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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 284, 30 November 1877, Page 2

We are compelled to hold over our report of last night's Oddfellows' dinner until tomorrow. The election of a City Councillor has been proceeding all day, and no efforts appear to hive been spared to convey the ratepayers to the Council Chamber, where up to one o'clock they had been polling at the rate of forty per hour. There is a good deal of excitement over the matter, and the declaration of the poll, which is to be made at eight o'clock, is looked forward to with considerable anxiety by some, aud a good deal of interest by all. In reply to a question asked by Mr Sharp in the House yesterday, the PostmasterGeneral promised to detain the Wanaka at Manakau to bring down the English mail. A COKIODB case of mistaken identity occurred at the Police Court this morning when a man named Thomas Maher was brought before the Magistrate and discharged. It occurred thus;— On the 22nd inst a violent assault was committed near Reefton, for which a warrant was issued against one James Connors, who was supposed to have absconded towards Marlborough via the Upper Bullar. The Sergeant in charge at Reefton accordingly telegraphed to Nelson, giving a full description of the man. The usual steps were taken, and Constable Knapp was instructed to proceed to the Tophouse, and thence down the Buller. At Rait's accommodation house ha met with Maher, who said he was on his, way to Marlborongh, and in every item, curious to say, answered to the description of Connors. He «vas accordingly arrested and brought to town, but shortly after his arrival another telegram was received from Reefton stating that the real Simon Puce was in custody there. Maher was at once taken before a Justice and discharged. On reading the description of Connors, he expressed himself as not at. all surprised at his having been mistaken for him. The Wairarapa Standard, thus acknowledges the receipt of samples of Nelson wine from Mr W. Toogood, of Featherston, who has in haad a consignment of the same. " The kinds forwarded were cherade, hock, and port. After quaffing the first nam«d, we felt as if nobody owed us any money, aud that we had no creditors. A bumper of the second, a pure delicious summer beverage, decided us to give a donation to the Indian Famine Fund. Aa for the third it is far superior to wines for which we havo paid or owed double the modest price which Mr Toogood demands. We shall have no hesitation iu ordering some of that wine. Nelson wine is about half the price of logwood, and twice as nice. It ought to command a ready sale iu this district." Iff June last the Licensed Victuallers Association forwarded a petition to hia Excellency the Governer, showing that the fees paid by hotelkeepers in Nelson were exactly double the amount paid by their more fortunate brethepn in .Dunedin, and praying that an uniform scale of fees should be fixed for the whole colony. To this petition a reply was received from Mr R. G. Fountain, Under-Secretary of the Department of Justice, dated the 6th of July, stating " that the scale of fees for publicans' licenses throughout the colony is under consideration." As nothing was done by the late Government to prevent a continuance of the iujustice which our hotelkeepers have suffered in the past, (the Assopiation held a meeting a few days ago, when it was resolved to commuuicate wjth the Minister of Justice, and Messrs Curtis, Sharp and Richmond, M.H.R.'s, requesting the Government to introduce a Bill to reduce the fees payable by the members of the Association to a level with those paid in Otago. Accordingly letters wore sent to those gentlemen referring to the petitiou in June last, and asking that action should I be taken during the present session of Par-

liamenfc. Replies have been received from the Minister oi Justice and Messrs Curtis and Richmond, stating that the Government, recognise tha justice of the complaint made by the Association, aud that it is their intention to deal with the subject early next session. Mr Curtis adds, "as will meet not later than the first week in June, they [i.e., the Government] intend it shall apply to the renewal fees payable on the Ist of July." It is to be hoped that this matter will not be allowed to drop out of sight, and that our members will see that a Bill is introduced as soon as the House meets next' year. At the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury special services in connection with the missions throughout the world will be held in all the Anglican churches to-day. Pkematore decay. From inherent weakness, overwork, continued exposure to unwholesome air or sudden variations of temperature, from business cares, sorrow, or other causes the constitutions of many persons prematurely decay. Under such circumstances, a wise discrimination should be exercised in selecting the material wherewith to repair diliapidation and restore the human edifice. Remember that the sanction of four thousand physicians has been accorded to Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Ab&hatic Schnapps— [Advt.]