The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 113, 14 May 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1870.

Mr. Dry's Picture is still on view at the Assembly Room, and we can assure our readers that it is well worth a visit, and that all those who go to see it will agree with us in saying that it is really a most marvellous piece of skilful workmanship.

Auxiliary Fire Brigade. — A meeting of residents in the neighborhood of the Waimea Road was held last night, for the purpose of establishing a district branch of the Nelson Fire Brigade. The chair having been taken by Mr. J. Mackay, some little discussion ensued which resulted in the adoption of a resolution expressing the desirability of establishing a branch of the Nelson Fire Brigade. Those present, to the number of some twelve or fifteen, expressed their readiness to become members, and it was agreed that the Secretary of the Central Brigade should be communicated with on the subject.

A Man Lost. — At the commencement of last week a man named Herbert Grooby, who was one of a party engaged in digging on Salisbury's Plain, on the other side of the Mount Arthur range, started to return to Motueka, one of his mates accompanying him, as he thought, through all that part of his road which was under snow, he "was, however, met shortly afterwards by a party of Maoris travelling through snow almost up to his middle, and since then has never been heard of. A party has been out to look for him, but without success; and the search has now been given up as fruitless. The.unfortunate man was subject to fits, and some time since fell, in one of them, with his feet in the fire, and sustained such injury as to prevent his getting about at all until lately.

Parish of Christ Church. — -A meeting of the parishioners was held at the Bishop's Schoolroom last evening, the Rev. G. H. Johnstone in the chair, for the purpose of taking into consideration certain proposals of the Diocesan Synod, the first of which, to the effect " that collections for the Church Fund be made quarterly in each parish by the Vestrymen, and that members of the church be asked to subscribe quarterly, any sum not less than one shilling," was carried unanimously. It was then proposed that the Ministers and Churchwardens be Tecommended to contribute one-fifth of the ordinary Sunday collections to the Church Fond. Upon this au animated discussion arose, a general feeling prevailing that it was anunsatisfactory mode of supplementing the fund, and that it would be far preferable to raise subscriptions in a direct manner than to deduct a proportion from the ordinary offertories. On being put to the vote the resolution was lost by a large majority. It was then agreed to devote two offertories per annum to the General Fund. A proposal to increase the pew rents from 12s. to los. per annum for each sitting, was rejected. The meeting then adjourned after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman.

West Coast Railway. — The following is a copy of the letter received from Mr. Morrison by the laßt mail : — " Sir — In the letter which I had the honor to address to you on the 27ih ult., you were informed that my endeavors were

not exclusively confined to the negotiation with Sir Thomas Parkyns, but that they were being continued in other quarters with the view to secure the construction of the Nelson and Cobden Railway according to your instructions and the conditions and terms stated in the RailAct, 1868-69. Since then, notwithstanding that satisfactory and important progress has been made, I cannot yet acquaint you of any definite result. I hope to do so by ue'xt mail, but in the meantime I may observe that should the present negotiation fail, it will not arise from unwillingness on the part of the capitalists to accept the terms offered by the Government, but to legal objections taken by counsel with reference to your instructions. After the disappointment the Government have experienced by oversanguiue representations, I am reluctant to add to them, therefore I trust that by withholding further information at the present stage of the negociations I shall not be causing the Government inconvenience or disappointment. Your Honor may rest assured that while the interests of the Government are being carefully protected, they are being at the same time pressed forward. I am, &c, John Morrison.