The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 11, 13 January 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1874.

Mr H. J. L. Augarde quotes National Insurance shar. -s at 21s. Business done this day. Board of Works. — • In accordance wilh a resolution passod at tho last meeting of the Board of Works, a deputation waited this morning upon the Superiutendent to ask him to#place a certain additional sum on the Estimates for the road from the Port to the tollgate, which might be applied to the construction of the Waimea-street sewer. His Honor, we understand, replied that the Government could not see their way to accede to the request of the Board, as there would not be sufficient funds available for the purpose.

Inspection Parades. — The monthly Inspection Parndu. of the town and Stoke volunteers will he held ou Thursday next, the former nt 6.30, nud tho latter at eight, o'clock. The Waimea men being engaged ia harvesting will not bo called out this month. Major Gordon, we understand, ia expected hero on hia tour of inspection in a few days. Civil Service Examinations. — The Gazette of Bth inst. notifies that Goorge Herbert Blackburne, Josephu_ Hargreaves Richardson, and Arthur Leonard Scaly, of Nelson, have passed both the junior nnd senior examinations. Blackburne passed in first class of merit in Euglieh, third in Latin, third in arithmetic, third iv geography, third iv Greek, second in algebra, second iv geometry, aud third iv history ; Richardson in first clnss of merit in English, third in Latin, first in arithmetic, second in geography, first in algebra, first in geometry, and third in history; Scaly in third class of merit in English, second in Latin, second in arithmetic, third in geography, failed in French, first in algebra, third in geometry, and first iv history, Charles' Panorama. — Good attendances are still the rule at the Odd-Fellows' Hal), where the views of the FrancoPrussian war and the scenery of the Nile are beiug exhibited nightly. Owing to the non-departure of the steamer there will bo three more entertainments — that to-morrow uight being for the benefit of tho widow_ and orphans o/ the late Michael Campion, to whom the management have geuerously promised to hand over half the receipts. We have no doubt that advantage wili be takeu of their charitable offer and that the houso will be crowded. St Mary's Schools. — Tho twentyfourth anniversary of these schools will be celebrated to-morrow evening, when there will bo a tea-party at four p.m., to be followed at six o'clock by the distribution of prizes. The magic lantern will be exhibited afc eight o'clock, when the public will be admitted on payment of one shilling. Cricket. — Regarding coming matches, the Wellington ' Post ' says: — The Nelson team will come over during the Anniversary week, which is likely to develope into a regular cricket festival, after the pattern of the " Canterbury week " in England, as it has been arranged to play the return match, Wellington v. Wanganui, during that week, aud it _3 also contemplated to have the Nelson v. Wanganui match fought on the Wellington Cricket Ground. Radical Reform League. — The second meeting of the members of the League was held last night, when there was a good attendance. An opening address was delivered by Mr W. Stephenson, the President, the following extract from which will explain the objects of tbe League.-—'* It becomes necessary now at the outset of the existence of this League to have a clear understanding concerning the object we have in view, and the means of attaining thut object; so that no energy shall bo wasted ou aimless efforts. The success of any enterprise, public or private, depends not so much on the amount of energy displayed, as the method of its application; therefore, above all things, deliberate before you strike, so that the blow may be effective, and not simply an empty sound. It is stated in the rules of this League that our object is to create and sustain among its members and the public generally, an active interest in all the public affairs of the Province; likewise of the Colony. Thus it is admitted, that whatever may have been the faults of our rulers, we are not altogether blameless ourselves, inasmuch as we have not taken tbe interest in our own affairs we ought to have done. We can hardly complain of the supiueness of any Government if we ourselves remain inactive and indifferent. But while admitting indifference in the past, we affirm that for the future it is our intention to let no public event pass unnoticed, believing that a public opinion so created must tend to the public good, and sooner or later find its reflex in the Government of the province. After completing the organisation of the League, it is our intention to meet together once a month to discus matters of public interest. The Council will meet together as frequently as possible aud take note of events as they occur, and decide ou such action as to them may seem fit. Wo shall endeavor to extend our organisation so that every district in the Province shall have an opportunity of being placed in an advantageous position as regards combined action in any emergency that may arise. While keeping a vigilant eye ou all local matters, we shall not lose sight of events occurring elsewhere that may effect the welfare of our Province iv particular, or tbe Colony generally. With these objects in view we think the League may .airly claim the support of all classes of the community. That such an organisation ts need at the present time, is sufficiently demonstrated by the fact of its coming i».o existence unaided by any influential party or person whatever." Mr O'Rorke has intimated that he does not intend to draw his salary as Speaker of the Auckland Provincial Council while holding office as a Minister. An Auckland paper speaks of claret cup as a blood-purifying cooling beverage, and state.-.- that ihe Good Templars recognise it as one of the cups that cheers but no. inebriates. The ' Wairarapa Standard ' records the following miraculous escaoe of Mr Terry at the Moroa Saw Milla. Mr Terry, while reaching over the shaft of the engine, got his trousers entangled in the machinery, aud was thus whirled round on the revolving shaft several times, and on eacb revolution his forehead, body, and legs came iv voilout contact with some portion of the framework ; but by a remarkable presence of mind, which never

for a moment deserted him, he managed to keep, himself from coming in contact with tbe fly-wheel, and his trousers bein-r torn to pieces be was ultimately libernted. It was found ho had sustained several severe external injuries about the forehead, arms, ribs, nnd lon's, but fortunately none of them proved of a fatal . baracter. It is believed that he owes his life to an exhibition of an extraordinary presence of mind on the occasion, and to the possession of a physically strong constitution, as otherwise his escape would havo been deemed all but miraculous. Tbe following telegram appears in the 'Otago Guardian': — Queenstown, Dec. 31. — John Hayes, an old miner was reluming home to the Shotover with his mates, and, while vesting on top of a track, accidently rolled over a precipice and was killed. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The man was affected by liquor. His remains were brought into Queenstown. The priest refused to perform the funeral ceremony, and objected to his being buried in the Catholic department of the cemetery. The trustees replied that the ground was theirs, and that the interment should take place. The priest refused to allow any of his flock to read prayers over tbe deceased. Mr Worthington, of the Church of England, read a prayer. The funeral was well at» tended. The * Hawke's Bay Herald ' is glad to learn that the late Scandinavian arrivals are in some cases possessed of a certain amount of capital lo aid tbem in commencing life in New Zealand. Several instances have come uuder our notice where the sum in hand, acquired as a rule by the salo of tbeir homesteads and goods in Iheir native land, is suflicient to enable them to commence on a small scale at once if they wish so to do, while the holders of smaller amonnts are still more numerous. The Melbourne correspondent X -i -■ -ntemporary, writing in reference to iho coming general election there says : — Any ruffian wbo will swear through thick aud thin his unflinching support or his deadly opposition, as the the case may be, to the Permissive Bill will be taken up by his party, and if possible rushed into Parliament. A correspondent of the ' Australasian thus describes a recent bush fir* iv the northern part of South Australia : — " Tbe sight was now one of the most fearful V ever witnessed ; a gully filled with thick scrub and underwood, with heavy timber in it, heated and dried by the hot wind till it was like tinder, with here and there an open patch of dry grass which burnt like powder, was ail that remained between us and the fire. Almost before one could look around, wilh a fearful rush and a roar, down fame the fire and smoke, the latter like ink, so densely black, while through the smoke an immense sheet of flame as high or higher tban the trees, of a terribly red color, consumed everything before it, licking up the tree branches and flying on beforo tbo gale to commit a havoc beyond. In less time than it takes to write about it tbe whole gully was burnt, and the fire was a half-a-mile further on, reprating the havoc again and again. Suddenly, about 200 yards from the fire, a spark alighted on the side of the hill. In an instant the flames burst forth, and away they went to join in the general destruction. Finding that it was as much use trying to stop (he fire as endeavoring to stop a steam-engine by looking at it, we proceeded down the gully to see what was going on below. Here we found detachments of men for about two miles, burning along tbe track and back to meet another branch of the fire, which was coming over the hill. To protect a wheat-paddock, that luckily was still green on the edge, the grass was set firo to along its westerly boundary. By this time evening was at hand, and all of us were very tired and hungry, most having come away without dinner. However, it was no good leaving, as we might be wonted at any time, so we made for the hut where we had left our traps. The walk back was something frightful, the smoke being so thick and the ground so hot. But although all efforts bad hitherto been unavailing, Providence was preparing a remedy for tho fire such as man could not. During the afternoon a thunderstorm had been brewing, and at this time, when it was getting dark, and we began to see the fires in all their awful grandeur, and to observe the extraordinary sight, of the heavens lit up by them, the thunder clowds, owing to their form being very beautiful, of a rose color—just then the lightning began to play, sheet, fork, and horizontal, incessantly. The effect was grand in the extreme, nnd also extraordinary, tho lightning being seen through clouds of smoko and tinted clouds. It was a scene tbat is altogether beyond description. This went on for a quarter-of-an-hour before any rain came, but. suddenly the wind shifted round to the south-west, nnd harder than before ; tbe effect on the fire was awful. It skipped away fearfully, making us imagine, that nothing could save, tho whole of Booyoolee. In one place it travelled half-a-mile in a minute. At tbis instant down came tho rain with a vengeance, and Boon the onward career of the fire was effectually checked, everybody feeling very thankful. The rain ceased in about twenty minutes, and then a general move was made homeward. It was now quite dark, so that tho appearance of tho burning of trees and yacka was peculiar. In some places it looked like tho lights of a city at a distance, nnd in others like the "Milky Way," so closo were the stumps one to another. The area of country burnt by these fires must be great — at least 60 or 70 miles. Another huge firo was observed from Laura, ; nrning towards Appiin and Mf-s.-nt X' markable on the same day; in fact, the whole country round seemed to be on fire. Carelessness is supposed to be the origin of the fire."

The custodian of what had been Garibaldi's straw stuffed bed in Iscbia wns heard to mutter, on seeing a. lady carrying away few straws as a relic, "They will do it ; I've stuffed it six times already since the General left." A young man of Sr. Mary Gray, Kent, has had a remarkable escape. He went, to gather nuts in Orpington woods, ahd fell down an old dry disused well 40 feet deep, the mouth of whioh was overgrown wilh thorns. Hero he remained for more thau three days, subsisting upon field mice which fell down as he had dove. At last becoming delirious, his shouts attracted the attention of a gentleman who was shooting in tho wood. The young man was in a pitiable condition when rescued. "You hey heern, gentlemen of the jury," said an eloquonfc advocate, " you hey heern him awar ho saw the prisoner raise hia gun, you heer him swar he saw the flash nnd hecrd the report, you hey heern him swar be saw the dog fall dead, you hey heern him swar he dug tbo bullet out with his jack-knife, nnd you hey seen the bullet produced in court; but whar, gentlemen, whar, I ask you, is the man who saw the bullet hit that dog." A gentleman who was once interceding with Bishop Blomfield for a clergyman who wus constantly in. debt, and had more than once been insolvent, but who waa a man of talents and eloquence, concluded his enlogium by saying, "In fact, my lord, he is quite *> St. Paul." " Xes," replied tho bishop drily, " iv prisons oft." The acute commercial element of the Americans — that part which wo may suppose sent over the wooden nutmegs — has discovered that, by the aid of flavoring, it is possible to dispose of mineral oil as champagne; and we are assured, on the testimony of those who may bo supposed to know — namely, American mineral oil refiners and brokers— that they sell large quantities to champagne makers. Tbe "stuff" is said to bo sweetened with glycerine, as sugar does not answer, aerated by a sodawater machine, and sold for ballroom consumption. It produces terrible headache, and often severe diarrhoea and other evil effects. Holloivay's Ointment and Pills need only a single trial to make known their capabilities. No outside sore nor inward inflammation can long withstand the cooling, purifying, and healing influences exerted by these twin medicaments Be the mischief recent or chronic, great or slight, painful or simply annoying, it will succumb before the curative virtues of these noble remedies, which can be rightly applied by any person who will attentively read their accompanying directions, which ure expressed in the plainest language, void of technical terms, and printed in the most legible characters. To the man of business; confined to his counting-house, and liarrassed by engagements, these Pills are invaluable ; to the man of pleasure, addicted to lree living, they are an incomparable boon. 121