The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1872.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 311, 31 December 1872, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1872.

St Mary's Bazaar.-— This bazaar will be opened again to-morrow at the Catholic Station, at 2 p.m., closing at six, and reopening at 8 pm. Music aud other attractions will be offered during the evening. New Years- Eve. — A special service will be held in Christ Church to-night commencing at 11 o'clock; and the usual watch-night service at the Wesleyan Church, commencing at half-past ten o'clock. Christmas on the Coast. — The Grey River Argus of Thursday says : — The Christmas of 1872 will probably be remembered on the West Coast as the " wet Christmas." For the past forty-eight hours rain has fallen steadily and heavily, with a "freshness" ia the river Grey, and an increase of unsteady " freshness " in Greymouth back-parlors. Brunner Coalmine. — A telegram which we published yesterday stated that it was asserted by the WeUington Independent that the Brunner railway was " bung up by the obstinacy of Mr Curtis." In justice to the Superintendent this statement is one that should not be allowed to pass unnoticed, and we hope in the course of a few days, after perusing the very voluminous correspondence tbat bas taken place between Mr Yogel and Mr Curtis on tbe subject, to place the matter before our readers in its true light, when, if we are not very much mistaken, the verdict of the public will be w that the *' obstinacy " is on the other side. Magistrates' Court. — To-morrow being a holiday, the weekly meeting of Justices was held this morning instead of on Wednesday. The Hon. N. Edwards, aad A. J. Eichmond, Esq., J.J.P., were on the Bench. - There was but one case set down for bearing, Caroline Russell, of the Masonic Hotel, being charged with a breach of the Licensing Act in keeping her houEe open after 9 o'clock ok Christmas night. Constable Dixon and Sergeant Nash having given iheir evidence, Mr Fell, who appeared for the defendant, said that if the Bench deemed it necessary he could call several witnesses for the defence, but it appeared to him that the case was a most preposterous one, no offence whatever haviDg been proved, and he could not but express his surprise that the police should bave deemed it incumbent upon tbem to bring it into Court. The Bench stated that defendant was charged under the 26th section of the Licensing Act, which said nothing about keeping a bouse open, but merely provided that uo liquor should be sold pr supplied after certain hours, and as no attempt had been made to prove that this has been done, they should dismiss the case. Two splendid nuggets, weighing together 55 ounces, were lodged in the Bauk of New Zealand, at Westport, on Tuesday last. They were brought down from the Lyell, and were found some twelve months ago in Irishman's Creek. The Charleston Herald says : — The price of gold this week at the local agencies of the banks has been £3 18s 9d per ounce with beer included; jusfrlOd an ounce and the supply of beer used to each ounce of the metal purchased more than it is worth. We "calculate" miners will have to pay for this folly exercised by the banks doubly at an early date. It is rumored that, at the commencement of the new year, a change will be made in the office hours of the Civil Service, the clerks being required to attend at half-past nine o'clock in the morning instead often, as heretofore, and, instead of leaving at four in the afternoon, as a -latter of course, to remain at their desks until dismissed by the heads of departments. — Post.