The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 52, 2 March 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1874.

Seamen's Union. — A meeting of mmi bers of this Union will be held at Lie Pier Hotel this evening. . Lady Babkly. —The p.s. Lady - . Barkly will leave Nelson to-morrow evening at five p.m., conveying visitors to ColliDgwood on the occasion of the jQrst anniversary- of the Court Aorer**, A. O, F., which takes place on Wednesday next. We have received the first numbers of the Tribune, a new daily paper published at Wellington. It appears to be well written, T carefully compiled, and generally well got up. Nelson Radical Reform League. —The monthly meeting will be held this evening at the usual place and hour. City Rifles. — The resignation of Captain G. B. Sinclair has been ac-, cepted, and the appointment of Alfred Otterson as Sub-Lieutenant is gazetted. Date of /.commission, 2nd February,* 1874. New Resident Magistbates. ■ — Frank. Guinness, Esq., «J.P., is gazetted as Resident Magistrate for the District of Collingwood, and Alexander Ingles, Esq., for tbe District of Kaikoura. Good Templathsm. — Mr Mackune addressed a crowded meeting at the Temperance HaU on Saturday evening, when some additional spirit was imparted to the proceedings by a little opposition that was offered to the lecturer's statements and arguments by two or three of . the audience. At the close of the lecture twelve new members, were enrolled. The Government Gazette oi Monday last is devoted to the proclamation of 263 districts under the " Licensing Act, 1873." The two last-named districts are. those of ."Stewart's Island " and the " Chatham Island's," and seeing tbat all applications are to be. sent in to the clerks of the districts not later tban to-morrow, it is probable that some. little inconvenience is likely to arise from the working of the Act. The members of the Christchurch Artillery have accepted a challenge from tbe Wellington Artillery to fire a match with eight men a side, at 200, 400, and" 600" yards. Could' noY the Nelson City Rifles wbo have lately made such excellent shooting, try their ; skill against the volunteers of other provinces? I An Auckland paper states that a few days ago a man named Gardiner was attacked by a shark while barbing at Harris' Point. Mr Bo) and, on bearing [ cries from the victim came quickly to the rescue. Beyond a smart and uncomfortable "nip" near to the hip, fortunately no serious damage was done. The finest piece of what is popularly known as " bosh " we ever remember to have met with- occurs in an article about Sullivan, which appears in the Auckland Star. The Star says : — " One of our reporters this morning caught a glimpse of ihe murderer, and his reckless unintellectual features betrayed the soulless character of the callous villain. The murderer's eye met the eye of pur reporter, and Sullivan slunk back as though abashed by the presence of a power beyond that of the prowling murderer." This reporter should ' immediately join the police force. With such an eye be would be invaluable.at timeß. A very serious charge is made against some of tbe Auckland representatives ut the late Intercolonial Rifle Meeting. Tbe Government here lent these individuals new rifles, and it is said that they removed the barrels and substituted those of their ordinary weapons, fixing the new barrels on the old stocks. Tbe fraud was discovered by tbe armourer taking one of the rifles returned, into store to pieces. It was then founcl that the number on the ! stock and that upon the breach of the barrel did not correspond. This caused enquiry; and tbe little swindle was found out. — 'Post. Since our; last, Messrs Scott and Hargreaves of Nelson have completed the purchase from Robinson Brothers of a site at the N. W. corner of Emerson's paddock, for an establishment for tbe manufacture of doors, sashes, mouldings, etc., by power machinery, in addition to general carpentry work. With this object tbey have already imported an eight-horse power engine, etc , which is in course of erection on the Bite named; We gladly welcome this addition to our local industries, and .. hope the , enterprise will prove successful.*^-' Express.' ! * The Post gives the following particulars of the Mongol's unprecedentedly quick passage to Otago: — After leaving

Plymouth the steamer experienced . constant head winds during the greater part of the passage. She steamed dead against the S.E. trades, aud on reaching tbe " counter trades," or westerly winds, found them so light that sbe went further south than was at first intended, but meeting with bad weather returned to a more northerly latitude. The passage from Plymouth out to Otago was made in 49 days 14 hours, but bad there been any necessity to push her, instead of saving coal, the passage could have been made easily in 45 days, or even less. The Mongol thus bas initiated an entire revolution in the popular idea of the time required to make the voyage to New Zealand. The Ocean Mail's passageremarkable for a sailing ship — of 74 days, app* ars quite slow compared with the Mongol's actual 49 and possible 45 days. We hope this will not be lost sight of by ibe Government in their future arrangements for the importation of immigrants to these shores. The Provincial Government of Auckland have resolved not to issue any licenses for cutting timber during the current year on lands belonging to the Province. The Government announce their intention of prosecuting any person cutting timber on such lands, tbe object of the course taken being to put " a stop to all further damage to tbe public estate."