Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 230, 28 September 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1880.

A special meeting of the City Council will be held to-nigbt for tbe purpose of enquiring into the statements made by Councillor Harley last Friday night relative to the condition of the water in the reservoir The members of the Council paid a visit to the spot yesterday, and examined the reservoir, and the book in which the entries are made of the dates on which it has been cleaned out, from which it appears that this ■work had been performed twenty-Bix dayß previous to the date on which it is described by Mr Harley to have been in so foul a Btate. So fat as can be learned, without hearing all the evidence to be adduced this evening, there is reason to believe that the very serious charge made against those whose business it is to look after the reservoir and its contents will prove to have been considerably exaggerated, and, for the sake of all concerned, including tbe public by whom the water is used, we sincerely trust that this will be clearly shown to be the case. Instructions have, we are informed, been received by the District «ludge in Nelson to take over the West Coast district from the Ist November next. Judge Broad's circuit will then include Nelson, Motueka, Blenheim, Picton, Westport, Reef ton, Greymouth, and Hokitika. Two of the five District Judges in tbe Middle Island— Judges Batbgate and .Weston — have been dispensed with, and it is said, we believe upon good authority, that three out of the fire in the North Island will go, thus reducing the total number from ten to five. There was a sitting of the District Court this morning for which several cases had been set down' for bearing, but tbe whole were either withdrawn or settled out of Court. Our correspondent telegraphs from Motueka at 3 p.m. :—" The line is just completed from Takaka. Unfortunately there is no operator at the other end, or I might ba the first to send you Takaka news received by wire." The anniversary dinner of the Nelson Fire Brigade will be held in the Masonic Hall on Thursday evening . next, when it is hoped that a large number of visitors will by their presence bear testimony to the high appreciation in which this exceedingly useful volunteer body is held by their fellow citizens. We (Post) understand that Mr George Ashcrof t is about to take out a patent for machinery for pulverising quartz rocks, for sorting the powder so obtained, and for treating it with mercury in order to obtain the greatest yield of gold with the least loss of mercury. The. following letter, which appeared in the Timaru Herald, will form a nice little topic for discussion at the Horse Parade to be held at Richmond to-morrow :— Sir,— -As the Government appear to be very hard up, and at their wits' end as to what they should tax to^raise money, I beg to offer a suggestion

wbicb, if carried out, would supplement the revenue and benefit the community at the same time. It is that an annual tax of say £5 Bhould be levied On every entire horse over two years old, before he is allowed to be used for stud purposes. This would hurt no one, and would considerably augment the revenue, besides improving the breed of horses. It would be a benefit to the persons who would have to pay the tax, as it would act as a check on persons inclined preserve third-class stock for stud purposes. The copper discovery (says the Piclon correspondent of the Express) is Said tb be a hoax. All sorts of whisperings are going the rounds 5 one Was that it was put there by a well-known hotel keeper. Another was that it was placed by a landowner in the locality) but this is only a sample of the absurd things talked of. . v The New Zealaud Loan and Mercantile Agency report nnd'eb date of London, 25th Septembers — The wool sales closed firmly this day, full at level of last sales. About 260,000 bales have been disposed of $ 16,00O 4 bales i.ays been held over for ftUttrte $tspbsaL We expect next Salteb SVlll open at about present quotations. Superior combing washed has advanced Id since the close of last sales ; superior greasy has advanced |d to Id ; scoured market is firmer; clothing and washed are unchanged; crossbred is firmer, lambi, market is unchanged. The principal advance has beeu in superior greasy ahd superior combing washed. Trade in manufacturing districts is slightly better. , The N.Z. Times says that since the prorogation of Parliament the Government have been in communication With Sir Julius Yogel with respect to his dual position as AgentGeneral of the colony and Chairman of the New Zealand Company, and, in conformity with the wish of Parliament, the alternative of his retaining the Chairmanship, at the expense of the Agent Generalship^ was placed before him. We understand that Beveral telegrams have been exchanged upon the subject, the Government maintaining a firm attitude, and that the probabilities are strongly in favor of Sir Julius Yogel relinquishing the position he has so long held' of Agent- General. Saturday, says the N. Z. Timet of yesterday, and especially Saturday night, saw some very boisterous weather. It blew all day sufficient to made out-doot locomotion a trial and trouble, but wnen night closed blasts of wind alternately came from all quarters of the heavens at ouce, and concentrating blew furiously. Housed rocked in ominous fashion, weak fences went down with a run, chimney-pots, ridge-boards, and loose sheets of iron roofing, were shattered and sundered, windows rattled, doors blew open, gates creaked and groaned upon their hinges, and much perturbed householders tossed and turned in their beds, wishing for morning. For some hours, both before and after midnight, the wind blew a regular snorter, but by daylight it had lulled, and the cloudß clearing away about 11 a.m. the day was beautifully calm and clear. The Patea correspondent of the N.Z. Times writes:—" An event pregnant of consequence to this town and country happened yesterday in the shape of the first visit of an outside steamer— the Wakatu. For several years the Clyde, a small tub from Wanganui, was the only steamer venturing here, and all seaborne goods for Patea had necessarily to be landed at Wanganui, and afterwards passed on per Clyde or per dray, at heavy cost. This, of course, made trade for Wanganui merchants, and the steamer being owned there, it was natural that Wanganuibought goods should have the preference of transit, to the neglect of goods for transhipment from Wellington and elsewhere. Patea suffered and growled. A little over twelve months ago the locally-owned steamer Patea commenced running — a material advantage for trading purposes, giving as it did direct and regular communication with Wellington, and occasional direct communication with Nelson. She suits well enough for general merchandise, being strong and compact, and has done good service. The staple exports (likely to increase enormously) are, however, wool, sheep, and cattle, requiriug for cheap sea transit a roomy vessel, with plenty of beam, and depth of hold sufficient to take in cattle. Though trials have been made, it has not been found profitable enough to ship stock per Patea, and large purchases for Wellington have been driven to Wanganui for shipment. ' The foregoing wi'l enable outsiders to understand why th 6 first visit of a new and comfortable small steamer should be welcomed here, and be considered as pregnant of consequence.