The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 276, 28 November 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1878.

The Horticultural Show was brought to a close last uight when there wa3 again a good attendance. It is much to be regretted that there are not a larger number of exhibitors on these occasions, and it in certainly a matter of surprise that the professional gardeners do not avail themselves more than they do of the opportunity of showing the products of their gardens. That they should allow an amateur regularly to walk off with the prizes , almost without a contest is one of those thiDgs which are not easy to be understood. It would be more encouraging too for those who take an active interest in the matter if the residents ia the country were to become more frequent exhibitors'. In the vegetable,, if not in the flower, department they might, we feel sure, successfully compete against their town friends. One suggestion we should like to make, namely, that instead of opening the Show for two consecutive days at this time of the year, there should be one day now, or perhaps a week or two earlier, and another at a later period when the fruits - which are too late for the spring, and too early for the autumn show might be exhibited. In order to increase the number of exhibits and so to add to the attraction of the shows it might be worth while to consider the advisibility of setting aside a portion of the room for gardeners to display plants and other greenhouse and garden products^ not as competitors for prizes but as being for sale, and for this 'privilege a smHllcharge might be made for the benefit of the Society's f undsi That these Shows are most popular among the sight-seeing portion of the puMic is proved beyond all doubt on every occasion on which they are held. What is wanted is to induce no ore. exhibitors to come forward, and this is a matter that is well worthy of , the consideration of the members and especially of the Committee. Satubday next being St. Andrew's Day will bq observed by the Banks as a holiday. There is likely to be a sharp contest for the seat in the House of Representatives about to be rendered vacant by the resignation ot Mr Sharp, as Mr Pitt, we understand, as well a3 Mr Acton Adams, intends to become a candidate. Either will make an excellent representative, and Nelson will be fortunate in having two such men to select ' from. A meeting of the Railway Committee was held yesterday afternoon, when it was pointed out by Mr Shephard that the Government being in possession of the working ; surveys made by Mr Roehfort, nothing more ' than office work was necessary to prepare j the specifications of the thirteen miles exten- I sion from Foxhill. It was resolved, «• That ! his Worship the Mayor be requested to write i to the hon the Minister for Public Works ' enquiring when it was intended to call for ', tenders for the extension of the Foxhill : railway, for which appropriation was made last session." ■ ; * a. . Wb would remind our" readers that the '• share list in the Kempthorne and Frosser Drug Company will close on Saturday heist: Several of our theatrical amateurs intend giving a dramatic eutertainment on Tuesday next for the benefit of Mr Glover, himself an amateur aqtor of considerable ability*, who has never failed to come forward and give his services in the cause of charity. We hope to see the bumper house which the performance and the object of it deserve. ■ ' We find the following =in the August number of « The Practitioner: a journal of Therapeutics and Public Health " :— << Sew ; Zealand, particularly Nelson and some parts of the North Island, is admirably suited for chronic lung cases. The climate ia' warm and sunny, without being so intensely hot as Australia, and the winter has many beautiful days on which the most delicate invalid can take outdoor exercise. Nelson has. perhaps the most charming climate in the world; it is almost too fine. The town itself is not so healthy as it should be, owing to the presence i of a huge muddy shore, ou to which theiown ' sewage is distributed.. The consequence .'iof ; this is of course a good deal of enteric fever. ; But the port and the suburbs generally' ate ; unexceptionable., The scenery is exquisite and the town itself, viewed from the neighboring hills, looks like a large garden studded with buildings. The auctioneer's well-known deserjption;applies literally to Nelson. Thei great objections to it are " tlie'litter if th'e rose leaves and the, songs of the nightin- ' galea." The' hedges are commonly forraea of a small double rose, not the common dog ! rose. Vinea abound, orange and lemon trees ' flourish, and every fruit of temperate climates grows; most abundantly. Peaches' are so common that they are used to feed pigs with- they will not even pay for gathering. There is plenty of , good society if the' visitor can bring a few good letters of introduction. Several retired officers of the army and navy reside in the neighborhood.- The North Island of New Zealand should be selected as a residence; any other part of the Middle Island than JNelson would be too cold in winter, and exposed to biting winds coming from the mountains.', The following special telegrams appeared in the Post of Monday .—General Kauffman, the Russian commander on the Afghanistan frontier, has forwarded to the Ameer Shere Alia costly sword, accompanied: by a eulogistic address.— The column moving from Quettah has pushed the enemy! back from all their positions, and has pecupied Kushtak without opposition.— On the 14th inst. the British forces made an assault upon Ali Musjid, and after a sharp straggle carried the fortress by storm.— A large quantity of arms, ammunition, and stores was found in the fort and captured.— The British troops are steadily advancing into the enemy's country .—Ali Musjid was stormed in a most gallant style by the Anglo-Indian forces. Major Birch and Lieutenant,Fitzgerald were killed in the action. Forty ©f the Sepoy soldiers in the British forces were killed and wounded. The assault was a brilliant affair, carried out ini a very quick and decisive manner. j A most exciting contest ! fo£ the Mayoralty! of Wellington haa recited in the return of Mr Dransfield by a , majority of only two i votes out of the 1477 polled over his opponent Mr Hatchisop. Toe numbers 'asai j

•first reported were, for Mr Dransfield ?4pi for Mr Hutchison 737, but a subsequent; scrutiny showed that the majority for Sir, Draflsffeid was only two instead of threej ;The Evening Chioniele has fought a hard 1 fight in this election, and very nearly Slid-' eeeded against heavy odds. The Chronibls Supported Mr Mutchisou, and against it Were arrayed the Post, the 1 (tiles, &hA the Neiv Zealander, all of which were in favor of Mr Dratt&fielcl. A coRRESPONDENf gencls U9 ttje flowing from Richmond:— "At about eight o'clock ou Tuesday night thunder cduld be heard in the far distance, accompanied by brilliant flashes of sheet lightning towards the west. The storm was travelling at auch a rale that In about twenty minutes or half ttn hout*s time the centre of it appeared to be parsing', over Richmond. The scene at ihU tittle may be truly said tb be awfuL The dashes appeiked like largo balls of fire about a" mile to the we&fc of the township; followed 1 for a second or two by inky darkness, wheti yoit could hear, as it were, immense projectiles passing high overhead and striking the hills to the east with a second flash. The storm at first went from west to east, and then seemed to return. Mr. Richmond Hursthouse will address the electors of Motueka on Wednesday evening next.