The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1875.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 29, 3 February 1875, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1875.

Mayobless, without a Council, with sn illegal burgesses' roll upon which to elect a new one, with an overdraft of

£1700 at the Bank, with its cheques for the last month's salaries of itfe servants dishonored, and with febs reputation of deliberately repudiating its peenniary engagements — this may look very like piling up the agony, but it is, nevertheless 1 , too true a picture of the condition io which the Municipality of Nelson finds itself after an eight months attempt to work the Muo.icipal Oorporai ions Act. Tha Mayor says he was hunted out of the chair by the Councillors, who in their turn have been driven out of their seats by the ratepayers, and so matters havo arrived at this very pretty pass. How it is to be remedied we know not. Both the Council and tho public have hitherto failed completely in finding one in whom they could repose confidence to occupy the Mayor's chair, and the attractions of the office bavo not since been increased by the fact that the Corporation's credit has been stopped. Nor do we see that any inducement was offered to would-be Councillors to come forward aDd take part in public affairs by the result of the late meeting, when, without any reason or attempt at a reason being given for it, the ratepayers solemnly resolved that the Council had lost their respect. Probably there were some of those who resigned last night who intended to offer themselves again to fill the vacancies occasioned by their own resignations, but this, alas I tbey will be unable to do, for the 47th clause of the Act is painfully explicit. It runs ■as follows: — "Nothing herein contained shall prevent any person irom being immediately, or at any time, re-elected to the office of councillor if he shall for the time being be capable under the provisions hereof of being and continuing a councillor, but no person, who shall by resignation, ouster, or through absence, have ceased to hold the office of councillor, aa in the last preceding section in each several case provided, shall be re-elected to such office within six months after the time when he shall have so ceased." Where our next Mayor is to come from, whom we are pick up to act in the capacity of Councillors, how current expenses are to bo met, or by what means the cracked credit ofthe Corporation is to be .restored to its pristine state of soundness, are questions that have to be solved, and a difficult task indeed is in store for those who shall undertake their solution.

Res. bent Magistrate's Court. — John M'Caw, charged with being roaster of a house of ill fame, was fined £5, ond costs £1 ls 6.1. A disiress •warrant was at 'once issued. — Winifred Robinson, for annoying people in tbo street for a disreputable purpose, was sent to gaol for fourteen days with hard labor. Nelson Regatta. — A meeting of the Committee was held laßt night, wben the umounts of the respective prizes were fixed as advertised to-day. A thoroughly good day's sport isanticipated, as boats and crews are expected irom other ports. The Rev. Chahlfs Clat?k. — That Mr Clark, the celebrated lecturer and elocutionist, witl make his first appearance in Nelson, ot the Provincial Hall, thia evening, it is scarcely necessary to remind our readers. Long before tbis gentleman arrived in New Zealand, the eminent position which be occupied io Melbourne as a preacher and a lecturer was prelty generally known throughout the colony, and in instance fulfilment appears to have Exceeded expectation. It must not be thought that Mr Clark's lectures are such in the ordinary acceptation of the term, for not only is no book used during the lecture itself, but the scenes from the works of Charles Dickens (the subject of to-night's lecture), which Mr Clark is said to givo with such wonderful vividness and power, are all recited from mWBOry. The illustrative recitals this evwWng Xvill include the following scenes : — The Staring Waiter, from David Copperfiel.d ; Bob Sawyer's Party, from Pickwick ; The Death of Little Nell, from the Old Curiosity Shop; and the Quarrel between Sairey Gamp and Betsy Prig, from Martin ChuzzlewH; \JThe entertainment will not be repeatedj,and, as the charges for admission are moderate, a large audience may be expected to welconqe the accomplished lecturer. Ot Mr Clark's attractive power iv Australia, v a ggod idea may be formed from the f&ct, mentioned by a leading Melbourne newspaper, that the proceeds of two lectures which he delivered in the Town Hall there exceeded £600. To be Proceeded with Leisurely. -—The General Government appear to be determined to adhere to tbeir original intention of proceeding with tbe Nelson nnd Foxhill railway in a leisurely manner. At considerable expense the necessary Bleepers were procured from Goldeu Bay in the depth of winter, wheu carting from the bush to tbe port was a work of no little labor. After lying in Nelson for some months, these very sloepers are now being shipped down to Westport, where timber is plentiful. No wonder that the Westport Times expresses surprise at such a proceeding, and complains that taking wooden sleepers to Westport is like carrying coals to Newcastle. It is rumored that the stock of rails shipped to Nelson is five miles short of tbe required quantity, und that those which should be in Nelson are lying in Christchurch, and are not likely to be removed from thence, so that further delay is like.'y to arise even in the anticipated leisurely construction of our line. Noemanby Lodge, 1.0.G.T.— -There was a full attendance of members of this lodge last evening, gome unira-

por tant business having been transacted, the W k Secretary read his report for the last quarter, by wbich it was seen that the lodge although young was in a flourishing conditiou. The officers for the ensuing term were then installed by Bro. H. F. Davis, D.i1ß.W.G.1*., and aro aa Follows : — W.C.T., Bro. W. Gibson; W.V.T., Bro. W. Webley; W.S., Bro. R. H. Scott; W.F.S., Bro. W.T. Sherwood; W.T., Bro. Healy; W.C, Bro W. H. Berry; W.M., Bro. Sherwood, sen.; W.1.G., Bro. Wm. Taylor, W.0.G.. Bro. T. Shone, jun.; W.A.S. Bro. A. Dolamore; W.R.H.S., Si3terH. Robertson; W.L.H.S., Sister A. B. Setts; W.D.M., Bro. Entwisle. Owing to the pressure of bU9ihess thefre was no initiation. An Adventurous Seaman. — As the Ladybird was steaming down the Bay near the lighthouse on Monday night, something was seen close to the bow from which a voice exclaimed "Don't run me down " The steamer was stopped, and a man was found seated on two planks and using another as a paddle, who upon enquiry turned out to be a seaman who had adopted this perilous mode of escape from the barque W. E. Gladstone now lying at the outer anchorage. He was brought on shore where he made the acquaintance of the police who ornamented him with a pair of bracelets, but, even when thus handicapped, he essayed to escape but was finally caught and sent back to his ship. "Old Biggs" was wheeling about the town yesterday and showing to admiring friends a number of glass hives filled with luscious honeycomb, some of ihem weighing lOlbs. His assortment of hives is as curious as his honey is sweet, consisting as it does of large glass bottles and jars, and even a lamp globe has not been considered too strange a dwelling place for life pets or storehouse for their winter food. Rifle Match. — City Cadets v. Aktillekt Cadets.— A friendly match was fired by the above c'ofps at the Maitai range on Monday morning, which was won by the City Cadets by 60 points. The following are the scores: —

The Buller News,' on the subject of Mr Dobson's resignation of the office' ofr Provincial Engineer, with characteristic vulgarity and impertinence insinuates that Mr Dobson was an inefficient officer. — G. R Argus. > A rumor has been, in circulation in Charleston that an action at law is pending, in which a businesfesfjrra and a bank-agent of that town* are concerned. Damngep, so report says, have been laid at £3000. — Times. New Zealand Shipping Company. — Tbe following is the Directors' report presented at tbe annual meeting of shareholders held at Christchurch last week: — "The Direciors, in presenting lo the shareholders lheir first balance-sheet, embracing the operations from the foundation of the Company, in November, 1872, express their regret that these have resulted in a net loss of £14,360 3s lid, which amount includes all expenses attendant on the formation of the Company, of Bpecial representatives to London, nnd all charges at head offices to 3lst December, and at branches to 30th December, and in London to 30th September, 1874. Shareholders will recognise that the policy of lowering freights from London lo the colony, and from the colony, to unremunerative rates, which was adopted by firms engaged in the New Zealand shipping trade, when this company commenced to run its line, fully accounts for the loss entailed on the company. The Direotors are glad to be able to inform the shareholders that such policy now has been abandoned, and that the three lines are all carrying cargo oh uniform scales of freightage at rates which, while recognised as fair and reasonable by shippers, are remunerative to the company, and all losses caused by the previous policy have already been brought to account. The directors feel they can with confidence advise shareholders to look forward to a successful and dividend- paying future for the company. Satisfactory arrangements have beeu concluded for the management of the company's business in London. An influential and able Board of Advico has been constituted, nud an efficient manager uppointed. The financial orrnngemenlß made by the directors will render it unnecessary to make any further culls on oapital account during tbo next six months, and the Board are sanguine that none will require to be made during tbe current year, but circumstances may arise which will make it needful to call up not exceeding 50s a share between July and December. The fleet of the company is in an efficient state, and the ships are ably

commanded. The directors, however, regret that the absence of profits at this period precludes them writing off nny amount for depreciation; as contemplated by the articles of association."

City Cadets. lOOyds 200 yds 300 yds Tl. Sergt. Shone 44344 02343 00000 31 Sergt. Kitching 43443 30302 04000 30 Sergt Kicketts 23233 20002 03002 22 Oadet A . Shone 44*43 22423 30300 37 Ca<iet Seymour 84344 02332 04300 35 Cadet t*olt< n 43334 92343 30829 41 Carlet Thompson 24242 2200S 04000 25 Outlet Fdwarda 43543 43233 00222 39 Cadet Moore 33333 30040 32042 33 Cadet Keynolds 33413 00232 22203 33 Total ... ... 326 Artillery Cadets. Seri?fc. M'Gee 04233 00000 00000 12 Cadet Membrev 40444 2.T144 02300 38 Cadet Macintosh 44402 23023 00000 24 Cadet Hood 31434 22424 00033 38 Cadet Leaper 22333 00144 20090 29 Cadet Johnson 4.(333 30220 00000 24 Ca^et Small 42421 43300 00200 28 Cadet Eimondsono2433 03042 20300 26 Cadet Rochfort 33330 000^0 00300 17' Cadet Hunter 44323 04202 20300 30 Total 266