The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 155, 2 July 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1874.

Parliament will be opened tomorrow at 2 p.m. We hope to receive the Governor's speech in time lor publication in the town edition.

Artizams' Association. —At a meeting of the members of this Association held laet night the followini; officers were elected s — Mr T. Brooker, President; Mr J. Griffiths, Vice President ; . Mr A. Wilkie, Treasurer; Mr R. Dixon, Secretary; Mr F. Roscoe, Librarian; Mr T. Bear, Dramatic Manager ; Messrs Glover and Watson, Committeemen ; Mr Glover, Music Manager. . Several new members were enrolled, and tbe balance sheet wae read, which gave a good account of the funds of tha Society. The Opera. — We are quite at a loss to account for the extraordinary popularity of Offenbach 'a Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, which was given by the Opera Company last night. Such washy music would have suffered if it had followed Maritana, but coming ac it did juat after La Somnambula the contrast was especially glaring. There is not much to gratify ihe ear daring the performance, aud there is. nothing to carry away, the only atr io the least likely to dwell in tbe memory being "Lo! here the Sabre." We can ouly conjecture that splendid scenery, troops of supernumeraries, and other accessories that are wanting here have helped to carry off intrinsically poor music. Although Miss Alice May took no part in this performance, her place was well supplied by Miss Lambert, who rendered the part of Grand Duchess with much. archness. and spirit. Mr Templeton, as Prince Paul, made a capital walking gentleman. Mr Vernon, who played Fritz, .pleased QB.no better, than he did the night before. Mr Romford, as General Boom, seemed quite at home, the military stiffness of that doughty warrior . being given to the life. Tonight will be given Balfe's opera, The Rose of Castille.

All Saints* Chubch.— The annual meeting was held last evening in the Bishop's school, The following were elected for the ensuing year: — Churchwardens: Messrs Thornton aod Pasley; Vestry : Messrs. Baddeley, Burford, H. Gully, Holloway, Jackson, and Rogerson. Votes of thanks were passed to the Churchwardens, Messrs Rogerson and Thorton, and to Messrs Holloway, Fell, aod the members of the choir for t their efficient aid to tbe musical part of the services. The Churchwardens accounts, wbicb were passed, showed that the minister's stipend of:. his year was paid, bnt there was an arrear of £50 due for the previous year. The building debt on the church was £345, on the parsonage £97.: Tbe arrears; including tbe above sum of £50, and interest due £26. amounted to £130. The total receipts of the year amounted to £496. It was agreed unanimously to make a special collection for the erection of a study and an extra room in the Parsonage, to be ready, for the; Rev Mr Thorpe oo his return, and also to repair and paint the Parsonage. The sum necessary would be- raised partly by loan and partly by subscription, £30 being required for tbe latter. At the close of the proceedings the Bishop, who presided at the request of the Churchwardens, announced that he had reserved for that meeting the notification of his appointment of the Rev. Mr Thorpe to the Archdeaconry of Waimea, which, had been vacant for some years. : He would thus be permanent Commissary in the absence of the Bishop, and would occupy a position of respect which he had worthily earned by the conscientious and painstaking way io which he had discharged the duties of his office. The offioe is at present wholly honorary, and held in conjunction with a parochial charge as in other Dioceses. It wiil not therefore, make any difference in the tenure of the Parish of All Saints*.