Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 237, 3 November 1876, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1876.

With to-morrow's issue of the Mail will be published a supplement containing a large quantity of reading matter, including a strange and interesting story entitled " The Invisible Witness," humorous extracts, a chapter on the Koyal Bengal Tiger, practical and useful recipes, poetry, &c., the whole affording a capital Saturday evening's reading.

Mr Kichmond Thatcher, agent for Mr Jos. li. Emmet, the celebrated character comedian, arrived in kelson by the Wellington to-day, and goes on to Auckland this evenlug. Mr Thatcher has arranged for his principal to appear in Dunedin and Christchurch, and it is probable that he may also visit Nelson.

Councillor T. Ilarley still hankers after that half-tide road. He has now given notice that he will move at the next meeting of the City Council—" That the resolution proposed l>y Cr Levien to rescind Or T. Harley's resolution relative to the half-tide road not having been passed according to law, tenders be invited for forming the half-tide road according to plan and specification prepared by the City Surveyor; and that, provided such tenders are within the amount of money

voted by this Council and others, the work be executed immediately." If this sort of thing goes on much longer, the report! of the City Council proceedings will read somewhat in the style of that thrilling narrative « The house that Jack built." Already we have got thus far :— This is Cr Harley's resolution re the half -tide road; this is Cr Levien's resolution rescinding Cr Harley's resolution re the half-tide road ; this is Cr Harley's resolution for rescinding Or Levien's resolution rescinding Cr Harlev'a resolution re the half-tide road. We have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt from Mr Passmore, the superintending engineer of constructed railways, of a free pass for the reporter of the Mail on the kelson and Foxhill railway. The manager of our local railway thinks he could do with about one Agricultural bhow a week On Wednesday last close upon 2,000 people travelled on the line and the receipts were £105 17s 9d.

Attention is directed to Mr Augarde't auction sale of town and country land and house property, to be held at 12-15 p.m. tomorrow.

There surely was never a merrier crew than that which made the air resound with their cheers as they travelled into town by rail about half -past eight last night. They proved to be the children attending the Church of England Sunday schools who had been provided with a treat in the shape of a ride by train in the afternoon to Richmond, whence they returned at once to Bishopdale, where a bountiful tea had been prepared for them by Mrs Suter, who, together with the Bishop, entertained the hungry multitude in a most hospitable manner. After tea they amused themselves in the Bishopdale grounds until eight o'clock, when they returned to town. The train, consisting of seven carriages and trucks, was crammed with the merry party, which numbered nearly 300, of whom it would have been difficult to find one who had not thoroughly enjoyed the Uachelder's Pantascope was exhibited again last night, and, what with its own attractions and those afforded by the distribution of gifts, drew a good house. A little girl was fortunate enough to obtain the silver tea and coffee service. The exhibition will be repeated to-night, when a number of valuable gifts will again be distributed. " Sweet Girl Graduate" is the title of a new novel about to be published in Melbourne by Messrs J. and A. M'Kinley, the proprietors of the " Melbourne Punch," The author is Mr A. P. Martin, well known ai an essayist in connection with the " Melbourne Review," which journal he conducts. The book is exciting some interest, which will not be confined to Australia.

The monthly meeting of the Central Board of Education— or, as it it now called, the Education Board of Nelson— should have been held yesterday, but as the Act provides that the first meetings of the new Board 3 are to be convened by tho Governor, and as the Governor, that is the Government, has had plenty to think of besides trifles of this kind, and consequently had neglected to issue the summons, it was clear that an assembly of the Board would not be legal. For this reason the usual report of the proceedings does not appear in to-day's isaue. We understand that Captain Marshall has received orders to proceed to the Waikato, where he will act as one of a Board of Officers appointed to enquire into Mr SoalFs suggestions for using slate-colored targets for rifle practice. Captain Marshall, we understand, will probably be absent three or four weeks.

Referring to the conference on the Counties Bill, the Post says:—" An important concession lias been made by the Legislative Council. The power to raise ordinary loans, or what may be termed the general borrowing powers, are still excised from the Counties Bill, but the provisions allowing the raising of special loans up to a certain limit arc to have effect. These provisions enable County Councils— provided the consent of the ratepayers is first obtained by means of a pollto raise' money for the purpose of undertaking special public works. Had this power not been granted the County syitem would have proved entirely unworkable, and .the country settlers would have been unable to construct roads and bridges in order to get to their lands. The ordinary income from rate* and other sources would in many cases be in■ufficient to do more than keep existing roads and other works in repair, so that no new works could be undertaken if borrowing were not permitted. As the Bill now «tands, the County Councils will have something like fair play afforded them, and the ratepayers who are willing to tax themselves, in order to enable nec«ssary public works to be executed, will not be prevented from doing so. How the Counties system will work, yet remains to be seen. We hope the best for it, but it cannot be expected that the new machinery will act without jar or friction just at first. Before another session is held, experience will have shown some of the defects in the system, and these can then be removed, and the whole measure modified in any details which may be found necessary. The building up of a new system of local selfgovernment must necessarily be a gradual and tentative process, and much time must elapse before any approach to perfection can be achieved.