The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 170, 31 July 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1874.

I "^[esleyan Church, Richmond.— A lecture will be delivered to-night at tbis church by the Rev. J, Waterhouee. Having beard him lecture in Nelson we can safely recommend residents in tbe Waimea not to lose the opportunity of listening to Mr Waterhouse's account of his mission to King Tbakambau. Good Templars.— Members of the Order are reminded that tbe Lodge will meet at 7 o'clock this evening. The Wellington, with the inward Suez mail, left Wellington for Nelson, via Picton, this morning. We are requested fo state that a supplementary mail via San Francisco, will be sent by the e.g. Wellington at 8 o'clock to-morrow night. Inland Communication Committee. — A meeting of this committee will be held to.morrow evening at the Government Buildings at half-past seven. The business will be important. Volunteers.— Attention is called io the district order appointing the days for the next monthly inspection of the volunteers throughout the province. Wesleyan Church, Hetdy st. The Rev. Jos. Wuterbouse will preach in the abof c church on Sunday next, morning and evening, and coniuct a children's service at tbree o'clock in the afternoon. Important Land Sale.-— We would call attention to tbe sale of landed aod household properties advertised by Messrs Sharp aud Pickering for tomorrow. There are several town J acres to be disposed of as well as a

comfortable family residence in Brontistreet. Bail or Jail.— -Under this headiog we publish today an article that appeared in a recent issue of the Otago Daily Times. Although no names are mentioned, either of persons or places, it ia clear that the case alluded to is one that is now awaiting trial io Nelaon. It has already been commented upon in our columns, and we are glad to ttnd so influential v journal condemning the act of legal cruelty that is vow being perpetrated in the Nelson gaol. Dramatic Entertainment. —On the first appearance of the Nelson City Rifle Dramatic Company last night the Odd Fellows* Hall w as crowded to excess, and to this statement we may add that we believe (hat not one of the many who were present left the room without a feeling of entire satisfaction with the performance they had witnessed. The entertainment commenced with the melo-drama of The Charcoal Burner, in which tbe principal character, that of Poynet Arden the charcoal burner, a soured misanthrope, who since the murder of his father many years previously, had been al war with all mankind, was admirably depicted by Mr Wix, who ultimately succeeds to discovering and shooting the murderers of bis father, the scene in which he wreaks bis vengeance upon one of them, Matthew Esdale, an old miser, who was represented by Dr Squires, being very effective. Throughout the whole piece the audience were kept amused by the peculiarities of Valentine Verdict (Mr Maclaren), who was a little touched on IHe subject of the statutes of Wil Hammond Mary, aod brimming over with a sense of his own importance as a grand juryman Captain Esdale of the Dragoons (Mr Kissel) acted an important part as the lover of the heroine Miss Harrington, and io Mr Finney waa allotted the personation of Abel Cole, a bereaved widower, who appeared to be an ardent opponent, of tbe principles advocated by Good Templars. The ladies to whom the. Company is largely indebted *for the. able assistance they rendered, performed their parts exceedingly well, and tbe younger of the two promises, with a little more practice, to become as clever an amateur actress as the most critical visitor to a theatre would wish to see. Ia the farce which followed, The Birth-place of Podgers, there is but one prominent character, that of " Tom Crnnky," a plain matter-of-fact working man, who is utterly averse to everything iv the 6hape of sentiment, and is bothered to death by a pack of enthusiasts, who faocy tbat in his humble dwelling tbey bave discovered the birthplace of a poet. This part was taken by Mr Finney, who thoroughly entered into the spirit of the character, and acted it in a manner of which both he and the Company to which he belongs may well be proud. The entertainment will be repeated to-night, when we hope to see the ifforts of the little Company rewarded by another bumper bouse. We must not omit to congratulate Mr Wix upon the excellence of his arrangements as stage manager. ~\