The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 223, 29 October 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1878.

The annual session of the Diocesan Synod will open to-morrow. Divine service will be held at Christ Church at 4-15 p.m., when the sermon will be preached by ihe Rev J. A. Newth. At 7.30 p.m. the Synod will meet in the Masouic Hall, when the Bishop of the diocese will deliver his opening address. Communication' with Europe is again interrupted, the Western Australian line being down beyond Port Augusta. Our readers are reminded of the dramatic entertainment at the Theatre Royal to-night when the Colleen Bawn will be pufc on the stage for the last time, the water cave being exhibited by lime light. Nelsox, we are glad to see, again stands lowest in the tabular monthly statement of the proportion of deaths to the 1000 of population in the seven principal boroughs of the colony. The highest is at Cbristchurch, where it was I -.34, in Nelson it was 075. The total number of deaths throughout the colony during the month of September was 99, the total of births 347. Messrs Levien and Buckeridge, who were appointed on behalf of the Insurance offices interested and Messrs N. Edwards and Co. to assess the damage done to the goods in the bonded store of the latter on the occasion of the late fire, have, we understand, sent in their report, fixing it at £480. The value of the goods in the store was between £4000 and £5000, so that a heavy ]oss has been avoided by the Brigade and the excellent supply of water at their command. Mr Cock, on behalf of the firm, has addressed a letter to Captain Lightfoot, thanking him and his men for the services they rendered, and enclosing a cheque for £20 for the members' fund. The traffic returns of the Nelson railway for the four weeks ending September 21st show a marked improvement upon the corresponding period of the previous year, the receipts being £453 5s lid against £.'353 17a 7d. The number of passengers has Jargely increased, and the goods traffic has swelled from 61 1 to 725 tons. The total receipts on this line for the current financial year, that is, since June 30, have been £1411, and the total expenditure £1192. The average to date for a twelve-months period has been, receipts per mile £305 17s lod expenditure per mile £258 9s 7d. The'percentage of expenditure to receipts ha 3 been 84-50. The A 7. Z. Times of yesterday says :— Wo understand that the Wanaka has been detained until Tuesday, in order to take down the Southern members. The East Coast members will leave by the Taranaki on Wednesday, and the Marlborough, Nelson Taranaki, and Auckland members will proceed home by the Hinemoa. These arrangements are of course liable to alteration in the event of the deadlock between the Houses not being removed. The N. Z. Herald says:— We inspected yesterday, in the Auckland Museum, a handsome block of true granite, which has been quarried at Collingwood, in the Nelson district, and presented by Mr Owen Jones. This stone bears a fine polished surface, and for purposes of ornament to stone buildings cannot but prove of considerable value. We are informed that there is an abundance of the same kind of material ia the place where this specimen was quarried. The particular block which we now refer to is not so well adapted to the finer kinds of carved work, but there is every reason to suppose that the quarries, if worked, will turn out stone of the best kind in considerable quantity. It is the most valuable stone we have yet seen in New Zealand, regarded as a product of the colony. The following telegrams appear in late Melbourne papers -.—London, October 8: The war with Afghanistan war commenced on the Ist inst. by an onslaught on the British troops, who won a brilliant victory. The Ameer's troops were completely routed, and the fortified frontier city of Alimusurd was captured. The British troops moved in strong force to attack, but the enemy was strongly posted and the battle lasted four hours. The enemy who are largely officered by Russians, lost largely. The British loss was slight. The Ameer, however, is undismayed by the repulse, and continues warlike preparations. The British are preparing to Eesume the advance, but the commissariat is defective, and seriously impedes operations.— Rnssian officers who have returned to Central Asia report a complete enten'e cordiale betwen Russia and Cabul.— Twelve thousand Russian troops on the frontier indirectly support the Ameer. — October 9 : The Christains, acting under the advice of ihe Russians, are emigrating en masse from the country betweeu Stamboul and Adrianople. — Fearful gales have been experienced oa the south coast of England. — October 10 : A powerful French ironclad fleet is fitting out for the East.— lt is believed that England, Prance, and Austria will bring pressure to bear upon Russia in order to compel her to observe the Berlin Treaty in j

regard, to ttoiVmeJk-Cctober 11: Further pa» ncniars have been received of the claims made by Russia in reference to the administration of the affairs of Roumelia, in accordance. Vritn the provisions of the San Stefano treaty. She desires to occupy Raumelia until the war indemnity is paid j that Bhtimlaj V'ipnn, Plevna! abet th's Tlirkisli ■ortrbiises aioiig the southern bank of the Danube, from the borders of Servia to the Black Sea, should be garrisoned by Russian troops. England is firmly opposed to these provisions being carried out.— New York, October 10: A serious railway accident with great loss of life, has occurred at Boston, U.S.. by which 150 persons were killed. — Ontario, October 10: The Australian cricketers played a two days match with twenty-two of Ontario, whom they heat by 21) runs.