Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 303, 22 December 1877, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

We have received a letter from Mr O. Curtis, which should have appeared to-day, but, together with " The Week " and several locals, has to be held over until Monday. A veiiy good performance was given by the City Cadets at the Odd-Fellows' Hall last night, but unfortunately the audience was so small that tne Uniform Fund is not likely to be much augmented thereby. We trust that the Cadets will meet with better success on a future occasion.

His Worship the Mayor was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace for the colony by the District Judge this morning. The various public offices at the Government Buildings will be closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Befokg breaking up for the Christmas holidays, the pupils of Haven Road school preseuted Mr J. Hodgson, the head .master, aud Miss Burns, the assistant teacher, who is resigning the situation she has held for six years, with handsome presents, accompanied by appropriate addresses.

The Customs revenue collected at the Port of Nelsoii for the week ending to-day amounted to £635 3s.

PillOlt to the dismissal o£ the boys attending the first division of the Bridge-street school yesterday, they were addressed at considerable length by Mr Price, the head teacher. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a report of the address, for which, however, we regret that we are unable to find space.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held last aight, but there was not much

business of importance transacted. It was decided that the charges at the saltwater baths should be one guinea for the season with towels, and half a guinea without • family tickets, £& & 8 ; and single tickets 6d. The question of the extension of the water supply was adjourned until next Friday, when a special meeting will be held for the purpose.

At the Magistrates' Court to-day, before H. E. Curtis and A. Greenfield, Esqs., the following cases were heard:— Crawford v. C. A. Webb for £5 Us. Judgment for amount claimed and costs £i 14s.— Stepheu Macdonald alias John Stephens was charged with having no visible means of support, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment.— Elizabeth Banks, charged with being a rogue and a vagabond, and with being found in a house in Waimea-street without lawful excuse, was sentenced to three months im-pnsonment.-Duncan Chisholm, junior, was charged with assaulting Edward Purser. Mr Pitt appeared for the complainant, and Mr Acton Adams for the defendant. Evidence was taken at considerable length showing that the assault, which was not of a very serious character, arose out of a very trivial dispute, and ultimately defendant was fined ss, and costs £1 15s.

As yesterday was " breaking up " day at the Stoke School for the Christmas holidays, the master, Mr Naylor, invited the parents of the children and all persons interested to an entertainment, in which the scholars were the principal performers. At the appointed hour the schoolroom waa filled to overflowing with expectant parents and relatives, all anxious to witness the success of their little ones efforts. The entertainment was commenced by the school Fife and Drum Band playing a couple of very spirited tunes in good time and measure; then succeeded a pleasiug little air ia unison by quite a flock o£ little girls, all piping away as joyously a3 larka, the effect of the crescendo* and diminuendos (admirably carried out) was most telling and delightful, reminding the listeners of distant music borne to the ear on the wind, as .it came full and low alternately; then followed a recitation, succeeded by a round and then a duett, recitation, &c, all of them really nicely rendered, especially taking into consideration the ages of the children (between eight and fourteen), and the short time the present teacher has had them in charge. The bulk of the programme wag carried out by the school children, accompanied on the pianoforte by Mrs Naylor, and two young ladies, aud reflected the greatest credit on the teacher of the school, who, in addition to his other duties, has organised a string band in the village, which contributed to the harmony of the evening by a couple of pleasing tunes very creditably executed. The following telegram, for the accuracy of which we should be exceedingly sorry to vouch, appeared in the Wellington Argut of Wednesday last:-Osman Pasha made an attempt to break through the Russian lines at Plevna in the direction of the Sophia-road. He was repulsed and reported wounded. Shortly after, the surrender of Plevna, with a great number of sick and wounded, was announced.— lt ia asserted that Plevna could have held out, and that Osman Pasha was bought. The honors paid him by the Czar are oily a blind.— Russia will now make peace, Turkey being deprived of all territory north of the Balkans, and giving Russia the right to control the passage of the Dardanelles. Should England or other European Powers interfere, Tnrkey will declare that as she had to defend herself unaided so she has a right to make terms without outside dictation.— Servia and Roumania are to receive accession of territories. They will in future be practically dependencies of Russia. —Negotiations are on foot for a commercial treaty with- Spain consequent upon the latter's action in excluding English manufactures.

An enabling tonic. A medicated stimulant which enables those who use it to resist disease, the influences of exposure, sadden changes of temperature, and to peform an extra amount of intellectual and mechanical labor, may be called an enabling tonic. The enabling properties are possessed in a wonderful degree by that strengthcreating and health perpetuating ally of Nature, Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Abomatic Schnapps. — [Abvt."l