The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 308, 29 December 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1877.

San Francisco mail telegrams will be found on the fourth page. Aimangements have been made by the Post Office authorities for detaining the Murray at Wellington until the arrival of the Wanaka, when she will sail at once for Nelson via Picton with the San Francisco mail, arriving here on Tuesday morning. Sho will sail for the West Coast the same day. Tub Customs receipts at the Port of Nelson for the week ending to-day vrere £206 7a 4d.

The smart little steamer Kennedy is advertised to make an excursion trip to Wellington, leaving here on Monday afternoon, and Wellington on the return trip on Wednesday evening. This will be an excellent opportunity for those who desire to pay a very pleasant visit to the Empire City at very cheap rates. Mr Gordon Forlong is announced to conduct meetiugs to-morrow as follows: -At the Congregational Church in the morning, and an united commuuion service at the same place at 12.30; at the Provincial Hall at 8 p.m. His meeting last night was well attended, and his exposition of the life of Jonah was of a most interesting and instructive character. .

Ihe verdict arrived at yesterday on the late fire m Bridge-street was, as usual, that there was no evidence to show how it originated.

The Wellington Argus got hold of a good thing the other day for the dull season of the year. « A monstrosity in the vegetable kingdom,' it says, "was brought to our office this afternoon. It consisted of a potato plant with the roots of which were entwined a strawberry plant— a cluster of strawberries being at one end and a potato at the other, both having the appearance of growing from one root." a

A special meeting of the City Council was held last night for the purpose Of Cou« sulenug the question of extending the waterworks in accordance with the City Surveyors recommendation which was as follows:-" To lay a new 12-iach main for a distance from the reservoir, equal to the distance across the head of the town from Jirook-street to the Hospital, by which every purpose for which an extenaioQ|i3 required would be served, the present main bein^ utilised for the extension. Any further ex* tension of the 12-inch mala could be carried out by degrees at any future time from profits which are now likely to accrue owing to the reduction made in the recent purchase of the waterworks." After a great deal of discursive talk it was decided to defer the consideration of the question in order that the Finance Committee might in the mean-' time report upon the ways and means. At the Police Court thia morning, before 11. Pollock and H. E. Curtis, E?qs., JJ p George Pereival aad Joseph Baker were charged with stealing a leather watch chain and a pocket knife from the shop of Mr J Hounsell on Christmas Eve. Prisoners pleaded guilty. Baker having been brought up on a similar charge before was ordered to be imprisoned for a fortnight and to be flogged. It being Perciral's first offence he was sentenced to one week's imprisonment and a flogging. There was the usual excitement at the Port last evening incidental to the "settling up after a regatta meeting. The stakes were paid in all cases with the exception ot the second-class sailing race, in which several protests were entered, and it is not unlikely that it will be sailed over again. Then followed the dividing of the spoil among the various crews, which was at length got through after a good deal of talk. The whaleboat Cutty Sark waa Sent aCI'OSS tO Wanganax by the Wallace last evening We have not heard whether our Rowing Club intend to compete for any of the prizes offered at the Interprovincial Regatta, to be held at Wanganui in February next; if so, it is time they commenced training. The prize for the Volunteer Race— £35 —is the largest that has eyer been offered in the colouy for that class Of race, and we hear that it is probable the Naval Brigade will send a crew across the Straits to compete for it. The following tenders for the'saltwater baths were received by the City Council last night : -G. E. Nias, £1 ios per month ; M. Levy, £2 10s per month ; Peter Heudy, £3 per month ; George Jackson, £5 16s 8d per month. Mr Jackson's tender was accepted. Ma and Mrs Morton Tavares gave another most pleasing dramatic entertainment at the Masonic Ilall lasfc night, when there was a good attendance. They will appear for the last time on tuesday night, when they should have a bumper house.

Six hundred excursionists went across to Pictou from Wellington in the Taupo on Boxing Day, and the greater number of these proceeded to Blenheim by a special train laid on for the occasion.

A correspondent over the signature of Settler " anxiously inquires of the Akaroa Mail whether the Inscription of Stock Bill has anything to do with the branding of cattie. The editor gravely assures that thirsty soul after knowledge that he is wrong the two have no connection. Messes Reith aud Wilkie, booksellers of Dunedin, have failed for £12,000. If there is any truth in the belief that those who suffer greatly in this world will escape scorching in the next, then will the v lc t ims of rheumatism assuredly be unscathed hy the eternal fires; for to nothing short of martyrdom at the stake can their tortures be adequately compared. Dyspepsia and urinary diseases, especially gravel, also inflict uuspeakable misery. Eradicate the causes of these sufferings with Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps.— Advt.