The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 291, 19 December 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1879.

A miserable little lot of sixteen men assembled in the Legislative Council Chamber last night took upon themselves to make such alterations in the schedule attached to the Public Works Bill that the Government deemed the interference with the measures proposed by them and agreed to by the House of Representatives, so serious in its nature as to necessitate the adjournment of the Council, in order that Ministers might consider their position. It is well-known that a certain wealthy member of the Upper House is exceedingly anxious to secure a line of railway through his enormous tract of country in the Aniuri, as such an expenditure upon public works would enhance the value of his property to the tune of something like half a million, therefore, if a railway is to be made at all in the northern end of this island, he is prepared to fight tooth and nail in order to secure its running in his direction, and being, from the plethoric state of his purse, possessed of considerable influence, it is not to be wondered at that he secures a certain following. Mr Holmes, too, who moved that the Nelson to Greymouth line be struck out, has also large possessions in the same district, so that hia opposition to our line as opposed to one through his own country is not surprising, but that the Council, led, as we presume they allowed themselves to be, by these two interested men, should have the audacity to endeavor to upset the whole scheme of works, as proposed by the Government and approved by the representatives of the people', is past comprehension. The only excuse to be offered for their outrageous conduct is that they had been kept out of their beds to an unaccustomed hour, and their brains being unequal to the unusual strain upon them, they suffered themselves to be driven into the lobbies in accordance with the wishes of those so deeply interested. Morning, however, appears to have brought reflection and repentance, and the honorable Legislative Councillors have to-day endeavored to atone for their last night's pranks by replacing on the schedule the works which they then struck out. In future they should not be allowed to be out of their beds after ten o'clock, as tbere is no knowing what amount of mischief they may do in a moment of undue excitement. The boys attending the Haven Road school this morning presented their respected master, Mr Hodgson, with a handsome silver-plated' cruet-stand accompanied by the following note :— Dear Sir— We desire on behalf of our fellow scholars t* present to you this small present as a small token of our regard and esteem for you as our teacher during the past year. We are sure we may congratulate you On your success as a teacher, as shown by the late examination. Trusting that the success which has hitherto attended your efforts, may continue and be increased; We are &c. (Signed on behalf of the Bchool by 20 scholars). Presentations, accompanied by numerously signed addresses, were made yesterday afternoon by the scholars attending the Bridge-street schools lo their masters, who, in suitable terms, acknowledged the evidence of the kindly feeling existing towards them. Tue following resolutions are to be moved by the Mayor in the City Council to-night:— >

(1) That the present staff of day labor men engaged on the streets be reduced, and that all works which the reduced staff are unable to do be done by contract. (2) That with a view to reorganising the Committees of this Council the present Finance and Public Works Committees be discharged and fresh Committees appointed. Weather permitting— a very necessary proviso in the present state of meteorological af-aics— a. cricket match ay ill be played tomorrow between the Town and Wakefleld. The gam^ was to have taken place in Victory Square, but tho amount of r.in that has fallen will necessitate a change of the venue to the Botanical Reserve.