The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 93, 18 April 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1878.

To-moseow being Good Friday there will be no publication of the Evening Mail. With to-day's issue we publish a supplement contaiuiDg a verbatim report of the speech delivered by Sir George Grey last night. The Premier, accompanied by the College Governors, paid a visit to the College this afternoon. In- reply to certain enquiries made by certain gentlemen of the Premier yesterday regarding the completion of the Buller road, he held out hopes that the work would be entered upon and completed at an early date. We predicted that all who attended the Premier's meeting last night would enjoj a treat such as does not often offer itself to a Nelson audience, and the event, it will be generally allowed, fully justified such a promise. Sir George is without doubt the most polished orator in New Zealand. He is fluent to a degree, as was shown last night when he spoke for an hour and a half without once hesitating or being afc a loss for the right word, possesses a pleasing voice and most taking manner, and is exceedingly happy in his illustrations, by which he drives well home that which he is most anxious to impress upon the minds of his hearers. Although extreme in his views all he had to say was completely devoid of anything in the shape of personality, and it must have been noticed by many last night that he never once referred to his opponents by name. With some portions of his speech we were quite^ unable to agree, but time does not allow of our commenting upon them to • day, and all we have to do now is to repeat that those who were present last night have reason to congratulate themselves upon having had the oppottunity of listening to our eloquent Premier, while those who were not must regret that they lost so rich and enjoyable a treat. The Premier, who, we are sorry to learn, is suffering from a severe headache, was this morning waited upon by Messrs White and Macmahon, the Chairmen of the Waimea and Motueka Koad Boards. The former called attention to the want that is so severely felt of a bridge over the Wairoa river, and also to the great drain upon the funds of the Waimea Road Board caused

by the maintenance of the numerous bridge nnd their approaches in tne district. He • tl°Jt fit, 1 ' 6 tb ol?Se nuis^ lce > an^ Sli&tfGsfced that some measure should beintrottuicßd for the purpose Gf compelling landowners to keep .the roads bordering upon tneir properties clear 5f gorse. Sir George promised that the bridge should receive at tehlion as soon as the loan was foliated. He also stated that he proposed to place on the Estimates a sum of money for the Boad Boards for the maihtehabbfe of bridges which would plifte "ttteni in at least as good a position in that respect as they were prior to the abolition of the provinces. He expressed an opinion that it should be clearly laid down that property holders having gorse fences should be compelled to keep down the Fobs *? t &\™ ad * b * whicii ttie > wer e bounded. Mr White also called attention to the existing railway regulations respecting children attending schools, which prevented any who were more than sixteen years of ase travelling at the reduced rates. Sir George fp* commended Mr, White 15 write to Mr Lpnyersy th)e engineer for constructed railways in this island, on the matter, and provided he did not receive a favorable replr to place himself in communication with himself. Mr Macmahou called Sir George Grey's attention to the fact that the money for completing the road over the range between Kiwaka and Takaka, although voted by the House, was not obtainable; Sir George promised that it should be forthcoming as soon as the loan was negotiated. Mr Macmahou also spoke of the delapidated state of the Motueka wharf; .suggesting that a new one, which would cost about £1000; ought to be erected, hut asking that in the meanwhile £50 should be granted for the purpose of making the present one safe for traffic. Sir George said that a new one could certainly not be undertaken until the new loan was negotiated, and recommended Mr Macmahon to write to Mr Macandrew, the Minister for Public Works, asking him for the £50, and using his (Sir George's; name. The deputation then left. _ After the meeting last night, a deputation from the City Council waited upon the Premier for the purpose of asking that the prison labor might be placed at the disposal of the Council ; that a grant might be made to the Corporation of the Maitai and Brookstreet river beds, or that some measure might be introduced into Parliament for vesting the management of them in the City Council • that a branch line in connection with the Port railway might be made from Saltwater Bridge to Trafalgar-street north ; that an early reply might be forwarded by the Government to the letter enclosing the by-laws recently passed by the Council. Sir George desired that these requests might be put into writing, and promised that they should receive the earliest attention. This was done to-day by Cr Everett, in the absence of the Mayor, and forwarded to Sir George at once. The annual tea meeting in connection with the Spring Grove Wesleyan Church will take place to-morrow, commencing at 5 o'clock. A special train will leave there for Nelson at eight. A meeting of those interested in the fine sport of coursing will be held at the Star and Garter Hotel, ou Saturday at six p.m. which will allow town residents to return to Nelson by the evening train. We regret to learn that a serious fire occurred at Wakefield this morning, resulting in the total destruction of Mr Gurrin's bakery and shop, near the railway station. With the strong wind that was blowing at the time it was scarcely possible to save anything, and the fire very soon made a clean sweep of the building and its contents. The origin of the fire is not known as far as we are able to learn. The house was insured in the Standard for £300. Telegraphic communication with Europe is again interrupted, the land line being down to the north of the Charlotte Waters. The Volunteers will start for the encampment this evening at half-past seven. In reply to the request of Major Pitt, free passes on the railway have been granted to the Volunteers. The Nelson College is about to send a team to Wellington to play a cricket match with the Collegians of the Empire City. We trust that, the youngsters will be as successful with the hat and ball as were their Beniora, at whose hands the Wellington cricketers sustained so decided a defeat in the early part of the week. We call attention to the illustrated lecture to be delivered at the Temperance Hall this evening by Messrs Wilkins and Cowles, the subjects of which will be "An hour with African explorers" and "Jessica's first prayer." Mr. Bubrkll announces that luncheon tea, and sweets of all kinds may be obtained at any time at his booth on the encampment ground, also that he will have a supply of hot coffee ready for the Volunteers on their arrival there this evening. When four thousand disinterested physicians certify to the excellence of an in- ' yigorative stimulant, sceptics as to efficacy— if there be any—might as well retire to " a back seat." Such an indorsement carries conviction to the mind of all rational persons. The above number of medical men have, over their own signatures, most emphatically confirmed the popular verdict long since rendered in, favor^of Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps. — Advt.