The Nelson Evening Mail.l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue XIV, 2 April 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail.l WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1879.

The unfortunate individuals who with a view to bettering their condition by leaving New Zealand and other places for ihe Palmer diggings must be bitterly repenting the step they then took. Fever and famine appear to be prostrating the population, among whom the misery that prevails must be such as is difficult to realise by those who are living in good health and in the midst of plenty in this favored land.

We have been shown to-day the plans of the new Public Hall which it is proposed to build at the junction of Russell-street with the Port Road. It is to be 55 feet deep, and 24 feet wide, with 15 feet studs. From the drawing of the elevation there is every reason to believe that in addition to being a very useful building it will be an ornament to the neighborhood.

The Customs receipts, for the Port of Nelson, for the month ending the 31st March, 1879, amounted to £2763 23 2d made up as follows:— Spirits, £632 14s 2d; cigars, £12 6s 6d; tobacco, £302 Is 3d; wine' £68 15s 9d; ale, £49 12s; tea, £216 9s 10d' coffee, £31 7s; 6Ufjar, £293 15s 4d; goods by weight, £93 4s 2d; ad valorem, £731 19s lld; gold, £131; other receipts, £129 5s 6d: other duties, £70 10s lld.

At the Brightwater Court to-day there were but two cases heard. Tomlinson v. Corder.— Action to recover £13 ss, rent of a cottage. Mr Percy Adams appeared for the plaintiff. Judgment for amount claimed and costs, to be paid £5 down, and the balance at the rate of £2 per month. Rutherford and Newth v. Kearns.— Action to 'recover £12 3s for flour supplied. Defendant did not appear. Judgment for amount claimed and costs, to be paid in a month. .At the Magistrates' Court this morning, before R. Pollock and A. J. Richmond, Esqs.' J.J.P., several individuals were fioed in the' usual amount for allowing horses and cattle to stray, and George Thompson £ I and costs for allowing his chimney to take fire on the 24th March. — Henry Collins was charged with using threatening language to Jane Perara. The offence was admitted by Mr Pitt, who appeared for the defendant, who was ordered to be bound over to keep the peace for three months, himself in £20 and two sureties of £10 each.— Richardson v. All port. Action to recover £9 19s 3d. Judgment for £4 4s and coats £ I 12s. Mr Atkinson appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Pitt for the defendant.— Cook v. Kemp. Action to recover £2 Is 4d for meat supplied. Plaintiff, who said the defendant was one of those fellows as never did pay, obtained judgment for the amount claimed and costs. When the late Henry Manning Moor was a resident in this town, he, by his pleasant genial style of writing, and by his general bonhommie, made numerous friends, amongst whom ho was always welcome. Many of of these, we feel sure, only require to be told that bis widow and family of little children are left in an almost penniless condition to induce them to render a helping hand. We shall be happy to receive and to forward to the widow any donations that may be left at this office. The unfortunate man Cornelius Hibberd, who met with the accident at Wakapuaka, as reported yesterday, lies, we are sorry to learn, in a perfectly hopeleas condition, the

spine having been injured so severely as to' preclude all chance of his recovery. He has a wife and eight. children; Mr Martin Sluiofasen; gjiys the Prktij Arrived in Christchurch {on Thursday, having come from Australia in tbe Rotorua en route to Safa Francisco and the United States. It is his intention to return with talent, either operatic^ dramatic, or of the variety type, of a quality superior, if possible, td any that has preceded.