The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 102, 30 April 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1879.

TfaE Whitmore cum Waterhouse cam Hall correspondence, in wbich so many angry words were used, and such tall talking was indulged in, haa beea dragging out a lingering existence from the date at which tt commenced until the present time. Occasionally it would die away for days together, until people began really to hope tbat they had heard the last of it, when it would be revived in some unexpected manner, blaze up for a time, and then flicker itself out. With Mr Hall's explanation, wbich appears on our fourth page to-day, it is to be hoped that it is at length finally closed, and from that letter it will be seen that quite a fictitious importance has throughout been attached to the affair, and that a gigantic mountain has been made of a very minute molehill. Mr Waterhouse's passionate attack, Colonel Whitmore's quiet hhd dignified reply, and Mr Hall's explanatory letter when read together give some idea of how that oft-recur-ring phenomenon known as "a storm iv a teapot " may occasionally be produced. Wb understand that it is proposed to hold a Volunteer review on the Queen's Birthday in one of Mr Canning's paddocks, which be bas kindly placed at the disposal of the officer commanding the district for the occasion. The day's proceedings, however, will not be confined to a military display, for it is also intended to arrange a programme of sports which will prove an attraction both to competitors and spectators.

Mb. Reynolds, a dealer in works of art, who arrived here this morning from Australia, annonnces that he has a magnificent collection of pictures of every description now on view in the Masonic Hall from nine o'clock in the morning until ten at night. They are very highly spoken of by the press in otber parts of the colony, and a visit to the Masonic Hall will no doubt lead to what Mr Reynolds wants, an order for.some of the gems of his exhibition.

Many of our readers will learn with satisfaction from an advertisement which appears elsewhere that the Council have decided to reduce the price of gas by is 3d per 1000 feet to all who pay their accounts before the 14th of the. month, thus making the charge 12s lid instead of 14s 2d. The change will be a welcome one and we trust that the result will prove so satisfactory in leading to an increased consumption tbat ere long the Council will be able to see their way to making a still further reduction.

A meeting of the stewards of the late Agricultural Show was held at Richmond on Monday evening, when we understand that some dissatisfaction was expressed with ourselves for having stated that the Show was a failure. That it really was bo we do not for one moment suppose would be questioned even by the stewards themselves, but the opinion seems to have been expressed tbat it was undesirable to say so. With this we cannot agree. The admission of failure is very often the precursor of success. Let the stewards and ali who are interested in encouraging these Exhibitions — and in that category should be included every farmer in the district — set to work and ascertain why the Show of last Wednesday was so poor an affair, and having learned the cause endeavor to discover a remedy. That something far superior to the fiasco of last week can be secured we have no doubt whatever. If, however, we should we wrong in this assumption it would certainly be far better to have no Show at aIL

A New Plymouth telegram of Monday cays that a passenger by the s.s f Wellington,

for Auckland, who had been on shore during the stay of the vessel at that port, while returning in a cargo boat, leaped overboard while in a fit> but was saved.