Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 113, 12 May 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1880.

We remind our readers of the public meeting to be held in the Provincial Hall this evening to consider the recent action of ] the Government regarding the railway. As ' the matter is of vital importance to the district it is to be hoped that there will be a large attendance. We observe that the Supplementary Gazette, published on Friday last, contains a notification of appointments of Assessors under the Property Assessment Act, and for the district in this immediate neighborhood the following gentlemen have been elected : —City of Nelson, Mr W. Rout ; Northern Division of Waimea Road Board District, Mr T. J. Thompson ; Southern Division of Waimea Road Board District, Mr R. J. Malcolm; Suburban North Eoad Board District, Mr J. E. Mabin ; Upper Motueka Eoad Board District and Harnpden Road Board District, Mr J. G. Knyvett; Takaka Eoad Board, Mr S. G. Robinson. The Gazette of Thursday last contains the appointment of C. Y. Fell, E3q., as Crown Prosecutor for the Nelson District, and also the appointment of Mr J. E Fletcher as public vaccinator for the district of Aorere. The stormy weather of last night prevented a very large attendance at the tea meeting in connection with the Young Men's Association, but still the attendance was as large as coull have been expected under the circumstances. After tea, on account of the storm, the public meeting was held in the same room. Mr J. Rose was voted to the chair, and the Secretary, Mr Hirkneas and the Treasurer, Mr Green, read their respective reports as to the positions of the Association, which though apparently in its ordinary branch requires assistance for the expenses incurred for evangelical work. The meeting was addressed by the Revs Leighton, R. Bavin, and J. Beckenham, and the Wesleyan Choir executed three anthems and as many of Moody and Sankey's hymns in their usual able manner, Mr Ogilvie presiding a', the organ. Pooe Man's Valley at Stoke, has of late become quite a place of note on account of the numerous persons who have been lost there. The last case of this kind began to assume a most serious appearance, for in addition to a couple of ramblers being out without food for three days and two nights, the weather we were experiencing was so bad that its equal has not been seen here for a long time. It appears that on Sunday morning last a party composed of Messrs Rogers, Clouston, Hounsell and Walker left town for a walking excursion to Poor Man's Valley, intending to return home by about 6 o'clock the same evening. Whilst in the bush, the two first named of the party were proceeding homewards when the others intended to follow, but a most dense fog suddenly enveloped them, and they were unable to see a yard ahead of them, and completely unable to keep their track. Under these circumstances they tried to light a fire, and in this they succeeded, but the heavy rain which fell during the night completely extinguished their fire, and wet to the skin without food and without fire the plight in which Messrs Hounsell and Walker found themselves was most unenviable. On Tuesday, however, they managed to find their way into Aniseed Valley, but the river was so high that they found \ it was unsafe to cross, and, moreover, Mr Hounsell was very much knocked up. The waifs were fortunately observed by Mrs Stratford, who resides in this valley, and she tried to throw food to them, but was unsuccessful, and Walker then tried to swim the river, but wa3 carried down some distance. Ultimately, however, they got to Richmond, from whence a telegram was received last night, and later they rode into town, we are glad to learn, none the worse for their adventure than might bo expected on account of fatigue.