The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 38, 12 February 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1873.

Wesmsyan Church. — A lecture will be delivered, this evening by the Rev. W. J. Watkin, on British Colonisation . During

the evening musical selections wili be performed by the choir. Nelson Institute.— Tbe aunual general meeting of members of tbe Institute will be held this evening at half-past seven. Government Tenders. — Owing to Thursday (to-morrow) having been proclaimed a public holiday, tenders for public works advertised to be received on that day may be sent in up to 4 p.m, Waimea Steeplechase. — There is promise of very fair sport at tbe Steeplechase meeting at Wakefield to-morrow, where the townsfolk will probably muster in large numbers, every vehicle at the various livery stables having been engaged some days since. To those who have not made other arrangements a capital opportunity of attending the races will be afforded by Holder's coach which, with its team of six horses, wili leave town at half-past nine. • Nelson Gasworks. — The site for the new gasworks, &c. presents a busy scene just now, nearly thirty men being employed in cutting away the hill-side and filling up hollows, building drains, and excavating for the gasometer. In carrying out the latter work a deposit of richlooking blue clay has been disebvered at a depth of four or five feet, which, it is thought, might be turned lo profitable account if it exists in large quantities. The works are proceeding rapidly, and a few more days will see this portion of them concluded if the weather continues fine. Resident Magistrates' Court. — Harley Brothers v. Jones. This was an action to recover the sum of £92 being balance of accouut for beer supplied, money advanced for license, and rent of the Lord Nelson Hotel. The plaintiffs were represented by Mr Sharp, and Mr Acton Adams appeared for the defendant, who pleaded that be had received his discharge under the Bankruptcy Act with regard to all the items for which he was liable up to September last, denied that he had ever given plaintiffs authority to pay the license fee, and stated that no license bad been taken out in bis name; and further claimed a set-off of £4 Is for contributions paid by him on account of J. and T. Harley towards the Clothes Club, and £4 los for articles left by him in tbe hotel, thus bringing in plaintiffs in his debt to the amount of one shilling. The case occupied a long time in hearing, and eventually judgment was reserved until Saturday next. Colonial Prize Firing. — At a special meeting of the members of the City Volunteers held last night, Captain Sinclair in the chair, it was resolved *' Tbat a Committee be formed for the purpose of making arrangements for tbe reception of the representatives at the Colonial Prize Firing, such Committee to consist of Captain Sinclair, Lieut. Barnett, Ensign Burn, Messrs J. Burn, Garrard, D. Burns, Finney, H. Moore, G. Capper, SergeantMajor Aldborough, and tbe commissioned officers of the Cadet Corps." We are glad to find that some steps are being taken in this direction, and would suggest that the names of the officers of the Waimea Company be added to the Committee, as this is not a matter affecting tbe town alone but the whole province. That the public will render every assistance in their power we have no doubt whatever, and Government aid, we should imagine, would not be wanting if funds are required to give our visitors such a reception as they have always met with elsewhere, and which should certainly be accorded to them in Nelson.