The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 189, 10 August 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1880.

A lengthy telegram will be found elsewhere containing fuller and very interesting details regarding the Candahar disaster which were forwarded to the Melbourne Age by its special London correspondent. From this it appears that there was but a veiy small proportion of British troops with General Burrows' force and that the Natives under his command were so panic-striken by the unexpected attack of the Afghans in the dark that they at once bolted. The Europeans appear to have behaved courageously, and to have retired in order although their losses from the dashing charges of the Afghan cavalry were terrible. The number of killed is set down at 200, but there is too much reason to fear that this is an error in transmission and that our losses will prove to be far in excess of that amount. There seems to be little fear of General Primrose being able to hold his own until reinforcements reach Candahar, and, if General Roberts, who is now advancing from Cabul, is only allowed the opportunity of coming to close quarters with Ayub Khan there can be little doubt that he will be able to send in a very good account of his day's work. Mil Fell, who is throwing himself heart and soul into the ,'work of conducting, and generally advancing, the Harmonic Society calls a meeting for to-night of those in- j terested in forming an orchestra. We understand that the material is not wantiog and that there is every prospect of getting together a very creditable little band. The concert at the Christ Church school room in the "Wood, which has been lined since last year and made warm and comfortable, and Dr Hudson's lecture at the Temperance Hall promise to provide ample entertainment for those who may. be in search of it this evening. A musical entertainment in aid of the All Saiuts sale of work fund will be given at the Masonic Hall to morrow evening, when a number of well known amatuers have consented to give their services, and a very good shilling's worth is promised to all who attend. Tub Theatre Royal was again largely attended last evening to witness the fourth performance of the talented Lynch Family Bellringers and Company. The programme, which was an excellent one, was well received, and from first to last elicited the enthusiastic applause of the audience, who were not slow in expressiug their appreciation of the merits of the performers. One of the most successful items of the evening was the quartette on the hand bells of " Write me a letter from home," which secured a genuine encore, aud, indeed, well deserved the call so unanimously accorded. The singing of Mr Santley, the clever, ventriloquism of Mr Lyndhurst, and the comic duets of the brothers Lynch were greeted with uproarious applause. The performance conclude} with the laughable farce of "The Unfortunate Travellers," which for the space of twenty minutes fairly convulsed the audience, and caused the Hull to ring with shouts of laughter. To night will be the last appearance of this clever company in Nelson, possibly for many years, aud as they announce a monster programme there should be a crowded house. A deputation from the N.Z. Rifle Association waited upon the Defence Minister the other day when the Hon Colonel Whitmore drew the attention of the Minister to the fact that the association bad carried out

the competition at Nelson for the paßt two years at a cost of a little over £1000, whereas when the shooting was carried out by the Government It cost some £6000 a year; that the association now possessed targets and other property, and had partly • prepared to carry out the next meeting as usual, but owing to the Government striking the vote for tbe association off the Estimates, there would be no annual shooting for the volunteers, and what property the association now possessed would be lost, leaving no means of defraying the present liabilities.— The Hon • Major Baillie, in reply to Mr Bryce, said the association's liabilities were some £250, principally comprising the costs of medals for the next meeting, and other expenses such as rent, &c. — Lieutenant Beunett observed that the annual shooting was tbe only encouragement the volunteers had to look to, and after cutting the capitation down to one half, the extinguishment of the association would be taken as an intimation that the volunteer movement had received one of the last nails in its coffin. — The Hon Mr Bryce— l quite see that the association ought, to receive some support if it is possible to afford it. — Major Pitt observed that some 200 men attended the last meeting from all parts of the colony, which was an increase on any former attendance, and there 1 was over £1000 paid in prize-money — the volunteers paying all the expenses and part of the prizemoney.—Hon Mr Bryce— l will ask you to place before me a statement of the liabilities and a memorandum of the cost of the proposed next meeting, and I will see if the Government can assist in the matter by placing a sum on the Supplementary Estimates. — The "deputation then withdrew, after thanking the Minister for his courtsey.