The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 14, 16 January 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1874.

Concert at Stoke. — Our country readers are reminded of the concert to be given at Stoke this evening. The Alhambro, which is to carry the outgoing Suez mail, leaves Wellington this evening, will arrive here by to- I morrow morning's tide, and sail again in the evening. Volunteers.- — The monthly inspection of the City Companies took place on Thursday at the Botanical Gardeus. The Artillery numbered about 52, City Rifles about 30, City Cadets about 25. After the inspection, the Companies went through several manoeuvres under the command of Captain Pitt. They then marched through the town headed by the band. Good Templarism. — At a meeting of gentlemen interested in this movement, held last night, it was resolved "That this meeting form inself into a Lodge, to be called The Loyal Nelson Lodge of I. O. G. T." Brother R. W. Morley, P.W.C.T., of Blenheim, assisted by Bro. Salter, then performed the initiation ceremony, after which the following officers were duly elected and installed : — Bro. F. Coles, Lodge Deputy; Bro. B. H. Moller, P.W.C.T.; Bro. W. L. Salter, W.C.T.; Bro. W. T. Bond, W.V.T.; Bro. J, M'Eachen, W. S.; Bro A. Wilkie, W.T.; Bro. W. Brent, W. Chap.; Bro. J. H. Boundy, W.F.S. ; Bro. W. G. Scotter, W.M.j Bro. J. Glover, W.1.G.; Bro. J. M'Cleary, W.O.G. There will be another meeting this evening, at eight o'clock, when those who were unable to be present last night will be initiated. The lodge numbers sixteen members, and several are expected to be made this evening. St. Mary's Schools. — The following waß omitted from the prize-list in yesterday's issue, in the second division : — Prize for good conduct, Georgina Shannon. Central Boaed op Health. — A meeting of the Board was held yesterday when there were present, his Honor the Superintendent, Messrs Shephard, Pitt, Shapter, Squires, Renwick, and Broad. It was resolved, That the Board, having considered Dr Williamß' report, do not think it contains anything in connection with the sanitary state of the City calling for interference at present on the part of the Central Board, the local Board having ample power, and it being their duty under the 28th and 29th sections of the Act, to do all such works as appear to be urgently required. There has been a vessel chartered from Port Chalmers for China specially to carry Chinese to that place, and many of the latter are leaving Otago for the Celestial empire, and are buying up gold at £3 16s, to take with them. It is reported that instructions have been received from Mr Blacked, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief, that the survey of the Ngakawhau railway line shall be pushed on with all possible expedition, and all available professional assistance engaged. Mr Dobson, Provincial Engineer, has been working early and late for weeks past and is most anxious to get the survey completed.- — ' Westport Times.' The Lyell 'Argus' of the 3rd says: — Mr Rout, one of the newly elected members of the Provincial Council, passed through the Lyell on Wednesday last on a tour through the Province, undertaken solely with the view of ascertaining, by his own observation, the condition of the numerous roads and tracks of which the Government have so often bonsted. Work has been commenced at Cape Foulwind, preparatory to the erection of the proposed lighthouse. The timber is being cleared away in lines on the high terrace in order to fix the precise site of the light tower. When the ereotion is completed the light will be plainly visible at Westport. The view from the site selected is said to be magnificent, including a wide scope of country extending from Charleston to Westport. — ' Westport Times,' The Lyell 'Argus' complains that an individual named Gibbs, residing somewhere near the junction of the Mangleß and the Buller, has deliberately felled trees across the track to prevent his cattle from straying. The inconvenience to travellers is great, and the • Argus ' draws attention to the subject in order that Gibbs, cattle, barricades and all, may be speedily rooted out. The 'Reefton Courier' in commenting on (he new Provincial Executive approves of the. appointment of Mr Shapter, and goes on to say: — "There may be some who are disappointed on private grounds with the re-appointment of Mv Greenfield as Provincial Secretary, but otherwise it is a popular one and is endorsed on all sides." The Grfcymouth races are advertised to take place on the 17th and 18th of March. The principal events are the Jockey Club Handicap of 175 soys, with a sweep of 7 soys, 2\ miles; and the Gkddfields Handicap of 125 soys. For the former the following horses are entered : — Yattariua, Lacenfeed, Malvina, Hatred, Calumny, Gossip, Malice, Kakapo, Tauranga, and an Azacena filly.

The ' InaDgahua Herald ' says : — Mr D. Isaacs, whose name is associated with the early days of Reefton, left this morning for Groymouth, en ronte for the Cape of Good Hope. During hiß residence in our midst, he has gained the esteem and regnrd of all classes, and his departure has left a void in our social circle, which cannot be replaced. Of none can it be more truly said that every business relation has been most conspicuously marked by the highest sense of honor and tho strictest impartiality, The 'Reefton Courier' says: — The balance of the plates to complete the smelting furnace of the National Bank of New Zealand arrived on Thursday last, and will be at once shifted into position. The delay in their arrival has been caused through the impossibility of getting the necessary costings run in Greymouth. The furnace plate, a mass weighing nearly half a ton, was cast by Mr Moutray of Nelson, and has reached here in good order. In replying to a deputation from the Presbytery of Duoedin agaiDSt running railway trains on Sunday, His Honor the Superintendent is reported to have said : — "I think the great evil of Sunday trains is that we systematically deprive the railway officials of what I would call the birthright of every man — bis day of rest Speaking for myself individually, I would not part with that birthright for all the gold in the world ; and I feel that it seems inconsistent to compel others to do so. However, if these views could be made to pervade the community, I have no doubt the thing would very soon settle itself- As it is, there will be some difficulty. As I said before, it is surrounded with practical difficulties, when you come to tackle it. I think some allusion was made to the views of the General Government on the mi Her. Now I have reason to believe, and 1 thirk J may say so publicly, so far as the Gum-rul Government are concerned, that had they anticipated this movement at the time this railway was leased to us, I have no doubt a clause would have been put in the lease to prevent us giving effect to the petition." The Greymouth * Evening Star ' is not pleased with the result of the tramway case recently tried before the Supreme Court. Our contemporary says: — The verdict returned by a Nelson jury, in the action brought by the shareholders of the late Hokitika and Greymouth tramway, is one of the moat astonishing, and at the same time unjust assessments of damages, that we have heard of for a considerable number of years. We are quite certain that the plaintiffs themselves will be as surprised as the Westlaud public, but with them the feeling will be a pleasurable one, with Westland the reverse. None of them anticipated so much as has been awarded, by some thousands, and they should certainly present the foreman of the Nelson jury, if not every juror, with a handsome piece of plate as a souvenir of gratitude for their very liberal estimate of damages, to be paid by other people. It is singular how generous people can be with the property of others; the action just decided is a startling example of the fact. That tho award is outrageous and excessive there is not the slightest doubt, and that it will cripple and impoverish Westland on the very threshold of her provincial career is certain. The • Argus ' in referrinc to the fact that New Zealand, one of Victoria's best customers for the productions * of * her clothing factories, has. been driven out of the market, says: — " While we admit that it was the action of the New Zealand Government which immediately brought about this unfortunate conclusion, still we must bear in mind that our Legislature set it the pernicious example, and that the ad valorem duties recently imposed by Mr Yogel would have little effect on our trade were it not for the silly restrictions we ourselves have placed upon it. This is proved by the fact that notwithstanding -the new imposts, New Zealand dealers do not propose to manufacture for themselves, but to get what they want from a country which is not quite so silly aB to tax its exports."