The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 267, 21 November 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1879.

An alteration in the dates of the sittings of the Supreme Court in Nelson has recently been made and they are now fixed to take place in June and December. The next sitting will be held on Friday the 12th of next month. We are glad to learn that Mr Richmond has recovered from the effects of his recent accident sufficiently to allow of his proceeding to Wellington by the Taiaroa from Picton last night. The most popular of the Harmonic Society's concerts are invariably those which are classed as "miscellaneous," and last night's was no exception to the rule. The attendance was more numermous than it has been of late, the Provincial Hall being well filled, and, to judge from the amount of applause, and the frequency of the encores, the large audience appeared to be thoroughly well satisfied, and this must have been gratifying to the performers and to Mr Moore, the conductor, who had spared no pains in making the necessary preparations for the concert. Keen criticism on such an occasion would be out of place, and to select any of the numerous solos for special . mention would be invidious where all were evidently exerting themselves to the utmost to afford pleasure. We will, therefore, content ourselves with saying that so long as th° Society, which, judging from the appearance of the benches last night, is passing through a period of depression that we hope will speedily be tided over, can continue to give such pleasant concerts, it will not fail to attract large audiences, and to dismiss them in the good humor consequent upon the enjoyment of a very pleasant evening's entertainment. Now that all the tents are set up and their fittings are completed soras idea may be formed of the magnitude of Signer Chiarini'B venture in travelling with such a staff, such a collection of animals, and so enormous a quantity of " baggage." It certainly will require no small amount of receipts at the .ioor to cover the cost of the keep and transport of such an army with their belongings. Yesterday afternoon we had an opportunity of inspecting the various animals, and of seeing the man in charge perform what appeared to an outsider the somewhat perilous task of grooming the tigers and cleaning out the cages. There are two males, one of them a magnificent fellow, and a female with three pretty little cubs, and they appear to be thoroughly under the command of the man to whose care they are committed, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy being rubbed down with a good stiff broom. The bison is a rough and not very good tempered looking brute, but he too seems to be well under the control of his master. The horses, twenty-five in number, are splendid creatures, and are in excellent condition. There are Bix biack stallions, two of which show 3ign3 of remarkably good breeding, two handsome chesnuts, and a number of greys. These have been picked up in all parts of the world, New York, San Francisco, Australia, and one at Christchurch on the last visit paid by the circus to New Zealand. The ponies are beautiful creatures, and will be sure to call forth many exclamations of admiration on their appearance in the ring. The huanaco is a graceful little aniaial, as are also the zebras and the dogs, of which there are a considerable number, though not remarkable for good looks are said to be very clever performers. The first performance took place this afternoon, when, although time would only allow of our paying a very hurried visit, we saw quite sufficient to convince us that the Company is very far superior to any that has yet visited Nelson. The riding of Miss Rosa Lee, a good looking young lady of between 18 and 20, was graceful in the extreme, and the tricks she per formed while cantering round at a smart pace, such as throwing up and catching three

daggers at a time, spinning t>late3 6h the points of kuiVes, and such like, were ex- | treme'.y clever. The contortious of Messrs j Bartolo, " L'homme Serpent," are ann f -. , rnH i in the bills as c lp- j, - ... h . -""^ b— • — « proGf of his not having a -^c m U!s body, aud aH who sc** him will b'e Bisjiosfed ttf ftgree with the bills. Special -rains to day, to-morrow, and Monday will give residents in the Waimea opportunities of attending this really first-class ciroua. Mu Gibhs on Wednesday nig lit asked the Government,— Whether they will cause an exploration to be made of the country lying between Collingwood and the Karamea, by way of the Happy Valley, with the view of ascertaining the possibility, of. opening up an available roid through that country, and also opening up the lands along the route of settlement ? The lion Mr Rolleston sail he should be very glad to inquire into the matter, There was certain information on the subject already but cot sufficient to enable him to give a full reply. Wfc understand that an information has had laid under the " Employment of Female3 Act " against Mr W. Milner, for keeping fourteen girls at work after hours on Tuesday niirht. The case, which is the Crst of the kind «n Kelson, will be heard by the 'Justices on Wednesday i;ext. We see by our Marl borough files received to-day that a similar prosecution has just been e,.i*r!ed out at Blenheim, and as tile excuse made on that occasion is much the same as that which, we understand, will be pleaded here, namely ; a pressure of work though iron) a different cause, we take from the Express a short report of the case : — " Mr GirHng. of the firm of (Jirling and Co., ot Blehh&im, was charged with employing certaiu females after the hour of two o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. Bth, 1879, in the manufacture of articles for sale, not being contract or piece work.— Mr Sinclair, who appeared for the defendant, said it wa3 his intention to plead guilty to the charge. He .would, however, ask that a merely nominal fine be inflicted. Mr Girling had had some very pressing work in hand, owing to deaths i& the neighborhood. It was the only occasion on which he had kept his assistants at work after hours on a Saturday. He would further add tha*, the information was not laid by any of the persons employed, but by the InspedFbr, who was only actuated by the laudable purpose of enforcing an observance of the law.— The Resident Magistrate said there had been a breach of the law, but as this wa3 the first prosecution under the Employment of Females Act, he would inflict a nominal fine of Is, with costs 17s. The Marlborough Express says that Mr Constantino Halliday, who is under articles to Mr W. Sinclair, has passed the first branch of the examination prescribed for candidates for admission as Solicitors of the Supreme CoUrt. v Mr Dick, M.H.R., gave notice on Wednesday night that he would move an amendment of the present Education Act, providing that the Bible should be read in the public schools of the colony without comment, and subject to a consience clause. If the Educatiou Act should come before the House for amendment, we trust that some alteration will be made in the present very faulty method of voting for members of the Local Committees, whereby, at a large meeting of householders, some eight or ten men, if they choose to combine for " a lark," asj we believe, hag been done> or for any other reason, can carry the ejection of any candidate they choose to support, as each householder is allowed as many votes as there are members to be elected, all of which may be given to one candidate. Any member who would secure an amendment of this highly objec tionable portion of the Act would be doing good service.