The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 174, 23 July 1872, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1872.

The Lady Baekly. — The time of this steamer's departure for Motueka and Collingwood has been altered from this evening to 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. Perseverance Company. — The annual general meeting of shareholders will be held at tbe Oddfellows' Hall, to-morrow evening, for the purpose of receiving the report and accounts, and electing five directors. Fatal Accident. — We regret to learn that Mr. George Harding has been drowned in attempting to cross the Motueka river on some sluice boxes. A digger who was with him when the boxes capsized, contrived to reach the shore in safety, but poor Harding was washed down by the current and drowned. The body was recovered on Sunday, and an inquest was to have been held yesterday. The Late Rains. — We learn from Motueka that heavy floods were experienced in that district last week, particularly in the neighborhood of Pangatotara, "where an immense deal of damage is reported to have been sustained by the farmers. At Takaka also, the roads and bridges have been considerably injured, and a large expenditure will be necessary to restore them to their original condition. Fuller particulars will no doubt reach us by the Lady Barkly on Thursday next. Acclimatisation Society. — It will be seen by advertisement that the Secretary of the Acclimatisatiou Society wishes to secure a number of skylarks and Californian Quail, in exchange for which he can obtain hares from Melbourne and trout ova from Invercargill. He has asked us to state that he is particularly anxious to get some of these birds this week, for shipment to Melbourne by the Alahambra on Saturday next. — f- Westport. — We extract the following from a private letter : — The sea is walking away with Gladstone-street; Mailer's (bootmaker) is the corner section on the one side, and he is calling for tenders to remove it. On the other side of the street, Turner's (watchmaker) is tbe last house. Tbe carpenters are very busy everywhere; they have commenced to take down Graves and Fleming's shop. 'Indeed, before long, Gladstone-street will be a thing ofthe past. At high water, there is about ten feet of water where the Empire Hotel stood. Oddfellows' Hall.— Thp Comedy and Burlesque Company gave their opening performance last night before a full audience. The Company, consisting of some half dozen performers, played the f&tW of Poor Pillicoddy, a Comedietta,

and a " Burlesque,*' in speaking of which we may state that Miss Jenny Nye is in onr opinion deserving* of a better part, wherein h<r decided histronic talent might be turned to account. But the great attraction of the evening was the wonderful dancing of Donato* It is an almost impossible effort to describe as a graceful performance a oue-legged dance, yet certain it is that tbe •'Signor" must have been a most accomplished dancer and actor before he was deprived of his limb, as, maimed though he is, bis posturing and pantomime are both elegant and characteristic, his movements most agile, his dancing elegant, and his Castanet piaying perfect. His impersonation of the soldier takiDg his farewell; on the march; on the battle field; in the charge; striking bis foe, aod clubbing the rifle, was a most clever piece of acting, as was also that of the " matador " witb crimson cloak supposed to be pursuing his art in the arena. We should fail in our duty did we omit a very necessary hint to the management, namely, that actors be enjoined to adhere to the text, for, however stupid that text may be, it is not generally of a character to disgust a respectable audience, which must bave been the result of such unwarrantable interpolations as oue of the 'Burlesque* players presumed upon last evening. The Company performs again this evening, the programme, as will be seen by advertisement, comprising two comedies, a burlesque, and singing and dancing by Signor Donato.

Road Connection between Amuri and the West Coast. —An influential meeting, at which nearly 200 persons were present, was recently held at Leithfield,in the Province of Canterbury, to consider the adoption of a memorial to the Colonial Government, praying them to open up a road to the Reelton Goldfields via the Hurunui, Waiau, and Hamner Plains. Such a road as this would confer a double benefit ; upon the Amuri where, for want of a better market, no less than 50,000 sheep were boiled down last year, and upon the West Coast Goldfields to the inhabitants of which it is, of course, a matter of no little importance that they should be placed in direct and easy communication with astock-producing country, and thus be enabled to obtain a constant and cheap supply of the beef and mutton raised in such quantities by the settlers on the opposite side of the island. The meeting was unanimous in supporting the proposed line of road in preference to another which bad been suggested further to the southward, some of the principal arguments in its favor being that, drivers could rely on procuring feed for their stock during the whole of the journey ; that it was a shorter distance than by way of the Hokitika road ; and that by its construction large areas of land, at present almost unoccupied, would be at once rendered available for settlement. A memorial to tbe Resident Minister for the Middle Island was drawn up embodying tbe views of the meeting, and adopted without a disßentent voice, and a Committee appointed to obtain signatures. Mr. Rolleston, the Superintendent of Canterbury, who showed the interest he took in the matter by being present at the meeting, said he fully concurred in the memorial and thought that " before long the road would teud to the settlement of the Amuri district, which had hitherto been practically shut up. The nearer they were to the Pass, the greater facilities they would have for disposing of their produce, as there was sure to be a market wherever diggings existed. He had heard tbat opposition had been raised to the road through the northern district, because it was said it would forward the interests of the Province of Nelson. The opposition was a very selfish one, but he believed that the more trade they did the greater advantage would it be to Canterbury, whicli could supply the West Coast with plenty of produce. Tbe idea of shutting out the Nelson cattle from the West Coast market was a very short sighted policy. Whether in Canterbury or not, it was a most idle thing to suppose that they wanted a monopoly. He would like to see the Coast opened to them all. It would be futile in the present race for wealth for them to attempt to keep their little road to themselves, and he thought that the greater facilities there were for transit, the better for the public generally." With the influential support it is likely to receive, we shall certainly hear more of this memorial, and the subject of it, during the present session of the Assembly