The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 204, 26 September 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1878.

It is high time that the City Council took some step to test the [validity of their bylaws, which are invariably held up to ridicule whenever a solicitor is employed for the defence in cases in which informations are laid under them. From the peculiar way in which some of them are worded this is not to be wondered at, the phraseology being such that, if not unintelligible, they are at least open to a double meaning. Ifc is not fair to the Inspector of Police to expect him to enter the lists against counsel in a legal argument, and the Council might out of the tines imposed under their by-laws fairly afford to engage a solicitor to endeavor to prove their legality. The police hare received a telegram from Motueka stating that Frank Akersten, nephew of Mr W. Akersten, is supposed to have been drowned on Tuesday evening. He was employed in the ketch Phoenix, which was loading io the Moutere river with ballast for the Helen Denny, and went out in the dingy to put down a kedge as the vessel was dragging, and it is supposed that the boat must have capsized. No further particulars are to baud. A letter received by the mail to-day, dated London, 15th August, states that at that time there was no hope of Mr John Syuions' recovery .from the illness by which he was attacked, and which was pronounced to be a case of collapse from over work, the heart being affected. This was thirteen days previous to his death. The Harmonic Society's quarterly concert takes place at the Provincial Hall this evening. It will consist of miscellaneous selections, and a very pleasant evening may be anticipated. The Fire Brigade's annual dinner will be held iv the Masonic Hall this evening. Where were Mr Sharp and Mr Eaigent on Tuesday night when the division took place on the Tapanui railway job which even Mr Stout, a member of the Ministry, was unable to defend, but which was condoned by a subservient House. Ifc is well that our representatives should understand that they are being closely and jealously watched by their constituents, aad that no light reason will be accepted as a sufficient excuse for their neglecting to show a determined and persistent front against a Government which is seeking to inflict so grievous au injury upon Nelson as is the present one. A compact hody of men in the House, however small, may make themselves felt if they show that they are resolved upon every occasion that offers steadily to vote in one particular direction. One of these occasions was the division on Tuesday night. Bishop Abraham writes as follows to the Evropean Mail :~" The task of writing Bishop Selwyn's life having been intrusted by the family to the Key W. 11. Tucker, and he having kindly undertaken it, I am authorised by them to request any persons who may have letters from the Bishop in their possession, and are willing to part with them for the purposes of ' the Life,' to send them to me as soon as possible."