The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 205, 29 August 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1873.

After all the doubts and fears that have of late surrounded our railway prospects, it is pleasant to find that the clouds are beginning to lift, nnd that a gleam of sunshine is at last discernible. The former part of our yesterday's telegram was not cheering, for we were there told that it is not the iutention of the Government to ask the authority of Parliament during the present session for tbe construction of the work, but what follows is more hopeful, and we may now fairly assume that, although a delay of auother year must occur before an actual commencement is made, the colony is to be bound to make this railway one of the main trunk lines of the colony, and that it will be entered upon so soon as the necessary preliminaries have been concluded. The abandonment of the landed security that was to be furnished by the province is a healthy sign of bona fides on the part of the Ministry, for, so long as this waa held threateningly over our heads, we could not get rid of an uneasy feeling that it might at any time be made, use of against our interests. That there is a large extent of agricultural and richly timbered land we afe all aware, but the real wealth of the country lies in the minerals, which are known to abound but cannot be properly forked until easy communication with a port is established. On the whole, we have every reason to be gratified at the success which has attended our effortßJ well baeiked up as they have been by our representatives, in this matter of the railway. If we might take the liberty of throwing put such a suggestion, we would say that the people of Nelson province have received a pleasing, and at tbe same time an impressive lesson with regard to the advantages of pulling together, and working iri one direction, instead of, as has too frequently been the case hitherto, splitting . up their forces, and quarrelling among themselves as to the best thing to be done and how to do it. It is about ten months since*' we first mooted this subject, and urged the people to bestir themselves and take some steps calculated to advance the welfare of the province.' Our invitation met with a response far more hearty and unanimous than we could ever have deemed possible, or at all events, probable. It resulted in a committee beiog formed, the members of which, threw, themselves heart and soul into the matter, and were the more -earnest in carrying out the work they had taken in hand, that they felt;that theyhad the whole of the people at their back,. It is needless now to trace the proceedings of that Committee, with which the public have been kept fully acquainted through the. medium of the press, but it is to us more gratifying that we are able to express to find that the ball we set rolling . ten months ago has, in its progress, acquired such force that the claims of. this province have at last been admitted by the Government, nnd that there is every likelihood of the work we so earnestly advocated being undertaken within a comparatively short space of time. Diligence, perseverance, and determination have characterised the labors of the Inland Communication Committee, to whom the people of Nelson must admit that they owe a large debt of gratitude. As we remarked before, we have received a lesson from which we should profit, and, taking heart by the success that appears likely to crown our efforts, we should henceforth determine to act in concert in all matters affecting the • interest of that portion of Ae colony in which we have made our homes. For many years we have been by far too fond of cutting ourselves up into little cliques acd parties, each of which appeared to be more eager to obtain some little victory over the other, than to unite in promoting the welfare of the public at large. Wearying of proceedings so suicidal, we determined to try the effect of concentrating our forces, and have every reason to be satisfied with the result.

Supreme CoußT.~The case of Thomas v. Edwards will commence at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. Horticultural Society. — We regret to learn Lhat a telegrain ha* heen received by the Secretary frbm His Honor the Superintendent, stating that owing to His Excellency the Governor having made

arrangments for visiting Christchurch and Dunedin in November next, he will be unable to open the Exhibition in Nelson. A Beautiful Sight. — Mr Bartlett's camellia bush, which is by this time fairly entitled to take rank among the " lions " of Nelson, has again put on its show dress, and is now prepared to hold its annual levee. On the sunny side of the bush there is a perfect ranas of delicate white blossoms in every stage of development, the southern side being as thickly studded with buds. Of buds and blossoms together there must, at the lowest computation ,be over a thousand on the bush. Earthquake ■ — A smart shock of earthquake was felt at I*2l p.m. to-day. Immediately the shock occurred, the telegraphists signalled to other stations, " Did you feel tbat?" and in half a minute from the time it was felt here, the word " Rather " came flashing back from Picton, Christchurch, and White's Bay, showing that the shock was pretty general. We have since beard that it was also felt at Wellington, Blenheim, Kaikoura, and Dunedin. New WesleyanjChurch, Motueka. — The above church was opened for divine service on Sunday, 24th instant- by the Rev. Thomas Buddie, of Nelson. The morning service was opened by an appropriate hymn and prayer, after which a suitable discourse was delivered from Haggai ii. 4. The evening discourse was founded on Rev. xiv. 13., having special reference to the death of an old settler, Mr W. Andrews, who was buried iu the afternoon. The congregation was large and attentive — in the evening the church being crowded till additional seat room had to be provided in the aislo. The church is a substantial building 40 feet by 25 feet ; occupies a central site, and is quite an ornament to the settlement. The workmanship does credit to the builders. On Monday evening Mr Buddie delivered a lecture on Courtship and Marriage, fche attendance at which was very materially affected by the torrents of rain falling at the time. The Rev. J. Spear occupied the chair, as substitute for the Rev. Mr Poole, who had kindly consented to preside, but was prevented by indisposition. At the close a vote of thanks to the lecturer was carried by acclamation, with an urgent request that he would print tbe lecture he had delivered. The collection for the building fund /amounted to above £8.