The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 260, 3 November 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1871.

Parliamentary. — The business transacted in the House yesterday was of a purely formal nature. Steameb - , Ph<ebe. — This favorite steamer has again changed hands, this time /having become the property of the N.Z.S.S. Company. Bank of New Zealahd. — The halfyearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand has recently been held at Auckland. The balance-sheet showed a net profit for the half-year of £45,215 11s. lOd. It is intended to pay a dividend at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, and a bonus of ss. per share. Messrs. Farmer and Browning were. elected directors. Abtizans' Association.— The dramatic entertainment to be given this evening for the benefit of Mr. William Good promises to be a great; success. " Old Joe and young Joe " is the name of the first piece, which will be followed by two farces; entitled, /.? The Dodge,?'/ and^SWilful Murder," A crowded house will doubtless reward the efforts of those who have been at the trouble of getting up the entertainment.

Cricket. — The Wakefield men who have always been constant lovers, and steady practisers of the game of cricket purpose opening their season by a match to-morrow, in which cricketers from all parts of the country are invited to take part. They state their willingness to accept challenges from any other clubs, but it is to be feared, from the appearauce of the field in town on practice days, tliat they will look in vain lo Nelson for foemen worthy of their willow. Native Intelligence. — The following; contradictory telegrnms relating to an encounter — whether real or imaginary it is difficult to say — between Captain Preece and Te Kooti, appear in this morning's Colonist :— Mr. Mackay telegraphs to Wellington to Mr. Gillies, Superintendent of' Auckland, that Captain Preece encouutered Te Kooti at Horohoro, and that Preeco and live men were killed, Te Kooti escaping with the loss of one man. Government telegrams slate, on a Hauhau report, that Te Kooti was in another place than that where the engagement was said to have taken place. Mr. M'Lean lias received a telegram from Preece, from a locality many miles from the scene of the reported engagemec*. Harmonic Society's Concert. — The music-loving portion of the community were indebted to the Harmonic Society last night for one of those pleasant concerts which they have been in the habit of giving quarterly for the last eleven years. The first part consisted of selections from Handel's Serenata, "Acis and Galatea," in which the choruses were generally well sustained, and sung with an amount of careful precision that did credit both to the conductor and the performers. The tenors showed symptoms of weakness, but, on the other hand, the orchestra, we were pleased to find, had increased in numbers since the lust concert, snd rendered invaluable assistance iv the accompaniments. We do not propose to go into details in noticing this portion of the programme, but we cannot refrain from expressing the pleasure we experienced in listening to the air, "Hush, ye pretty warbling choir," Which was very sweetly sung by the lady to whom it was entrusted, its charms being greatly enhanced by the rippling accompaniment which was played in a most tasteful manner by Mrs. Scaife, whom we were glad to see once more presiding at the piano. The second part opened with a favorite set of waltzes which was most creditably played by the orchestra, and was followed by Mozart's cheerful chorus " Happy is our Soldier Band." The remainder of this part consisted chiefly of ballads and songs which, were done full justice to by those who had undertaken lo sing them, as was evidenced by the fact that the majority of them were enthusiastically encored. There was, however, a degree of samenesa about it that might have been remedied by its being interspersed with an occasional glee, or an additional chorus or two, which would have formed a pleasing setting to the gems that were so liberally supplied by the lady singers, and so thoroughly appreciated by the audience. The next concert, we understand, will be given in Christmas week, and will com^ prise selections from The Messiah, liie grandest and most popular of all Handel's compositions.