The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue XIII, 21 August 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1878.

An extract from an American paper showing some of the results of farming in California supplies certain items of information that should prove encouraging to those who advocate that the Jam and Fruit Preserving Company which it is proposed to establish in Nelson should extend its operations to the cultivation of fruit trees. The advantages of fruit culture over corn growing are shown to he so great as to be almost incredible, but we publish the results as stated, giving them in psuuds sterling instead of dollars. The net results to the owners under the respective headings are as follows:— Fi ve acres of prune and plum orchard, eight years old, for one season, crop yield, £250; two acres of Bartlett pears, from trees twelve years old, £250---two acres of prunes, dried and packed in boxes ready for market, from trees eight yearaold,£lß7 I0s ; strawberries in large fields £52 Is 8d per acre. These are considered fair averages in a good year. Tiie following net returns per acre are also given :—BJackberries. £ioi 3s 4d; grapes, eight years old, £62 103; cherries, eight years old, £62 10s; currants and raspberries, £62 10s; apples, choice, eight years old, £62 10s; pears, ordinary qualities, £51 10s; peachas, extra good yield, £62 lOs. Contrast these with the graiu and hay returns per acre, which are given in the following figures:— Wheat' one ton, good yield, £6 6s ; barley, one and a half tons, £6 ss; hay, three tons, £4 3s. If results such as these are to be obtained in Nelson, fruit culture carefully and systematically carried out should prove one of the most lucrative of our local industries. Cor readers are reminded of the entertainment to be given by the Raphael Family at the Masonic Hall this evening. A comjiitteb meeting of the City Rifles was held at the Nelson Hotel last evening, Captaiu Bunny in the chair. After several matters in connection with the Company had been disposed of it was resolved on the motion of Sub-Lieut. Hammond, seconded by Lieut. Adams, That Captain Bunny write to Captain Marshall expressing, on behalf of the corps, how deeply they sympathise with him in the misfortune he has met with, and their regret on learning that his sufferings from the effects of his accident are so great. The question of giving a dramatic entertainment in aid of the funds was also discussed, and the further consideration of the matter adjourned until Tuesday evening next. ° Wb reported yesterday the proceedings at a meeting held on Monday, at Richmond, for the purpose of forming a local Eire Brigade. We now learn that Captain Lightfoot, who takes a deep interest in these matters, has with his wonted energy made arrangements for the Nelson Brigade to visit Richmond with their engine on Friday night for the purpose of inaugurating the new Brigade. A special train will leave town at half-past six, starting from Richmond on the return at ten o'clock, and ie is hoped that the public generally will take part in the affair There is to be a great display, and the train will be illuminated both going and returning with torches and colored fires. During the evening an alarm will be sounded] the locality of the supposed fire will be indicated by a red light, and the Brigade will show their country friends how speedily a trained body of men like themselves can concentrate on a given spot and get to work with their engine. We trust that the inauguration of the new Brigade will prove as great a success as is anticipated. Tub leading members of the Young Men's Christian Association appear to be taking an active interest in the welfare of the young men of Nelson. On Sunday night lastjaf ter the Church services, an Evaugeliatic service was held in the Reading Room of the Association, which was crowded, and several took part in the proceedings. Last night in the Provincial Hall the first of a series of lectures was given by the Rev. J. Beckenham, the subject by request being " Uncle Tom," which was received with applause by the audience almost all through the lecture, and certainly the way in which it was handled justified the the hearty vote of thanks accorded to Mr Beckenham on the motion of Mr Hadfield, and seconded by the Secretary, Mr H. T. Thompson. Mr Trippleton replied to a vote of thanks to the choir, who rendered gome very pleasing selections from Sankey's collection. The meeting closed with a vote of lliauks proposed by the ' lecturer, seconded by Mr R. Jenkins, to J. Woodward Esq., of Wellington, who kindly consented to occupy the chair. The Theatre Royal was but moderately attended on the occasion of Mr Thornton's dramatic entertainment last night. The difficulties to be surmounted in putting such a piece as Don Cteaar de Bazan on the stage must have been very great indeed.nevertheless Mr Thornton may be congratulated on theataountofsuccess he achieved. He himself represented the hero remarkably well, and assumed with great zest the character of the rollicking, jovial, boon companion, and, at the same time brave soldier who appeared to be as fearless of death as he was careless of life. Miss Amy Thornton made a charming Mantana, and acted with much spirit and considerable feeling, especially in the last scene with Don Cajsar, prior to the exposure of the plot of the crafty Don Jose, who

was well represented by a gentlemafi who ha 3 only appeared onde before on a • Nelson stagej but .has cfertainly" rndde nim^lf most popular with bid audieUces. The Marquis of 6antarein was scarcely up to his usual mark • of his iovely marchioness we can otiljr say that to be f (illy appreciated She must be seeh't any Words that #c tiouid Use' would do her but scant justice. The part of Lazarillo was taken by ayounglady whomade her first appearance at the opening of the new theatre, and the other characters were more or less fairly sustained by amateurs. The scenery, much of which was quite new, reflected very great, ptedit upon Mr Thorntou, the ai-fislj- atad ,111*2 flosses" were $ost rjch and viined, indeed we had no idea that there was such a repertoire in Nelson. In the burlesque that followed the audience were kept in fits of laughter from the rise to the fall of the curtain. Miss Amy Thornton, as Captain Charlie, was the life of the piece, sang well, got through her love-making, which under the circumstances was not easy, in a most creditable manner} and was throughout a§ full of tricks at) a inOhkey'; Mary, the fascinating little fairy, -was delightful', but to attempt to describe her many charms would be as futile as were her admirer's endeavors to encompass her waist with his tiny arms. Some of the scenes between Sir.Garton (Mr Thornton) and Toddy were ludicrous to a degree; sihd were, ptotocative of incessant laughter. Mr Oakey presided at the piano with his customary ability. The performance will be repeated to-night.