The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 169, 17 July 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1879.

We understand that Mr Acton Adams has taken up his position on the Opposition benches, greatly to the chagrin of the Government whip, who had ticketed off a comfortably cushioned seat for him on the Ministerial side of the House. We hope to find that Mr Baigent may yet be brought to see what is good for his constituents, and to unite with his colleagues in the endeavor to eject a Ministry whose conduct towards this district has been scandalous in the extreme. Tiiehe was a very pleasant gathering at the Forest Inn on Tuesday night when the Mansion of Peace Lodge of Oddfellows held their annual dinner, to which about forty sat down. The chair was taken by Mr Joseph Shephard, and after the good things which were bountifully supplied by Host Smith had been disposed of, toasts and songs became the order of the evening, varied by the presentation to Mr R. M. Smith of a handsome watch, and to Mr Alfred Baigent of an elegant writing desk as a mark of the appreciation by the members of tbe Lodge of the services they had rendered during the past twenty years. Elsewhere will he fouud the list of the first division of the session, the question being that tbe debate on Mr Macandrew's proposal relative to direct steam communication with England be adjourned, or, in other words, shelved. The adjournment was carried by 38 to 28, but the division does not afford any indication of the relative srength of the two parties, as well known supporters, and even a member, of the Government were' found voting against Mr Macandrew. An entertainment under the auspices of the Good Templars will be given in the Temperance Hall to-morrow evening. The Secretary of the Waimea Road Board notifies that the Appleby bridge will be closed during tbe whole of next week. In our report of the All Saints* parish meeting the name of W. Crooke as a vestryman was accidentally substituted for that of T. C Crooke. Mr and Mrs Fritz gave their entertainment last night at the Masonic Hall , which was moderately filled : " Piggy " who according to tbe hand bills, forms so prominent an unit in the Company went through his performance with a praiseworthy amount of gravity and in playing euchre displayed tbe skill which seems common to all learned pigs. The remainder of the peformance consisted of singing and acting. There will be another entertainment to-night. The monthly meeting of the V.M.C.A will be held to morrow night at eight o'clock. Mr John R. Mabin reports sales Bank of New Zealand-shares at £18 10s. and Colonial Bank sbares 40s, cum dividend. National Insurance 17s 6d, and N. Z. Loan and Mercantile 70s. There was a largely attended meeting at the Congregational Church on Tuesday night to commemorate the anniversary of the Sunday school, Mr Talbot in the chair. Mr Lock, the Secretary, read the report which showed that there were 204 scholars on the roll, while the number of teachers was 26. The Bible classes conducted by the Rev. J. Beckenham and Mrs Beckenham were weli attended, as was that conducted by Miss Jane Short, the numbers of wbich had in one year gone up from 10 to 55. An address, accompanied by a handsomely bound bible, was presented to Miss Jane Short by a number of the pupils. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. A. J. Hamilton, R. Bavin, J. Beckenham, and Mr Rose, and a very pleasant meeting was brought to a close by the Rev. R. Bavin pronouncing the benediction, after votes of thanks to the Chairman and the ladies had been carried by j acclamation on the motion of Mr Smart. I

During the evening a number of hymns were very prettily sung by the children. . At a meeting of the Exhibition Coramissiouers held on Saturday, Dr. Hector pre- . sented an account for £36 ißa. Id. from tbe Westport Colliery Company, for a quantity j of coal which had been purchased for the , construction of n pillar of c.al at tbe j Exhibition. The amount was a heavy one, but the coal was the best iv the colony ; in fact, he thought it would take the first prize . against all the Australian coal Other companies bad sent in estimates for the same j work, which were considerably lower, but j the crml was not of such a superior quality. The Westport company had had great diffl- ' culty in geitiug this coal, but they would be . enabled to get it out cheaper shortly, by means of a tramway. Tbe account was ! passed for payment. i With reference to tbe fanciful classification of members of the House published in the New Zealander the other day, the Lhionicte says :— As to the prospects of the Ministry we can say very little. The New Zenlaider says " tbey have a good working majority." We decline to hazard the utterance of an opinion so bold as that. Affairs political are at present in a terribly " mixed" condition, and Heaven only knows how parties may shape when the House meets. The New Zealander of course knows all about the matter, but men who have carefully watched political events in New Zealand during the last twenty years, confess themselves to be completely puzzled to make a forecast of Wbat turn events will take. The freedom of New Zealand from snakes and venomous reptiles is a matter of great rejoicing; but good people of New Zealand look well to yourselves, and see that no lurking serpent is nestling within you. You may be neglecting the stealthy encroachments of some deadly serpent in the form of insidious disease. Take the antidore ere it be too late Whatever stage of disease you may be suffering, those marvellous medicines," Ghollah's Great Indian Cokes," can save you.