The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 316, 23 September 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1874.

The Tarawa arrived at Hokitika this morning, but will not be tendered until the evening. Her telegrams' will therefore arrive too late for publication : in to-day's issue. We understand that Captain Rough has resigned the appointment of Deputy ! Superintendent recently conferred upon | him. . i Nelson Fire Brigade. — The annual dinner of tbe Fire Brigade will be given at tbe Masonic Hall to-morrow evening, when tbe chair will be taken by his Honor tbe Superintendent, and [ the vice-cbair by his Worship the ! Mayor. His Excellency tbe Governor, | and Captain Simpson, R.N., will be I guests. Tbe Central Brigade will muster at the Engine-house at 6*30 | p.m., and beaded by the Artillery Band will march to tbe Port, where they will Ibe joined by tbe members of the | Auxiliary Brigade, and with them will form a torchlight procession, and march I back to the Hall, where dinner will be i on the table at eight o'clock. | Artillery Entertainment. — Noti withstanding the wretched weather, and attractions in other places, the Oddfellows' Hall was crowded last night, when tbe drama of Black-eyed Susan was put on the stage in a' most effective manner by tbe members of the Artillery Company assisted by a few friends. The principal characters, William and Susan, were taken by two amateurs, who show a decided talent for acting. The former must have stndied bis part witb tbe utmost care in all its details, for he bad not only got tbe words well by heart but bad not omitted to make himself acquainted with all tbe minufse of the character he was representing, and it most have been gratifying to him to find how heartily he was at times applauded by those who should know something of a sailor's manners, customs, and actions ; we refer to the seamen of H.M.S. Blanche, a large number of whom were present. Of the ladies who so kindly gave their assistance, we can only say that they displayed a very ready perception of the characters tbey represented, and with regard to the parting scene between William and Susan, we can tell the actors in it, what perhaps they did not see for themselves, that there were many eyes in the room that were not wholly dry. This they may accept as a tribute to their powers of acting. At the close of the piece, the performers were enthusiastically cheered, and called before the curtains more than once, when Mr Strong said that owing to tbe favorable reception tbey had met witb they proposed to repeat the entertainment on Friday evening, an announcement that was received with much applause. During the interval, in which the band played some operatic selections, a seaman from the Blanche danced a "clog hornpipe" with great skill and wonderful activity. The whole was brought to a close with one of the most amusing farces ever seen iv Nelson, namely the Lion Slayer, in which Gordon Camming, the great African lion killer, is burlesqued in the moat laughable and absurd manner. It is impossible to give a description of it, nor is it necessary, for those who were not present last night will have an opportunity of witnessing it on Friday, when we hope that tbis clever little company of amateurs will meet with the support they so fully deserve. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.— The Secretary of the Artillery Band this morning sued R. E. M'Rae for £7 10s, being the balance of theamount agreed to be paid lo them for playing at the last Nelson races. They were to receive £15. of which £7 10a had been paid. Defendant said that be had given no personal guarantee whatever, although he bad raised the whole sum, which bad been paid into the hands of Mr Staverl, through which it seems to have passed io a direction not originally intended. Judgment was reserved until to-morrow. Mr Pitt appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Fell for the defendant. Good Templarisu in England. — The Good Templars of England have just held their annua! Grand Lodge at Bradford. Brother Malms, the Grand Worthy Chief Templar for tbe past year, was re-elected to that office, and steps are being taken for the incorporation of the Order, which numbers (in England alone) 3777 lodges, and 210,535 members, nearly one third of which are "Sisters." Associations are to be formed to establish temperance hotels in every town, and the various railway companies are to be memorialised to dispense with tbe sale of intoxioating liquors at stations.— 'Graphic. We notice by our Otago files that the subscriptions in aid of the widow of the late Captain Hurt, of (he steamer Beautiful Star, amount to £1200, and further sums are yet to arrive ; these, in all probability will increase tbe amount to £1500. The Bee/ion Courier is gi?en to understand that Mr Warden Whiiefoord's probation has expired, and that the Grey Valley has been formally united to the judicial district of Inangahua, under Mr Warden [Broad, \ with Reefton as.head quarters.

The Grey River Argus says : — "ln the Derby Sweep on the Sydney Great Metropolitan Handicap, Mr William M'Millan, brewer, of Greymoath, drew -the fi|st prise, ainoantirig to £583 6a 8d ;^Mr BfOsbotne, orHofcitika, the second, of £166 13a 4d; and J. Hughes, of Weetport, the third, of £83 6s B<i. It is understood that Messrs Osborne and Hughes are not the actual winners, they, beiDgißgeiits merely for the disposal of the tickets. Oq Wednesday (saya the G R. Argus) the Charles Edward brought to port about 40 immigrants, who were transhipped from the Strathnaver at Wellington. They consist principally of coal- miners and stone-masons, and will, no doubt, receive speedy offers of employment. Their arrival wa3 unexpected, as no previous notice bad been given of the intention to send them here, and consequently the immigration officer was out of town, and there were no preparations made for their reception. The Mayor at once took the matter in band, and commu* nicated with the Superintendent, who replied that if the local agent bad made no provisions for the reception of the immigrants he should do so temporarily, and communicate to him what provision bad been made for them, and what the immigrants intended doing. On receipt of the telegram, immediate steps were taken by the Mayor and several members of the Borough Council io order to secure proper house-room for the new arrivals. The result was that the single men were lodged in a house in Arney street, aad the married people io a two-&torey tenement in Gresson street, and they were all provided at the cost of the Government with everything in the ehapo of provisions, and other comforts. They are a very likeiy looking lot, and appear to have been properly selected for this portion of the Colony, being all coal-miners and stone-masons, most of whom are accompanied by their . wives and families, and who wili no doubt be very speedily absorbed in the general population, as they are just the men who were "wanted" here at the present time. The Canterbury Press of the 2nd inatant states that no less than 154 wagons, loaded with at least 11,000 tons of dead weight, passed through the tunnel yesterday, the largest quantity, by 300 tons, that has ever passed in one day. The Westport Times says :— lt is reported that the Provincial authorities purpose locating a number of immigrants at the Karamea, forming there a special settlement, building barracks or but?, and subsidising a steamer to carry the people up, and make periodical trips there with supplies. They are to be employed in opening up tracks and fa other works to the advantage j of the district. This idea if carried j ont will much enance the value of freehold property long since bought at the Karamea, bnt till now lying unproductive. It is asserted that residents in Nelson, hearing this proposal of the Executive, have recently purchased several hundred acres of land at the Karamea. The Canterbury Press concludes a very severe article on Mr Vogel's visit to England in the following Words: — Even if Mr Yogel had bona fide busi. ness in England, this is not a time when be ought to leave the colony. His work lies emphatically at home. New Zealand is now about to enter on the largest and most radical scheme of constitutional reform. The institutions under which the country has been governed ever since it had any independent Government at ail are to be abolished, and an entirely uew act of institutions to be created in their steady Mr Yogel has initiated these changes, has obtained the consent of the Legislature to them, and it will be his duty aa Premier to prepare the necessary measures for giving effect to them. This is by a very great deal the naoatimportant political undertaking tbat the country has ever engaged in; one that needs the most painstaking.consideration of details, the most minute examination of tbe colony, and the requirements of every part of the colony and the most finished efforts of constructive skill. To frame a constitution — not a mere paper seherae, but one adapted to the wantß of ihe people, and that will have a fair promise of permanency — is a task to (as the capacities of the ablest statesmen. But Mr Yogel seems to think it beneath Ins notice. His first proceeding is to throw it all aside as a matter of no moment, and to etart off for a holiday tour round tbe world. The whole recess would scarcely afford time for adequate preparation ; yet he chooses to waste months in a totally unnecessary and useless visit to Australia and England. Mr Vogel's departure from the colony in the present position of its, affairs is simply monstrous. It argues an utter absence of principle, a deadnees to aoy sense of responsibility, an indifference to public duty, and even a want of decency, which it is bard to characterise in fitting language. We are astonißhed thnt his Excellency has not thought proper to interpose. Sir James Ferguason who understands constitutional uauage, must recognlsa the flagrant impropiety of Mr VogePs condujt. Wo wonder therefore that he baa countenanced it, As Governor of New Zealand he owes a duty to tbe people, and we are surprised that, at so important a crisis, he should have thought it consistent with the obligations of hi s office to allow the Premier leave of absence.