The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 111, 9 May 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1873.

Masonic Hall.— Mr George Cotterell will give his farewell entertainment this evening. Our readers are referred to the programme, which is well calculated to attract a crowded audience. Abtillert Company^ — We notice that a meeting of intending members is called for to-morrow evening at the Drill Shed, for the purpose of swearing in and other business. Football. — The first match of the season will be played in tbe Botanical Gardens commencing at 3 o'clock. It will be an alphabetical match A, toL, versus M, to 2, and all players of the Nelson and College Clubs are expected to take part in the game. Inland Communication Committee — The Committee have invited the goldfields representatives to meet them to-morrow evening for the purpose of giving all the information in their power relative to the terms and conditions on which it is proposed to form the Railway Company, and it is to be hoped that when tbeir views are fully explained the objections at present entertained by the members from the West Coast will be fully removed. — A deputation consisting of the Superintendent, Mr Sclanders, and Mr Pitt started for Christchurch by the Rangitoto this morning for the purpose of seeing what arrangements may be made witb the Canterbury Government relative to the extension of the railway to the boundary of that province. Accident in the Wairau. — A serious accident occurred on Saturday evening last to Mr Norman Campbell of the Kaituna, and Mr Henry Wharton, late of the firm of Beaumont and Wharton, who, in riding up the Waihopai Valley, came in contact with a wire fence and sustained a severe fall. Both lay on the ground in an insensible state for a length of time, and on being discovered were taken to Mr Dillon's station, and medical aid obtained from Blenheim. At first it was thought that both had sustained severe interal injuries, but we have received a telegram this afternoon stating that, though temporarily disabled, and much bruised, they are not seriously hurt. ;The Address in Reply. — Mr O'Conor did good service last nigbt in breaking through the absurd practice tbat bas hitherto been in vogue in the Provincial Council of passing a formal address in reply to the Superintendent's opening speech, in imitation of the course adopted by larger and more important legislative bodies. A better opportunity could not have been afforded for such a reform than tbat offered by. the address drafted on the present occasion by the Select Committee to which was delegated the task of its preparation, for a more ill considered and objectionable document has seldom been placed on the table of the Council. It is true that Mr Tarrant, upon whom devolved the questionable honor of moving it, said that he considered it contained no debateable matter, but Mr Tarrant evidently is not a reader of Hansard, or he would scarcely have ventured to think that such a statement j as "the reduction in the duty on gold the Council regard as highly impolitic" was likely to pass unchallenged in a legislative body containing six goldfields members. Indeed, there was hardly a paragraph in the whole, address that did not bristle with debateable points, the discussion of which could not. possibly effect any good purpose; -while it would inevitably lead to promote disunion and ill-feeling, and judging from, which has already taken place in the Council, we should say that there are plenty of sores, either imaginary or* real, that require i_o su-ch^pdultice ! as ; , that proposed to he ajipli^iby'Mi. Tarrant to bring; themito ■ a ': i^.Vhe-ad^^elwere'' ekceecliiigiy gjadvto hear^ Z tbsfimen&msni proposed by Mr^O'Conory- ;'^.:. iin-i. ;stijll;in]pTO ■pleased ': tct^-find -', that'-; it.; 1 inbi;:;.' .;;- ;wlth;p^^ of, the 5 established, and we trust that it will be |Va-dhett^ wasting-its time over nonsensical -formal^ kktiMo^