The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 234, 4 October 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1870.

The Executive. — We understand that his Honor the Superintendent, and the Provincial Treasurer purpose paying a visit to the West Coast, about the end of next week . Nelson Abtizans. — The artizans of Nelson are about to devote their attention to athletic as well as intellectual exercise, and we are glad to learn that they have formed themselves into a cricket club. The opening match of the season will be played at Victory Square, this evening, at five o'clock. Christy Minstrels. — The Christy's gave another excellent entertainment last night, the programme being an exceedingly full one, and really well carried out. To-night they perform at Motueka, and on Thursday next we notice that Mr. Bent will take his farewell benefit, when we may expect an overflowing budget of comicalities from that inimitable comedian. Scientific Association. — The periodical meetiug of this Society wil! be held at the Government Buildings to-morrow evening, when Mr. Lee will give the conclusion of his " Sketch of the history of Astronomical Science," and the Eev. F. C. Simmons will read a paper "On the best means of supplementing the education of the colony, and communicating useful and refiniug instruction." It is hoped that there will be a full attendance of members. I Winter Evening Entertainments. — The ninth of these entertainments was given last night, when a series of dissolving views were displayed by Mr. H. Adams, descriptions of the various scenes being given by Captain Rough. The second part consisted as usual of songs, choruses, glees, and instrumental music, and a reading by the Bey. G. H. Johnstone. We understand that the Committee propose giving the last of the series in about a fortnight, for which occasion they have arranged such a programme as is certain to draw a crowded audience. Diocesan Synod. — The Synod broke up at half-past eleven last night, after a seven days' session, during which many matters of the greatest importance were ably and temperately discussed. The attendance of members, many of whom came from a considerable distance, was most regular throughout the whole sessiou. The following resolutions on the subject of religious instruction were passed unanimously :— l. That it be an instruction to the Standing Committee to invite the ministers of other denominations to assist in the efforts of this Synod to promote the imparting of the religious instruction, sanctioned by clause 27 of the Education Act. 2. That it be a further instruction to the Standing Committee to draw up such a statement as would, in their opinion, influence the minds of the parents of children, and through them the members of the local committees, and induce them to aid in promoting the same end. 3. That it be an instruction to the Standing Committee to invite the Local Committees of Education, the members of the Church of England, and the ministers of all denominations in the Marlborough part of this Diocese, to consider the duty of obtaining j the privilege of Scriptural instruction for the scholars of the Government primary schools of Marlborough province, and to consider the duty of obtaining the necessary amendment of the Marlborough Education Act, securing tbe right of dissetient parents by a conscience clause. The following members were elected members of the Standing Committee : — Clergy, Revs. C. O. Mules, T. L. Tudor, G. H. Johnstone, R. J. Thorpe, and S. Poole; Laity, Messrs. J. W. Barnicoat, J. M. Piersoo, C. H. Brown, J. D. Greenwood, and H. Goulstone. Gas Company. — A meeting of those interested in establishing a company for providing the to.vn of Nelson with gas was held at the Masonic Hotel last evening, when a large number were present, the long room being well filled. Mr. M. Lightband having been called to the chair, said that on a recent visit to Christchurch he had entered into conversation with Mr. Wright, the engineer of the gasworks in that town, who said that he believed a company would pay well in Nelson, and that he had such confidence in tbese undertakings that he was prepared to take up one-fourth of the shares himself. On his return to Nelson, he (the chairman)

had, on talking the matter over with several gentlemen, found that there would be no difficulty in raising the necessary capital here, and therefore he had called the present meeting. Mr. N. Edwards then proposed a resolution to the effect that the time had now arrived when a company should be formed for supplying the town of Nelson with gas. He said that the subject had frequently occurred to himself and a few others before this, but they had felt that there were objections in the way of any monopoly being formed for a public work of this description. Mr. Drew seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. J. R. Dodson proposed " That a company, to be called the Nelson G*as Company, be now formed, the capital to be £10,000 in 1000 shares of £10 each." Mr. Luckie seconded the motion, Mr. M'Eachen proposed, and Mr. Moutray seconded, that the shares should be £5 instead of £10. This was negatived and the original motion carried. The following gentlemen were, on the motion of Mr. Pitt, seconded by Mr. MTntosb, appointed a Provisional Committee to draw up a prospectus, and submit it to a meeting to be held on Monday evening next : Messrs A. S. Collins, J. K. Dodsou, W. Rout, N. Edwards, T. Mackay, W. Wright, M.. Lightband, J. Scott, W. Mac Donald, and E. Buxton, five to be a quorum. After resolving that the Committee should endeavor to distribute the shares as much as possible among the residents in the town who would be the gas consumers, the meeting adjourned until Monday evening next. Hail Storm at Westport, — -An unusually severe hail-storm passed over Westport on Thursday last, by which a number of sky-lights were quickly demolished. The Times says: — As to the size of the hail, opinion varies considerably. One informant who on this occasion at least had good reason to rejoice in the possession of a "bell-topper" declares soiemly that the hail-stones were fully the size of a pigeon's egg, and that but for the protection afforded him by this calumniated style of head-covering he must have been knocked seuseless. He escaped without casualty other than the total annihilation of his beaver. The storm lasted only a few minutes, and, on going out of doors, the ground was covered with hail-stones fully the size of large marbles, many of which were visible the following day, when lodged ia sheltered situations. Flax. — The New Zealand Commissioners have furnished a report to the Colonial Society, embodying much valuable information relative to New Zealand flax, gained by them from manufacturers and spinners in the north of England and Scotland. From this report we make the following extract : — It is estimated that seven-eighths of the best samples of New Zealand flax sold have been used to mix with Manilla, not altogether surreptitiously, but in many cases to order, and as producing a cheaper rope, strong and durable enough for certain purposes. This rope has given satisfaction. We saw some New Zealand rope at Liverpool, such as is supplied to the American ships ; but at Glasgow we had the opportunity of inspecting a stock of very superior description, not greatly inferior to Manilla in its bright color and glossy appearance. The general opinion is, that New Zealand flax, properly dressed, will find a good market for making a serviceable cheap rope, saleable at a price certainly not below £37, its present quotation, Russian being now £46, and Manilla £66. Provided that thej supply of flax be of the quality above mentioned, tbe large rope-makers of the North, who are using it as an established article of their trade, and are therefore better able to judge of its qualities than those who speak only by report, or after a single ineffectual trial,) think that the colonists may calculate on a large sale at from £30 to £35 ; but it must be free from straw. The longer the flax is, the better. The hanks or "strikes" in each bale should be all of the same length, and the bale marked accordingly. On Thursday morning last, a whale, measuring about fifty feet in length, was captured outside the Waikouaiti Bay, by Messrs Bradshaw and Co. The whale was first observed by. the cutter Advance, on her trip to Dunedin, but was soon afterwards discovered by the Maoris, and boats' crews were at once manned and went iv pursuit of it, and succeeded, after . a short bat exciting chase, in bringing it to bay. '