The Nelson Evening Mail. Friday, February 5, 1875.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 31, 5 February 1875, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. Friday, February 5, 1875.

City Council. — There is not much time to lose in making a ssleciion of Councillors, as the election hue to Jake place within twenty-five days f-On the dale of the resignation of the old members, but not until fourteen days notice of it has been eiven. In the absence of a Mayor, the Colonial Secretary haß been requested to appoint tome one to conduct the election, and his reply will probably be received by the Wellington to-morrow. Good Templars. — The members of the Loyal Nelson, Loyal Marine, and Normanby Lodges are requested to meet in the Temperance Hall this evening, at eight o'clock, for the purpose of making arrangements connected with the coming visit of the Hon. S. D. Hastings, who is expected to arrive from New Plymouth by the Bteamer Taranaki early tc-morrow morning. It is expected that, during his stay in Nelson, Mr Hastings will lecture on the liquor traffic. "The L^ht of Other Days." — The town of Nelson is supposed to enjoy the privilege of being lighted with gas, but as dimness gradually came over the interior of the Provincial Hal! last night. Mr Clark found it necessary to make this slight digression in the middle of bia lecture : — "The gas, I find, is fulfilling the ominous prognostications which reached nay ears this afternoon. If my audience ii not afraid of being left in the dark, but is satisfied to regard the gaslight as ' the light of oiher days/ I will proceed." The audience applauded— not the absence of light, but the lecturer's presence of naiid. Kerosine and sperm candlea were fortunately available, and their '* dim religious light," which, like poor Oliver Goldsmith's shirt collar, had the appearance of having befn washed in pea_-3ft4p sod dried up the chimney, shed its mild beams over the closing scene of the lecture. It is said that there will be a deficiency of gas again to-night, and, indeed, a total stoppage of supply is talked of. If this be the case, timely notice should be given to cousumers in order that they may make their arrangements accordingly. Naval Brigade. — A meeting of those who have already put their names down, and those who wish to join will be held at the Custom House this evening. There are many living at the Port who would not care to belong (o either of the City Companies, but would take a real interest in that particular branch of the volunteer force which it is now proposed to establish here, and there is every prospect of a really excellent and inefficient Company beiDg formed. The Rev. Chas. Clark. —Whether it is that as one knows Mr Clark as a lecturer better, or whether it wus that last nighi's lecture wus really superior to that of the preceding evening, we are unable to say, but certain it is that the majority Qf .those who were present were on ihe latter occasion even more pleased than on tho former. Commencing with Oliver Goldsmith's childhood, the lecturer led us on until we found ourselves travelling in company with the now young man to Cork, to Edinburgh, through Fiance, where by the music be extracted from bis flute be got his daily bread, and on through the Continent to Italy, and through all, though there was much to blame ia the "indolent, shiftless, scapegrace and dreamer," we could not but learn to like him more as we knew him better, and to admire his marvellous faculty of adapting himself to circumstances. .We wandeied with him, as homeless and hungry he traversed the etreeta of London, where, in the midst of his own trials, he had t l c heart to feel for and to note the miseries of those who were similarly placed, and we could recognize in his graphic descriptions oi others at a later date, the distress of which he himself bad bad such bitter experience. We were introduced to him in bis better days, and when his end approached could well share the wonder of the lecturer that one who had been of so blithe a humor and of such abounding good nature should have none to tend him in bis last illness, and no friendly band to cloae his eyes after death. The lecture was, a 8 we have said, most deeply interesting, and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who was present. The masterly eloquence, the distinct enunciation, the sparkling humor, and the depth of feeling displayed by the lecturer as he related now some amusing, and again some touching anecdote in connection with him whose life he was bo pleasantly sketching, combined to make the couple of hours passed in the Hall about the most agreeable time we ever spent. We earnestly recommend all who desire to enjoy a real treat to avail themselves to-uight of the la3t opportunity they will have of hearing Mr Clark. This is no ordinary entertainment, and we will undertake to say that all our readers who act upon our advice and go to the Provincial Hall this evening, will feel grateful to us for having given it, and well pleased with themselves (or havjjn>_' tbkon it. The subject of the lecture will again be Charles Dickens, and it will I c illustrated by extracts from some of his best, known, and beet liked works. They will include " The deformed boy's flowers," from Nicholas Nickleby, *' The soesage machine," and " Sam Waller's Valentiue," from Pickwick, and if anyone wants a hearty laugh we

will promise him that in giving this quotation Mr Claik will make his aidra nche. "MrGuppy's proposals," nnd other extracts will also be given.