The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 137, 10 June 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1879.

The management of the Hospital was today handed over by the Committee, to whom for some years past the public have been indebted for their services, 'to the new Committee, composed of members of the City Council and Waimea County Council. The gentlemen who have devoted ao much of tbeir time to supervising this institution appear to have been treated in the most discourteous manner by the Government, who not only have not in any way acknowledged their services, but have actually neglected to write and inform them of the approaching change in the management, the only intimation they had received of it being through a letter addressed by the UnderSecretary to Dr. Boor. The following is a summary of the proceedings of the old Committee prior to handing over the control to thew snccegaors ;— The Under-Secretary's

fetter , of tho 4th inst. to Dr. Boor, informing him .that the .management of the Hospital nag, been , handed over to (i joint Committee, appointed hy the Waimea County Council and City Council, and asking them to give the new Committee every assistance, &c., was read. - His Worship the Mayor, on behalf of the new Committee, laid ou the table the Under Secretary's letter to the Town Clerk, dated June 4lh, informing them of the change in the management, which is to date from tbe Ist instant.— After consideration, and notwithstanding the omission of the Government to inform the Committee of the charge which it appears has been decided upon, it was tesolVed to hand over the tttagagfeme&t to the tiew Committee this morning.--It was further resolved to send to the Government a copy of the niloutefi relating to the change ia the manageriienfc, go that they may be informed df the transfer having bfeen hiade.— The haraes oi ihe tearing Committee are, Dr ftenwick, Messrs Barnicoat, Greenfield, Sclanders, and the Mayor for the time being The new Committee is composed of ;the following gentlemen :— The Mayor, 'Messrs Everett and Levien on behalf of the City Council, and Messrs Barnicoat, Macmahon, and Shephard as representing the Waimea County Council. The Volunteer Ball, which takes place on Friday evening, promises to be a great success. The tickets are ,going off rapidly, and it is anticipated that there will be a larger number present at this ball than in any previous year. The Provincial Hall will be tastefully decorated for the occasion, while the music will be of the Very best description. The Committee will meet at the Nelson Hotel at eight o'clock to-night. The new 9 from New Plymouth to-day is of a rather more reassuring*- character tban it has been of late. The prompt action taken by the Government in sending forces on to the ground aud arming the local volunteers is said to be producing a healthy effect, and has induced the Maoris to consider their position and to ask themselves what they have been doing of late. Miss Fidleb's cookery lesson at the Masonic Hall last night was very numerously attended, and all who were present admitted that they had done well in taking advantage of the opportunity afforded them of increasing their acquaintance with so very useful a branch of knowledge. The lessons will be continued on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and evenings. At the Magistrates' Court to-day before R. Pollock and G. Gillow, Esqs., J.J.P., William Rowe was charged with assaulting Lucy Hannah Mercott with intent to commit rape. Mr Acton Adams appeared for tbe complainant, and Mr Runny for the defendant. The case was heard with closed doors. The offence appears to have been of a trivial nature, and the case was dismissed, the Bench remarking that there was no evidence even of an indecent assault. An information, we understand, has now been laid gainst the same defendant for a common assault. The captain's inspection of the City Rifles takes place this evening at half past seven. A meeting in aid of foreign missians will be held in the Wesleyan Church at Richmond to-morrow evening, when addresses will be delivered by the Revs. R. Bavin and W. Rowse and others, the chair being taken by Mr Cock. Volunteer E. Smith, of the Dunedin City Guards, who took part in the late Rifle Association meeting and who left for England last month, intends taking part at Wimbledon meeting. The doings of this young Colonial marksman in the Home Country are sure to be looked for with considerable interest. A late Melbourne telegram to the Post says:— The intercolonial coasting trade has declined so seriously that the Australian Steam Navigation Company have laid up seven of their largest steamers. Those boats wbich still continu running are hardly paying their working expenses. The Melbourne Company are known to be running their steamers at a positive loss. Ifc is not probable that any revival of trade will take place before tbe next wool season. Tbe Australian Steam Navigation Company have reduced the salaries of their employees by 15 per cent , and have discharged many of their officers The following special London telegrams appeared in the Post :— Disastrous floods have occurred in Italy through the overflowing of the Po, and iv Russia where the Dwina and other rivers, swollen by the melting of the winter snows, have again broken their bounds. Vast tracts of country bave been submerged, bridges have been swept away, and large numbers of the inhabitants have been rendered homeless. Considerable destitution is prevailing in consequence, and steps are being taken to relieve the distreds. —A very extensive strike has occurred among the ironworkers of St. Petersburgh. Owing to their demands as to wages and hours of work not being acceded to by their employers, they turned out en masse, and no fewer than 30,000 of them are now out on strike. Tbe works bave, consequently, had to be closed, and the iron industries of the city are at a stand still. The Picton Press sayst—Late on Saturday evening a robbery of some magnitude was reported to the police. For obvious reasons a considerable amount of reticence is displayed over the affair, but the following we believe to be correct. Oa Friday evening a small Chinese work-box was seen safe at the owner's residence, Mr Cullen's, Mahakipawa. On Saturday it was discovered the box was missing with and it £72 in cash, a copy of the late Mr Cullen's will, and some other articles of no great intrinsic value. The money consisted of notes, gold, and silver, amongst the latter being a quantity of three-penny pieces. The police, both here and at Havelock, were quickly on the alert, but in the absence of suspicion they have some difficulty in forming an opinion by whom the robbery was likely to have been committed. Such an occurrence is rare hereabouts, and it is possible that a little delay may take place in the apprehension of the offenders.