The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 196, 20 August 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1877.

Br incessant dropping water wears away stone. By continual complaints of the total absence of accommodation for reporters in the Resident Magistrate's Court we hope to bring about a change for the better in the internal arrangements of that bmlding At present a table six feet by three is considered large enough to accommodate lawyers clients, and reporters, together with charts! law books, and, if ifc does not afford sufficient space for all, those who come in last may take their notes a3 beat they can If the reason is that the Government are so hard up thafc another table and a few additional chairs are beyond their available means, and they would frankly admit ifc, the representatives of the press would probably club together and purchase these articles of furniture for their own use, but, as it is, this might perhaps be regarded as contempt of At the meeting .of the Queen Bee Relief Committee on Saturday afternoon, the can™f u 3 J? r subscriptions announced that £305 had been actually received and £65 more promised, exclusive of the proceeds of the concert aud other entertainments. This included£s 17s from Spring Grove, £61 17s from Richmond £5 15s from Wakapuaka, £10 from Mrs Gibbs, one of the Queen Bee passengers, aud £26 5s from the New Zealand Shipping Company. A telegram from Mr Sharp was read, stating that subscriptions were coming in fast in Wellington, and that the Commutee might draw upon him at once tor -.100. Ifc was resolved thafc £100 should be forwarded to London for the widow of the carpenter who was drowned, ami the balance devoted to the immediate relief of the survivors, and to reimbursing those of the searchers whose expenses had not been defrayed by the Government. A sub-com-mittee was appointed to disburse the amount required, consisting of the Bishop of Nelson, the Revs P. Calder and J. Beekenham, the Mayor, and Messrs Dodson, Greenfield, and Macdonald. A public farewell tea meeting to the Good Templars on board H.M.S. Sappho will oe glV en at the Temperance Hall this evenThe Lady Barkly made a trip to the wreck of the Queen Bee, leaving here on Saturday evening and returning l ast night. The masts aud rigging were taken out of the ship, and about £100 worth of cargo taken ou board, and it is expected thafc there is every probability of saving a large quantity when tbe divers get to work. There was divine service on board II.M. corvette Sappho yesterday morning. The members of the Naval Brigade, to the number ot thirty, proceeded across to the vessel in the Aurora. The service was conducted by His Lordship the Bishop of Nelson, who preached au appropriate sermon, taking for his text the word "Prayer." There were present by invitation from the officers several ladies aud gentlemen from the shore. In the afternoon the man-of-war was visited by a large number of people. The officers and men were most obliging in showing the visitors round, and explaining to them the complicated machinery on board The Sappho will sail for Wellington at seven o eh cic ou Thursday morning. Last evening the Rev P. Calder delivered in the Iresbytenan Church to a large and attentive congregation an interesting lecture oa • lhe Cross and the Crescent-- Christianity aud Mohammedanism; with remarks ou the Russo- Turkish War and the European unrest. Ihe rev gentleman took for his text Isaiah, chap. ii. 2nd verse-" And ifc shall come to pass in the last days, thafc the mountain of the Lord's house shall be establishod m the tops of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall Mow unto it-' After referring to the present J-uropean struggle, the rev lecturer proceeded to draw a line between Christianity and Mohammedanism, although he did not regard the war in the East in the light of a contest betweeu the two religions. Mr Calder was singularly happy in the choice of his subject which was admirably adapted to the temper and genius of the man. He had studied well the nature and extent of his talents, and was careful to select such a subject as might, in all its parts, be proportioned to his strength and ability. The lecture abounded in pathos, grace of imagery, aud subtle beauty of language. Ifc showed extraordinary versatility, of fancy, felicity of expression, and knowledge of human character. VVe regret that through want of space we j are unable to give even a brief account ot the substance of the lecture. | -r, T.^? August meeting of the Permanent building Society will be held this evening in the Young Men's Christian Association l hooms, the Temperance Hall being engaged.

The Auckland Star is one of the most enterprising of New Zealand journals, and spares no expense iv obtaining the latest news. Its last venture is to employ a special London correspondent, who forwards telegrams direct to Auckland. The latest of these appeared in Thursday's paper, and was dated August 14. Ifcisas follows :— Skirmishes between the Turks and Russians occur daily, and are still favorable to the Turks.— The position of the opposing armies at Plevna is unchanged— A big battle is imminent, inwhich a hundred thousand will be engaged on each side. y^ It was rumored in Wellington on Thursday last that overtures were being made to Mr Stafford to lead the Opposition. The Star s Wellington correspondent telegraphed on that date :— The time of Parliament is now being occupied with useless discussion. This is in consequence of the weakness of the Government, which vacillates, and, being afraid of losing its position, cannot insist on pushing on business. It is becoming evident that unless impending questions are speedily brought to an issue, matters will drift on till the best part of fche session is wasted, when business will be hurried through. The geueral opinion now appears to be that the session will last about three months and a half, if a crisis does not occur, which will lead to a dissolution. Whbn four thousand disinterested physicians certify to the excellence of an invigorative stimulant, sceptics as to efficacy —if there be any— might as well retire to ' a back seat." Such an indorsement carries conviction to fche mind of all rational persons. The above number of medical men have, over their own signatures, most emphatically confirmed the popular verdict long since rendered in favor of Udolpho Wolfb's bcniBDAM Aromatic Schnapps.— Advt.