Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 54, 4 March 1879, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1879.

In answer to a letter addressed to the Hon the Minister for Public Works by Mr Acton Adams, the following telegram has been received : — "In reply to your letter of the 27th ultimo, the Minister for Public Works directs me to state that reduction has been made in railway fares by the issue of single tickets for the return journey. The Government regret that no further reduction than this can be made.— W. W. Wekuy, Public Works Office." Yesterday the full fares were charged, and no doubt the public will appreciate the welcome reduction obtained for them by means of the above letter. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning the brothers Mulleu were charged with having been drinking somewhat too freely last night, and fined the usual amount with costs. The only civil case was that of Balme v. Rogers for £22 4s 6d, balance of account due. Mr Adams appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Pitt for the defendant. Plaintiff was Donauited with costs £2 2s. " — : At the Licensing Court this morning Mr Pitt, on behalf of Mr Clements of the Rising Sun Hotel, applied for his license to be transferred to George Jackson, but the matter was adjourned, as Jackson was not prepared to take possession until April. An application for the transfer of the license of the Ship Hotel from Mr Nicholls to Matthew Green waß granted. A special thanksgiving festival in recognition of the late abundant harvest will be held at Richmond to-morrow in connection with the Wesleyan Church. Mr Bay well has kindly thrown open his grounds for the purpose, and after the meeting, which commences at 3 p.m., tea will be served in a large marque at 5 o'clock. On reference to the railway time-table, it will be seen that trains are to be run at convenient hours for those wishing to attend. Among the immigrants by the ship Warwick were two rabbit-catchers, who came out with a number of ferrets and dogs, tinder engagement to a runholder at the Kaikouras, who is compelled to adopt this plan for ridding himself of the little pests which have become so numerous in that district. The remuneration they are to receive is 4s 6d per dozen skins at certain times of tha year, and 2s 6d at others. We promised those who attended the Theatre Royal last night that they would thoroughly enjoy the entertainment, and will undertake to say that not one of those who were present will be inclined to state to-day that the promise remains unfulfilled. Those who then saw " Our Boys " for the first time, as was the case with many, will cease to wonder at the tremendous run that this comedy had in London. Prom beginning to end it sparkles with humor, and throughout the whole of the two hours it occupies the audience are kept amused and interested. Of the acting we cannot Bpeak too highly. Mr Haygarth as the irascible bnt kindlyhearted retired butteroian, Mr Bede as the haughty Sir Geoffrey Champneys, Mr Delamane as the old butterman's son with new and expensive tastes aud habits, Mr O'Brien as the Lord Dundreary like Talbot Champneys, all were reniarkably good, and showed that careful study had made thera thoroughly at home in their respective parts-, the goodhearted, wide-awake, dirty-faced Belinda, the lodging-house slave}', found a charming repre&entative in Miss Lawrence, while Miss Marie Walton as the coquettish Mary Melrose, Miss Bell as her pretty but rather uppish cousin Violet, and Miss Beaumont as Clarissa Champneys acted their parts to the life, and won the hearts of all their numerous audience. The by-play, of which there is a large amount, was remarkably well done, and proved very telling, giving rise every now and then to hearty peals of laughter. " Our Boys " will be repeated tonight, and those who fail to witness it will, we can assure them, miss a real and most enjoyable treat. A teotjt, 26 inches in length, and weighing 7lbs, was caught by Mr Andrew yesterday evening, being the second above two feet taken by that gentleman within the last week. Any person (we have some crack shots here at present) shooting two or three cormorants—habitual poachers of the Maitai — would confer a great benefit on both fishermen and trout. One cormorant does more mischief than a whole synod of fishermen. One day in the early part of last week a party of seven Maoris started from Admiralty Bay for the purpose of fishing. When about a mile and a half from the shore a squall struck the boat and capsized her, and as she had ballast on board she immediately sank. Its occupants struck out boldly for the shore, and all reached it safely with the exception of one, by name Mokau, who be- \ came exhausted aud sank. Neither the body nor the boat have yet been recovered.