The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 17, 19 January 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1878.

"F." writes that, of all the weeks he ever had the handling of, that which goes to join its brethren of the past at twelve o'clock tonight has in its barrenness and unfruitf illness been the most unsatisfactory. Dealing with it first as a whole he has, so to speak, squeezed it, and wrung it, turned it upside clown, aud inside out, but all to no purpose so far as his special requirements are concerned. Then he has adopted another course of treatment. He bus taken each day individually and separately, dissected and analysed it, fastened on to it like a Colorado beetle to a potato plant in the desperate endeavor to obtaiu some little amount of pabulum, no matter how small, but do what he would the result was the same, and so it happens that on this occasion his usual Saturday letter remains unwritten.

We were in hopes of beiug able to lay before our readers to-day a telegraphic report of the Queen's speech on opening Parliament, but owing to the overland line to Port Darwin being down no messages have been received for some days.

Thk Customs receipts for the weekending this day amounted to £637 12s 3d.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night when there were present the Mayor, and Crs. Everett, Webb, Gray, and Little. —ln reply to a letter from the Secretary of the Fire Brigade it was decided to forward two years' subsidy to the Brigade to be divided between the two as usual. — The chairman of the Public Works Committee was appointed to see Mr Jackson in reference to a letter from him requesting that the hours for ladies at the marine baths might be altered. — A request from the Friendly Societies that permission might not be granted to erect booths in the streets bordering on the Sports ground was acceded to. — A recommendation of the Finance Committe's report to the effect that Mr Wilkie's application for a refund of a portion of his wholesale spirit license bo refused was adopted. — The City Surveyor's report recommended that £20 be granted to Air Gilbertsou as compensation for the delay that occurred before he was allowed to commence his contract for erecting the baths. Agreed to.— Messrs Lightfoot, C. Bird, and Garrard were appointed Fire Inspectors, their duties being to take all such steps as may appear to them to be necessary for saving life or property at a fire, and to order buildings to be pulled down if required.— Cr. Gray called attention to the unsatisfactory and dangerous state of the approaches to the Normauby Bridge, which, he had heard, were to be left in their present condition. Cr. Webb endorsed what had fallen from Cr. Gray, and it was resolved that the City Surveyor should confer with'Mr Akersten on the subject — The Council then adjourned until Thursday, the 31st instant.

Ma GinERT, librarian of the Nelson Institute, informs us that he has now ready for circulation 85 volumeß of books just received by the "Adamant" from London. Another shipment is expected early in February by the " Celestial Queen." The Town Clerk notifies that all general rates and water rates must be paid by Wednesday next, after which date all that remain unpaid will be sued for.

Those who are desirous of making a very pleasant trip to Wellington at the regatta time will have ample opportunity afforded them of doing so by the steamers Wellington and Kennedy, which are advertised to run excursion trips at remarkably low rates. They will leave here on Monday evening and return on Wednesday. Mr. Bright delivered an interesting lecture on " Sabbath Observance " last night to an audience, which, though small, was most attentive. At its close, the lecturer stated his readiness to reply to any questions that might be put to him, but none were asked. To-morrow night he will lecture at 8 o'clock on "Creation by Evolution and its relation to Prayer." On Monday Mr Bright leaves for the South.

Mr. Sharp, M.H.R., invites the electors to meet him at the Provincial Hall on Wednesday evening next.