The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 80, 6 April 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1877.

The route for the railway to the Port has been surveyed, and re-surveyed, and surveyed again; in fact, ifc is a work tbat seems to have been selec.ed for the purpose of keeping surveyors iu practice, as nothing ever comes of the latest survey, except that it invar 'ably proves unsatisfactory, and a fresh one is ordered. It is about two months since the last line was laid out, but the representative of the Public Works Department has since been transferred elsewhere, and the chances of the railway exteusion being undertaken appear to be as remote as ever. Past experience has shown that the only hope of anything in the shape of a public work being carried out in Nelson lies in constant agitation. To trust that any of our legitimate claims will be attended to from a sense of justice would be to lean upon a broken reed. Importunity alone will secure that* which we waut and are entitled to. Bearing this in mind our representatives should stir iu the matter without delay, and continue to press it upon the Government until their object is attained. Let ifc be understood that we are not going to be put off with another survey, for of these we have h;td plenty. Tlie plans and specifications ought to have been prepared long ago, and what we waut to see now is the advertisement calling for tenders. The euquiry on board the Northampton is still proceeding, but being of a private nature we are unable to give any authoritative report. Wc learn, however that a miserable state of things has prevailed on board owing to the differences between the captain aud the doctor. The doctor complains of the captain and the matron, and the epptain of the doctor, with whom, too, the matron does not appear to be pleased. The trouble commerced on the first Sunday after leaving England, and has been increasing ever since 3 , so that the Northampton has been anything but a happy ship. Knowing nothing of the particulars wo do not pretend to form an opinion as to who was right and who wrong; probably none of the disputants are altogether blameless. Everybody concerned, we should think, must bc well pleased that the miserable voyage has at last come to au end. We understand that the Ven Archdeacon Thorpe was to leave England for Now Zealand last month, and consequently may be expected here about the end of June. We are glad to learn that his health has benefitted greatly by the change. Notifications have appeared in the Government Gazette regarding the shooting season in other districts, bufc as yet we have not seen any similar notico with respect to Nelson. In Hawke's Bay the open season is to be from the Ist of May to the 3 1st of July, iu Auckland from the 2lsfc of May to the 3lst July, aud in Otago from the Ist of June to the 31st of July. The license fee in Auckland is 40s and in Otago 30s. At the Clifton Institute, Golden Bay, on the 3rd instant, a vocal and instrumental concert was given by a few amateurs in aid of the Motueka Relief Fund. There was a very good attendance considering the scattered population and the number of miles that many had to ride or drive, over anything but level roads. The programme was carried out very successfully, helping to make an exceedingly pleasant evening, as testified to by the applause which most of the pieces received. Special notice may be made of the pianoforte duetts and accompaniments played by Mesdames Guinness and G. C. Gilbert. Both these ladies play as though they delighted in, and do not neglect, the musical talents given to them. The solos sung by Mesdames Robinson and Gilbert, the Misses Guinness and Langford, were deserving of a far larger audience, and would do credit to many concerts of greater pretensions, The duett sang by Mesdames Robinson and Gilbert brought forth a' very decided encore, which was tlie first granted. The Messrs Renbcu and James Packard acquitted thenisc'.ves very well, although the former would do better with more confidence, and the latter with more practice before an audience so as to acquire the ease and style of a solo singer. Both of them would be a great ' acquisition in a social gathering. A vote of thanks to the choir (which included besides those named Messrs Gilbert, Robinson, Ellis, Nicholson, and Mouldei*. aud the Misses Robinson), was proposed impromptu by a stranger, Mr Wil mot. C. B. Cave, seconded by Mr Packard, senior, and carried unanimously, with the well appreciated and effective British cheer. The vote was acknowledged by Mr G. C. Gilbert ou behalf of the choir. The evening's entertainment was supplemented by dancing to the music of pianoforte aud violin, the latter instrument being handled in a masterly and spirited manner by Mr Walker of Takaka, who appeared to be proof against fatigue in the length of the dances. Mr Abbott of the Junction Hotel, Takaka, gave every satisfaction in the purveying brunch, the merry faces and good-humored endeavors to attend j to all demands coinciding lyitlj. aU b^lppgin*** to the very enjoyable evening. — Communicated.

At the monthly meeting of the Education Board, held yesterday, a resolution was passed to the effect that the Government be requested to grant free railway passes to members of the Board when travelliua* to and from jts' meetings, and also to thelnspectorwhen on his tours of' inspection." That so reasonable an application cau be refused we cannot conceive. Many of the members devote two or three days a month to the work they have undertaken, and travel from twenty to forty miles to be present at the meetings. It is only fair that the burden they have taken up for the benefit of their fcljow-settlers should be made as light as possible.

Tub funeral of the late Mrs Bolto*-*} will take place at 10 a.m. to-morrow 'instead of 11 as previously notified.

There is a row* going on in the Westport Borough Council owing to the Mayor, for some reason which }3 ppfc mentioned iu the newspaper report, having refused to sigp the minutes of a special meeting, in consequence whereof one of the Councillors has tabled a notice of motion which concludes us follows: —-" This Council views such action of the Mayor as unconstitutional, and as a contempt of the Municipal Corporations Act, and of vote of the Council. The Council therefore records its want of confidence iu his Worship's manner of conducting the business of tho Borough."