The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 160, 4 July 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1878.

After we went to press yesterday there was no further evidence of importance taken at tbe inquest on the late fire. Mrs Ambrose Moore stated that she had smelt fire all the afternoon from four o'clock, but saw no smoke near the house; Charles Sharp corroborated bis father's evidence* but did not see the man of whom the latter spoke; George Garrett, gasfitter, stated that he removed tbe meter on the night of the fire, and saw tbat it registered the same^as in the Collector's book. After a short consultation the jury returned the following verdict:— " That the house was wilfully set on fire by some person or persons unknown to the Jury; to which they attached the following rider:— " Tbat we consider the system of insuring properties to the exorbitant extent to which it has been done in this instance is deserving of condemnation, both on the part of the [insurer and the Insurance Companies, especially the latter, it being a great incentive to incendiarism. The property which we have inspected to-day being old and rotten, could, in our opinion, be replaced for one-half the sum for which it wag insured."

A report of the pic-nic given yesterday to the pupils recently attending St. Mary's schools is unavoidably held over nntil tomorrow. Wa would call attention to an excellent speech made by the Governor last Monday on the occasion of opening the Wellington Working Men's Club, which will be found on the fourth page. One of the sailors of the Kentish Tax, while proceeding on board his vessel last evening in a stats of intoxication, fell into the water between the wbarf and the ship. His loud cries for help broftght some of the crew on deck, and a rope having been made fast to the half-drowned sailor he was safely pulled on board That sailor jvows that he will not drink any more Colonial beer. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the Insurance Companies are offering a reward of £200 for the discovery of the person or persons who set fire to Mr Watkins' house last Thursday night. We sincerely hope that the offer may have the desired effect. The San Francisco mail, usually go punctual, has not yet arrived at Auckland The Taranaki left Onehunga this morning, so that the Nelson portion of the mail will be brought down the East Coast to Wellington, and will probably he forwarded here by the Wellington arriving on Tuesday next. Wb accidentally omitted yesterday to notice the capital lecture delivered on the previous evening by the Rev. J. Beckenham, a gentleman who is always ready to assist those in distress. Tbe subject was "Uncle Tom" otherwise Josiah Henson, an old slave who recently visited England and was received by her Majesty the Queen. The horrors of slavery were graphically depicted and the large audience was kept {deeply interested for a couple of hours, hymns being sung at intervals by a number of children attending the Congregational Church. The proceeds amounting to nearly £12 are to be handed over to Mrs Barrer who lost her husband the other day and has been left with a large family.

The tender of Mr A. Brown for £789 16s for building a new school house in Toi-Toi Valley has been accepted. The other tenders were:— H. Plank, £831 lis; C. W Moore, £835; J. Scott, £860; Bethwaite and Robertson, £993. The half-yearly meeting of the members of the Loyal Nelson Lodge of Oddfellows was held last night, when the balance sheet for the six moiths ending June 30 was presented and showed a very satisfactory state of affairs. The auditors in their report expressed "much pleasure in noticing the gradual increase in the Sick and Funeral Fund," and congratulated the lodge thereon. This fund now amounts to £2384, showing an increase during the past six months of £115. The balance to the credit of the management fund waa stated to be £23. The following are the officers for the ensuing six months:— J. M'Eachen, G.M.; W. White, N.G.; W. Douglas, V. G.; and J. Bartlett, E.S. The anniversary of the Congregational Church Sunday School will be celebrated by the usual tea meeting this evening. We call attention to the advertisement in another place of the Young Ladies Boarding School, College Hill, under the management of Mrs Scott. The school premises have j ust been very considerably added to, making additional room for both boarders aud day pupils. The success wbich haa attended the school since its establishment in June 1877 affords the best evidence of the soundness of the principles upoa which it it conducted. Prospectuses giving full particulars may be had on application to the principal. The school duties resumes on Monday next. Female martyrs to kidney and urinary complaints are very numerous. The delicate organism of the gentler sex renders it far more susceptible to hurtful influences tban the hardier male system. For the various ailments peculiar to women as well as for the hysteria, pains in the back and loins, and nervous debility to which they give rise Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps.— Advt