The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 31, 5 February 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1880.

Shortly after sunset yesterday little knots of people were to be seen dotted about all steadily looking towards the south-west for the comet, whose appearance had been mentioned in our telegrams. A little before half past eight a very pale streak of light began to show as the twilight faded away, and this gradually grew brighter aB the darkness increased, until the train of what certainly must be an enormous comet, although its nucleus has not yet been seen, became plainly apparent. It has a slight curve to the southward, and its upper half, as seen through a telescope, is divided, lengthwise, into two equal parts. In Auckland it has been visible for three nights, and t we are informed by telegraph that its appearance has caused quite an excitement in scientific circles, as it is altogether unexpected. A correspondent writes to day suggesting that it is the same magnificent comet that last showed itself, to the earth in 1843. The working plans and specifications for the railway extension beyond Bell Grove are now nearly completed, and will be quite finished to-morrow, so that the advertisement calling for tenders may be expected to appear in the course of a day or two. The railway wil! i un along the hillside at a regular gradicut of oue in fifty, and the contract now about to be undertaken will carry it as far as Mr Blower's property, near the source of the Wai-iti. A pleasant little concert is advertised to take place in the Port Public Hall on Tuesday evening next, in aid of the building fund. There will be a number of choruses by the Port singing class, under the conductorship of Mr Pownall, and these will be interspersed by solos, glees, &c, by a number of well-known amateurs who have kindly volunteered their services. A sudden death occurred in Aniseed Valley about 8 o'clock yesterday evening, when Mrs Busch, who was 74 years of age and a very old resident in the locality, fell dead as she was standing in the doorway of the house of Mr Thomas Murcott, a neighbor. The deceased was in excellent health, but of late had been drinking rather heavily. An inquest will be held this afternoon. The following tenders were sent in for the erection of a fifth-class station at Bell Grove: — Gorrie and Sons, £129 19s (accepted); H. Plank, £160, declined. The Town and Port Volunteers will parade at the Drill Shed at half-past seven to-night for battalion arill * p

A Juvenile Tent of the Independent^ Order of Kechabites will be opened at seven o'clock to-night in the V.M.C.A. Rooms. The Union Insurance Company of New Zealand have subscribed, at Christchurch which is their head quarters, the handsotne sum of 100 guineas towards the Irish relief fund. The monthly meeting; of the Board of Education was held to day when the business included the opening of applications for the pbsfc of Secretary to the Board, of which there Were no less thati eightyeight froth all parts of the colony. The task of reading them and the testimonials by which they were accompanied was not completed at the time of our going to press. We are glad to be able to report that the two men whom we yesterday reporied as missing have turned up safe and sound, | although somewhat fatigued after their first experience of bush life in New Zealand. The left town at 2.15 am. on Monday and went up Poor Man's Valley, aud after a time Keene, who is a watchmaker and not used to rough travelling, was seized with cramp, and was unable to move. Treadle then agreed to stay with him, and Cock ram, whose business compelled him to return home, left them. They remained where they were until 10 am. yesterday, when they cooked a pigeon, the remains of which . Cockram, who had gone out in search of them, found about two hours later, they having left in the meantime. They struck a creek late in the afternoon and followed it down wards, but darkness came on and they had to stop, for the night. The cooked another bird, had a good sleep, and started again at five o'clock this morning, and after four bours' travelling arrived at Mr Stratford's house in Aniseed Valley, where they were most hospitably received, and had a good breakfast prepared for them by Mrs Stratford, who afterwards sent a boy to put them on the track to Richmond. They desire to return their earnest thanks to Mrs Stratford for her kindness, and to Mr Cockram for the trouble he has taken. ' He was on bis way to Bearch for them again this morning, when he met them on their return between Stoke and Richmond. They both think they have had quite enough of bushranging, and for the future intend to patronise good roads when they want a walk. The following 13 the correct version of an unintelligible Sydney telegram that appeared in the Mail of yesterday :— The blacks describe a person supposed to be Classen, the explorer, as a feeble and decrepid man, and give an account of bis death. On learning the vicinity of a squatter's residence he begged to be taken thither, but the blacks refused. He then stole out of their camp at night, and was missed in the morning, and tracked, and was found half way between the camp and the station he was seeking. The following London telegrams, dated 2nd instant, appear in the Pvst:— News has been received here of a fearful outrage committed by the Ghilzais in Afghanistan. They made a descent upon a village in the neighborhood of Ghuznee, the inhabitants of which had refrained from taking any part in the hostilities jigainst the British, plundered and set fire to thetr dwellings, and murdered all who were not able to effect their escape. It is estimated that 2000 families have fallen victims to the merciless ferocity of the Ghilzais, a large number perishing of cold in the mountains, to which they had fled for refuge. — It is also reported that an engagement has taken place between Ibrahim Khan, an ally of the British, and Ayoub Khan, the leader of the Herat insurgents, in which the latter was defeated. — Political disturbances are apprehended among the inhabitants of Lower California, and an English man-of war has been ordered to Le Paz, ia the Gulf of California, to protect British interests.