The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 309, 31 December 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1877.

A correspondent desires to call attention to " the shameful treatment accorded to the remains of patients dying in the hospital or Lunatic Asylum." He is informed, he says, that in some instances the coffin is put into a cab and driven up to the cemetery, where it is lowered into the grave without any service being read, for there is no clergyman present. Sometimes the undertaker, if he has time, or the gravedigger, if the former is^in too great a hurry tq w^it, reads a prayer or two at the op.n grave, and with that scant ceremony the grave is filled in. We have no reason whatever for doubting the bona fide* of our correspondent, but we sincerely trust for the credit o£ the community that he has been misinformed, and we shall be glad to receive a contradiction of his statements from the authorities at the institutions named, whose responsibility with regard to their patients does not, we presume, cease the moment the latter have drawn their last breath.

Advertisers are reminded that the Mail will be published at 10 a.m. to-morrow, being New Year's Day.

The usual New Year's Eve service will be held at Christ Church to-night, commencing at a quarter to eleven.

The Caledonian Society of Motueka held its annual gathering on Boxing Day. The attendance was not so large as on some previous occasions, but the sports were numerous and well contested. A correspondent writes complaining of the abominable language used by the person appointed to keep the course clear, and trusts that in future the Committee will be more careful in their selection of a man for that purpose. A number of visitors from across tho Straits may be expected by the Wellington, which leaves the Empire City for Nelson this afternoon, returning to - morrow evening. An excursion trip to Wellington is advertised by the same boat, which leaves here to-morrow evening, and returns on Friday.

Alonzo Walker, who was on Saturday brought before the Magistrates on a charge of drunkenness, and committed to gaol for forty-eight hours, was this morning, on the testimony of Drs Williams and Farrelle, committed to the Lunatic Asylum. Mr. Gordon Forlong addressed crowded audiences yesterday morning in the Congregational Church, and in the evening in the Provincial Hall.

The annual gathering of Christians is advertised to be held to-morrow on Mr Short's premises at College Hill.

An accident occurred this morning near the Saltwater Bridge to a horse and cart belonging to Mr B. Crisp, which was laden with hematite ore. When crossing the rails of the tramway both shafts of the cart suddenly snapped through some cause or other not clearly explained. The horse immediately fell, and a quantity of the ore rolled over the top of it. Plenty of willing hands soon set to work to extricate the horse from its uncomfortable position, and in a short time it was got clear, apparently none the worse for its misfortune.

There will be numerous opportunities of taking a run into the country to-morrow, special trains being advertised to run at various times during the day. Two Quadrille Assemblies are announced to take place to-morrow evening, one at the Odd-Fellows' Hall, to which the admission will be five shillings, and the other at Mr C. King's Assembly Koom, the fee to admit to which will be half-a-crown.

The Caledonian Society's gathering will be held to-morrow as usual in the picturesque valley of the Maitai. Keen competition for many of the events may be looked for.

The Loyal Mansion of Peace Lodge will hold their annual ball at the Choral Hall, Wakefield, to-morrow evening. In Sydney harbor last week a boy named Burloss, wuile bathing in shallow water, was attacked by a shark, which took one foot off aud stripped the leg completely down from the knee. The shark made a second attack, but the boy was dragged out of the water and taken to the Infirmary. The leg had to be amputated.

Between the time of locking up the parish church at Kaiapoi, Canterbury, on Saturday, and reopening ifc on Sunday, a number of the ornaments, including a brass cross, were surreptitiously removed. The articles token away include some which the vestry peti-

tionedthe Bishop to cause to be removed, aud were the property of tbe late incumbent, who allowed them to remain, pending the Bishop's action.

The following Sydney telegram, dated ' December 28, appeared in the Pott of Friday last: -The Torres Strait mail has arrived at Cooktown. — The Rev Mr Laws, a New. Guinea missionary, reports that rich gold" discoveries have been made in the interior of that country.— The natives are friendly to Europeans.— The west side of the island is suffering from drought.— Fires have taken place in the Manilla, where 200,000 dollars worth has been destroyed. — No rain has falleu in Batavia for nearly a year.— ln Sammatia the coffee crops are splendid.— The Chinese Government has purchased the Woosung railway in order to close it, as, although it is popular with the people and a faoancial success, it is unpopular with the Mandarins.

Every pang that racks the system is a mute entreaty for relief, on the part of Nature. Do not let us be deaf to her pleas tor help. Pains in the back and loins, languor, emaciation, muddy and unnatural coloured urine, indicate that the kidneys are dis ordered. As kidney disease, fully developed, is extremely perilous to life, it is all important that it should be battled with and overcome at the outset. Meet and subdue it in its earliest stages with Udolpho ■ Wo-GFB'B SOHIHDAM ABQHAT.O SOEnfAFPS.— Advt. "