The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 220, 7 September 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1876.

In another column will be found the judgment delivered by his Honor Judge Broad this morning in the important case of Pterson v. Collins and another, the particulars of which we published last week. The decision, which is merely on points of law, is, as will be seen, in favor of the plaintiff on every issue raised. The question of facts will be submitted to a jury in the District Court on Monday, the 18th instant. On the application of Mr Pitt this morning an adjournment of the hearing ot the case Millar v. the Provincial Government was granted until Monday, the 18th instant. The preliminary advertisement of the Naval Brigade's calico and fancy dress ball, which will take place on Tuesday, the 19fch instant, appears in another column. This will be the first of the kind given in Nelson, but they have been held in other parts of New Zealand with great success, and as there are many speculations as to what a calico and fancy dress ball can be, we are requested by the Committee to state, that ladies and gentlemen intending to be present must wear dresses made of calico, or they may appear in fancy dress, but not in the ordinary evening dress. Theke will be no practice of the Harmonic Society this evening. Those who elect to " come and trip it as you go on the light fantastic toe " are reminded of the Assembly at Mr C. King's Rooms this evening. Dancing will commence at eight o'clock. A novelty, in the shape of a service of sacred song illustrative of " The Pilgrim's Progress," was introduced into Nelson at the Baptist Church last evening, and drew a large audience. Mr Hooper having explained that the pastor of the church was unavoidably absent, the Rev J. Beckenhain took the chair, and, after tho customary introductory remarks, the piece selected was proceeded with. The Baptist choir, with the assistance of one or two male voices from other congregations, went through the lengthy programme in a most creditable manner, not the slightest hitch occurring to mar the effect, the reading of extracts from Bunyan's well known book between the various pieces performed being undertaken by the chairman. The thanks of the meeting, though not formally presented, were certainly due to the choir for the pains they had taken in getting the piece to the state of perfection in which they presented it. " Practice makes perfect," aud not a few evenings had been spent by those who eutertained last night's audience in practising the music, some parts of which were very difficult. A collection was made during the evening in aid of the Suuday School lund, -which at present is at a somewhat low ebb, aud a little over £7 were I realised. Mr J. 11. Hooper, on behalf of the Sunday School teachers, thanked the audience for the liberal manner in which they had responded to their appeal for aid in this good work. After singiug the hymn " When shall we meet again ?" the benediction was pronounced by the chairman, and the meeting separated, evidently thoroughly satisfied with the evening's entertainment.

The entertainment at Stoke last night passed off most successfully, the holding capacity of^ the Public Hall being more severely tested than has ever been the case before. The special train, consisting, of three carriages, which left town at half-pasfc six* was crowded, and, after landing. its passen^ gers at Stoke, it ran on to Kichinond, .from whence it returned with between thirty and forty more. The appearance of the Christmas Tree, which formed the chief feature of the enter-/ tainment, was very pleasing, lighted up as it was by several scores of tapers, the prizes, 220 in number, being arranged very tastefully and with an eyetoeftect. About eight o'clock, all the tickets having been disposed of, the drawing commenced, and much amusement was caused by the incongruous manner in which the prizes fell, tall bearded men being called up to the platform to receive a doll or a baby's rattle or some equally absurd article. r^ e Prizes on the whole gave very general satisfaction, many of them j being of far greater value than ia ex- j pected on such, occasions. . After this part of the performance was over, the rest of the evening was devoted to music and singing, several ladies in. the district and . some of the members of the Nelson Harmonic ' Society rendering willing and valuable assistance. . A i uueshment stall that had been arranged in one corner of the room appeared to be doing a thriving trade, the young ladies who presided over it. being kept very busy at times. Shortly before ten the train returned to Sichmond, and before the town passengers left the Bishop of Nelson took the opportunity of thanking all who had attended for their aid in forwarding the object in view; The National Anthem closed the proceedings, and the town visitors then walked down to the station to meet the train," whose colored lights were already in view as it was returning from Kichmond. The proceeds of the entertainment, which will be devoted to the purchase of an organ for St. Barnabas' Church, amounted to about £21.