The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 42, 18 February 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1879.

We learn that the Jackson Bay Commissioners, Mr Bunny, M.H.R., Dr Giles, P.M., and Mr Whitefoord. R.M., leave Wellington in the Stella at seven o'clock this eveniDg. They will arrive iv Nelson to-morrow morning, and after obtaining all possible information sail for the West Coast, probably on the following day. The hop season has already begun, at Stoke in the gardens of Mr A. Harley picking commenced yesterday. A harvest thanksgiving festival will be held at Christ Church to-morrow evening. Offerings of fruits and flowers wiil be received at the Church til! 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. The anniversary of the Wesleyan Sunday School will be observed to-morrow evening. After the anniversary tea, to take place in the schoolroom at 6 o'clock, there will be a public meeting in the Church, when several ministers and friends will deliver addresses. Ocr correspondent at Blenheim telegraphs as follows:— Mr Dillon's house at Leafield was completely destroyed by fire on Saturday evening. The house was not quite completed, but would have been so next week. It was iusured in the South British for £500, but over and above this Mr Dillon loses £500, and Mason, the contractor, £300. Adjoiciug the building was the old station house containing stores and furniture to the value of £SUO, which were not insured. Mr Dillon was absent at the time at Bank House station, five miles distant. The fire is unaccounted for.— Mr Beauchamp'B sawmills (late Suisted) at Clova Bay, Pelorus Sound, have been burnt to the ground. A team from the Naval Brigade proceeded in the Murray yesterday afternoon to Wellington, where they will fire a carbine match with the local Artillery some time during the present week. A close contest is expected. Mr Hursthouse, M.H R., invites his constituents to meet him at Upper Moutere on the 24th instant, and at Waimea West on the 25 th instant. A social gatheriug of the friends of Mr J. A McAllister, of the Telegraph Department here, meet last evening at Hostess Good's for the purpose of making a presentation to him on the eve of his departure for the Ahaura, where he has received instructions to superintend the postal and telegraph departments. The meeting, which was largely attended, was enthusiastic in every respect, and great regret was evinced by all present at the removal of an old and true friend. Our telegrams to-day announce that the Union Compauy'g steamship Taupo ran ashoie at the entrance to Tauranga harbor. More fortunate than the Taranaki this vessel ran upon a sand bottom, and no difficulty appears to have been experienced in landing the passengers and mails, whilst, the telegram proceeds to say, the ship is now being lightened of her cargo, and that hopes are entertained of floating her off at next full tide. The Union Company appears unfortunately to have entered upon a period of ill luck since their coastal steamers have ran up the east coast. The old west coast service was neglected as far as it possibly could be without being given up entirely to some local enterprising firm or company, in favor of _ what was said to be a more remunerative route on account of the tnanv new settlements on the East Coast, and also because of the supply of coal procurable. However, with two vessels ashore, one being a total wreck, within about two months, this route cannot have proved a most remunerative one.