The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 61, 11 March 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1880.

The Hon. Mr Oliver, the Minister for Public Works, accompanied by Messrs Pitt and Acton Adams, went up by train yesterday morning to Foxhill, and then drove part of the way up Spooner's Range in order to get a view of the surrounding country. Several suggestions were made, and it was promised that attention should be paid to them, among others, that Mr Atkinson, now engaged in supervising the railway works, should be kept at that, and not sent off on other work ; also that the number of trucks on the line should be increased. On his return to town, Mr Oliver was waited upon by Mr Shephard, M.H.R., and Messrs Barnicoat and Dencker, of the Waimea County Council. The former gentleman suggested the desirability of calling for tenders without delay for the permanent way of the Bellgrove extension, and of erecting a goods shed at the Bellgrove station. Mr Barnicoat asked for a reply to the County Council regarding the money voted for the Buller road, and was promised that it should be furnished shortly. Accompanied by Mr Conyers and Mr Reeves, M.H.R , Mr Oliver left in the Stella yesterday afternoon for Westport, whence he will proceed to Reefton, and thence down the Grey Valley to Greymouth, thus obtaining a view of the country on the other side of the main range. At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, the election papers from the various Local Committees were opened, [and Messrs Barnicoat (23), Dencker (19), and Graham (15), were duly elected. The annual meeting of the members of the N.Z. Rifle Association was held in the Drill Shed last night, when there was a good attendance, and a number of resolutions affecting the management of the Association were agreed to. Our readers are reminded of the ball to be given tbia evening to the representatives now on a visit to Nelson. A large attendance is expected, and a very pleasant evening may be anticipated. Attention is drawn to an auction of rams, sheep, &c, which Mr Mabin purposes holding at the Red Horse Hotel, Richmond, on Wednesday next. It will also be seen by advertisement that Mr Mabin is expecting the brigantine Pelican here with a cargo of coal from Greymouth, which he will dispose of by auction on her arrival. The Pelican left there on the 9th inst., consequently she may arrive this week. A cricket match between twenty-two of the Representatives and an eleven of the Nelson Cricket Club is being played in Victory Square to day. Owing to the late dry weather the ground is very hard and lumpy. Firth, the Captain of the Nelsouians put the visitors in first, the bowling being intrusted to G. Fowler aud Burnett, the former whom is bowling remarkably well. Up to the time our reporter left the ground none of the Representatives had troubled the

field much, 1 1 wickets having fallen for 20 runs. A concert is to be given in the Wakefield Choral Hall to morrow evening iv aid of the Upper Wakefield library fund. The programme is a mfrst liberal one* containing no less than twenty- five items, and from the names of the performers it would seem that nearly all the local amateurs had come forward to render assistance in so good a cause. Outside the programme of the concert there is one more item which, if we [ mistake not, will prove a considerable attraction. It is announced in these words " To conclude with a dance." Mil John R; Mabin reports that at the fiale oh Tuesday last of the furniture and effects of Mr Thomas Bullick there was a large attendance and the bidding for some of the articles was brisk. The gelding I known as " Happy Joe" brought £32 10s. i .. i . -»~n~». „, . , , . _ fc