The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 295, 24 December 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1879.

All who are fond of cricket are looking forward with considerable interest to the interprovincial match to be played in Victory Square on Friday next. The games between Nelson and Wellington have always been very closely contested, and there is no reason for supposing that the forthcoming one will be any exception to the general rule. The number of spectators is likely to be large, aa many of the excursionists by the Rotomabana, of whom several hundreds are expected, will probably take an interest in the match. Arrangements have also been made by the Committae for the trains arriving from the country to stop at the ground, and cabs will be running all day between the town and the Square, so that there will be no difficulty in getting on to the ground. Luncheon will be obtainable at the tents, and seats have been placed round the field for the convenience of visitors. The ground is being carefully attended to, and the wicket should be in excellent order by Friday. The weather of late bas been so boisterous and inclement that it was thought at one time that the usual Christmas decorations of the churches would have to be dispensed with. The groundlessness of such fears, however, has been amply proved to-day, as baskets, and, in some instances, carriage loads, of flowers have during the afternoon found their way to the various buildings, which promise to present as pretty an appearance as ever to-morrow.

The contract for the removal of the buoy rock in the harbor was signed to-day, Messrs

Bray and Mitchell being the successful tenderers, and the price £425. The declined tenders were:— Atkinson and Wise £450, and W. Patterson £570 The B Battery N. Z. Regiment of Artillery (Dunedin) about three weeks Biace sent a challenge to all the other Batteries in the colony to fire a carbine match, the conditions being— ten men a side; ranges, 200, 400, and 500 yards; 7 shots at each range. The following is the score made with Nelson, from which it will he seen that the Dunedin team were the winners by 24 points:— B Battery (Dunedin), 617; H Battery (Nelson), 593. Captain Muir, of Dunedin. made the highest score with the splendid Aggregate of 72 points, Gunner Clouston, of Nelson, being second with 67. We understand, although it is not officially announced, that Captain Webb is to be appointed Adjutant of the Nelson District, and General Davidson Inspecting Officer of the Volunteers in the Middle Island. A very enjoyable entertainment was given last evening by the school children at Stoke to their parents and friends, being the third Christmas gathering since the present excellent and respected teacher has had charge of the school. The programme, consisting of part songs, recitations, and choruses — the Utter accompanied by the juvenile fife and drum band — w< re nllgiven in a very pleasing manner and with such expression and correctness as is seldom found amongst amateurs even of long standing and repute, showing that great care and attention had been bestowed upon the children to bring them up to such a state of efficiency. The Stoke String Band contributed their share by performing selections from the opera of " Lucia di Lammermoor " in such good time, tune, and taste that the audience would not be satisfied without a repetition. A pianoforte duct was very nicely played by two young ladies of the neighborhood. " The Schoolmaster or A.B.C" was given by the master, assisted by the pupils in a chorus at the end of each verse, and was loudly encored, upon which Mr Naylor (the last singer) requested permission to give the audience another soDg instead of repeating the one just sung, and would ask leave to do so by proxy, and introduced a gentleman, a stranger to the district, who sang " Nancy Lee " in a most charming manner, and with such a flexible aud good baritone voice that amazed the hearers, who vociferously demanded a repetition, and were gratified with hearing " Nelly Brown " given with equal ability aud feeling. At the clo3e of the proceedings a hearty vote of thanks was enthusiastically given to the teacher by the parents present with many expressions of good will and kind feeling for the earnest attention he had bestowed on the children.— Communicated. A musical entertainment in aid of the Benevolent Fund of the Lodge is to be given in the Temperance Hall on Boxing Day by the members of the Loyal Nelson Lodge assisted by the Naval Brigade. The anniversary of the Wakefield Gospel Hall Sunday School is to be celebrated by a tea and public meeting on Boxing Day. The splendid steamer Rotomahana of whose performances as one of the swiftest boats in theae waters we have of late heard so much, is to arrive at the outer anchorage to-morrow afternoon, after making the passage from Wellington, it is anticipated, in seven hours. She is sure to be an object of interest and curiosity to many who will be glad to find, that opportunities of visiting her are to be offered by the Charles Edward, Kennedy, and Wakatu, which are to make trips at intervals during Boxing Day. "A ratei'ayek on both sides of the brook " writes complaining of the Btate of the planks over the Brook-street stream, the one in Bronti-street being in such a position that with the weight of a foot passenger upon it it is overflowed by the stream and tendered dangerous. Our correspondent states that he was crossing with his wife last evening, when in consequence of this overflow they slipped aud fell into the water, the latter getting thoroughly drenched, aud he asks : — " Who is to blame ? Should not the bridges (?) over the Brook be seen to as soou after a flood as possible, and not leave it to Mr Anybody to place a ricketty, weak, and narrow plank over what is a public thoroughfare. Were it not for my wife's remonstrances I should most assuredly have sent in a bill for damages, ceb hire, &c, to the Mayor and Corporation of the City of Nelson. I hope that this will call immed'ate attention to that particularly dangerous plank le3t something worse may happen." The following London telegrams, dated 19th instant, appear iv the Post:— The position of affairs in Afghanistan is considered very critical, and the assistance of Lord Napier, of Magdala, has been summoned. It is believed that the supreme conduct of the war will be placed in his hands.— A determined attempt was made yesterday to assassinate the Governor of Moscow. The attempt failed, the Governor being uniujured. The would-be assassin has not been captured, but there is no doubt he is a Nihilist. A Syduey telegram to the Pest of Saturday says:— The wool trade with America is assuming large dimensions. Two vessels are just about to sail for America with full cargoes of wool.