The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1872.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 254, 25 October 1872, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1872.

Stamp Duties. — On and after the Ist December next, the duty pn receipts- and cheques will be reduced to one penny. Mining Shakes. — Mr H. J. L. Augarde quotes South British Insurance shares, 10s paid at 303. Coilingwood Coalmining shares, £120 paid, at £30. Business done this day. Captain Walkeb, ot the Lady. Barkly, which arrived from Collingwood? this morning, reports tbe p.s. Charles Edward and ketch Wanderer, as lying at Totoranui, and in Panga Bay, the schooners.; Kiauma, Wild Wave, and Sisters, and the ketch Sarah and Mary ;, also a brig with painted ports off the shore. A strong N.W. wind was blowing. Monthly Meeting of the Motueka Road Boakd. — The usual monthly meet-, ing of this Board was held on Friday October 18. Present: All the members hut Mr Greenwood. — The Secretary-; stated that he had agreed witb Mr Rackley* to form the i;oad leading* to the beach, by the day. — Tenders for portions of the work were accepted as per advertisement., — Resolved : " That the Secretary again invite tenders for work not let.;,, and ateo,. for gravelling road from Myer's corner, towards Lower Moutere jetty, as far as. may be required." — A warrant was signed for the payment of the.sum of £38. , 7^ELspk Harmonic Society. -— The customary private concert of the Nelson Harmonic Society was given last evening, in the Provincial Hall, before an overflowing audience, and Sir Michael Costa's oratorio Naaman (or at least such, selections from tbe work as present the main features of the Arguments) was performed in such a manner as not only to delight but to surprise all present. The opening chorus " The curse of the Lord," steadily and well rendered, should have been followed by a duet between the widow, whose son had been raised from death, and the prophet Elisba; this unfortunately had to be omitted, and achorale, well and smoothly sung, introduced the trio "Is anything too hard for the Lord? " Then came the triumphal march and chorus, proclaiming Naaman and his victories; this was given with all the necessary vigor; contrasted with this full-voiced choir, the song of Timna, Naaraan's wife, and the chorus of maidens, was. most delightful and effective. The subject of the oratario now begins to ; be understood; the victorious Naaman bewails his terrible affliction, leprosy, for which he has courted- death on the battle field in vain; whilst his friends, laid low among the slain, only added to his grief. This song of Naaman's is difficult and arduous in the extreme, and requires a voice of no ordinary capacity to do it full justice, nevertheless, it was on this occasion sung very respectably. The chorus "Be comforted," and chorale "God who cannot be unjust," were given with precision, and the two soprano bolos, "I dreamt I was in heaven," both simple, but characteristic, were well received. The concluding Amen chorus was less effective tban any of the preceding. Ihe performers' interest was necessarily absorbed in the first part of the concert. The second part, however, was. received •with much spirit,; an opening Madrigal, Macfarren's Shakspea.rian chorus " When icicles," and Rodwell's Laughing Glee comprised the concerted pieces, all of * which were successful, and four songs, made up the programme. The Flowers of. the Forest, for, soprano, well and; sympathetically sung, was much applauded.Schubert's Der JVariderer, in •- German,-'* was decidedly the best effort of the gentleman whose* true bass 7 voice we have so often -listened to •with pleasure. Tell me mij heart (Bishop) "" a song abounding in florid" 1 ' beau ties' wasexecuted most tastefully by a delightfully sweet and flexible soprano; and the concluding sailor's song, a poor production, was* X made the most of by the agreealSlejvoic'e ; and style of the singer; The m'6st of the solos were encored, the last vdrse 'off the**- . song in each instance was repeated. . .The „. S concert, was successful beyond, ali .expectation and on the whole we think it one of the most agreeable evenings we have spent 7 ?w ith the kelson -Harmonic7S6pi^ty. yyy ]