The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1873.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 262, 31 October 1873, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1873.

We have every reason to be proud of and satisfied with tbe water supply of the town. Properly utilised it baa never yet failed ns in the hour of our need, bnt almost every fire that occurs teaches us that we have not yet learned to turn our admirable system of "waterworks to the best account. As usual, the members of our excellent Brigade turned out on the sound ing of the alarm on Wednesday night with surprising alacrity and, 'as usual, we have to record that somo delay was occasioned in extinguishing the flames by the bursting of the hose. Thia has now become quite a looked' for occurrence, and it is one that is well worthy of the consideration of the Brigade. Does the fault lie with the material of which the hose iB composed, or is it that it is too suddenly^ called upon to bear an unfair amount of pressure? We are inclined to thtnk-thatr- it-is to -the latter cause tbat thpse constant accidents are to be attributed. On practice nights when everyone is calm and collected, and no extraordinary baste is necessary in turning on ttyp wafer, the hoses are found quite equal to the demands upon their eirengthj on almost every occasion when they are brought into active service they give way under the pressure, and much valuable time is lost in repairing damages. The conclusion at which we must naturally arrive is tbat the flow of water is by far too sudden, and thftt the strain put upon the material through w,hich it is couveyed to the fire is greater than it can bear. We may be in error, but it certainly appears to us that undue haste is generally used, and a want - of judgment displayed in the excitement of the moment in hurrying on tho water from pipes, to the ,. hoee. Were this done more gradually, a miauso perhaps might be lost at first, but time would be saved in tbe end, as several minutes are

wasted by. the bursting of tbe hose, which, as we said before, has now become a regular occurrence at every fire. Yet another lesson is taught us by Wednesday's fire, namely, the necessity that exists for additional hose and hydrant stations in tho outlying parts of the town. Had a hose been available somewhere in tbe neighborhood of the Church Hill, much bf the 1055 ... which Mr Mackay Has suffered might have? been prevented. Would not tbe Insurance Offices be consulting their own interests iv providing such appliances in the outskirts of the town ?

Fire Brigade, — A special meeting of \ members of the brigade will be held this evening at half past seven. The Share List of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company closes this evening, and i not to-morrow, as advertised. Divine Service every morning at ChristChurch at 10 o'clock, during the sittings of the Synod. The service is partly choral. Dr Carr advertises that he will deliver a lay sermon on Sunday evening 'next. There will be an admission charge of one shilling, and the proceeds will be handed over lo lhe Exhibition Fund. Sporting.— -There will be a sweep of £100 on the Canterbury Cup at the Mesooie Hotel this evening. The drawer of the winning horso will receive £50, of the second £30, aud of the third 20, all sul-ject to a five per cent ieduelion for expeuses. By the Albion yesterday Mr Huddlestou received four more bares frpm Melbourne, which were at once turned out at Wakapunk*, Five were shipped, but one died the niyht previous lo the steamer's a.rrival here. Between thirty nnd forty have now been imported, so that the country should soon be pretty well stocked with them.' Life Assurance. —Mr Short, the travelling agent of the Australian Mutual Provident Society is now in Nelson, and purposes delivering lectures in the out districts during his slay. Probably he will also lecture iv the town before leaving. l " Cricket Match. — A match will le played in the Botanical Gardens to-morrow afternoon between the cabmen and blacksmiths of the town. By way of variety there will also be a race between the oldest smith and the oldest cabman for ipO yds. Agricultural Association. — It will b- seen that this vjgelul Association purposes holding a show of rams and ewes at Richmond on Wednesday, November 12. From the very creditable display at tho preliminary shows, we may expect, to see a very valuable collection at Richmond. Intending exhibitors wili find full particulars in the advertisement. Mr. Curtis' Meetings — Mr Curtis will address the electors this evening, at the Hillside School, Suburban -North, on Tuesday at Moiuekn, Wednesday at Riwaka, Thursday at Stoke, and Friday at Richmond. Meltings at ea;h place to commence at eight o'cleck. Mr John Kerr addressed the electors, at Waimeu-west on Wednesday evening, when a resolution was unanimously passed to the effect that he Wash fit and prb'per person to represent the district in the Provincial Council. . Nelson Exhibition. — The ''Committee announce that they have received the handsome donation of £10 , 103 fr ora ihe j Bank of New Zealand towards tbe ex- ! penses of the exhibition ; also a donation J of £3 38 from the Hon. N. Edwards, and | £1 Is from Mr Tregea towards the j Special Prize Fund. Exhibits are already pouring in, and great success is anticipated. Presentation to Mr John Aiken.-t-Mr John Aiken who for nearly seventeen yearß has been head clerk and manager in Messrs. N. Edwards and Co.'s office, and is now about to leave for Christchurch to commence business as a partner in a new firm,. was, on Wednesday presented by, his, : fellow-clerks with a handsome diamond ring, accompanied by tbe following address: — "Nelson, 27tU October, , 1873, John Aiken, Esq. — Dear Sir,~We, the undersigned, your fellow clerks, hearing that you are about to leave Nelson, and the employ of Messrs. N. Edwards and Co., with whom you have been connected so many years, cannot allow you to depart without an expression of sincere regret, and, at the same time, testifying to the uniform courtesy and, good-feeiing exhibited by you to us, many of whom bave been your coadjutors for a number of years. Herewith we beg to present you with a small remembrance, and request your acceptance of the same, as a token of our esteem and good wishes, and hope tbat at a future time, and among new associations, it may remind you pleasarably of the many years we have spent together in Nelson. Trusting that all success may attend you, and that you may enjoy every comfort in your new sphere of life — We are, dear sir, yours faithfully, (here follow signatures,}"