The Aelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY. JULY 16,1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 168, 16 July 1879, Page 2

The Aelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY. JULY 16,1879.

Our telegrams again inform us, this time "definitely," that Mr Seymour is to walk over for the Chairmanship of Committees Notwithstanding (heir professions of " gracefully withdrawing " their opposition to Mr Seymour's election, the Government have within the last day or two been allowing their names to be used as supporters of Mr Bryce's candidature, and would, no doubt, have been very glad to show their strength by carrring his election, but that gentleman, it appears, distinctly declines to be nominate-.! as their candidate, so that their last hope of achieving a victory at this election has vanished Mr Bryce, we may add, is one of the Ne>o ZeatanHer'a " pronounced supporters "of the Government The salary attached to the office of Chairman of Committees is £500 a year. At the Magistrates' Court to-day, before Messrs H. E. Curtis and Joseph Mackay, J.J.P., the Bishop of Nelson was fined 5s and costs for allowing his horse to stray on the road— ln the case of Packer v. Higgios, judgment summons for £4 10s, an order was made for payment in a fortnight, or a month's imprisonment. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiff. A toung man named Edward Arnold was arrested to-day by Detective Ede on a warrant from Blenheim tor stealing a saddle, the property of Mr Scott, a baker, of that place. He will be forwarded to Blenheim by the Wellington this afternoon. Europkax telegrams to the 4th inst. will be found elsewhere. They were brought to Port Darwin by steamer last night. Mr. and Mrs Fritz's miscellaneous entertainment, containing many items which should prove attractive, .will be given at the Masonic Hall to-night. There was a numerously attended meeting of the parishioners of Christ Church last night in the Shelbourne-street schoolrom. The chair having been taken by the Rev. J. Leighton, the Incumbent, the Churchwardens read the balance-sheet for the year, which showed the finances of the Church to be in a most satisfactory condition. The offertories for the past year amounted to £377, of which £59 were for special purposes, and the pew rents to £239, including a certain amount of arrears that were owing at the commencement of the year. Several outstanding .debts had beeu paid, repairs had been made to the Parsonage premises, water had been laid on to the Church, all the current accounts for the year had been paid, and there was a balance in the Bank of £9 9s. The balance sheet was adopted on the motion of Mr H. I). Jaslf.9PJl 4 .5'.1lo o gaJi^JijL a .5 Ji SUl?t be asource of man and the congregation to find the finances of the church in so satisfactory a state. Th« Rev Mr Leighton then nominated Dr Scaly as his churchwarden, and Mr Dodson was unanimously re-elected the people's churchwarden. The election of seven Vestrymen then took place. Twelve names were proposed, and the following were elected by ballot :— Messrs A. Jones, A. Moore, P. Cooke, H. D. Jackson, Hunter Brown, F. J. Blundell, and J. R. Mabin. Messrs C'resswell and White were appointed auditors for the ensuing year. In the election of three Diocesan Synodsraen the meeting was unanimous, Messrs Scaly, A. Jones, and Hunter Brown being returned. A vote of thanks to the organist and members of ;the choir was carried by acclamation, several of those present expressing their gratification at the manner in which the musical portions of the service were conducted. Votes of thanks were also passed to the Churchwardens, aud to the reverend chairman. The New Zeulander, in telling off the members of the House the other day, classified them under the heads of " Pronounced supporters of the Government," " Pronounced Opponents," and " Doubtful." In the latter class Mr Brandon's was the first name to appear. Since then we have received our Wellington exchanges containing a report of Mr Brandon's meeting with his constituents, which shows that his speech throughout was condemnatory of the Government, and, as though this was not sufficient, among the first of the questions and answers we find the following:— " Mr Smith: If a vote of want of confidence is proposed in the present Government, would you vote for it? Mr Brandon : Most certainly I should." We should have thought that this was plain enough speaking to entitle Mr Brandon to a place among the members of "pronounced " opinions. If there are many more " doubtful " ones of the Brandon stamp, the outlook for the Ministry must be gloGtny indeed. The Waiau correspondent of the Marlborough Express writes:— l dare say the figures at which some of the big properties in the Waiau are assessed may be of some interest to your readers. Cheviot Hills, the property of the Hon. William Robinson, as a matter of course, heads the list. It comprises about 88,000 acres of fraehold, and is valued with improvements at £314,780, less improvements, £260,000; Mount Parnassus, gross amount, £74 611, nett amount, £64,000; Lyndon, nett amount, £82,000. Balmoral' nett amount, £50,000 ; Leslie Hills, nett amount, £42,000; Montrose, nett amount, £32,000. Mr John Macfarlane's properties are valued in the gross at about £130,000. As I have not the figures by me I forget what St Leonards, Higbfield, and some of the other big properties are assessed at. I may mention that Mr Robinson owns somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 acres in Canterbury, which are not included in the Cheviot Hills valuation. There is a general opinion that all the properties have been over valued. Referring to the recent disturbance among the Maori prisoners in Wellington, the Chronicle says : — These prisoners will cost a good deal during the three months that they are awaiting trial. AHowiug for the cost of guarding them, and their maintenance in food, &c, they will cost the colony £1 per week for each man. With 100 men in prison for twelve weeks, there will be an outlay of £1200 before they are even brought to trial. Mr Mackay has received carte blanche to make efficient arrangements for the safe custody of the prisoners, and has all day been busily so employed." A Titnaru telegram of yesterday says : Terrible acconnts of fearful weather in McKenzie country have reached town. Many persons have urdergone fearful sufferings, and have narrowly escaped with their lives. Save your money by going to F. J. Kingston's and purchasing your good at greatly reduced prices during his annual stocktaking sale, ending on the 31st July. Salt butter and bacon wanted in exchange.— Adv?.