The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 66, 18 March 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1874.

Blue Book. — The Blue Book containing tho votes and proceedings of the Council in its last session, has been prepared with considerablejpromptitude, and is now ready for issue. The Greymouth races which were to have commenced yesterday were obliged to be postponed on account of the weather until to-day. We have not yet hoard whether there was sufficient improvement to allow of their taking place to-day. We regret very much to learn that certain changes are about to take place iv the firm cf Morrison, Sclanders, and Co., the result of which will be that two gentlemen whom we can ill afford to lose, will take their departure from Nelson. We refer to Mr Alexander Sclanders and Mr Lowe, the former of whom is about to take charge of the busiooßS at home, and the latter to retire from the firm. Mr Sclanders has on recent occasions taken nn active part and displayed a considetuble amount of interest iv public affairs, and both he and his partner, Mr Lowe, will carry with them tho good wishes of the people of Nelson who, we can assure them, do not al all like tho idea of losing two citizens who staud so high in tbeir estimation. Wo can but hop» lhat our loss wili be their gain. Bazaar. — A bazaar in aid of the fund for lighting Christ Church with gas is advertised to take placo in Easter week. For some months past several of the ladies of tho congregation have been busily engaged in making preparations, acd we are told that the result of their efforts will be visible in the shape of three stalls laden with useful and ornamental articles of ' every description. During the evenings there will be music and singing, and the Provincial Hall will afford a pleasant lounge to all who are disposed to drop in for an hour or two. We hope to find tbat those wbo have entered into the work with so much praiseworthy earnestness will be adequately rewarded for the trouble they have taken by, being afforded the pleasure of baying a large sum to place at the disposal of the

churchwardens for the purp-s*) of fitting the church with chandeliers and lnmjs of au ornamental character. The ladies who have undertaken the management of the bazaar will thankfully receive contributions either of work or mate rial. TnE Late Fire at ArrLF.BY. — An inquest was held yesterday afternoon before Dr Squires, the coroner, ond b jury, on the firo which recently destroyed a stuck of barley at Appleby. Charlee Best, the owner of the slack, said : — " On Thursday nigbt last about 9 o'clock I went round ill * pace to see that all wsa right. I found nothing wrong and went to bed. I was alarmed Hy Mr Satherh-y aud Mr Haycock calling out ** fire " I got up and on looking at the clock saw it was five minutes to ten. I rau out to tbe stack, and found it on fire all round with the exception of a small portion on the side farthest from the house. The stack contained barley from fiftteu acres of lnnd, and was worth, I should think, about £150. I have no idea as to the origin of the fire. There are no smokers about the place except myself and I only smoke in doors. I do not know of anyone being about the place tbat evening. Thora was no chance of tbe stack taking fire spontaneously, and I believe it was set fire to purposely." The evidence of a few persons wbo assisted in endeavoring to extinguish the fire wns taken, but contained nothing to throw any light upou its origin, and a verdict was returned of arson agaiust some person or persons unknown.