The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 226, 4 October 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1879.

The division on tbe no-confldence debate took place last night, and, as will be seen by tbe list published elsewhere, the Government met with a second defeat, the majority agajust them, however, being somewhat smaller than was yester.lay anticipated, although at tbo opening of the session it was confidently predicted that they were t|ie stronger party. From the Nelson district we notice that they received two votes more than in the last division, Messrs Fisher and Shephard, who replace Messrs Henry and JJaigent, having supported them. We confess that we are somewhat surprise! at Mr Shephard voting wjth the Government as at present constituted, a? on reference to the report of bis meeting at Wakefield on the 23rd August, we find the following question and answer: — '• Mr Painton: Will you pledge yourself not to support aoy Ministry of whjch Mr Macandrew is a member?— Mr Shephard; Mo. t .certainly J will." And yet, witbin six weeks fron) making this pledge, and on N the very first occasion that olf ered itself of gi . ing practical proof of his sincerity iv so doing it Mr Shephard is fouud voting in favor of a Ministry of which Mr Macandrew, is a member. In addition to this promise made at Wakefield, it must bave been observed that the Coloniil, oi y/hich journal, it is no breach of etiquette to state that Mr Shephard is the recognised editor, in several of i;a issues annouueed that that geutleman woui- vote vyjth the Opposition, and as a single word from bin? would have ensured the uon-repeti-tiou of the -tiooij'jpeiuent, it is only fair to s.ppose that it appeared wit Jjbjs consent. The electors of the Waimea will, at least, ba} ?$- --tjlled to look for a speeedy explanation of the line of actjon adopted by their new member. Considerable surprise was occasioned in

town to-day by Ih- announcement that Mr John Kerr and Mr Joshua Bird had been appointed Crown Linda Commissioners for the Nel.on Provincial district in the room of Mr Curtis, who had resigned hia seat prior to contesting the late election, lest by retaining it he might have come under the provisions of the Disqualification Act, and Mr N. Edwards And yet a moment's thought would have shown that for surprise there was no occasion whatever. The appointments rest with the Government; the Government was hard pressed for votes; Mr Shephard voted for the Government; Mr John Kerr and Mr Johua Bird were Mr Shephard's most prominent supporters in the Waimea. This is the house that Jack built; this is tbe malt that lay in the house that Jack built, and so on. TnE Rev. Mr Bavin will preach in the Wesleyan Church to-morrow evening on " Spiritism, its nature and tendency." We have received the first copy of the new edition of the Nelson Punch, which made its appearance to-day. It is an improvement on its predecessor, and contains some very fair jokes. The cartoon represents a " Political Tinker," but no likeness to auy of our leading politicians is recognisable in the features. A musical and literary entertainment, for which au excellent programme has been prepared, will be given in the Christ Church Sunday Schoolroom on Monday evening next in aid of the school building fund. In the first part the Rev. J. Leighton will deliver a short lecture on " The Retreat from Cabui in 1842." Tue first monthly competition by the members of .the Naval Brigade for the Company's medal took place at the Maitai Butts this morning, when P. O. Edwards and Seaman Bennett each scored 48, but the former haviug made the highest score at the longest was declared the winner.