gentlemen were elected members of the committee ; Messrs. G. Bonnington, R. Kaye, Merewether, Stanton, and W. Tucker; Mr Kaye was also elected secretary and treasurer. Sixteen names were at once enrolled as performing members of the Society, and Mr R. B. Walcot was appointed conductor. A code of rules for the regulation of the society was submitted to the meeting and approved, and the names of several honorary members were given in. The society has thus started under very favorable auspices, and there can be little doubt that, now that its existence has been fairly put before the public, it will receive still further accessions to the number of its performing members, and also that all lovers of the ' divine art' in this city will gladly contribute their assistance as honorary members, for it must not be forgotten that the culture of the art, divine though it is said to be, cannot be pursued without the aid of that vulgar material known as ' the sinews of war.' The Society, we may add, will meet for practice every Wednesday evening, at 8 o'clock, and any person desirous of joining it may be proposed by a member, and ballotted for in the usua.l manner, subject, of course, to a preliminary examination by the conductor, and upon payment of the quarterly subscription in advance. Honorary members, having been proposed and ballotted for, will be admitted upon payment of the quarterly subscription. For the reasons we have already adduced, .we heartily commend, the new Society to the favorable consideration of the public, and wish it every success. A meeting of a very gratifying character took place yesterday evening at the Schoolroom attached to the Wesleyan Church, Nelson, where the Trustees of that body had invited the members of the Choir to tea, in order to witness the presentation to Miss Dora Ears ten of a handsome gold watch and chain, by the Trustees, in acknowledgment of her services in playing the harmonium in the church during the last two years. The watch and chain were supplied by Mr. H. Drew, Trafalgar Street, aud the watch bears the lady's initials engraved on the cover, accompanied by an appropriate inscription. Miss Karsten gracefully acknowledged the compliment thus paid to her and expressed her readiness at any future occasion to render her services in a similar manner to the church. The sixth annual meeting of the Nelson Permanent Building Society took

place yesterday evening at the Temperance Hall, Mr W. H. Barlow, in the chair, and was well attended. The director's report was read, which stated that the business of the society continued in a healthy state, and though the profits were not so large as in former years (the money having sold at a very low bonus), principally owing to the depressed state of trade, yet on the whole the shareholders had ground for satisfaction, as the first series of shares would reach their full value about September or October next,and would show over 20 per cent, annual profit. The profit for the year had been affected by the first and only loss which had yet occurred in the society, occasioned by the flood of 1866, being the balance on the sale of land formerly owned by Mr Karsten, in Bridge-st., which was sold in September last at a loss of £202 Us. 6d. The total profit for the year had been £4075, which, divided on existing shares, brought their value to the 31st March, as follows: — A series, £17 195.; B, £14 165.; C, £12 135.; D. £10 165.; E, £9 45.; F, £7 15s. 6d.j G, £6 95.; H, £5 4s. 6d. ; I, £4 Is". 3d.; J, £2 19s. 6d.; K, £1 18s. 6d.; and L, 18s. 9d. The financial statement (which will appear in our advertising columns tomorrow), was also read, and, together with the report, adopted. The chairman having congratulated the shareholders on the satisfactory state of the society, said that the loss sustained during the last year might justly be considered the smallest ever sustained by any body transacting business ia this province on so large a scale, for during the six years the society has been in existence its business has been over £l 14,500. He then alluded to the benefit which must accrue to persons of limited means from investing in this Society, since by getting 12| per cent, for their money, they placed themselves on the same footing with capitalists possessed of large resources, and moreover, in addition to being the most profitable, the society might also be recommended as the safest investment in the province for persons of limited income. The following gentlemen were then nominated to the vacant Directorships :— » Messrs R. Burn, Cooke, J. Harley, Younger, and James Hooper, the four first being elected. The business of the meeting was then brought to a conclusion with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. We hear that it is intended bringing a small flat-bottomed steamer from Wanganui, to ply between the Port and Richmond up the Waimea Hirer, and that the Motua has been purchased for this purpose, her arrival being hourly expected. There can, we imagine, be little question of the success of the enterprise, as such a means of transit, available both for passengers and traffic, will largely facilitate the intercourse between this city and the Waimea Districts. No doubt, too, advantage will be taken of the steamer for picnic parties to the Rabbit Island, and for similar purposes. Nelson has hitherto escaped the odium of being the scene of one of those mortal encounters, euphemistically styled * affairs of honor,' which have now become things of the past in the mother country, and the prevention of which has lately engaged the earnest attention of the French Corps Legislatif. This happy immunity, however, was placed in imminent jeopardy yesterday morning, a hostile meeting having been arranged between a well-known member of the Fire Brigade, and a celebrated pedestrian traveller, now on a visit to this city, and whose proportions bear no comparison with those of his adversary, whose muscular powers have been fully developed under the active drill of the useful and efficient body to which he belongs. The meeting was, as we are informed, arranged to take place on the hill above Dr CotterelPs residence, doubtless with a view to the probable requirement of the services of the medical profession, and the worthy fireman, true to his fireeating proclivities, duly presented himself at the appointed spot, in company with his second. Here, however, he waited for a considerable time, until the appearance of his adversary's second, who declared that although he had kept careful watch and guard over his principal since the moment when the challenge was accepted by his adversary, the doughty knight, whether yielding to the quaverings of his own bosom, or lured by the fair Dulcinea (whose charms had been the provoking cause of the proposed combat), from the daugerous neighborhood of the fray, had. suddenly disappeared, and all his attempts to discover his whereabouts had entirely failed. Under this

phaße of affairs there was no help for it but to declare the duello postponed sine die. We understand that the missing principal has since made his appearance, but has failed to account satisfactorily for his absence from the scene of action. The whole affair has created considerable amusement in the city, inasmuch as it has since transpired that by a 'strictly private and confidential' arrangement between the seconds, the pistols to be used by the combatants were only charged with powder ! We shall anxiously look for a ' true and particular account ' of this notable affair in the book of travel which, we were informed a short time since, would be published by the indefatigable pedestrian on his return to Europe. We lately noticed a complaint made to the Board of Works relative to the £large number of lamps which had been broken in the public streets within the last week or two. A fresh instance of this spirit of rowdyism appears in the fact that a considerable number of panes of glass in the windows of the Bishop's School were broken last night, as is supposed, with malicious intent. We trust that the police will leave no stone unturned to discover the perpetrators of these continual acts of senseless mischief, and bring them to condign punishment. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column that the Japanese Jugglers, whose performances have created such a sensation elsewhere, will appear at the Oddfellows' Hall, on Monday and Tuesday evenings next. The Hon. Bruce Ogilvie, brother of the Earl of Airlie, has beeu cast in damages of £1,200 for breach of promise of marriage to a barmaid. The Army and Navy estimates have been issued, and provide for an increased expenditure during the ensuing year of £203,000. Why is an infant like a diamond? Because it is a dear thing.