The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 201, 23 August 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1879.

The town has not been so lively for a long time past as it was this morning, the result, it is to be presumed, of the electioneering which is going on so actively all round us. Little knots of people were to be seen at the street corners, and from the anima tion disp ayed by them, both in manner and tone, it was quite clear that the all engrossing topic of the day was the theme of conversation, for none other could have produced so much excitement. The polling for the town takes place this day fortnight, and in the meantime the supporters of the various candidates will be working their hardest, so that plenty of excitement may be looked for within the next fourteen days. Mr Richmond has requested us to state that it is his intention to present to the Richmond Fire Brigade, which will receive £15, nnd the public libraries in the Buburbs all that portion of his honorarium in excess of his actual expenses while attending ttie session in Wellington. He would have preferred hoc to make this known until after the election was over, but, having the intention, he feels called upon in justice to himself to publish it in reply to the many charges that are being made against him in connection with this matter. A notice signed by the Minister for Public Works which will be found elsewhere, announces that persons claiming compensation for land taken for, or injury done to their properties by, the Bellgrove section of the Cook Stiait-Amberlev line must send in their claims to the Public Works Office in Nelson. The new Public Hall at the Port is to be opened by a tea party on Wednesday evening next, for which a capital programme has been prepared, as will be seen by the advertisement. The Customs receipts for the week ending this day were £714 10s lOd. There was a large muster of Mr Pitt's supporters at the Masonic Hall last night, when a powerful Committee was formed, of which Mr Levestam was elected chairman. Mr Pitt stated that he had received a very numerouslly signed requisition inviting him to stand for Collingwood, but it was the unanimous opinion that he should run for the town where his election was almost a cer- j tainty. Mr Pitt also informed the meeting that his engagements in Wellington were of a temporary character only, and that he had co intention whatever of leaving Nelson. He was about to resign his appointment as Commanding Officer of the district, which he thought might be accepted us an indication of the earnestness with which he wa3 entering upon the election. An active canvass on Mr Pitt's behalf has already commenced. It is reported that Mr Muntz of Richmond is to be a candidate for the Suburbs, but we cannot ascertain from any reliable authority whether the rumour is a correct one. Mr Wastney, we understand, does not intend to come forward. "We have to acknowledge the receipt by the Suez mail of a very well got up little work published by Waterlow and Sons, London, and edited by Sir Julius Yogel, entitled " Land and Farming in New Zealand " It contains all particulars as to the method of acquiring land in the colony, as well as of the wages, prices of provisions, &c, and is accompanied by maps showing the land tenure in the two Islands. The introduction is written by Sir Julius Yogel, and there are several letters which have appeared in the English papers holding out favorable prospects to emigrants to this country. A London telegram to thei-W dated 19th instant says : — Mr Gladstone, addressing a large meeting of the electors at Chester yesterday, delivered a magnificent oration. He denounced the policy and administration of the Conservative Government in the most withering terms, pointing out the gradual decline which had taken place in the prosperity of the country under Conservative rule, until now the whole kingdom was in a state of depression unexampled in living memory. He also strongly attacked the exclusive attention paid by the Government to their " foreign policy," and urged that the only hope for the country consisted iv a return to Liberal principles and a strict attention to home legislation. The remarks of the hon. gentleman were received with the greatest enthusiasm. The Alpine claim at the Lyell has had a crushing, the first for a very long period. The result was 3030zs of gold. A dividend of Is 6d per scrip has been declared. There is a large body of stone, the lead being 6 feet wide, and all gold bearing. The result of the crushing has had a most inspiriting effect in the district. New, or abandoned, ground is being taken up, and there are hopes of a brisk revival of mining industry, and a repetition of the good times. Previously to getting this valuable body of stone, the Alpine Company paid some £200 to the Albion Company for the use of their tunnel, and for permission to drive through a portion of their ground. The work took many months to complete, on account of defects in j taking levels, but the Alpine Company, still sanguine, never faltered, and success has now rewarded them. Many of the present shareholders have been paying regularly calls for two or three years past, with every confidence of ultimate success. Liquidation.— Being about to realise on my stock 1 have re-marked the whole at prices that ought to effect a speedy clearance. The stock is very large, which most of the Nelson people know, and one that the drawing room as well as the kitchen may be furnished from. This is an absolute clearing sale, and no reasonable offer will be refused. John James, Liquidator. — Advt.