The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 209, 4 September 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1879.

At Mr Curtis' meeting at the Provincial Hall to-night the proceedings promise to be even more lively than they have hitherto been on such occasions, as the speaker ha3 been furnished with a good text by the Colonist in its article of Tuesday last, and one that he will probably know how to enlarge upon.

Av the request of a number of our readers we publish to-day a full report of Mr Sclanders' speech at the City nomination, which, together with our Wellington correspondent's letter and other reading matter, will bo found in a supplement

At a meeting of the Ilopgrowers Association held at M'Gce's Hotel yesterday afternoon a petition to the Parliament was adopted, praying that the import duty ou hops be raised to Gd per lb, at which rate they are charged in Victoria. AH the candidates in this part of the colony have expressed themselves in favor of such an alteration, and no doubt those who are returned will advocate it in their places in the House.

O*k of the most exciting contests through* out the preseut general election is to be brought to a close at Wanganui to-morrow, when two members are to be elected, and Messrs Ballance and Bryce are running together against Sir W. Fox. There seems to be every probability that the latter will be defeated, in which case It is pretty generally understood that Major Willis, who yesterday defeated Mr C. L. Maclean for Rangitikei by a large majority, will resign in order to allow Sir W. Fox to be elected.

There will be no practice of the Harmonic Society this evening.

The concert given at the Stoke Public Hall last night was in every way a success. Although the weather was anything but promising a number of visitors from Nelson and Richmond took advantage of the opportunity afforded by a special train, so that the little Hall was filled to overflowing. The concert was conducted by the Hev R. Bavin, who, with the Wesleyan Church choir, sang several choruses, which were well received, Mr Ogilvie, the choir master, assisting at the piano. The Stoke Wesleyan choir also sang several pieces with very pleasing effect, the zest and energy which they displayed showing that they were well acquainted with the part they had to perform 1 . The National Anthem brought the concert lo a close in time for the visitors to catch the return train for home, all being well satisfied with the entertainment.

In a letter addressed to the Rev J. C. Andrew by Mr R. J. Creighton from San Francisco, the writer thus curtly expresses his opinion on New Zealand politics:—" I see the New Zealand papers, and of course follow your politics as close as possible. If I were not in America I should think you were well on the road to ruin, but I am firmly persuaded that nothing short of some act of Providence will suffice to cripple any Anglo-Saxon community permanently. Their superfluous energy will carry them through."

A correspondent writes f rom Dovedale i — As members of the Church of England and others residing in this healthy and flourishing valley have long wished for a church, a meeting was held in the house of Captain Humphreys last Saturday evening: to further this object. It may be thought a kind of small impertinence for such a place as Dovedale to want a church at all. But she is only following the example of other larger and longer settled districts. When people occupy a place and are able to clothe and feed their bodies and bring up their children, and build sumptuous houses for themselves, they begin to say, Let us have a permanent house of God in our midst, and let us hare a clergyman to feed our souls with the bread of everlasting life. A Committee was appointed at the meeting and a series of resolutions passed, including the following : — " That as some members of the late House of Representatives have publicly declared their intention of disbursing one-half at least of their honorarium, the hou. Secretary be requested to solicit the late M.H.R 's for their kindly interest in this needful object." We have received the Church Messenger for the current month. It contains the balance sheets for the year of several of the churches in the diocese, and other interesting news of a local character, besides an able paper on the question " Should the Church of New Zealand allow the use of extempore prayer in her services ? " and other readable matter.

We learn from the Church Messenger that the Rev. W. A. Whyte is about to be removed from Collingwood to Richmond, an arrangement which will no doubt prove most acceptible to the members of the Church in the latter district. The Rev. Mr Sedgwick who will succeed Mr White at Collingwood, is about to be admitted to Priest's Orders.

A large amount of jealousy exists between Christchurch and Dunedin on the question of the railway head quarters for the Middle Island which both cities are eager to secure. At Christchurch, Sir George Grey promised the electors it should be retained there, and upon this being telegraphed to Dunedin, Mr Mac&ndrew was at once interviewed by the Chamber of Commerce at that place, when he stated that he had not made up his mind on the subject and did not intend to do so until after the election. Upon this the Timaru Herald thus comments:—" A very deep trick indeed. He might just as well have toid the truth, and said — " Gentlemen, you see my colleague, Sir Georgo Grey, is running for Christchurch, and has told the people up there that the Commissioner of Railways is to remain where he is. Now, as I don't want to spoil his chance of election, I prefer not to deny that statement. On the other hand, gentlemen, I know Dunedin is the proper place for Mr Conyers' headquarters, and if you return Government supporters you may take it for granted that the Commissioner will once more take up hi3 abode in your midst. In other words, gentlemen, we want to kill two birds wite one stone. The bait is a tempting one, and I hope you will bite well at it. After the elections are over I shall have no difficulty whateverin making up my mind as to whether Dunedin or Cbristchurch shall be the Commissioner's residence. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

Liquidation.— Being about to realise on my stock I 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.