The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 30, 4 February 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1880.

Although the Legislative Council is not a representative body, it is nevertheless desirable that every Provincial district should have in it a member acquainted with and interested in the locality, to whom could he entrusted any Bill affecting local interests, on which he would be in a position to give any- information that the Council: might require. In this respect Nelson is sigularly, unfortunate. One of the members from i here, Major Richmond, who in his time has done good service to the country, is now bo advanced in years that it cannot be expected of him that he should be in constant attend-, ance, and the other, Mr N. Edwards, is not in the enjoyment: of such good health as to ensure his being able to pay an unremitting attention to his legislative duties, 'and as these are" the only two Councillors hailing from Nelson it is easy, to see that difficulties may at any time arise and prove most injurious to the district, which might be easily removed if there were on the spot someone who was able from his own personal knowledge to render the necessary explanation. We were in hopes that Mr Curtis might have been induced to accept a seat in the. Council, but from the tact of his having been recently appointed Secretary to the ; Board of College Governors we presume i that. this is not likely to be the case. But although it would not be easy to find so efficient a member as Mr Curtis, from his long acquaintance with the Province, would prove, there should be no difficulty in securing the services of one who would be able to defend our interests when they were assailed, and to afford information, in the absence of which decisions might be arrived at that would inflict incalculable injury upon the district. We had a warning at the close of last session which it would be folly to neglect. A meeting of Volunteer officers will be held at the Orderly Room to-night at halfpast seven, for the purpose of fixing the amounts of the District prizes, which have to be fired for before the end of March. The monthly competition by the Naval Brigade for the Company's medal took place at the Maitai Butts this morning, when it was won by Seaman Moore with a score of 51. It is reported that an elderly man named Brown, residing at Wakapuaka, fell yesterday and broke his leg. Ihe fall, it is said, was the result of a sunstroke, but we have been unable to obtain full particulars. A man named Arthur Lennox Sweet has been arrested on a charge of forging the signature of " Moutray and Crosbie " to a cheque for £5 188. which he afterwards cashed at Mr Wilkie's store The next day, when in a half-drunken condition, he asked one of the police whether a warrant was out for|his arrest, and virtually admitted having been guilty of the forgery. Sweet, who, it ia said, was at one time a well to do sharebroker in Auckland, served six months in gaol in Wellington a short time ago for issuing valueless cheques. At an early hour on Monday morning three men named Cockrane, James Keene, and John Treadle went on a trip into the bush at Happy Valley, and after being out some hours the two latter, who are new arrivals here, became exhausted, and laid down. Cockrane, after being absent for a short time, went back to look for them, but could not find them, and had not been able to do up to yesterday. He has now gone out again in search. Our Christchurch and Sydney telegrams report the appearance in the sky last night of a large comet. In the former place the tail only seems to have been seen, the nucleus not being visible. The direction in which to look for it is a little to the southward of west, and the time shortly after sunset. Frotn the length of the tail this lustrous visitor must be one of Borne importance in the comet community. A meeting of the Irish Relief Committee was held yesterday afternoon at the City Council Chamber. His Worship the Mayor who presided informed the meeting that their first du-y would be to elect an Hon. Secretary, and he was of opinion they could not make a better choice than Mr Kavanagh for the office, who was unanimously elected. Subscriptions to the amount of £35 were announced. A letter was read from His Honor Judge Broad expressing his re gret at not being able to attend the meeting owing to his duties calling him elsewhere and forwarding a subscription for five guineas from Mr Wilkie. Canvassers were then appointed as follows : — For Collingwood-street, on east side to the Maitai, Father Garin ; south of Nile-street to Waimea Road, Mr Scott ; Brook-street Valley, Mr Traak ; the Wood and Maitai Valley, Messrs Menarv and Graham ; North side of Nile-street to Col-lingwood-street, thence to Trafalgar-street i (East side) and thence to the river, Messrs Darby and Parmenter ; North side of Nilestreet to west side of Trafalgar-street, to river and railway, Messrs Bethwaite and Moorhouse ; Waimea-road, both sides, Bishop Suter ; Washington Valley and Toi Toi Valley, Mr Brown ; Haven Road and Port, Mr Wymond. Mr Kavagnah was directed to provide each collector with a printed form for subscribers names. It was agreed that all funds be lodged in (he Colonial Bank. The Secretary was directed to intimate to the collectors the necessity of proceeding to work immediately. After discussing other matters in connection with the object, the meeting adjourned till Monday next, at 4 p m. ; An Auckland telegram of Saturday says : — The new wheat crop coming in is in bad condition, being threshed too early, and millers decline to give more than 4s 6d per bushel. A special telegram to the Post dated London January 30 says :— -The position in Afghanistan is daily becoming more threatening. Fatakien Khan, a prominent leader of the insurgents, has sent a message to General Roberts to the effect that they were determined to fight to the last, so long as the British remained in occupation of the country. — Ayoub Khan has requested the Cabulese to march out of the city, and join him at

Farah. They, however, have refused to take the risk of complying with his request. The Haxoke's Bay Herald of Saturday last says : — The number of our musical amateurs is, we learn, to be diminished by the removal from Napier of Mr. T. G. Rose, ledger-keeper at the Bankjof New Zealand. He will doubtless be greatly missed by his musical friends, as he has always displayed obliging willingness in assisting at any entertainment, particularly when its object has been of a charitable character. Mr. Rose, we understand, leaves on Monday morning for Wellington, en ronte for Nelson, having been appointed teller at the brauch of the Bank of New Zealand ill that town. A London telegrartl td the Melbourne Argus says : — An influential memorial has been presented to the Government, demanding that a commission, similar to that which was appointed to inquire into the conduct of Governor Eyre, in Jamaica, shall investigate the wholesale executions of rebels in Cabul. The Post of Saturday says : — The steamer Kangaroo, carrying the cable which is to be laid between Wakapuaka and Wanganui, arrived at Hobart Town on Thursday last. She leaves Hobart Town for this port to-day, and as she comes direct she may be expected to arrive next week. Pilot Sims returned yesterday from Wanganui, where he has been taking soundings and laying buoys for the convenience of the cable steamer.