Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 239, 8 October 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1880.

A curious meeting was held at tbe.Provincial Hall last night. It was called for the purpose of considering a proposal which was made by the City Council to raise a loan for the construction of bridges and other works, but no one was tbere to move a resolution to that effect, or in any way to show cause why the proposition should be adopted. In fact, had it been the Ist of April instead of the 7th of October it might have been thought that a practical _ Joke-was-J^'ar played un»» iu_~or ; tfzens;" who were invited -^-•tcTaffeiid at the Hall apparently for no purpose whatever. The result would doubtless have been the same had the most eloquent appeals been made in favor of the loan, for the feeling of the meeting was decidedly very strongly iv opposition to further borrowing, thereby involving additional taxation, but that is not, to the point. The proposition originated with ihe Council, the majority of that body decided in favor of a loan, and then invited tbe pnbiic to discuss it, but when the time for discussion arrived not one of the promoters was found willing even to introduce the subject, and the first and only resolution proposed was one moved by one of the public declining to borrow. Under the circumstances it is not afc nil surprising that considerable dissatisfaction was expressed at the manner in wbich the ratepayers were treated by the Council. The decision arrived at that a new biidge should be undertaken oufc of the ordinary revenue 13 one that will demand the exercise of a little patience on the part of those who are so anxious for tbe work to be undertaken, as ifc is not to be supposed that it can he done out of one y ar's revenue, to the entire neglect of works of importance and necessity in other parts of the town, but it must be spread over at least two years. How far this will meet the views of those who have taken an active part in the recent agitation remains to be seen. A parade of the City Rifles will be held this evening, when the members are requested to hand in their rifles now in use prior to tbe distribution of the new arms. Mr A. Jones, the Hon. Treasurer of the Nelson Aid Society, desires to acknowledge 'with thanks the receipt of the following subscriptions : — Bishop of Nelson, £1 ; H. Ed wards, Esq., £1 ; also the following donations :— H. D. C, £1 ; J Tweedie, Esq., £5 ; Hey. A. M. Garin, £1 ; Rev. W. J. Mahoney, 10s 6d ; Mrs Sclanders, £1 ls ; Mrs Bowden, 15s ; Moss Davii. Esq , £2 2s 5 C. Jones. Esq-, 10s. Total, £13 18s 6d. A cricket match will bo played in the Botanical Reserve to-morrow afternoon between an eleven of tbe N CC. and a like number of the Civil Servants of this town. The teatn9 are pretty evenly, balanced, and, notwithstanding recent reductions, the " Teii per Cents " are expected to be at least at par at the close of the game. The following will be the players:— Civil Service: Brewer, Curtis, Foy, A. Greenfield, F. Greenfield, Halliday, Holmes, Knyvett, Naylor, Pollock, Saxon. N.C.C: Askew, Balmain, Bnddington (2), Campbell, Firth, Foote, Lowrie, Morris, Sharp, and Topliss.